AirPods alternatives: Which are best?
It's easy to focus only on AirPods when looking for good wireless earbuds. But look beyond them and a whole new world opens up. Plenty of semi-in-ear earbuds are better than AirPods, often at a much lower price. Here's an overview of our findings and the best true wireless earbuds we've tested in this category.
In this article
AirPods aren't in-ear earbuds
Let's start with the basics. This distinction matters when choosing your earbuds.
There are 2 types of earbuds: in-ear and half in-ear (also called semi-in-ear).
- In-ear earbuds have a silicone ear tip that goes into your ear canal.
- Half in-ear (semi-in-ear) earbuds sit against the opening of your ear canal and have a hard shell.
We've explained the difference between half in-ear & in-ear earbuds in full in another article.
To be clear, this article is only about half in-ear earbuds. Our list of the best AirPods alternatives below only includes half in-ear models, too.
- Prefer in-ear earbuds? Take a look at our article on the best budget in-ear earbuds.
Benefits of an AirPods alternative
There are several benefits to choosing an alternative from another brand instead of AirPods.
Lower price
AirPods cost much more than other earbuds, yet their sound quality isn't necessarily the best. Yes, you read that right. We've tried more than 100 earbuds and we're genuinely convinced that some AirPods alternatives sound better than AirPods themselves.
No limitations on Android
Not everyone has an iPhone. And we all know how fierce the rivalry between Apple and Google can be. Apple always prioritizes iPhones for new features, with a natural focus on iOS. The brands making AirPods alternatives aren't as invested in that rivalry as Apple. They make earbuds and aim to get every feature working as well as possible on both Android and iOS.
Sometimes better sound
As we mentioned earlier, some AirPods alternatives simply sound better than AirPods themselves. With semi-in-ear earbuds, bass is particularly hard to get right. Their open design lets those low frequencies escape easily. We've explained this in another article on the difference between in-ear and semi-in-ear earbuds. In our view, though, many brands making AirPods alternatives do a better job of this than AirPods.
The best AirPods alternatives
These are the best half in-ear earbuds we've tested, with the same shape as AirPods.
1. DunRock Semi
Outstanding sound quality | Dedicated app | Fit like AirPods 1 & 2 | Semi-in-ear
- Price: ~70
These are by far the best semi-in-ear earbuds on the market so far. And yes, that means they're also better than Apple's familiar white semi-in-ear earbuds themselves. So they're better than AirPods 1 and 2, and better than AirPods 3, all of which are semi-in-ear earbuds.
These earbuds also stand out with a handy dedicated app that lets you adjust the sound exactly how you like it. Want a little more bass? No problem. Adjust it in the DunRock app.
And there's more: these semi-in-ear earbuds have \\ drumroll // ANC. Semi-in-ear earbuds with ANC? We've never seen that before. In fact, we've always said at Eardopes that this was impossible. Guilty as charged. Apparently, these earbuds fit securely enough in your ears for ANC technology to work. Nicely done, DunRock.
Another nice bonus: DunRock is a Dutch brand. And as the name keeps popping up more often, it could well become a source of Dutch pride. For now, though, let's focus on these DunRock Semi earbuds. They're named after their semi-in-ear design, which means they have no ear tips.
2. pocobob GO
- Price: ~€30
The pocobob GO wireless earbuds are semi-in-ear earbuds with Bluetooth 5.3 and 13 mm speakers that deliver great sound. That's quite something at this price.
At this price, you get a microphone with an ENC filter. That makes them a good choice for calls. You can also wear one earbud and leave the other in the charging case. They connect to your iPhone or Android phone, and you can pair them with your tablet or laptop, too.
The sound is great, with plenty of bass for semi-in-ear earbuds. The connection is very stable.
Number 3:
SoundPEATS TrueAir2
- Price: ~50
The SoundPEATS TrueAir, the predecessor to the TrueAir2, already earned a very good rating from Eardopes. SoundPEATS has taken things a step further with the TrueAir2: better comfort, a more stable connection and even richer sound. The microphone is just as good as its predecessor's, too. We'd never given a half in-ear microphone such a high score before.
Here are the final scores from our in-depth SoundPEATS TrueAir2 review.
| Rating | |
| Sound | 7.5 |
| Microphone | 7 |
| Fit | 7.5 |
| Battery | 6 |
| Controls | 8 |
| Connection stability | 8 |
Number 4:
QCY T7
- Price: €20
Another good AirPods alternative is the QCY T7. QCY is the world's fourth-largest earbud manufacturer. Keep in mind, though, that the microphone and sound are slightly worse than those of our number 1 pick.
| Rating | |
| Sound | 6.5 |
| Microphone | 6 |
| Fit | 7.5 |
| Battery | 6 |
| Controls | 7.5 |
| Connection stability | 8 |
Others also viewed:
- Explore all our articles on wireless earbuds
- These are the best earbuds under €50
- These are the earbuds with the best microphone
- Explore our in-depth article on QCY earbuds
- And take a look at our article on AirPods alternatives
- See the top 3 earbuds for running
- Also see our hands-on review of the Eardopes B6 pro. They cost a little more, but the quality is worth it.
