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I would buy these 3 earbuds instead of the AirPods Pro
June 18, 2025
The AirPods Pro 2 are unquestionably great wireless earbuds. They’ve held their place on our list of the best wireless earbuds on the market, and they’ve only improved over the years as Apple has added features through firmware updates.
That said, not everyone has an iPhone, nor does everyone want to spend hundreds of dollars on their earbuds. So, while the AirPods Pro 2 are good, they are not an ideal choice for everyone. For everyone who doesn’t want AirPods, I’ve compiled the list below of my best AirPods Pro 2 alternatives. I’ve personally tested each of the earbuds on this list, and we have also put them through our SoundGuys testing lab to get objective measurements on sound quality, noise canceling performance, and battery life.
Android alternative: Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
If you are jealous of the seamless integration and plethora of features that iPhone users get with their AirPods, look to the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 (Google Pixel Buds Pro 2$229 at Amazon). As the native earbud offering from the maker of Android, you get a very similar experience to that of AirPods with an iPhone, including instant pairing across devices and AI integration. Just like how the AirPods Pro 2 have a custom H2 chip, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 have a proprietary Tensor A1 chip to handle on-device processing for improved noise canceling and sound quality.
One of my favorite things about the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is how comfortable these earbuds are. I often turn to AirPods Pro 2 because of how well they fit my ears, but the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are right up there in terms of fit and comfort. Each earbud is small and lightweight, and the soft rubber fin on the back of the earbuds holds them in place while working out.
Based on our measurements, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 have very similar performance to the AirPods Pro 2. We found the Pixel Buds Pro 2 reduce the loudness of outside noise by an average of 80%, just a tad behind the 83% of the AirPods Pro 2. Our frequency response measurements show that the default sound of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is very similar to the AirPods Pro 2. One plus of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is that it comes with a 5-band custom equalizer within the Pixel Buds app, so you can actually customize the sound of the earbuds to your liking, something that is a challenge with AirPods.
Read our full Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review
Samsung alternative: Galaxy Buds3 Pro
While the Pixel Buds are the all-around choice for Android users, the Galaxy Buds3 Pro ($249.99 at Amazon) are the ideal choice if you happen to have a flagship Samsung phone. Samsung caught some flack for copying the AirPods design with their newest earbuds, but I’m not complaining. I find this earbud design comfortable, while the protruding stems make for intuitive pinch and swipe controls.
If you have a Samsung phone, the settings and features of the Galaxy Buds3 Pro integrate natively into the operating system. You can also take advantage of the suite of features that Samsung refers to as Galaxy AI, with the flagship feature being real-time translation to another language while wearing the earbuds. Another perk of using these earbuds with a Samsung device is access to the Samsung Seamless Codec, which provides high-res audio up to 24-bit/96kHz.
In our testing, we found the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro reduce the loudness of external noise by an average of 76%. While this is a step back from the performance of the AirPods Pro 2, it’s still more than enough noise reduction for most use cases. These earbuds provide a bit more emphasis on bass and treble out of the box compared to AirPods, which some might consider a more exciting sound. If you don’t like how they sound out of the box, you can dive into the EQ and tweak to your preference.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro review
Budget alternative: SoundPEATS Capsule 3 Pro+
It’s 2025, and that means you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to get good wireless earbuds anymore. In fact, you can often find great wireless earbuds for less than $100, such as the SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+ ($89.99 at Amazon).
My favorite thing about these earbuds is their sound quality. The SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+ have xMEMS drivers inside each earbud, an innovative new headphone technology that delivers excellent treble clarity. In my opinion, these are among the best-sounding earbuds on the market, an impressive feat considering their price.
The SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+ are no slouch in other features either. The ANC reduces outside noise by an average of 81%, right in line with the performance of the flagship offerings. While these earbuds might not integrate into the operating system of your phone quite as seamlessly as the options from Apple, Google, and Samsung, they do still come with the PeatsAudio companion app. Within this app, you can customize the controls, enable the low-latency gaming mode, and adjust the sound in the 10-band equalizer.
Read our full SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+ review
Which of these AirPods Pro 2 alternatives would you buy? Let us know in the poll below.