The Apple AirPods Pro are an excellent set of earbuds, offering impressive sound quality, rock-solid battery life, and customizable controls. Plus, these in-ear audio titans both look and sound good. Unfortunately, not everyone can fork over the asking price. Fortunately, there's hope.
If you're looking for an awesome set of earbuds that match the quality of the Apple AirPods Pro but won't destroy your wallet, we've put together this roundup to shine a light on some stellar alternatives. From Amazon to Bose, this collection of earbuds can easily go toe to toe with the best that Apple has to offer.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
The best overall
- Best noise-canceling buds
- Excellent call quality
- Exciting audio quality
- Solid battery life
- Secure fit
- No multi-point connection
- A bit bulky
Why you should buy it: You want the best of the best when it comes to your earbuds.
Who it's for: Audio enthusiasts that want top-notch sound quality, comfort, and durability.
Why we chose the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds:
Recognized for its performance and presence, Bose's impressive suite of audio products is world-renowned. For those in search of an AirPods Pro replacement, feast your eyes on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. Featuring Bose's Acoustic Noise Cancelling (ANC) technology and proprietary acoustic design elements, listeners can expect a stellar sonic experience with rich bass, balanced midrange, and bright treble. Call quality is right on track, too, utilizing ANC to block out wind noise and other distractions to bring your call voice front and center.
In terms of battery, users can expect about six to seven hours of listening on a single charge, with an additional 12 hours from the charging case. If you're looking for buds to take to the gym, the QuietComfort are IPX4 rated against sweat, water, and mild weather conditions. While some listeners may find the earbuds and charging case to be a little on the large side, the end-product audio is simply undeniable. Plus, with the companion Bose Music app, you can do everything from adjusting noise-cancellation settings to on-the-go volume controls.
For another $80 over the AirPods Pro, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are an excellent wireless buds alternative, albeit a little pricey.
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro
The best on a budget
- Excellent sound quality
- Good noise cancellation
- Very good transparency
- Very good call quality
- Wireless charging
- LDAC hi-res audio
- A bit bulky
- Slightly awkward charging case
Why you should buy it: You're looking for awesome earbuds and are shopping on a budget.
Who it's for: Those that don't want to sacrifice features and performance when the price is low.
Why we chose the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro:
As big fans of Soundcore's Liberty 2 Pro earbuds, we were beyond excited to put the company's latest buds to the test. Suffice it to say, the Liberty 3 Pro buds certainly do not disappoint.
New to Soundcore's pantheon of features is active noise cancellation (ANC), wear sensors, and Sony's improved LDAC Bluetooth codec. In our dedicated testing of the new ANC capabilities, we thought the Liberty 3 did a pretty decent job, with just a little bit of hiss filtering in when there wasn't any audio playing.
In terms of overall sound quality, the Liberty 3 buds pull off some incredible range, thanks in part to the dual-driver design that relegates bass to one set of drivers and mids and highs to another. The result? Pulse-pounding low frequencies with articulate instruments and vocals. And with the Soundcore app, you'll be able to adjust the EQ based on listener preferences.
Comfortable to wear, simple to customize, and built for long wearing times (six hours on a single charge, ANC enabled, and without the charging case), the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro is an excellent stand-in for Apple AirPods.
Sony WF-1000XM4
The best for sound quality
- Great sound quality
- Good battery life
- Excellent noise cancellation
- Wireless charging
- May not fit small ears
- Slightly lacking in high-end detail
Why you should buy it: You want a set of earbuds from a reputable name that sound excellent.
Who it's for: Sony devotees that know what they're getting into when it comes to Sony's unbeatable sound-staging.
Why we chose the Sony WF-1000XM4:
If you're looking for a pair of true wireless earbuds that come closest to the AirPods Pro, you want Sony's WF-1000XM4. The Sony XM3s were the first major earbuds offering active noise cancellation (ANC), and they're still among the best (if you can get your hands on a pair).
