The Apple AirPods, might not be as revolutionary, as say the iPhone or the Mac, but they certainly are one of the best products Apple has ever made. The next-gen AirPods Pro is even better, laced with features like ANC, Transparency mode, and faster connectivity using the H1 chip. That said, the high price of Apple products makes it harder for users to afford them. Also, there are people who find AirPods sound quality too flat for their taste. Not to forget, Android users need their own set of truly wireless earbuds just like AirPods. So, if you are looking for truly wireless earbuds at a more affordable price then here are the 14 best AirPods and AirPods Pro alternatives that you can buy right now.
Best AirPods and AirPods Pro Alternatives (Updated September 2020)
Here, we have mentioned the 14 top alternatives to AirPods for all price-points. On the first list, you can find earbuds that are available globally, and below we have curated lists of top AirPods alternatives that are available in India. You can click on the link below to quickly jump to the corresponding earbud.
- Sony WF-1000XM3
- Jabra Elite 75t
- Powerbeats Pro
- Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
- Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2
- OnePlus Buds
- Google Pixel Buds
- Microsoft Surface Earbuds
- Skullcandy Sesh
- Mpow M9
Best AirPods Alternatives in India (2020)
- Oppo Enco M31 / W31 / W51
- Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 / Redmi Earbud S
- Realme Buds Air / Neo
- Blaupunkt BTW01 / BTW Pro
List of Top AirPods Alternatives for Android and iOS
1. Sony WF-1000XM3
Sony has been a market leader in audio technology and time and again, they have proved their innovation marvel with new product launches. The company launched the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphone this year and it has been ranked as the best noise-canceling headphone, bar none.
Now, Sony has brought the same noise-canceling tech into a smaller form-factor just like AirPods but with all the great features: true ANC, comfortable fit, great battery life, voice assistant support, and more. I say that Sony WF-1000XM3 is truly the best AirPods alternative because you get features for what AirPods Pro is popular.
For instance, there is the Transparency mode on Sony’s earbuds as well. Next, you have got 8 hours of battery life on the earbuds and 24 hours battery life on the case which is similar to AirPods Pro; Alexa integration for quick voice commands; AAC and SBC codec support for Hi-Fi music playback, and more.
The only omission, and it’s a big one, is that Sony WF-1000XM3 is not IP rated meaning the earbuds is not water-resistant. So basically, you can’t use the earbuds in the gym or while running which is a downside. All in all, I would say, if you want immersive sound quality that even beats AirPods Pro black and blue then Sony WF-1000XM3 is the best alternative to AirPods.
Pros
- Excellent noise-cancellation
- Transparency mode like AirPods Pro
- AAC codec support
- Alexa integration
- Hi-res music
Cons
- No IP rating; No water-resistance
Buy From Amazon: $228 (₹19,975)
2. Jabra Elite 75t
When it comes to truly wireless earbuds, the Jabra Elite 75t is one of the best alternatives to AirPods that you can buy. First of all, the Jabra Elite 75t comes with a secure-fitting design with interchangeable tips that can fit any ear shape and size.
The earbuds themselves pack in 7.5 hours of listening time with an additional 20 hours of charge in the case giving you an excellent 28 hours of listening time in one go. The Jabra Elite Active 75t also sound great as they have a better sound profile than the AirPods.
I also love the fact that the Jabra Elite 75t can work with a voice assistant of your choice as it supports Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant for Android users. That gives it a huge advantage over AirPods.
Another thing that I love about these earbuds is that they are IP55 rated with a two-year warranty against dust and sweat. In contrast, the standard AirPods don’t come with any IP rating at all. The Jabra Elite 75t is overall a better product than AirPods and hence it has taken the second top spot on our list.
