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 15 best AirPods and AirPods Pro alternatives that you can buy right now.
Here, we have mentioned the 15 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 jump to the corresponding earbud quickly.
List of Top AirPods Alternatives for Android and iOS
Sony WF-1000XM4Samsung Galaxy Buds 2Jabra Elite 85tBose QuietComfortAnker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 ProBeats Fit ProMpow MBits SSkullcandy Sesh EvoGoogle Pixel Buds ABest AirPods Alternatives in India (2021)
Oppo Enco XLypertek TeviOppo Enco W51Realme Buds Air 2OnePlus Buds ProNothing Ear(1)Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a Cheaper Alternative to AirPods?Q. Can I Get a Replacement for My AirPods?Q. What are the Best Knockoff AirPods?Q. How Can You Tell if an AirPod is Fake?
Sony WF-1000XM4Samsung Galaxy Buds 2Jabra Elite 85tBose QuietComfortAnker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 ProBeats Fit ProMpow MBits SSkullcandy Sesh EvoGoogle Pixel Buds A
Oppo Enco XLypertek TeviOppo Enco W51Realme Buds Air 2OnePlus Buds ProNothing Ear(1)
Q. What is a Cheaper Alternative to AirPods?Q. Can I Get a Replacement for My AirPods?Q. What are the Best Knockoff AirPods?Q. How Can You Tell if an AirPod is Fake?
List of Top AirPods Alternatives for Android and iOS
1. Sony WF-1000XM4
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 a while back 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.
As far as water and sweat resistance is concerned, the WF-1000XM4 makes an improvement over its predecessors, the WF-1000XM3, by bringing in IPX4 rating. This means you can use these earbuds in the gym without worrying about sweat ruining your earphones. All in all, I would say, if you want immersive sound quality that even beats AirPods Pro black and blue then Sony WF-1000XM4 is the best alternative to AirPods.
Pros
Cons
Earlier our list contained the Galaxy Buds Pro, but Samsung has since launched the Galaxy Buds 2 which is an even stronger AirPods Pro alternative. In fact, if you’re using a Samsung phone, these are by far the best AirPods alternatives you can find. The earphones come with 2 way dynamic drivers with powerful bass output.
Obviously, there’s also active noise cancellation support here, which means you can easily listen to your favourite music without any disturbances from outside noises and sounds. The Buds 2 share a lot of specs with the Buds Pro, and you’ll be perfectly fine with the Buds Pro as well, if those are more to your liking.
Cons
- Touch gestures are sensitive
When it comes to truly wireless earbuds, Jabra has been ruling the market for quite a long time. Jabra has released the successor of 75t — the Jabra Elite 85t which improves on an already great product. First of all, the Jabra Elite 85t comes with a secure-fitting design with interchangeable tips that can fit any ear shape and size. It also features an advanced Active Noise Cancellation technology and you can adjust the ANC level to your preference.
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.
After a long wait, Bose finally upgraded its wireless earbud lineup. Bose QuietComfort is first in the lineup that comes with all the premium features similar to AirPods Pro. It’s one of the best noise-canceling earbuds you can find in the market right now. The earbuds have 11 levels of ANC and you can customize it too. The best part is that it comes with a transparency mode just like AirPods Pro to quickly have conversations with the outside world.
Coming to other features, the earbuds are IPX4 rated and can last up to 6 hours on a single charge. The case additionally provides 12 hours of battery life. Apart from that, the case is Qi-certified which means you can wirelessly charge the case. Also, the earbuds support gestures so with a press, you can answer calls, skip a track, invoke voice assistants, and more. I would say if you love the acclaimed Bose sound then Bose QuietComfort would be a better pick than AirPods Pro.
Let’s be clear, AirPods Pro is great, but it costs you around $200. There are people who don’t want to splurge that much but want reasonably good ANC earbuds (with 6 mics) and that’s where Anker fills the shoe. The Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro costs you $129 but brings compact form-factor just like AirPods, environmental noise reduction by 60%, and 7 hours of listening time.
And if you add the charging case then the battery life gets extended to 26hrs which is amazing. The best part about Liberty Air 2 Pro is that the earbuds have IPX4 protection which is what you get on the AirPods Pro. It basically means that the earbuds are water-resistant and can withstand some raindrops. All in all, I would say the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro is an affordable AirPods alternative that you must check out.
Other than that, Anker has its older Soundcore Liberty Air 2 which is a non-pro model, but believe me, it’s a better value for money. It also comes with noise cancellation and features 4 mics to cancel out ambient noise. So if you are content with an older pair of earbuds then Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 is a great choice.
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, then take a look at the Beats Fit Pro wireless earphones.
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 design which had stems going around your ears, the Beats Fit Pro is truly a wireless earbud so you have both comfort and portability by your side.
Coming to the sound quality, the Beats Fit 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.
- Not the best in sound quality
Mpow MBits S is another AirPods alternative that you can buy for under $50. In fact, it’s one of the few earbuds on this list that offers ANC at such a low price. It features multiple 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 35 hours. Not to mention, the Mpow MBits S is IPX8 rated which means it’s water and sweat resistant just like the AirPods Pro.
