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.
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.
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.
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.
Cons
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.
Pros
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.
Cons
- No ANC
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.
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.
- Can’t connect to simultaneous devices
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.
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.
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.
- Comfortable to wear
- Large touch surface
- Multi-function gestures
- 8 hours of battery life
- IPX4 certification
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.
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.
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.
- Another great AirPods alternative under $50
- Offers decent ANC experience
- IPX8 rated
- 6 hours of battery life
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
