Best Apple AirPods Pro alternatives

True wireless earbuds have matured over the past few years, and with the release of the Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) and, more recently, the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), companies are thinking of creative ways to outdo Apple. Today we’ve put together a list of the best Apple AirPods Pro alternatives, and our picks include those with noise canceling, H1 chip integration, and more. Let’s dive in and see what truly wireless earbuds are the best choice for you.

Why is the Sony WF-1000XM5 the best set of AirPods Pro alternatives?

Your search for the best noise canceling true wireless earbuds ends with the Sony WF-1000XM5 as long as you can afford it. If you spend a lot of your workweek traveling by plane or are just plain sick of the eardrum-numbing rattle of your public transit system, Sony’s buds are about to be your new best friend. The earbuds effectively quiet low frequencies from 50Hz and higher and will sound roughly one-quarter to one-sixteenth as loud as they would be compared to wearing nothing in your ears. This is very good for such a small device, and really, only the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 can rival Sony here.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds have an IPX4 rating and come with four pairs of polyurethane foam ear tips, so this can be a great set of workout earbuds too. It is also one of the few headsets to use Bluetooth 5.3, which gives you access to LE Audio and Sony’s higher-quality LDAC Codec. Other features include smart assistant integration, speak-to-chat, transparency mode, and 360 Reality Audio (which is similar to Apple’s spatial audio). If you’re displeased with the default frequency response, you can create a custom EQ through the Sony Headphones Connect app (iOS/Android). You can also remap the touch controls in the app.

The Beats Powerbeats Pro is perfect for athletes

The Beats Powerbeats Pro is great for any workout because of its ear hooks and IPX4 rating. You can sweat and jump around all you want with these earbuds, and they’ll stay in place just as they should. The Powerbeats Pro has excellent battery life that nears 11 hours on a single charge, with a total of at least 24 hours of playback from the Lightning case. You don’t get wireless charging here; for that, you’ll need the Beats Fit Pro.

Like other Apple products, yes, Apple owns Beats; the Powerbeats Pro uses the H1 chip for hands-free Siri access, Audio sharing, Find My functionality and more. You get automatic play/pause when you use it with an iPhone, and any user can enjoy the bassy frequency response. This is perfect for exercise since bass is typically what we keep our ears out for during cardio or even calisthenics.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is one of the best pairs of earbuds for Android phones

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro features excellent noise canceling and has a host of EQ presets for you to choose from. If you have an Android phone, or even more specifically, a Samsung Galaxy phone, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is a steal. These buds boast an impressive IPX7 rating, very good sound and microphone quality, and a great collection of software features.

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro case supports wireless charging and includes a USB-C cable for analog top-ups. The earbuds last nearly 5 hours on a single charge. The earbuds fit perfectly in the case, and while they don’t have additional reinforcements to stay in your ear, like fins or wings, you can still get a great fit with the ear tips provided.

Is the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II comfortable? Yes, yes it is

It took years for Bose to update its QuietComfort Earbuds, but in 2022 it finally happened. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II makes some serious updates to the overall design, with a couple of missteps, but an overall improvement in areas that really matter. Gone is the brick-shaped design of the first-gen model—these earbuds sport wraparound rubberized fins on the housing to keep the earbuds in place and take some of the pressure off, achieving a perfectly locked seal to maintain a secure fit (it’s still important to get a good seal). The fins take a little fiddling with, and they can get in the way of the charging connections on the earbuds — it’s not a big deal, but something you’ve definitely got to watch out for consistently.

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II brings big improvements to ANC, achieving results more in line with current top-of-the-line options like the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and the Sony WF-1000XM4. Seriously, this is among the best noise canceling you can buy. If you’re a frequent flyer or you have a morning bus commute, attenuation like this will feel particularly nice.

However, the audio output isn’t quite as stellar as the ANC. The QC Earbuds II features a default sound profile that seriously amps up the bass response, but the Bose Music app offers alternative EQ presets (and the option to make your own), which will help.

The earbuds also take a unique approach to keeping your sound consistent across listening sessions. Every time you put the earbuds in your ears, they will output a quick chirp sound to gauge the quality of the seal and automatically adjust your sound accordingly. This may sound annoying, but it’s actually pretty useful—even a tiny change in the way earbuds sit in your ear canal can have a big impact on how they sound.

