Apple AirPods once received mostly negative reviews at launch, with most users criticizing its lack of third-party support and staggering price tag. However, Apple never stops improving its wireless headphones, making it one of the best headphones for Apple fanatics.
In reality, there are plenty of headphones out there that offer more advanced features than Apple’s AirPods. With that in mind, we made a list of the best alternatives to Apple AirPods you should check out.
Beats PowerBeats Pro
The wireless PowerBeats Pro headphones are a leap over the predecessors on the market, making it a true AirPods replacement. The PowerBeats Pro headphones take some design hints from the previous model with a center playback control button and a volume rocker.
The PowerBeats Pro offer a comfortable on-ear experience and fit perfectly in your ear canal, which is ideal for those who want to listen to music on the go and do some workouts. However, the Pro headphones are a little bit tight for those who have been using the AirPods for a long time.
The headphones include up to four interchangeable rubber ear options. That’s four more than the Apple AirPods (2019), and you can easily switch between different rubber ears.
Like other AirPod products, the PowerBeats Pro is designed to pair quickly and easily with your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. All you need to do is to open the case and hit the Connect button. The pairing process is the same on Android, but you cannot check the battery life on your phone.
One major drawback of the PowerBeats Pro is that it is only IPX4 rated for water and swear resistance. That’s slightly behind some rivals out there like Jaybird X4 or Sony MDR-XB80BS Extra Bass. Another week point is that the PowerBeats Pro don’t offer noise-cancellation. That means people around you still can hear what you are listening to on your headphones.
| Pros | Cons |
| Secure fit | Poor sound isolation |
| Good sound quality | Audio quality remains tiny |
| Sweat and water resistance | Expensive |
| Great battery life | Only IPX4 rated |
| Hey Siri support | Lack of customization |
Sony WF-1000XM3 True Wireless Earbuds
Sony is a big name in the industry, as it now provides a series of premium wireless headphones. Indeed, the Sony WF-1000XM3 True Wireless headphones is a new viral that is looking to overthrow the AirPods. The WF-1000XM3 headphones offer impressive noise-cancellation and a beautiful look.
In terms of design, the WF-1000XM3 are visually appealing at first glance. The earbuds are well organized into the charging case, a noticeable improvement over the original WF1000X. The charging case is bigger than an AirPods case, but it still offers a comfortable hands-on experience.
The WF-1000XM3 supports Google Assistant, Bluetooth NFC for charging, and Sony’s exclusive DSEE HX audio technology. Like AirPods and PowerBeats Pro, Sony’s wireless headphones feature a sensor for wearing detection; pop one earbud out and you music will pause.
One of the highlights of the WF-1000XM3 lies in its noise cancellation. I am very impressed by how Sony’s noise cancelling performs on everyday commute. Indeed, the headphones do a magnificent job of eliminating ambient noise while you are on a train, bus, and even plane. Indeed, I used the WF-1000XM3 on my flight to Tokyo and it combated pretty well cabin noise.
When it comes to battery life, Sony’s wireless headphones surpass Apple AirPods and Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless with 6 hours of power. The headphones also support quick charge mode, Just plug your earbuds in for ten minutes and you will get around 70 percent charge.
In short, the WF-1000XM3 is a great pair of wireless headphones for any users out there thanks to their impressive noise cancellation and good audio quality.
| Pros | Cons |
| Impressive noise-cancellation | No LDAC support |
| Good audio quality | Beautiful design but not premium |
| Google Assistant support | Not good for sports and workouts |
| DSEE HX audio technology | |
| Good battery life |
Jabra Elite Active 65t
Jabra Elite Active 65t is one of the best true wireless earbuds on the market. The headphones are a big upgrade over the previous model with better swear resistance and longer battery life.
In terms of design, the Elite Active 65t takes some hints from its predecessor with circular buds and black body, making it anonymous among the crowd. The buds are also small and has a protruding tip, allowing them to sit perfectly in your ear canal.
The left earbud has notches for controlling music playback and the charging case has the same size with an AirPods case, but it is smaller than PowerBeats Pro case. However, the case is very difficult to crank open, which is pretty annoying.
The Elite Active 65t are specifically designed for workouts and fitness. Indeed, it has a built-in accelerometer that allows you to keep track with your goals. The Active version also has HearThrough, a cool feature that automatically turns down ambient sound while you are running on busy streets. However, this raises concerns about security as you face a greater risk of being hit by vehicules.
When it comes to battery life, the earbuds can last 5 hours on a single charge. But, it lacks quick charge support. However, you will get enough power to listen to music while on a bus and a train.
In short, Jabra Elite Active 65t is a good choice for those users who are looking for a pair of wireless headphones for daily commute and workouts.
| Pros | Cons |
| Comfortable | Charging case won’t open sometimes |
| Good battery life | HearThrough cannot be disabled while running |
| Perfect fit | Limited options for ear tips |
| Accelerometer for run tracking | Water resistance is not great |
| HearThrough is cool |
These are the best alternatives to Apple AirPods. If you have got a favorite, then let us know in the comments below.