Love them or hate them, Apple now has a huge footprint in the world of wireless earbuds. Given the number of iPhones out there it's hardly a surprise and if you're fully invested in the brand's ecosystem and also own, say, an iPad or MacBook, partnering them with a pair of Apple's in-ears is the obvious solution.
One key reason they're so popular is because they deliver a superb user experience. AirPods pair to your devices immediately with zero fuss and offer solid enough battery life. And thanks to some noticeable sonic tweaks, especially in the case of the AirPods Pro 2, they are also capable of some of the best sound quality you can find from a pair of Bluetooth buds.
But, what if you're an Apple user but don't want a pair of AirPods? They're not for everyone. For example, the fit of the AirPods 3 can be quite divisive, while some users might want even better noise-cancelling than what's on offer from the AirPods Pro 2. Alternatively, you might be an Android user and want a pair of AirPods alternatives that offer similar features and functionality but with less of an Apple-centric focus.
This is why we have created a buying guide to round up the best AirPods alternatives. We've delved into our product reviews database and chosen the best earbuds from rival brands which we think are great options if you want to give AirPods a miss. Perhaps we feel they offer a slightly better fit or a clear step up in sound quality or a useful feature or two that their Apple equivalents don't.
Needless to say, all of the recommendations on this page have been tested and star-rated by our team of reviewers and each one offers tremendous bang for your buck so you can buy with confidence. Happy shopping!
The quick list
The best AirPods alternatives overall
Sony’s WF-1000XM5 are superb AirPods Pro 2 alternatives and they offer a clear step up in quality across the board. Their class-leading levels of detail, excellent clarity, top timing and discreet design make them a great option.
The best AirPods alternatives for battery life
The WF-C500 Are great affordable earbuds that compete with the standard AirPods. They aren't feature-packed, but they do offer impressive stamina, with 10-hour battery life. They are also easy to use and super-comfortable, too.
The best cheap AirPods alternatives
You get a lot for very little money here, including punchy sound, waterproofing and wireless charging. If you’re on a tight budget, and want a cheap alternative to the entry-level AirPods you can't really go wrong.
The best AirPods alternatives for value
For the money it’s hugely impressive what Sony has managed to cram inside the WF-C700N. Brilliant sound and solid noise-cancelling make them excellent value, and we think they are much more appealing than the AirPods 3.
The best noise-cancelling wireless earbuds
These excellent noise-cancelling earbuds are Bose's finest to date and deliver even better ANC than the AirPods Pro 2. They are also extremely comfy to wear and produce a wonderfully entertaining sound.
The best AirPods alternatives for running
AirPods are fine for exercise, but JBL’s Live Pro 2 TWS are serious all-rounders, with a solid design, comfortable fit and an engaging audio performance.
The best AirPods alternatives overall
The Sony WF-1000XM5 are a sensational pair of AirPods Pro 2 alternatives.
They build on the huge success of the multi-award-winning WF-1000XM4 with improvements across the board. They are 20 per cent lighter and 25 per cent smaller than the XM4, with smoother lines and more subtle curves. The case is more compact, too.
Inside is a new 8.4mm Dynamic Driver X, which doesn’t sound quite as rich or full in the bass but clarity and detail are class-leading, with top-notch musicality and timing.
The eight-hour battery life (with another 16 in the case) has more juice in the buds than the Apple AirPods Pro 2, and noise cancelling has been noticeably improved. They work seamlessly with both iOS and Android devices, too.
Throw in improved touch controls and a packed feature list that includes Multipoint Bluetooth, Adaptive Sound Control and Speak-to-Chat, and the WF-1000XM5 are difficult to fault.
Read our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review
The best AirPods alternatives for battery life
Think of Sony's WF-C500 wireless earbuds as a no-frills version of the WF-1000XM5 found further up this page. They deliver a lot of what makes those wireless earbuds a success without cutting too many corners, and it's this that also places them among the best cheap AirPods alternatives.
They are good for running and sports, thanks to their IPX4 rating, while you also get ‘fast pair’ connectivity with Android devices and ‘swift pair’ with Windows 10 PCs. The sound is nicely balanced, too, with loads of midrange detail on show in a cohesive, musical package.
Battery life is 10 hours from the buds themselves, which is impressive from a single charge and should be more than enough for most, with the case providing another 10 hours on top. If you're after a great sub-£100 pair of earbuds that can take on the AirPods at their own game, the Sony's WF-C500 should be on your shortlist.
