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.
If you're looking for the perfect alternative to the AirPods Pro 2, for example, you should consider the Sony WF-1000XM5. While they might cost a bit more, they have better ANC and superior sound quality. I also like the way that they feel in the year, with a smaller bud than the AirPods. For those looking for something different to the Airpods 4, I recommend the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100. They sound a load better than the AirPods, and their silicon ear tips block more noise than the ANC version of Apple's buds. Finally, if you're thinking about picking up some AirPods Max, you should consider the Sony WH-1000XM5 instead. Thanks to their much better battery life, improved sound and stunning noise canceling, I reckon they're a better buy than the AirPods Max and their lackluster 20 hours of battery.
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 ★★★★★
Sony's over-ear noise-canceling headphones are the best of the best — and the perfect alternative to the AirPods Max. They sound great, and they're more comfortable.
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
✅ Better noise canceling. The Sonys are able to block out more noise, and the transparent mode sounds more natural.
✅ Better sound. The Sonys provide a much more engaging listening experience than the AirPods.
✅ More battery. The WF-1000XM5 feature far more battery life than the AirPods Pro 2, with 8 hours on tap.
❌ Less portable case. If you want a smaller, more compact case, choose the AirPods Pro 2.
❌ Touch controls. The AirPods controls are more deliberate, leading to fewer accidental activations.
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
✅ Superior sound. The Melomania M100 sound much better than the AirPods 4, with better bass and more depth to their sound.
✅ Better ANC. Thanks to their silicon ear tips, the Melomania M100 are able to block a lot more noise.
✅ Incredible battery life. The buds themselves last for 16 hours, and then its extended to 52 hours with the charging case.
❌ No Spatial Audio. There’s no Dolby Atmos support, unlike the AirPods 4.
❌ Large case. The Melomania case is much larger than the AirPods 4 case.
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
✅ Immaculate sound. They don’t necessarily sound better than the AirPods Max, but many will prefer their warmer sound.
✅ Comfortable fit. The WH-1000XM5 are lighter and more comfortable than the AirPods.
✅ Better ANC. Sony’s ANC algorithm is more effective at keeping the noise out than Apple’s.
❌ Spatial Audio. Apple’s Spatial Audio is better than you’ll find in the WH-1000XM5.
❌ Looks. The AirPods Max look unlike any other pair of headphones, with a slick design.
The AirPods Max are big, heavy, and expensive — and the Sony WH-1000XM5 make an excellent case for themselves as a great alternative. The sound is going to be more pleasing to more people, they’re more comfortable, and the case you get in the box is far, far superior. There’s more to it than just that of course, with plenty more reasons that you might want to pick the Sony option over the AirPods.
The battery life is a whole lot better for one. The AirPods Max only last for 20 hours on a single charge, while the WH-1000XM5 gets a much healthier 30-hour battery life. If you’re looking to use them on longer journeys or take them somewhere where there might not be a power outlet, then the Sony option is going to be a much better choice. Want even more battery life? Turn the ANC off for a grand 45 hours of staying power.
Sound is a trickier one to talk about. The WH-1000XM5 might not sound better than the Apple option, but they do sound different. They sound different in a way that some people might really like, with a warmer, more welcoming sound signature than the AirPods Max. There’s still plenty of detail on offer, as well as a nice, wide sound stage for a more involving listen. I personally prefer the way that the WH-1000XM5 over the sound of the AirPods Max, and I think that many others will as well.
ANC on the WH-1000XM5 is also much better. They block out more of the low end sounds that you might come across, like bus engines and train sounds. That’s not to say the AirPods Max ANC is bad — only that Sony’s is better. There are some reasons you might want to choose the AirPods, however. The Spatial Audio is better, thanks to Apple’s work with Apple Music. The way they look is a factor as well. The AirPods Max have a kind of fashionable flair that the Sonys lack, and they feel a whole more premium thanks to their metal build.
I still think that the Sony WH-1000XM5 are much better option than the AirPods Max, however, and they’re well putting at the top of your list when you’re looking for some new headphones.
- Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 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 |
| Beats Fit Pro | Up to 7 hours; 30 hours (with charging case) | Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC, AAC | 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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