Don't want AirPods? While I love Apple's line of earbuds and headphones, I can see why you might want to choose something different. There are loads of different AirPods alternatives out there, and some key reasons why you might one to consider them over a pair of AirPods.
People looking for an AirPods Pro 2 alternative are going to be well served by the Sony WF-1000XM5. They sound excellent, and pack in great ANC and a comfortable fit. If you're after something different from the AirPods 4, you're going to want the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100. They sound great and feature some epic battery life. Finally, AirPods Max customers should also consider the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3. They're more comfortable and sound even better than the AirPods, while packing in more battery life.
Now, with Black Friday fast approaching, you're also probably wondering how you can get your hands on some of these headphones at a cheaper price. There are some great Black Friday headphones deals already live, with some of the entries on this list down to some incredible prices.
The Quick List
Price ★★★☆☆
Sound ★★★★★
ANC ★★★★★
They sound better and feature better noise canceling than the AirPods Pro 2 — and come in a greater range of colors. The perfect alternative to Apple's noise cancelers.
Price ★★★★★
Sound ★★★★★
ANC ★★★★☆
These beat out the Airpods 4 in almost every aspect, from their superior sound and ANC to their class-leading 52-hour battery. They are a bit bigger though, thanks to a sizeable case.
Price ★★★☆☆
Sound ★★★★★
ANC ★★★★★
Bowers & Wilkins' latest over-ear headphones have some of the best sound around, along with good battery and a very comfortable fit. The perfect AirPods Max alternative.
What about the AirPods Pro 3?
Apples latest earbuds haven't hit shelves yet, but we're expecting them on the 19th of September. The moment we have our full review live, we'll update the guide and compare Apple's latest to our alternatives.
The best Apple AirPods alternatives you can buy right now
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I oversee the audio content that goes up on Tom’s Guide, and maintain the site's buying guides for headphones, wireless earbuds, Bluetooth speakers, soundbars, and more. I have spent more than 20 years testing audio equipment for my own enjoyment, and was previously the audio editor for iMore. There's nothing more I love than jamming out to my favorite tunes on audio equipment of different prices and sizes.
Best AirPods Pro 2 alternative
If the AirPods Pro 2 represent the culmination of all of Apple’s work in the headphones space, then the WF-1000XM5 are Sony's way of showing Apple how it could have done better. They offer superior noise canceling thanks to Sony’s incredible ANC algorithm, better sound quality with richer bass, and much better battery life so that you can use them for longer. There’s a reason we called them the best wireless earbuds overall — they really are just that good.
The sound profile is a more pleasing listen than that found in the AirPods Pro 2. Where the AirPods Pro 2 can feel slightly analytical at times, lacking in energy and a sense of fun, the Sonys pull off a more engaging and insight-filled listening experience. There’s also loads more low-end, the stuff that makes your music more fun to listen to. There are similar detail levels between the two, although the Sonys are often more exacting in their high-end clarity. That’s not to say that the AirPods Pro 2 sound bad, far from it — I like their sound signature — but the Sonys do sound much better in the long run.
The noise canceling is also very good on both, although the Sonys come out on top in the end. When testing them on the bus and at the office, I found I could hear less of the outside world with the Sonys in my ears than I could when I was listening to the AirPods Pro 2. There are similar modes on board as well, and while Apple’s hybrid noise canceling is slightly better than the WF-1000XM5, the latter come out on top for their transparency mode which felt more natural and less ‘piped in’.
Battery life is another place where the Sonys beat the AirPods. They offer you 8 hours of battery life out of the buds, and then a further 30 from the case. The AirPods can only offer 6 hours out of the buds, but the case is more similar to the Sony buds. It’s not all perfect with the Sonys, however. I find the AirPods case more comfortable in my pocket, and the force touch controls on the AirPods Pro 2 are superior to the touch panels on the WF-1000XM5. In the end though, unless you’re wedded to AirPods, the WF-1000XM5 are a great alternative to the Pro 2.
- Read the full Sony WF-1000XM5 review
Best AirPods 4 alternative
The AirPods 4 are the cheapest AirPods, and while there are some great reasons to pick a pair up, there are more reasons to go and buy yourself a pair of Cambridge Audio Melomania M100. They sound much better than the AirPods 4 with excellent audio tuning from Cambridge Audio, and thanks to their silicon eartips, the noise canceling is much better than the AirPods 4 with ANC. I’ve even seen them as low as $119 in deals events, making them cheaper than the base model AirPods 4.
It’s the battery life that really carries the Melomania M100 though. The buds themselves are a game changer — they last 16 hours. That’s almost as much as the over-ear AirPods Max, and the most you’ll find in any pair of earbuds around. That’s four times as much as the ANC AirPods 4, and just over three times as much as the non-ANC variant. You could use these on even the longest of long hall flights without having to pop them back in the charging case.
There’s more that should persuade you as well. The sound is excellent, thanks to Cambridge Audio’s musical expertise. They’re more detailed, more well rounded, and warmer for a more engaging, welcoming audio experience. They sound like something a lot more expensive, and much, much better than the AirPods 4 in either guise. And you’ll be able to enjoy that sound quality more thanks to the very good noise canceling.
It might not be quite as good as some of the more expensive headphones, but its much better than the ANC found in the AirPods 4. It manages a good job of blocking out noises like bus engines and noisy cities and gives you a more comfortable place to be when you’re out and about.