Pros
- Quite comfortable
- Multiple voice assistant support
- IP55 rated
- 7.5 hours of battery life on earbuds
Cons
- No ANC
Buy From Amazon: $149.99 (₹14,999)
3. Powerbeats Pro
One of the biggest advantages that AirPods have over other Bluetooth earbuds is the Apple-designed custom W1/H1 chip which allows it to connect to your iPhone seamlessly. Well, if that is something that you don’t want to sacrifice and still want a better sounding pair of earbuds, than take a look at Powerbeats Pro wireless earphone.
It’s built by Apple and features the H1 chip so you can fancy all the seamless features just like AirPods Pro. And unlike the last-gen neckband-style earphone, Powerbeats Pro is truly a wireless earbud so you have both comfort and portability by your side.
Coming to the sound quality, the Powerbeats Pro sounds better. It brings a better sound profile with improved bass which is important for me. I also love the customizable tip design with support for ear-hooks which means they fit snugly in ears and don’t fall off whether you are playing sports, running, or doing any high-intensity workout.
In terms of battery life, they offer 9 hours of listening time on a single charge and 24 hours with the charging case. Not to mention, the new Powerbeats Pro is IPX4 rated, similar to the AirPods Pro. All in all, if you are an iPhone user and looking for a better sounding AirPods alternative then Powerbeats Pro is your best bet.
Pros
- Features H1 chip
- Well-balanced sound
- Best earbuds for running, exercising
- 9 hours of listening time
- Seamless connectivity
Cons
- No ANC
Buy From Amazon: $249.99
4. Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
In the Galaxy Unpacked Event 2020, Samsung unveiled a lot of products, but the Galaxy Buds Live stood out for me. It simply broke the traditional earbuds design trend — especially the AirPods clones — and brought a bean-like design that has been seen nowhere in the industry.
Not only that, but the Galaxy Buds Live also features active noise cancellation just like AirPods Pro, has a 12mm driver, 3 mics for instant voice pickup, and more. Apart from that, you get 6 hours of playback on a charge, and with the charging case, you can add another 15 hours to that. The disappointing part is that Buds Live is IPX2 rated and it can only save your earbuds from water drops.
The good part is that the charging case can be wirelessly charged. That said, keep in mind, the Galaxy Buds Live doesn’t have a transparency mode where you can hear the ambient sound, but you do have a gaming mode for reduced latency. Nevertheless, if you want an AirPods alternative for Android devices then Galaxy Buds Live brings stellar sound quality with powerful ANC.
Pros
- Unique design; fits really well
- Supports ANC
- 3 mics for voice pickup
- Gaming mode
- Wireless charging
Cons
- No transparency mode
- Poor IP rating
Buy From Amazon: $169.99 (₹14,990)
5. Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2
Let’s be clear, AirPods Pro is great, but it costs you more than $200 dollars. There are people who don’t want to splurge that much but want reasonably good ANC earbuds and that’s where Anker fills the shoe.
The Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 costs you $99, but brings compact form-factor just like AirPods, environmental noise reduction by 60%, and 7 hours of listening time in one full charge.
And if you add the charging case then the battery life gets extended to 28hrs which is amazing. The best part about Liberty Air 2 is that the earbuds have IPX5 protection which is even better than AirPods Pro’ IPX4 rating.
It basically means that the earbuds can sustain even projected water so that is great. All in all, I would say the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 is an affordable AirPods alternative that you must check out.
Pros
- Quite affordable
- Reasonable ANC experience
- Great sound quality
- Better IPX5 protection
- 7 hours of listening time
Cons
- Can’t connect to simultaneous devices
Buy From Amazon: $99.99
6. OnePlus Buds
OnePlus recently released its wireless earbuds and it’s getting good reviews across the board. Given the low price (retails at $79), OnePlus Buds sounds surprisingly good and features even environmental noise cancellation, but only while you are calling or recording. The reason OnePlus Buds sounds immersive is because of its 13.4mm dynamic driver and Dolby Atmos support.
The second big highlight of OnePlus Buds is its battery life. You can go on for 7 hours on a single charge and the charging case can additionally extend the battery life to 30 hours which is amazing. On top of that, the OnePlus Buds support fast charging and just 10 minutes of charge can give you 10 hours of playback.
