Are AirPods still the best earbuds for iPhone owners?

The AirPods are core to the iPhone experience, offering seamless integration and an iconic design. However, the audio landscape has evolved considerably since the original AirPods’ 2017 debut. While the AirPods remain a smart choice for many iPhone owners, a surge of competitors boast standout features and a more affordable price. Let’s see if the AirPods still deserve the top spot for iPhone users.

What makes the Apple AirPods the best earbuds for most iPhone owners?

In short, all AirPods are great for iPhone owners. My mom, brother, and the whole family will tell you, “AirPods just work.” AirPods seamlessly switch between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and work within Apple’s advanced Find My network. When paired specifically to an iPhone, you also get personalized Spatial Audio and Audio Sharing, the latter of which lets you share your music with a friend.

Apple’s H1 and H2 chips power its AirPods and perform much of the heavy lifting that allows them to work without a hitch when connected to an Apple device. These proprietary chipsets make pairing instantaneous, let you speak to Siri hands-free, and maintain a reliable connection. Of course, there is a catch: these features are limited to Apple devices. When you buy the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), you also get the U1 chip baked into the case. This chip allows you to precisely locate the case, which emits a “chirp” sound when you need to find it.

As an iPhone and AirPods Pro (2nd generation) owner, my favorite perk from this iconic duo is power efficiency and battery optimization. Grossly simplified, the AirPods use less power when paired to an iPhone than an Android phone. Additionally, battery optimization manages your AirPods’ battery health, slowing overall degradation, and extending their lifecycle. After a couple of weeks, my iPhone learned my listening habits and only charges my AirPods to 80%, topping them off at 100% right before I use them.

Although I’ve been using the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) since their release, I get that they’re not for everyone. Let’s explore why an iPhone user might want to sniff out other wireless earbuds.

Why you shouldn’t get AirPods

AirPods are generally not a great value for your money. For instance, the Nothing Ear ($149 at Amazon) wield a similar feature set and cost $100 less than the AirPods Pro (2nd generation). On top of that, Nothing’s buds include a powerful companion app that works on Android and Apple phones. Apple, on the other hand, locks you into the Apple ecosystem for complete control, and even then it’s lacking some basics. Nothing also supports Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair for instantaneous pairing across a wider range of devices than Apple’s one-touch pairing.

Audio enthusiasts will mostly stay away from the AirPods Max and AirPods earbuds because you can’t customize the sound (easily). Apple doesn’t let you adjust the EQ directly in its Settings app, forcing you to tweak it within your preferred music streaming app. Changing the settings in your streaming app means the changes only apply to that single app. Meanwhile, the Nothing X app hosts a multi-band EQ that lets you create a custom EQ profile and even share it with friends via QR code.

Another con of AirPods is that they only stream over AAC. It is the highest-quality Bluetooth codec supported on iPhones, so this may not matter to Apple device owners, but many iPhone owners also use Windows machines for work (like I do). A Windows computer supports LDAC for higher audio quality than AAC as well as imperceptible lag. Certain Android phones also support LHDC, which delivers the highest streaming quality at up to 1Mbps (24 bit/192kHz) to compatible hardware like the Nothing Ear. While AAC is very good, some people want the highest bitrate, end of story, and you won’t get that from AirPods.

My last major gripe revolves around fit. While we’ve had good luck fitting the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and AirPods Max to our staff’s varying head and ear shapes, the untipped AirPods series has always given us trouble. Admittedly, Apple improved the fit stability with the AirPods (3rd generation), but even now, these open earbuds tend to shake loose from my ears and require constant readjustment. This is something you won’t find with other buds because many AirPods alternatives come with ear tips like the AirPods Pro line.

I’m using the Nothing Ear as a case study, but you’ll find similar features and audio quality from sub-$100 earbuds too. A huge chunk of the AirPods’ price tags ($179, $249, or $549) goes toward convenience. Ultimately, you’re paying for the ease of having a decision made for you; Apple is telling customers that the AirPods are the best choice and the only choice worth considering. As we well know, that’s not true.

What are some of the best AirPods and AirPods Pro alternatives?

The Sony WF-1000XM5 ($298 at Amazon) are the best wireless earbuds for most people. At $299, the WF-1000XM5 carry a higher retail price than the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), but regular sales get the buds down to $229 – expensive but palatable. These active noise canceling (ANC) earbuds boast a better fit than the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and AirPods (3rd generation) due to their memory foam ear tips and ergonomic design. On the whole, the WF-1000XM5 block out even more noise than the AirPods Pro line, canceling out more low-frequency rumble than the AirPods Pro. On top of the active noise cancellation, Sony’s proprietary memory foam ear tips isolate you from midrange and upper frequencies (where ambient noise falls), effectively muting your environment.

Like the Nothing Ear, the WF-1000XM5 support LDAC for high-quality streaming with virtually no lag on Android and Windows devices. Sony’s Headphones Connect app provides extensive customization options that let you create personalized sound profiles and adjust controls to their preference. If you take phone calls, pick up Sony’s flagship buds. They cancel out almost all background noise while relaying your voice clearly. We can’t say the same about the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) mic quality, though it is very good.

For an oddly practical twist, we suggest the JBL Live Beam 3 ($199.95 at Amazon). Unlike JBL’s competitors, the Live Beam 3 case has an integrated touch screen. Yes, I too was skeptical at first, but the smart case is really useful. Using the case’s touch screen means you hardly have to reach for your phone. Right from the case, you can control playback, cycle through ANC modes and EQ presets, locate your earbuds, and more. Similar to an Apple Watch, you can even personalize the case’s appearance with custom backgrounds.

The JBL Live Beam 3 have effective noise canceling that will quiet the sound of your office printer and morning train commute. Per our testing, the Live Beam 3’s sound quality is great for most listeners — though a bit bass-heavy for my tastes. Still, JBL makes it easy for people like me to de-emphasize the bass response through the mobile app, something that can’t be said of any AirPods. These retail for $199, but most JBL earbuds and headphones tend to go on sale for 25-40% off throughout the year. We expect the Live Beam 3 to follow suit.

Budget listeners who love stemmed earbuds but don’t want to skimp on features should give the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC ($99.99 at Amazon) a spin. These earbuds retail for $99, and we’ve seen them go for as little as $69. True to the Soundcore line, the Liberty 4 NC provide a great bang for your buck with ANC, high-quality Bluetooth codec support (SBC, AAC, and LDAC), and wireless charging.

Like the JBL Live Beam 3, most casual listeners will enjoy the bass-heavy frequency response from these buds. If extra bass isn’t your thing, the Anker app supports 22 EQ presets and an 8-band custom EQ for the audio cooks among us. Microphone quality isn’t anything to jump for joy here, but it’s good for cheap earbuds.

Should iPhone users buy AirPods in 2024?

AirPods have set the standard for wireless earbuds by balancing convenience, sound quality, and features. But it isn’t 2017 anymore, and the wireless earbuds market has expanded rapidly over the past seven years. With competitors rapidly innovating and expanding their offerings, Apple’s crown may be slipping. While next-generation AirPods rumors have been circulating for months, the reality is that the current lineup hasn’t been updated in at least two years. Apple’s rivals have refined their products during the release gap. Now, you can find compelling alternatives with better sound quality, customizations, and often, for less than the competing AirPods model.

Ultimately, the best earbuds depend on your priorities and use case. If seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem is non-negotiable, AirPods may still make the most sense. However, if you want a more blended, balanced package that’s a better value, explore the increasing number of alternatives.

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