The Nothing Ear 2 is a high-value AirPods Pro alternative

Nothing is OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei’s latest project, and its debut release was the Nothing Ear 1. While those buds sound great, the newer iteration, the Nothing Ear 2, ups the noise canceling capabilities and adds a greater battery life. These stemmed earphones feature a mainly transparent design that matches the see-through plastic case. Like the AirPods Pro, the Ear 2 supports AAC streaming and includes an array of oblong ear tips. Unlike the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), the Ear 2 has an IP54 rating against dust and sweat and adds the LHDC Bluetooth codec for use with Android devices reaching up to 24-bit/96kHz audio.

The noise canceling isn’t the best we’ve seen, but the Ear 2 has updated the capabilities, and ANC ranks as rather decent, although not quite AirPods Pro (2nd generation) level. You can toggle between two noise canceling modes, though we recommend the maximum setting.

Nothing’s Ear 2 has a frequency response that closely follows our house curve, except for in the highs, where there’s likely too much treble for most. You can use the included EQ in the Nothing X app or the custom sound profile to adjust to taste. The Ear 2 utilizes pinch controls which are somewhat similar to AirPods Pro, and the battery reaches 6 hours and 7 minutes with ANC enabled. For the price, it’s a winner.

Should you get the Beats Studio Buds Plus instead of the AirPods Pro?

Riffing off of the success of the original Beats Studio Buds, the newer Beats Studio Buds Plus retains nearly the same form factor and a reasonable 5-gram per bud weight. These sound pretty decent and have a much-improved noise canceling system. Unlike other Beats, these lack an H1 or H2 chip and work just as well with Android as iOS.

Button controls are pretty much the most annoying thing about these earbuds. If you don’t mind those, the 8 hours and 22 minutes of battery life will surely impress pretty much everyone and surpasses the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) battery life.

Should you get the Apple AirPods 3 instead of the AirPods Pro?

The Apple AirPods (3rd generation) borrows many of its features and its design from the flagship AirPods Pro. With shortened stems, force sensor controls, and an IPX4 build, it may be hard to tell the AirPods (3rd generation) apart from the Pro model — that is, until you remove the earbuds from your ear. The third-gen AirPods feature the same open-type fit as previous AirPods. If you want a comfortable, reliable fit, then the AirPods Pro is the best option, no question. There are also plenty of AirPods alternatives worth checking out.

The AirPods (3rd generation) versus AirPods Pro (2nd generation) debate isn’t that simple, though: the unsealed fit of the newest AirPods keeps you safe and aware of your surroundings at all times. What’s more, Apple claims you get up to 6 hours of playtime on a single charge, which is better than the AirPods Pro. The biggest advantage that the AirPods (3rd generation) has over the Pro is the price.

Both AirPods include a MagSafe wireless charging case with an analog Lightning input, and both feature Dolby Atmos spatial audio with head tracking for immersive music and video playback from compatible services. Again, the biggest difference between these sets of earbuds is the fit and ANC capabilities, or lack thereof.

With the release of the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), there’s even more to discuss, given the vast improvement over the last generation of the AirPods Pro. To see how the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) compares to the AirPods (3rd generation), check out our comparison.

The best AirPods Pro alternatives: Notable mentions

• Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen): This set of smart true wireless earbuds integrates Amazon Alexa, which is great for any smart home enthusiast heavily invested in the Amazon ecosystem for merely $119 at Amazon. The noise canceling is good and even outperforms that of the original AirPods Pro.
• Anker Soundcore Space A40: These are priced right ($79 at Amazon) and ship with AAC and LDAC Bluetooth codecs, good ANC, a decent default sound, and an in-app equalizer.
• Beats Studio Buds: The first generation of Studio Buds sounds pretty good and has an IPX4 rating. Noise canceling isn’t super impressive, but the price has gone down ($99 at Amazon).
• Google Pixel Buds A-Series: Get these earbuds to save a bit of cash but get many of the same benefits as the Google Pixel Buds (2020). For only $94 at Amazon, and offers full Android integration, an IPX4 rating, and several special features. If you want more features, including ANC, consider the Google Pixel Buds Pro ($199 at Amazon). These two are best suited to Android devices.
• Jabra Elite 7 Pro: These earbuds are made to do anything, and they do just that. Unfortunately, the Elite 7 Pro go for $199 at Amazon, but you get solid features like wireless charging, a great mobile app, good mic quality, and IP57-rated earphones.
• Nothing Ear 1: While Ear 2 updates the original Ear 1 with better ANC, the originals sell for only $99 at Amazon and sound rather good. If ANC isn’t a big concern, save a few bucks.
• Samsung Galaxy Buds 2: These are cheaper than the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro ($99 at Amazon) and boast many of the same features like ANC, Bluetooth 5.2, and fast charging. You miss out on some features like 360 audio and a high water-resistant rating, though.
• Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3: These earbuds have an IPX4 rating and very good active noise canceling. Unusually, these wireless earbuds support aptX Adaptive, which makes them stand out for those who stream videos over patchy connections. Like other Sennheiser headphones, these earbuds sound very good and will bode well for any genre of music. They go for $169 at Amazon.
• Sony LinkBuds S: These discreet-looking earbuds cost less than the lauded Sony WF-1000XM5, but are smaller, have the same IPX4 rating, sound good, and have spatial audio. Get them for $148 at Amazon.
• Sony WF-1000XM4: These earbuds used to wear the crown for best ANC true wireless earbuds until Sony’s successor, the WF-1000XM5, came out. Still, these have many of the same features, such as Sony 360 audio and an IPX4 rating, and can be found for cheaper nowadays ($278 at Amazon).