Not to mention, OnePlus Buds is also IPX4 rated— the same as AirPods Pro. Putting everything into consideration, what you are getting at $79 is not bad at all. In fact, it brings richer sound and great battery life at a quarter of the cost. All in all, OnePlus Buds is another affordable AirPods alternative that offers insane value and immersive sound, minus the ANC.
Pros
- Another affordable earbud
- Great sound output
- IPX4 rated
- Long-lasting battery life
- Noise-cancellation only for calls
- Quick charge
Cons
- No wireless charging
- No ANC
Buy From Amazon: $79 (₹4,990)
7. Google Pixel Buds (2020)
When the 2nd-gen Pixel Buds got released this year, it was met with mixed reviews. Some liked it and some blamed software bugs for frequent connectivity issues. Fast forward now and Google seems to have fixed most of the bugs and now we can finally recommend Pixel Buds without any reservations.
It’s pretty well built– something that Google has been trying for years– and they finally got it right with Pixel Buds 2020. It sure does not have active noise cancellation like the AirPods Pro, but the sound quality is really balanced and you would love the deep Assistant integration on the Buds.
On top of that, the Pixel Buds is IPX4 rated so that is great for splash resistance, supports AAC codec and the case is compatible with wireless charging. In terms of battery life, you will get 5 hours of playback on a single charge and up to 24 hours with the case. To sum up, Google Pixel Buds may not be the best AirPods Pro alternative in terms of features, but it sure sounds great and has got many things right this time.
Pros
- Connectivity issues are no longer present
- Deep Google Assistant Integration
- Wireless charging
- IPX4 rated
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- Average battery life
- No ANC
Buy From BestBuy: $179.99
8. Microsoft Surface Earbuds
Following Apple’s suit, companies are not just making distinct products but also building an ecosystem of products that can talk to each other and seamlessly operate from one device to another. In its latest bid, Microsoft has announced its own pair of earbuds called the Surface Earbuds. Just like Samsung’s Bud Live, the design is quite unique and something that you won’t see anywhere.
It has a somewhat large touch surface where you can tap, and swipe to perform many functions. The earbuds are also quite comfortable to wear, despite the bulky look. Microsoft claims that Surface Earbuds has been precisely tuned to deliver an exceptional acoustic experience.
Talking about the battery life, you can go on for 8 hours on a single charge and 24 hours including the charging case. Having said that, keep in mind, Surface Earbuds doesn’t have ANC, but you do have IPX4 certification. All in all, Microsoft Surface Earbuds is a solid AirPods alternative especially for Android users and you can give it a look.
Pros
- Comfortable to wear
- Large touch surface
- Multi-function gestures
- 8 hours of battery life
- IPX4 certification
Cons
- No ANC
Buy From Amazon: $199.99
9. Skullcandy Sesh True Wireless
Another affordable pair of truly wireless earbuds come from the house of Skullcandy, a brand that I have used and adored in the past. While the design of the earbuds is not drastically different from some of the other offerings on this list, I do love the color and the skull logo.
The build quality is great here and they are also water, dust, and sweat-resistant as the Sesh earbuds come with an IP55 rating. The Skullcandy Sesh offers a decent battery life with 10 hours (3 hrs earbuds + 7 hrs case) of total playback time.
There is one button on the right earbud that can be used for all the usual functions that you can expect including calling upon voice assistant, taking or ignoring calls, play/pause music, and more.
The Skullcandy Sesh also delivers one of the best bass experiences on any budget wireless earbuds. They are also cheaper than all the above earbuds so you should definitely give them a chance. I would say, if you are looking for an AirPods alternative under $50 then Skullcandy Sesh is what you need.