Read our full Sony WF-C500 review
The best cheap AirPods alternatives
Earfun isn't one of the first brands that spring to mind when researching AirPods alternatives, but the Earfun Airs could change that. These buds are ridiculously cheap and they sound wonderfully cheerful too.
Noise isolation is excellent (if you want noise-cancelling you will need the Pro version) and these attractive earbuds feel comfy too. They are IPX7 certified (i.e. waterproof), support virtual assistants and include Qi wireless charging if you own a suitable charger.
Battery life is seven hours from the buds and a further 28 hours from the charging case. Amazingly it all feels fairly premium too. The Bluetooth 5.0 connection is solid and stable and for the money, calls sound clear, and the earbuds offer an energetic and spacious sound.
If you’re after something fun-sounding and a cheap pair of AirPods alternatives, the Earfun Air are just the ticket.
Read our full Earfun Air review
The best AirPods alternatives for value
Sony's affordable wireless earbuds sit between the brand's budget WF-C500 and high-end WF-1000XM5. Both of those models are Award winners, so the C700N have a lot to live up to. But we're happy to report they don't let the family down – and they even won an Award of their own.
We think they are brilliant options that more than justify their price tag. The buds are impressively small, and their lightweight design helps make them even more comfortable than Sony's XM4. Battery life is solid enough at seven and a half hours.
They lack aptX HD and LDAC but do feature noise-cancelling tech, which the WF-C500 lack. Adaptive Sound Control automatically switches listening modes depending on your location, and Sony's DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) upscales lo-res digital audio files to higher quality. Bluetooth Multipoint is also available following a recent software update.
We think the Sony's sound quality is superbly balanced too, with deep, detailed bass, expressive mids and engaging highs. They're a very musical listen for the money and a clear step up from the cheaper WF-C500.
Downsides? The lack of support for aptX HD and LDAC is disappointing, and the charging case provides only one extra charge which seems a little mean. But the superb sound and great feature set make these easy to recommend over the standard AirPods.
Read our full Sony WF-C700N review
The best AirPods alternatives for noise-cancelling
We all know Bose knows how to make a great pair of wireless headphones and the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have to be considered its finest wireless earbuds to date.
The Ultra provide a comfortable fit and lots of features. Bluetooth 5.3 is a big bonus, while they are also Bose's first in-ears to offer its very own spatial audio tech, Immersive Audio.
The Bose app allows you to alter the amount of noise-cancelling on offer via a number of customisable presets and, speaking of noise-cancelling, the new Bose are still at the top of their game. They can automatically adjust the amount of ANC on offer so your music isn’t drowned out by particularly loud noises. The effect is deeply impressive and the ANC is even better than that of the AirPods Pro 2. As for sound, it is balanced and neutral and overflowing with fine detail. Call quality is good for the money too.
It's a shame there is no support for high-quality wireless audio codecs such as LDAC or aptX HD, nor is there wireless charging or Bluetooth multipoint (both of which the Sony WF-1000XM5 cater for). But we don't think this is the end of the world when you consider that these classy buds ooze such sophistication.
Read the full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review
The best AirPods alternatives for running
The best AirPods for exercise, in our opinion, are the AirPods Pro 2, which promote a more stable and comfortable fit than the standard AirPods and also have ANC so you can mute the noise from an overcrowded gym.
But they do sit at the pricier end of the scale, which is why we have included the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS in this list. They are more affordable than the AirPods Pro 2 but still offer a five-star performance, great comfort and a highly competitive and useful range of features.
They boast a solid build and good looks for the money. Extras such as wireless charging, IPX5 water-resistance (most pairs are IPX4), and Bluetooth Multipoint (which lets you seamlessly switch between two simultaneously connected devices) are a cut above what many rivals offer at the money. Add the 30 hours of total battery life (including eight hours per charge) and the JBL suddenly appear a very tempting option.
The noise-cancelling is good enough to dampen outside interference, while the transparency mode comes in handy for running. And sound quality is entertaining to boot. What more could you wish for at the money?
Read the full JBL Live Pro 2 TWS review
Also consider
Since we last updated this page we have tested the Sennheiser Momentum Sport and Final ZE8000 MK2 which earned three stars and four stars respectively – neither has made the list. We have also tested the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 which put up a solid showing and have been included below.
