Wireless in-ear headphones are in; almost gone are the days of wired headphones which subjected people to the trouble of detangling and battling with extension wires. Nowadays, you can hardly walk five steps without seeing people with a pair of Bluetooth headphones plugged in. With the trend tilted towards wireless in-ear headphones, you might want to know your options when you decide to join the bandwagon.
Although not the pioneer, Apple’s AirPods are the most popular wireless in-ear headphones out on the market right now with a significant market share; and they’ve recently released the AirPods 2 which is gaining popularity really fast as well.
However, the AirPods novelty is generally wearing off, as with all things in the industry. The freedom from tangled wires popularized with iPhone users is no longer a privilege because, because both iPhone and Android users now have a good deal of better AirPods alternatives on the market.
Below are the 10 best Apple AirPods Pro alternatives to buy right now in 2020.
1. Sony WF-1000XM3
Arguably the best AirPods Pro alternative you can lay your hands on right now, the Sony WF-1000XM3 is garnished with features that will put any other brand or model of AirPods to shame. They fit well in your ears, lock noises out and deliver awesome sounds to your hearing. They weigh 70g and are imbued with 6mm drivers in each piece. The frequency response is 20-20,000Hz and they can work within the range of 30ft. The battery life is impressive with of 6 hours of playback per charge and 24 hours with charging case. You can get yourself one on Amazon for $228.
2. Cambridge Audio Melomania 1
The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 comes in significantly below the price of the Apple AirPods Pro and the sound quality is equally as impressive. They weigh 9.2g and are fitted with 5.8mm drivers in each piece. The frequency response is 20-20,000Hz and they have sensitivity of 9.8dB. Although, there is no noise cancellation, the battery life makes up for it with 9 hours per charge and 36 hours with the charging case. You can own one for $120 from Amazon.
3. Bose SoundSport Free
When you’re going on a run or just jogging around, Bose SoundSport Free is your best alternative to the AirPods Pro with its comfortability and great sound quality. There are also controls for playback and volume which makes it easy to use and a darling to own. Although it tends to drop out every now and again, the pros definite oust the cons. It costs just $175 on Amazon.
4. Jaybird Vista
Although coming fourth on this list, Jaybird Vista is a champion of its own. The in-ear headphones avail you the fit most Airpods do not and cannot provide. With its SportFit, integrated with silicon ear tip and fins to provide comfort and stability, it is your best companion when exercising. The good news about it is that you need not fear if it mistakenly drops into water as it is water and sweat proof, just in case you get carried away while exercising. It is also crush-proof and you can just pick it up if it drops on a busy street. USB-C charging is provided and a full charge will give you 6 hours of battery life coupled with an extra 10 with the charging case. It comes with a five minute ‘super-charge’ which provides an hour of battery life. It goes for $180 on Amazon.
5. Philips BASS+ True Wireless
If you’re a bass lover, the Philips BASS+ True Wireless headphones are for you. With each earpiece having 8.2mm driver, it produces loads of low-end rumble. The designs tell the world you don’t want to be disturbed and a full-charge will keep you undisturbed for 6 hours and 6 additional hours with the charging case. It goes for $125 on Amazon.
6. Klipsch T5 True Wireless
If you can afford them, Klipsch T5 True Wireless comes with the full package. Amazing sound quality, sleek design, enduring battery life and one of the best cases you can see on the market, the headphones has all the signatures of a Klipsch product. They are detailed, warm and long lasting. Frequency response is 20-20,000Hz which allows the headphones to sound in varying registers without damaging your eardrums. The battery life is pegged at 8 hours per charge with the case giving an extra 24 hours. You can get a pair for $199 on Amazon.
7. RHA TrueConnect
Detailed enough to give the Apple Airpods Pro a run for its money, these wireless in-ear headphones from RHA sits comfortably in the ears and produce excellent sounds that make up for any lack they might possess. They weigh 13kg and have drivers of 6mm each. It works in a 10m range and has frequency response of 20Hz-20KHz They come in a case that can be used to store them as well as charge and extend the 5-hour battery life to a satisfying 20 more hours. A pair of it goes for $169 on Amazon.
8. Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless
Although the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless -n-ear headphones might not be the first choice for most people due to the price and average features available, Sennheiser’s first true wireless headphones are a nice alternative to the Apple AirPods Pro. They provide excellent sound quality and a nice design. Weighing 72.6g, the drivers are 7mm of the Beryllium type and frequency response. The battery life is fair at 4 hours per charge and 12 hours with charging case. It’ll cost you $250 on Amazon.
9. Samsung Gear IconX
Apple’s biggest rival, Samsung also provided an alternative to the Apple AirPods, in fact Samsung had the wireless in-ear headphones way before Apple got into the market. The Samsung Gear IconX has a catchy design and produces marvelous sounds. The novel features are backed by an impressive battery life. A single charge will give you 7 hours of playback. The Gear IconX is priced at $130 directly from Samsung.
10. Sony WF-1000X
Sony begins and Sony ends the list. The WF-1000X in-ear headphones come with standard features and more. They are excellent at noise-cancelling and provide impressive sound quality. A single charge will give you three hours of use and 6 more with the charging case. The more it provides is the support for Google Assistant and Siri. An alternative to some, but definitely the first choice for many. They go for just $100 on Amazon.