Pros
- Best AirPods alternative under $50
- Bass-heavy sound
- Invoke voice assistant
- IP55 rating
Cons
- Mediocre battery life
Buy From Amazon: $42.67
10. Mpow M9 Wireless Earbuds
Mpow M9 is another AirPods alternative that you can buy under $50. In fact, it’s one of the few earbuds on this list that offers ANC at such a low price. The Mpow M9 features 4 noise-canceling mics for actively suppressing ambient sound. It also offers a good and balanced sound experience with clear highs and decent bass.
Other than that, the earbuds can last up to 6 hours on a single charge and the charging case can extend the battery life to an additional 34 hours. Not to mention, the Mpow M9 is IPX8 rated which means it’s water and sweat resistant just like the AirPods Pro.
All in all, what you get for such a low price is simply unbeatable and that’s why Mpow M9 is among the best alternatives to AirPods for budget users. Another affordable AirPods alternative is AUKEY True Wireless Earbuds which costs $30 and brings rich sound to the table. You should definitely take a look at both the earbuds.
Pros
- Another great AirPods alternative under $50
- Offers decent ANC experience
- IPX8 rated
- 6 hours of battery life
Cons
- Highs are distorted
Best AirPods Alternatives in India (2020)
Some of the AirPods alternatives that we have mentioned above such as OnePlus Buds, Sony wireless earbuds, Samsung Buds Live, and Jabra are available in India and you can check them out from the above section. Here, we are going to list out India-specific AirPods alternatives that are high on features but costs much lesser. So without further ado, let’s begin.
11. Oppo Enco M31 / W31 / W51
Of late, Oppo has been releasing quite a few audio accessories and they seem to have hit the right balance when it comes to audio tuning. The Enco M31 which is a neckband-style earphone performed surprisingly great. It comes with support for the LDAC codec which is a high-quality streaming technology developed by Sony.
On the same line, Oppo launched the Enco W31 which is a true wireless earbud with almost comparable sound output. Now, the company has announced (yet to go on sale), the Oppo Enco W51 which is getting rave reviews from reviewers across the board. It comes with ANC which is available on AirPods Pro and the price has been kept as low as Rs. 4,999 which is just amazing.
On top of that, it features wireless charging and IP54 dust and water resistance. In tandem, you are getting premium features like ANC and water resistance at such a low price. And for that very reason, the Oppo Enco W51 is the most affordable AirPods alternative in India with premium features. The company says the W51 will go on sale very soon.
Pros
- ANC at an affordable price in India
- Superb sound
- Hi-res audio
- Dust and water resistance
Cons
- No transparency mode
- Buy From Amazon: ₹1,999 (Enco M31)
- Buy From Amazon: ₹3,499 (Enco W31)
- Check Out the Oppo Enco W51
12. Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 / Redmi Earbud S
Xiaomi released the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 in India and it has also been received pretty well from the tech community. Similar to AirPods Pro, it offers automatic noise cancellation but that’s limited to calls only. It features dual-mic to suppress the ambient noise and it does seem to work.
Talking about the sound quality, well, Mi TWS 2 comes with a larger 14.2mm dynamic driver which should translate to rich and deep sound. And talking about the battery life, you have got 4 hours on earbuds and 14 hours on the charging case. Having said that, keep in mind, unlike AirPods Pro, the Mi TWS 2 does not have any IP rating.
All in all, given the low price, you can’t complain much, and since you are getting excellent sound quality with ANC for calls, the Mi TWS 2 surely seems like a great AirPods alternative in India. In case, you want a cheaper option then go for Redmi Earbud S which just costs Rs. 1,799 and brings decent sound in a compact form factor.
Pros
- Good sounding earbuds
- ANC for calls
- 14.2mm dynamic driver
- Comfortable to wear
Cons
- Average battery life
- No IP rating
13. Realme Buds Air / Neo
Realme Buds Air is one of the best AirPods alternatives in India, currently retailing at Rs. 3,995. It does not have fancy features like ANC and transparency mode, but apart from that, it gives you a good music experience, smart features like tap to invoke assistant, wireless charging, and more.