The new-and-improved Sony WF-1000XM4 also have fantastic sound, ranking among the top of their class. Across the entire soundstage, the buds deliver, from rich and powerful bass to detailed mids and treble (although we think the XM3s have the XM4s beat when it comes to higher frequencies). Sony has even managed to improve its already-incredible ANC capabilities with the XM4s, thanks to the built-in Integrated Processor V1 chip, delivering industry-leading cancellation with next to no hiss when there's no audio playing.
With Alexa and Google Assistant on board, along with eight hours of playtime with ANC enabled, the Sony WF-1000XM4s are a stellar audio investment for music devotees, frequent phone callers, and those seeking a comfortable set of buds that will stand up against a solid gym workout (the buds are IPX4 rated for ultimate sweat resistance).
Jabra Elite 7 Pro
The best for customizations
- Super comfortable
- Great sound quality
- Excellent call quality
- Very good ANC and transparency
- Good battery life
- Wireless charging
- Tons of customization options
- Excellent water/dust protection
- None
Why you should buy it: You want earbuds that deliver excellent call quality and comfort.
Who it's for: Those looking for the very best when it comes to performance, customizations, and actual fit.
Why we chose the Jabra Elite 7 Pro:
It's not often that we hand out perfect scores to the products we test at Digital Trends, which is why a perfect 10 out of 10 for the Jabra Elite 7 Pro is such a big deal. But trust us: Jabra more than backs up our top laurel.
For starters, the Elite 7 Pro buds are smaller and tinier than previous Jabra buds and are extremely comfortable, too. Design-wise, this is also the first Jabra product to use a new charging case with integrated wireless charging (a feature you had to pay extra for with older generations) and a front-facing USB input for more streamlined recharging.
In terms of audio quality, both music and calls sound incredible. Rich bass and articulate mids and highs make for top-notch sound-staging, while integrated ANC is strong and essentially flawless. Plus, if you think you want a little more "something" in your sound, you can always adjust EQ settings in the Sound+ app.
Earfun Air Pro
The best for voice assistants
- IPX5 rated
- Active ANC and Ambient modes
- Compatible with Siri and Google Assistant
- Lack Alexa support
Why you should buy it: You want a set of buds that can be controlled with Siri and Google Assistant.
Who it's for: Those who want to go a step beyond "hands-free" with voice controls.
Why we chose the Earfun Air Pro:
Combining comfort, performance, and value in one seamless audio package, the Earfun Air Pro is one of our favorite AirPods Pro competitors. IPX5-rated, the Air Pro will stand up against sweat and water, making them perfect for all of your high-endurance outdoor activities. Onboard ANC controls easily allow you to switch from full-on noise canceling to ambient mode, which is great for commuters who need to hear the pedestrian sounds of the city for safe travel.
Play, pause, skip, and call functions are available with easy taps on the sides of each bud, along with access to Siri and Google Assistant. We also love the In-ear Detection function that automatically pauses audio when you remove a single earbud from your ear. Battery life is pretty strong, too, with seven hours of ANC-active listening and 32 hours netted from the Bluetooth charging case.
Rocking excellent sound quality and an unbeatable price point, the Earfun Air Pro are no-brainer AirPods Pro replacements.
Amazon Echo Buds 2
The best for Alexa fans
- Hands-free Alexa
- Good sound quality
- Top-notch call quality
- Excellent transparency
- Poor battery life
- Mediocre ANC
Why you should buy it: You want Alexa to be a major part of your listening experience.
Who it's for: Those who enjoy the addition of a voice assistant when it comes to wireless earbuds.
Why we chose the Amazon Echo Buds 2:
Building upon the original Amazon Echo Buds, the company's latest generation of wireless listening comes with a whole host of improvements, particularly when it comes to comfort and fit. The Echo Buds 2 have taken cues from some of the leading earbud-makers of today with the addition of bud vents to help pass air through the ear canal, creating a more comfortable fit overall. We also appreciated the inclusion of single- and triple-tap controls for playing and pausing music, answering calls, and toggling ANC and transparency on and off.
While we think the Echo Buds 2 have decent sound quality for listening to tunes and podcasts, and phone call quality is excellent, the real standout feature is the integrated Alexa voice assistant. Using simple voice commands, you can adjust volume, skip through tracks, toggle ANC and transparency, and launch your favorite music streaming platform, all without lifting a finger.