What you should know before buying Apple AirPods Pro alternatives

Whether you have a large collection of headsets or are just diving into your first set of pricier earbuds, we know that shopping around can be overwhelming. There are many things to consider, like sound quality, durability, isolation, fit, features, and more. We recommend that newbies read up on our comprehensive headphone buying guide, but if you just want to skim for the most important stuff, read on below.

Do non-Apple earbuds sound different from AirPods?

All earbuds have a certain sound profile which is technically referred to as a “frequency response.” Most consumer headsets follow a similar frequency response with the AirPods Pro: boosted bass and treble relative to the mids. However, to what degree a pair of earbuds boosts or under-emphasizes these frequencies varies across the board.

As you can see in the chart above, the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) generally follows the shape of our house curve, but has a quieter treble output than we recommend. This is different from the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro from Samsung, which has a frequency response that boosts bass and treble a bit more than the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) does.

Ultimately, what sounds good is up to you: audio is a very subjective experience. If you like bass, more power to you. If you like treble, then there are plenty of headsets out there for you too. A great thing about wireless earbuds is that many companion apps come with intuitive custom equalizers where you can adjust the sound to your liking. No matter what headset you get, there’s often the option for tinkering.

What is a Bluetooth codec?

Your smartphone’s operating software determines what Bluetooth codecs you need to look out for when shopping for Bluetooth headphones. A Bluetooth codec dictates how your phone transfers audio to your headphones.

iPhone users should get something with AAC support because it’s currently the only high-quality Bluetooth codec the company’s products support. Android users, on the other hand, should invest in total wireless earbuds with aptX support; unfortunately, AAC’s performance is all over the place on Android as it demands a huge amount of processing power to stream over. All of our favorite Apple AirPods Pro alternatives support either aptX or AAC, and in some cases, both codecs are compatible.

Should you get noise canceling earbuds?

If you’re on the fence about buying a pair of noise canceling earbuds, we implore you to give them a shot, as they can protect you from noise-induced hearing loss. In fact, the earbuds work two-fold to protect your hearing while also improving the perceived clarity of your music. When you listen without noise canceling headphones, your music is subject to auditory masking: when a loud sound (e.g., external noise) makes it difficult to register a quieter one (e.g. music playback). There is one downside to ANC, though: shortened battery life. By turning off noise canceling, you can squeeze out an additional 20-40 minutes of playtime.

Although not all of our picks have active noise canceling, it’s important to remember that true wireless ANC doesn’t perform as well or as consistently as over-ear headphones. Generally speaking, noise cancelation is most effective at combating loud, droning, predictable sounds: microphones use destructive interference to nullify these sounds. Nearby chatter or clanging kitchen utensils may still break through the ANC barrier, but noises like computer fans and engines will be filtered out.

How long do true wireless earbuds last?

Due to the size limitations of true wireless earbuds, the battery cells can only supply so much power before hitting a wall. We’ve seen huge improvements in just a few years as a handful of candidates from the likes of Master & Dynamic and Beats are able to come near or exceed 10 hours of playtime on a single charge, and on the cheaper end, JLab. That, however, remains an exception. Most true wireless earbuds will grant you four or five hours of listening before needing to be topped up in the provided charging case.

To compensate for the short-lived battery life, many products support some version of quick charging. Most of the time, this feature affords one hour of listening after being in the case for just 10 minutes.

Why you should trust SoundGuys

We’ve been testing true wireless earbuds since the category’s inception and take pride in our ability to show our work and reasoning behind championing one product over another. We strive to make performance measurements accessible to our readers and have the know-how, dedication, and ethics to do so — we take integrity seriously.

Everything we recommend is because our objective measurements and subjective experiences have led us to feel strongly about a product. At the end of the day, we want you to be happy with your purchase or, at the very least, to close out of this tab knowing a bit more about the inner workings of audio.

Frequently asked questions about AirPods Pro alternatives