What I love about Realme Buds Air is that when you remove the earbuds from your ear, the music stops automatically just like AirPods. Apart from that, the build quality is pretty good as I have been using it for around 8 months. Yes, the Realme Buds Air does not have any IP certification, but from my personal use, I can definitely say that it has some level of water protection built-in.
Talking about the battery life, it’s slightly on the lower side with 3 hours on the earbuds and 14 hours on the charging case. To conclude, Realme Buds Air is easily among the best AirPods alternatives in India and you should check it out. In case, you are looking for an even cheaper alternative then go for Realme Buds Air Neo. It does not have wireless charging and in-ear detection feature.
Pros
- In-ear detection
- Good sound output
- Supports gestures
- One-tap Google Assistant
- Fits well
Cons
- No ANC
- No IP certification
- Average battery life
14. Blaupunkt BTW01 / BTW Pro
Finally, on our list is Blaupunkt BTW01 which is a perfect pick for users who want bass-heavy sound. This German-brand is getting favorable reviews in India for the deep, accentuated sound it produces. The company has been in the audio technology business since 1924 so you can expect better sound quality. Apart from the rich sound quality, it also comes with some smart features.
You can press the button and invoke a voice assistant of your choice, play/pause music, and accept calls. Talking about battery life, the Blaupunkt BTW01 earbuds can last up to 6 hours and the case can extend the battery life up to 24 hours. In addition, the earbuds are IPX5 rated so that is great for listening to music while running and exercising.
Other than that, Blaupunkt has also released an improved and pricey BTW Pro that comes with ANC for calls, AptX technology, IPX7 rating, 8 hours of earbuds battery life, and more. It’s priced at Rs. 6,999 but currently, the item is not on sale. Whenever you get a chance, don’t miss to grab this awesome deal.
To sum up, for all these features and exceptional sound quality at such a low price, both Blaupunkt BTW01 and BTW Pro certainly rank among the best AirPods alternatives, especially for Android devices.
Pros
- Bass-heavy sound
- Multi-function button
- 6 hours of battery life
- IPX5 rated
Cons
- Mediocre build quality
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a Cheaper Alternative to AirPods?
If you are in the US then a cheaper alternative to AirPods would be Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2. Apart from that, you can also take a look at OnePlus Buds and Skullcandy Sesh. In India, I would recommend the upcoming Oppo Enco W51 and OnePlus Buds.
Q. Can I Get a Replacement for My AirPods?
Yes, your AirPod can be replaced but only if there is any manufacturing defect. If any issue arises out of wear and tear then you can get it repaired under the Apple One Year Limited Warranty.
Q. What are the Best Knockoff AirPods?
OnePlus Buds is pretty good, but it’s not a straight-up knockoff of AirPods, although the design is somewhat similar. Besides that, you can take a look at Mpow M9 and AUKEY True Wireless Earbuds. These earbuds look and feel very similar to AirPods but cost much less.
Q. How Can You Tell if an AirPod is Fake?
The easiest way to check if an AirPod is fake or not is through Apple’s service coverage webpage. Just open the website and enter the serial number printed at the left underside of the charging case lid.
You can also find the serial number on the original box which sits next to the barcode. If the website shows your product details like date of purchase and warranty period then your AirPod is authentic. If you get an error message then it’s most likely a fake AirPod.
Find the Best Alternative to AirPods at all Price-point
That ends our article on the best wireless earbuds that you can buy to replace the AirPods. While I still believe that AirPods are great, you don’t have to buy them just because everyone is doing it. Do take a look at our list and let us know which is your favorite AirPods alternative amongst them all. Also, if you know of a great sounding pair of truly wireless earphones that you think should be covered in this list, do let us know about them in the comments section below.
Comments
6
Great post
Awei t5l
I thought you do it for the Indian audience. Where is the INR?
Just because everyone talks in $$ we don’t have to, do we?
Anker liberty ..u missed it
Thanks for your suggestion, we will check it out.
pls review NOISE wireless headphones too…