While battery life isn't much to write home about (five hours on a single charge with ANC and Alexa enabled), bonus add-ons like being able to use the Alexa app to locate your lost buds with location services, and a built-in accelerometer for those of us without a wearable, make the Amazon Echo Buds 2 a solid contender for our roundup.
Master and Dynamic MW08
The best for design
- Gorgeous design and materials
- Very comfortable
- Excellent sound quality
- Really long battery life
- Effective transparency mode
- Good call quality
- Easy and intuitive controls
- Expensive
- Limited customization
- No wireless charging
- No EQ adjustments
- Weak ANC performance
Why you should buy it: You want earbuds that look as good as they sound.
Who it's for: Those who care just as much about an attractive design as they do performance overall.
Why we chose the Master and Dynamic MW08:
On top of their regal design and bounty of color options, the Master and Dynamic MW08 earbuds feature thrilling sound quality and outstanding battery life, making them one of our favorite (and lesser-recognized) Apple AirPods alternatives.
The MW08 retain everything we liked with the original MW07 and MW07 Plus while improving on both sets of buds in several ways. Building on the brand's ANC tech, the MW08 sport two distinct ANC modes — "max ANC" for the most difficult of listening environments and "all day ANC" for less-intrusive spaces. Battery life is pretty decent here, too, with the MW08 capable of about 10.5 hours of playtime.
Precision, vibrancy, balance, and detail — all of the descriptors an audiophile looks for in a set of headphones or earbuds — all apply to the MW08. Unfortunately, the MW08 do not come with a companion mobile app for fine-tuning the EQ (or any adjustments for that matter), but they sound so good, you probably won't miss it.
Dottir Freedom On-Grid
The best for exercising
- Comfy and secure fit with earhooks
- 12 pairs of eartips
- Bass-heavy sound for workouts
- Durable build
- Decent ANC and ambient modes
- Outstanding battery life
- Sound signature isn't very balanced
- Susceptible to wind noise
- No app support
- No EQ adjustments
Why you should buy it: You want a great set of earbuds for the gym.
Who it's for: Those that don't want their buds falling out when jogging, jumping, or lifting.
Why we chose the Dottir Freedom On-Grid:
When it comes to exercising, you need a set of earbuds that fit securely, sound great, and can stand up against whatever sweat your body wants to throw at them. That's where the Dottir Freedom On-Grid come in.
Similar to the look and feel of the Powerbeats Pro, the On-Grid feature comfortable and firm-fitting earhooks, along with 12 sets of eartips to ensure that no unique ear canals go without a properly-fitting bud. The buds themselves use a combination of both physical buttons for commands like volume controls and track skipping, with touch-based gestures relegated to play/pause and ANC toggling.
When it comes to actual sound quality, workout fans will appreciate the On-Grid's emphasis on bass, pushing low frequencies a little harder than the competitors. The result? A set of earbuds that are perfect for rap, hip-hop, and EDM fans, as well as hard-rock lovers.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
The best for Android fans
- Compact
- Comfortable
- Effective ANC
- Good sound
- Solid battery
- Annoying touch controls
- Many Android-only features
Why you should buy it: You're looking for a great set of earbuds to pair up with your favorite Android devices.
Who it's for: Android device owners and Samsung fans.
Why we chose the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2:
While the Galaxy Buds may not be the best bet for iOS device owners, the extremely comfortable and great-sounding Galaxy Buds 2 may have Apple devotees reconsidering what buds they swear allegiance to.
They're a little bit bass-heavy, but this makes for a punchy and vibrant audio experience, especially for genres like hip hop, EDM, and Top 40 pop tracks. ANC and ambient listening are also the best they've ever been for a set of Samsung buds.
While we found the touch controls to be a little too sensitive and some of the more advanced features to be locked behind an Android wall (the Galaxy Wearable app with EQ adjustments and other customization is only available for Android devices), we think that fans of the Android platform are going to love the latest addition to the Samsung wireless earbud family.
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