Looking for something different? Here are other AirPods alternatives you might want to consider. Some are five-star products that just missed out on the main list. Others might be four-star products that excel in some areas and could be worth shortlisting.
Cambridge Audio Melomania M100: They're not perfect, but the M100 offer a range of AirPods Pro 2-rivalling features and superior battery life. We're talking a massive ten hours per charge and 16 if you turn noise-cancelling off. They sound spacious and balanced and their ANC is more than good enough at the money. We'd just like them to sound more dynamic and engaging and their Transparency mode could be much better.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4: If you want another alternative to the Bose QC Ultra and Sony WF-1000XM5 which feature on this list, Sennheiser also has a premium pair that fits the bill and is a step up from the AirPods Pro 2. They sound rich and engaging, are comfortable and nice to use and offer plenty of customisation options. Noise cancelling is competitive too, although Bose just edges it in this department.
Panasonic RZ-S500W: These five-star wireless earbuds have been around for a little while now but are still worth considering if you can't stretch to the Sony WF-C700N. They sound detailed and entertaining, boast good noise-cancelling and responsive touch controls. The fit can divide opinion, but as an alternative to the AirPods 3 they still make a lot of sense.
Google Pixel Buds A-Series: If you're an Android or Google Pixel phone owner, then chances are, AirPods aren't on your wishlist. If you want an equivalent pair designed with Google's rival ecosystem in mind, then the Pixel Buds A-Series make a lot of sense. They're comfortable, easy to use, sound detailed and musical and pair easily with Android devices.
How to choose the best AirPods alternatives for you
Firstly, you need to decide which AirPods you want an alternative for. Is it the affordable, entry-level AirPods (2019) or the more recent AirPods 3? Or, perhaps you want a pair of AirPods Pro 2 alternatives that bring active noise-cancelling to the party?
Are you someone who is already immersed in the Apple ecosystem but who doesn't want to be tied down when it comes to your headphone choice? Or, perhaps you're an Android user, who simply likes the idea of having AirPods-rivalling features in their pair of wireless in-ears.
Obviously, you need to settle on a budget when considering AirPods alternatives. The good news here is that there are some great cheap options at the budget end of the market and there are also more premium alternatives should your budget be able to accommodate.
You will also want to compare battery life to make sure the earbuds you are considering can cope with the length of your commute as well as longer listening sessions.
You can now get plenty of bang for your buck where the best cheap wireless earbuds are concerned, and given Apple products all tend to demand a slight price premium, there are some great bargains to be had.
On this page, we have restricted our AirPods alternatives to the in-ear variety but we do also have a page dedicated to the very best AirPods Max alternatives should you want an over-ear option.
How we test AirPods alternatives
We test AirPods alternatives just like we test any pair of wireless earbuds. Before we put them in place we also experiment with any tips and check out how comfortable they are to wear.
We start with a full charge and see how accurate battery life claims are and just how it has drained during day-to-day use.
Although we have dedicated testing facilities in London and Reading, the bulk of our wireless earbuds testing happens outside those facilities, whether that's on the street or in our busy office.
It's only when nailing down the finer details of audio quality that we head for quieter environments where we compare the AirPods alternatives we are testing to price-comparable models. This gives us the chance to come to solid conclusions and peg each pair on sound quality.
As part of this testing process we will also compare them to their AirPods equivalents so we know where they sit in terms of quality and can judge whether or not we would be happy to use them and potentially add them to this list.
For ANC testing we venture outside to put those noise-cancelling algorithms through their paces and we also test the call quality of the earbuds at this stage too.
All our review verdicts are agreed upon by the team rather than an individual reviewer to eliminate any personal preference and to make sure we are being as thorough as possible, too. There is no input from PR companies or our sales team when it comes to the verdict, with What Hi-Fi? proud of having delivered honest, unbiased reviews for decades.
F.A.Q
What are the best earbuds for iPhone?
It really depends on your budget and your requirements. If you want the best all-rounders we suggest the Sony WF-1000XM5. If you want the pair with the best noise-cancelling tech, then it's the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. But don't discount Apple's own AirPods Pro 2 as these tick a lot of boxes and work brilliantly with the iphone.
Recent updates
- 23rd April 2024: removed JBL Reflect Flow, replaced by JBL Live Pro 2 TWS
- 13th December 2023: general copy updates
- 24th October 2023: added Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds to position 5