Of course, there are a couple of reasons that you might want the AirPods instead. There’s no Spatial Audio in the Melomania, so you don’t get the same soundstage as you might with the AirPods 4. The case is also slightly larger than the AirPods case, so you might find it doesn’t fit into as many pockets or bags. Overall all though, thanks to their impressive feature set, the Melomania M100 are an excellent alternative.
- Read the full Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 review
Best AirPods Max alternatives
The AirPods Max are a stunning-looking and feeling pair of headphones — but they're also massively expensive and extremely heavy. The Bowers & Wilkins are a similarly premium-feeling pair of headphones, but they slim everything down and introduce even better sound and a more comfortable fit. For $100 less, you get a much better pair of headphones overall, which a wider range of customers are going to appreciate.
There's more battery life, for one. The AirPods Max only last for 24 hours, whereas the Bowers & Wilkins pair lasts for a total of 30 hours. That's more than enough battery life for any application, whether you're embarking on a longer journey or visiting an area without power outlet access. You can, of course, save even more battery by turning off the ANC and listening at a lower volume if you need to eke out some more listening time.
Noise canceling between the two models is comparable. Both headphones are capable of blocking out loads of noise, with differing focuses. The AirPods are designed to block out the noise of noisy offices and aircraft ambient sounds, while the PX7 S3 are more geared towards the noises and sounds of your commute. They're both very good at what they do and excel in all areas, but there are strengths in certain environments.
Sound is better with the PX7 S3. They have a slightly warmer sound signature, while managing to extract slightly more detail from tracks than the AirPods Max. The AirPods also have a slightly wider sound, and they support Spatial Audio out of the box — a feature that will be available soon on the PX7 S3. As a stereo music experience, however, audiophiles and sound fans are going to get more out of Bowers & Wilkins headphones.
They've both got their own unique style, but I'd wager that the more subdued and classy look of the Bowers & Wilkins is going to be more popular. Both are very well made, with metal and premium materials all over the place. The PX7 S3 are a fantastic premium alternative to the AirPods Max.
- Read our full Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 review
Specs compared
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Battery life rated | Connectivity | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|
Sony WF-1000XM5 | 8 hours (ANC on), 24 hours (with charging case) | Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC, LDAC | IPX4 |
Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 | 0 hours (ANC on); 16 hours (ANC off); 36 hours (charging case with ANC off) | Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive Audio, Bluetooth LE Audio, LC3 | IPX4 |
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 | 30 hours | Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive Audio | IPX4 |
Also tested
How to choose the best Apple AirPods alternatives
If you’re looking for a pair of AirPods alternatives, it’s probably because you like something about Apple’s buds but are being put off by other factors. Think about what those desirable qualities are — is it sound quality? The design? Features like Spatial Audio?
Design: Once you’ve focused on what exactly it is you want from an AirPods alternative, you can start looking at the options above with more clarity. The Samsung Galaxy Buds, for instance, essentially copy Apple’s spatial audio feature but for Galaxy phones. If it’s simply styling you want, the white model of the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro are a pretty close match.
Battery life: Some qualities are universal across all wireless earbuds, like battery life. Consider how long and how often you’ll want to wear your headphones for; if you’re a regular traveler it can definitely be worth picking a pair with longer battery life, either per charge or in terms of how much the bundled charging case provides.
Wireless earbuds can last about 5 to 10 hours and offer extended playtime with their bundled charging cases — always make sure one is included.
Comfort: All wireless earbuds need to be comfortable as well; all of the pairs on this list are fine to wear for a couple of hours at least, though some cope better with extended use than others. You may also want waterproofing or sweat resistance, which comes in very handy if you’re looking for earbuds to wear while exercising.
Pricing considerations: Obviously, price is a big consideration when looking for the best headphones. Although there are always exceptions, big-name brands will typically command a bit extra, but generally speaking, the less you spend on a pair of headphones the greater the chance that sound and features will be compromised. Going for a budget option isn't always the best choice, as any money you save on your purchase won't do you much good if you're constantly needing to recharge your audio gear, or the sound quality is poor.
As the saying goes: timing is everything; and right now many of our favorite models will be discounted at online retailers, meaning you can bag a bargain for even less. Bookmark our best headphone deals page to keep track of all the latest deals.
How we test the best Apple AirPods alternatives
We literally test hundreds of earbuds a year. This gives us heaps of knowledge about the market, and huge experience in assessing sound quality and weighing up the most important features for buyers, so you can rest assured that the models covered in this list deliver on sound quality despite their affordable price tag.
As with any set of headphones, we put the best AirPods alternatives through their paces with a variety of tests. To judge sound quality, for example, our reviewers listen to a mix of musical genres. These aren’t brief, isolated tests either, with each reviewer wearing every pair for a few hours to see how comfortable they are over long periods.
Find out what we listen for during our testing process and how to get the best headphone sound for you.
Our extended usage approach also lets us see how close each pair of earbuds stands up to the manufacturer’s battery life claims. Often they fall short, so we’ll also let you know our experiences in each full review.
Similarly, we’ll test voice call quality and any waterproofing claims using real-life conditions and report our experiences.
Once testing is complete, we rate headphones based on our five-point system (1 = worst, 5 = best). If a product is truly exemplary, it's awarded an Editor's Choice.
Contributions from: Alex Bracetti
Find out how we test for more information on our reviewing procedures.
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