Pros
- Another great AirPods alternative under $50Offers decent ANC experienceIPX8 rated6 hours of battery life
8. Skullcandy Sesh Evo
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.
When the 2nd-gen Pixel Buds got released, it was met with mixed reviews. Some liked it and some blamed software bugs for frequent connectivity issues. Since then, however, Google has fixed most of the issues and released the Pixel Buds A series, which are an affordable TWS option from the company and a solid AirPods alternative.
The earphones are well built, and come in pretty much the same design as the Pixel Buds (2020), which is one of the few TWS designs that I really like. 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 Google Assistant integration on the Buds.
On top of that, the Pixel Buds A series is IPX4 rated so that is great for splash resistance. It also supports AAC codec. 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 A series 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.
Buy From Google: $99
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.
10. Oppo Enco X
We all know how Oppo has dominated the wireless earbuds market in India and their latest Oppo Enco X decimates all the competition with powerful features at an affordable price tag. The Oppo Enco X is a direct competitor to the AirPods Pro. It costs half of AirPods Pro and brings the powerful ANC feature with dual mic and DBEE 3.0 Sound System for an immersive sound experience. Here, the ANC is pretty powerful and completely cancels out even louder ambient noise.
Buy From Flipkart: ₹9,990
11. Lypertek Tevi
Lypertek Tevi is a new favorite among the audiophiles in India as it brings a balanced sound signature. Thanks to the aptX Bluetooth codec, the earbud is able to deliver an immersive sound experience and at a price of just Rs. 6,999. The earbuds are ideal for taking calls, listening to music, for long flights, and just about any scenario. It does not have ANC but noise isolation works quite well during calls.
The best part about Lypertek Tevi is its battery life which overshadows the AirPods Pro by a mile. You get 10 hours of playback with the earbuds and a total of 60 hours of battery life which is just insane. Not to forget, the earbud is IPX7 rated. Simply put, if you are looking for an all-around earbud then Lypertek Tevi is a great pick.
Buy From Headphone Zone: ₹6,999
12. Oppo Enco W51
As I have mentioned above, 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 Oppo Enco W51 is particularly one of the best ANC earbuds in the Indian market right now. It comes with ANC but it’s not as powerful as the Oppo Enco X. Other than that, the earbuds support 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.
13. Realme Buds Air 2
In a way, Realme had started the affordable earbuds market in India with Realme Buds Air in 2019. And now the company has launched a successor — Realme Buds Air 2 which comes with ANC at an affordable price point. Among the legions of wireless earbuds in the Indian market, Realme Buds Air 2 stands out with a premium design, great sound signature, and IPX5 water resistance. Apart from that, it gives you a good music experience, smart features like tap to invoke assistant, fast charging, and more.
What I love about Realme Buds Air 2 is that when you remove the earbuds from your ear, the music stops automatically just like AirPods. Talking about the battery life, it easily lasts for more than 4-5 hours on a single charge and the total battery life with the case is 25 hours. To conclude, Realme Buds Air 2 is easily among the best AirPods alternatives in India and you should check it out.
Buy From Flipkart: ₹3,299
14. OnePlus Buds Pro
One of my favourite truly wireless earbuds in India are the OnePlus Buds Pro. These earbuds look great, and do pretty much everything that AirPods can do, making them a solid AirPods competitor. The OnePlus Buds Pro come with a nice, stealthy design, especially in the black color, along with a pocketable case. Inside, the earbuds feature 11mm drivers tuned for better bass output, making them perfect for bass lovers and people who prefer a warmer sound output from their earbuds.
The OnePlus Buds Pro also come with support for active noise cancellation. In terms of battery, the earphones boast of a 7 hour listening time which expands up to a whopping 38 hour battery life. Plus, they also support Warp Charge allowing you to get 10 hours of playback time on just 10 minutes of charging. The OnePlus Buds Pro also come with IP55 rating, so you can use them in the rain, or during workouts without worrying about sweat or water ruining them.
Pros:
Cons:
15. Nothing Ear(1)
Lastly, there’s the Nothin Ear 1 earphones which are definitely one of the best options for getting almost every feature of the AirPods Pro for quite a low price. The Nothing Ear (1) boast of a unique design with their transparent chassis and case. They also come with 11mm Graphene dynamic driver and a 0.34CC sound chamber.
The earphones also come with active noise cancellation, and boast of a battery life of 24 hours with ANC on, and 34 hours with ANC off. Obviously those numbers are with the charging case, but that’s still one of the best battery life on TWS earphones in the market right now. Overall, the Nothing Ear (1) have a lot going for them, and if you’re looking for affordable AirPods Pro alternatives in India, you should definitely check these out.
Buy from Nothing: Rs. 6,999
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 Evo. In India, I would recommend Realme Buds Air 2, Oppo Enco W51, and OnePlus Buds Z.
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 Z 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.
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.
