Last week, Apple released two new AirPods on the same day for the first time: AirPods 4 with ANC for $180, and AirPods without ANC for $130. Both have an open-back design rather than the in-ear design found on the AirPods Pro. We’re not huge fans of the flagship AirPods due to their baggy fit, mediocre ANC compared to high-end sound, and lack of onboard volume controls, so we’ve put together a list of possible AirPods alternatives for you to research.
Of course, if you want to stay in the Apple ecosystem, there aren’t many options, but the Beats Fit Pro is a good option, offering some H-series chip features. The age-old AirPods Max are long overdue for an update, but they didn’t receive any at the event. Therefore, we have also mentioned our favorite ANC over-ear headphones that you can consider.
If you’re looking for an alternative to AirPods but want to stay within the Apple ecosystem, these are the headphones for you. Apple’s Beats brand features the H1 chip in Beats Fit Pro, which is also used in AirPods Max. Recent AirPods wireless headphone models have all been upgraded to H2, but you still get some H-series features, like easy setup with your iPhone and seamless switching between Apple devices.
They’re a good alternative to the $180 AirPods 4 because they have a wing-like design that allows for a secure fit during workouts. Apple is trying to offer an alternative, non-mainstream way to wear in-ear headphones for people whose ear canals don’t fit right in with their recently launched AirPods line. Unfortunately, the design of open-back headphones is too baggy to be practical.
The ANC is also very average due to the looseness of the AirPods 4, as ambient sounds find multiple gaps to get through. The Beats Fit Pro fit snugly, which means the ANC is excellent. At $160, it’s also slightly cheaper than the $180 ANC version of AirPods 4.
If you’re not interested in design, Samsung’s flagship Galaxy Buds 3 Pro could be a great alternative to the ANC AirPods 4. The ANC on these headphones is so powerful that I had to turn it off on the street just to be safe. The ANC on the AirPods 4 lets a lot of high-end sound come through, and I never had to disable cancel to be aware of my surroundings.
Swiping the stem, or “blade” as Samsung calls it, up or down adjusts the volume. The AirPods 4 don’t have onboard volume controls, so you have to reach for your phone every time. The IP57 dust and water resistance rating of the Galaxy Buds is also higher than the IP54 rating of the latest AirPods.
For those not interested in the earbud design, an alternative to the $130 AirPods 4 is the Pixel Buds Pro. Although priced at $140, they offer some premium features only available on higher-end AirPods, such as wireless Qi charging. Their batteries last for 7 hours or 11 hours with ANC off or on respectively. The $130 AirPods 4 only last 5 hours.
The Pixel Buds 4 also come with ANC for the modest price, which you won’t find on the base model of the flagship AirPods. For the same price, you’re buying a pair of headphones that lack basic features — mostly Apple taxes.
Baseus’ Eli Sport 1 earphones are a decent non-ANC alternative to the $130 AirPods 4 base model. They cost just $70, which makes them a cheaper option. Featuring an on-ear design, where the earbuds sit outside the ear, this will also appeal to the non-in-ear crowd.
Most hook-style earbuds like these have a bulky design, but the Eli Sport 1’s are very low-profile. The hook that wraps around the ear resembles a thin wire, rather than the thick band we’ve seen on similarly designed headphones. The bulbs behind the ears are also very streamlined.
I used these for runs at the laundromat and Trader Joe’s and they didn’t even move slightly in my ears. On the other hand, I’ve been worried about AirPods falling out of my ears. Their battery lasts for 7 hours, while the AirPods 4’s battery lasts for 5 hours.
We claim that the ANC performance of Sony WH-1000XM5s is better than that of AirPods Max. Additionally, they retail for $350, while Apple’s over-ear headphones cost a whopping $500. Looking at the lackluster update the AirPods Max received at Apple’s event (just a switch to Type-C charging and new color variants), Apple didn’t give the Max a sturdy enough case.
The H1 chip has been the same one used in the headphones for the past four years, with no updates to its controls (consumers have been asking for a power button) and no mesh or design changes. They still fold in weird ways to fit into the diaper-shaped suitcase.
