Top AirPods Alternatives: Premium Earbuds Brands to Consider

AirPods have become a popular choice for wireless earbuds, providing seamless integration with Apple devices and excellent sound quality. But did you know there are also other noteworthy brands that offer competitive alternatives to Apple's version? Brands like Samsung, Sony, and Jabra have developed wireless earbuds that boast impressive features and audio performance. Each of these brands brings something unique to the table, catering to various preferences and needs. To explore these options and discover which might be the best fit for you, read on below.

Illustration of airpods

Best brands of airpods in 2025

Apple

Apple's AirPods, first announced in 2016, have become a leading product in the true wireless stereo market, with an estimated 22% market share in Q2 2024. Although their market share has decreased from 48.1% in 2019, they continue to be a major player with approximately 75 million units sold in 2023. The revenue from AirPods is estimated to be around $22 billion in 2024, making it a significant contributor to Apple's wearables category, which generated $8.09 billion in revenue. Apple's continuous innovation with new models like the AirPods 4 released in September 2024, further solidifies their position as a top producer in the wireless earbud space, while analysts estimate that they have sold 120 million pairs of AirPods in 2021. You can explore more about the latest AirPods on Apple's official website.

Samsung

While Samsung is a major player in the earbud market, they are not typically considered the best producer of "AirPods," as AirPods are a specific product line by Apple; however, Samsung is a leading manufacturer of wireless earbuds, with a 7.8% market share in Q2 2024, and their Galaxy Buds series is a popular alternative to Apple's AirPods, offering features like active noise cancellation and a comfortable in-ear fit. The global wireless earbuds market was valued at USD 31.7 billion in 2023 with expectations to grow significantly by 2030, and the latest models like the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro feature a design with stems, similar to the Apple AirPods.

Sony

Sony, a leading audio brand since releasing their first in-ear headphones in 1982, continues to innovate, offering a range of earbuds like the WF-1000XM5, released in 2023, known for excellent noise cancellation and sound quality, and budget-friendly options like the WF-C510, which are great value; while Apple led the market share in 2024 with 17%, Sony maintains a strong presence and is recognized for high-quality audio products, particularly in noise-canceling technology, as they released the world's first digital noise-canceling headphones in 2008.

Bose

While Apple's AirPods dominate the market with a 54.4% share as of 2019, Bose is a strong competitor, recognized for its high-end, comfortable, and technologically advanced wireless earbuds, particularly the QuietComfort line, known for superior noise cancellation and excellent battery life. With a 12.5% market share in 2022 among US users, Bose is a top contender for sound quality, especially for those prioritizing a balanced sound experience. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are a prime example of their innovative technology.

Jabra

Jabra, a Danish brand with 150 years of experience, is a leading producer of earbuds, recognized for their comfort, sound quality, and innovative features like "HearThrough." Their Elite 10 Gen 2 earbuds are equipped with the best active noise cancellation. In 2023, Jabra held a significant 30% market share alongside other major players and was the choice for over 80% of Fortune 500 companies for professional headsets. However, they plan to exit the consumer earbuds market by the end of 2024 to focus on other areas.

Sennheiser

Sennheiser, a renowned audio company, produces high-quality true wireless earbuds like the Momentum series, with the latest Momentum True Wireless 4 model featuring advanced technologies such as Snapdragon Sound and aptX Lossless, delivering premium audio for audiophiles, and offering up to 30 hours of battery life. Although they have faced increased competition in the wireless market, with Apple, Samsung, and others securing 32% of global headphone shipments in 2020, Sennheiser's headphone sales contributed 34.9% of their total sales, demonstrating their continued significance in the audio market.

Beats by Dre

Beats by Dre, established in 2006 by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, is a leading audio brand known for its premium headphones, earbuds, and speakers, capturing a significant 64% of the U.S. market share for headphones priced over $100 in 2011 and was valued at $1 billion in 2013. Although now an Apple subsidiary since 2014, Beats maintained 15.3% of the headphone market in 2022, demonstrating its continued popularity and influence in the audio industry and offers a variety of products including the Solo, Studio, and Powerbeats lines.

Anker Soundcore

Anker's Soundcore brand, established in 2011, has emerged as a strong contender in the earbud market, offering a variety of models like the Liberty series. The Liberty 4 NC boasts up to 10 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation and 98.5% noise reduction capabilities, making them a great value for their price. The Liberty 4 Pro are considered a better buy than Apple Airpods for most people due to features and sound quality. Although they are not a market leader like Apple or Sony, Soundcore holds a significant global presence with a focus on long battery life and robust build quality. In 2023, the true wireless segment held over 32% of the market.

JBL

JBL, a well-established audio brand founded in 1946, has become a significant player in the headphone market, achieving the #1 global audio brand in volume in 2022, surpassing Sony, and ranking #2 after Apple. They offer a variety of true wireless earbuds like the JBL Live Free 2 TWS with 7 hours of playtime on a single charge and the JBL Tune Buds offering up to 48 hours of battery life, both featuring JBL Pure Bass Sound. Some models even incorporate innovative features like a touchscreen charging case, demonstrating their commitment to cutting-edge technology. While Apple dominates the earbud market, JBL continues to be a strong contender, holding a substantial market share of 11.4% in the US in 2022, and also ranking second in France with 8.17% ownership in 2023. JBL's market share in the TWS (True Wireless Stereo) category grew by 31% in Q1 2022, reinforcing its position as a major force in the competitive audio industry, and their diverse product range caters to various needs, including sports, with models like the Endurance Peak 3, focusing on providing high-quality sound and innovative features.

Xiaomi

Xiaomi, a major player in the consumer electronics market, has shown impressive growth in the TWS earbuds category, achieving a 76.2% increase in shipments in mainland China during Q1 2024 and becoming the top vendor in the region with 3 million units sold, largely due to the popularity of their open-ear designs. Although globally, as of Q3 2024, Xiaomi holds a smaller market share compared to Apple, who leads with approximately 17%, Xiaomi's strategic pricing, with some models as low as $15, has helped them surpass Samsung and become the second-largest player, experiencing a significant 61% growth in that period. The Xiaomi Buds 5, launched in late 2024, feature 11mm dual-magnet dynamic drivers tuned by Harman Kardon, offering aptX Lossless audio support and up to 40dB of active noise cancellation, positioning them as an affordable competitor to Apple's AirPods; the Redmi Buds series also provide budget-friendly options like the Redmi Buds 4 Lite at around $20, making them a strong contender for the best value for money. You can find more information on their official website.