I would buy these 3 earbuds instead of AirPods

AirPods are largely considered the default earbud option these days. Even Apple has stated that AirPods Pro are “the single-best selling headphone in the world“.

While AirPods do provide a lot of value for those in the Apple ecosystem, they aren’t perfect. Apple may have finally added active noise canceling to the AirPods 4, but they still lack swappable ear tips. If the AirPods 4 don’t fit your ears right, they’ll be uncomfortable, won’t block out noise, and sound quality will suffer. On the other hand, the AirPods Pro 2 are downright expensive ($189.99 at Amazon). So, what should you buy instead of AirPods?

Budget alternative: CMF Buds 2 Plus

The CMF Buds 2 Plus have all the features and performance that most people need in their wireless earbuds, for about half the price of the latest AirPods ($69 at Amazon). You get the latest and greatest Bluetooth 5.4 with support for LDAC, and the sound quality actually holds up to our expectations. We tested the CMF Buds 2 Plus here in our SoundGuys lab, and the earbuds scored a 4.8 on a scale from 1-5 according to MDAQS sound quality testing. That’s higher than the AirPods 4, and the same score as the AirPods Pro 2!

Despite their budget price, the CMF Buds 2 Plus also have active noise canceling (ANC). According to our testing, the CMF Buds 2 Plus block out an average of 83% of external noise with ANC enabled, which is on par with the performance of the AirPods Pro 2. These buds don’t skimp on features either – the included Nothing X app offers spatial audio and an equalizer to tweak the sound of the earbuds to your exact preference. For the price, it’s hard to say the CMF Buds 2 Plus don’t offer more value than any of the current AirPods options.

Read our full CMF Buds 2 Plus review

Sound quality alternative: Creative Aurvana Ace Mimi

Let’s say you want wireless earbuds with the best sound quality. Should you get AirPods? Not necessarily. According to my testing, the Creative Aurvana Ace Mimi currently offer the best sound quality of any wireless earbuds on the market, thanks to their innovative xMEMS drivers. This new MEMS driver technology offers excellent detail and clarity across the highest reaches of the audible spectrum. Thanks to the partnership with Mimi, the Creative earbuds also adjust the sound of the earbuds to your ears, after doing a hearing test within the Creative app.

With a similar design and shape to the AirPods Pro, I find the Creative Aurvana Ace Mimi very comfortable to wear for long listening sessions. These earbuds also offer active noise canceling that we found blocks out an average of 76% of external noise. Battery life falls a bit short at only 4 hours and 41 minutes according to our tests, but these wireless earbuds really are the gold standard for audiophiles.

Read our full Creative Aurvana Ace Mimi review

Android alternative: Samsung Galaxy Buds3

Let’s say you really like the design of AirPods. You don’t like shoving silicone ear tips down your ear canal, and you prefer the unsealed design to stay aware of your surroundings. But what if you don’t have an iPhone?

If that sounds like you, you should check out the Samsung Galaxy Buds3. Samsung copied Apple’s homework and just changed it slightly by adding an Android twist, with a few features exclusive to Samsung Galaxy phones. You get the same unsealed earbud design, with a stem to access onboard controls.

Just like AirPods, the Galaxy Buds3 come with a ton of features. If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, the Galaxy Buds3 work seamlessly within the operating system, without the need to mess around with Bluetooth connections or downloading an external app. Using the earbuds with a Samsung phone provides access to the Galaxy AI suite of features, which includes live translation functionality to have a conversation with someone in another language using the earbuds.

The Galaxy Buds3 suffers from the same major drawback as the AirPods 4 – if they don’t fit your ears properly, you’re pretty much screwed. On the other hand, if the earbuds do fit your ears, you can get good sound quality. The Samsung Seamless Codec provides 24bit/96kHz audio when streaming from a Samsung phone, and just like with AirPods, the Galaxy Buds have Adaptive EQ to adjust the sound of the earbuds to your ears.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Buds3 review

Would you buy one of these AirPods alternatives, or are you sticking with the big Apple? Let us know in the poll below.