Apple’s AirPods Pro are incredibly popular. They offer a light design, advanced features, and powerful noise cancellation. However, they mainly cater to Apple users. If you use an Android device, AirPods Pro may not be the best choice.
Many users seek earbuds that work well across different platforms. This guide highlights excellent alternatives that offer more flexibility. These options provide similar features and a familiar feel. They also work better outside of the Apple ecosystem.
Our Testing Process
Our team has rigorously tested hundreds of earbuds. We focus on sound quality, comfort, features, and overall value. This extensive testing helps us identify the best AirPods Pro alternatives available. Whether you prioritize noise canceling, workout features, or pure audio fidelity, we have a recommendation for you.
Best for Most Users: Nothing Ear (a)
The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds offer a fantastic combination of style, sound, and ease of use. They are surprisingly affordable. Their design is similar to AirPods Pro. However, Nothing adds its unique visual flair. This makes them recognizable yet distinct.
These earbuds feature a customizable equalizer. Their touch controls are excellent. They also provide solid noise cancellation. Battery life is about 5.5 hours with noise canceling active. This is comparable to Apple’s more expensive model. The Nothing Ear (a) delivers great value and a stylish look.
Top Pick for Noise Canceling: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
Bose’s flagship earbuds provide an AirPods-like style. They are slightly larger. This extra size supports their industry-leading noise cancellation. These earbuds offer the best noise canceling we have ever tested.
Beyond noise cancellation, they deliver clear and focused sound. Instrumental separation is superb. An adaptable transparency mode keeps your ears safe. It also helps you stay aware of your surroundings. Advanced features include spatial audio with head tracking. This creates a deeply immersive sound experience. While these are the priciest option, they are unmatched for noise reduction.
Ideal for Workouts: Beats Powerbeats Pro
The Powerbeats Pro are an excellent choice for active users. They combine the best of Apple’s features with a workout-ready design. You get Find My support, iCloud device switching, and one-touch iOS pairing.
Crucially, Powerbeats Pro also offer a dedicated Android app. This app enables one-touch pairing and customization for Android devices. The controls can be sensitive when inserting the buds. However, they are generally convenient. They include both a multi-key and a volume rocker.
The sound signature is typically Beats: punchy treble and strong bass. Yet, there is plenty of nuance. Advanced noise canceling and a natural-sounding transparency mode adapt to your environment. The heartbeat monitor is a useful feature. It worked well in our tests and is especially beneficial for Android users. The updated hook design offers supreme comfort and stability. This makes them among the best workout earbuds available.
Unbeatable Sound Quality: Soundpeats H2
Many AirPods-style earbuds sound good. However, few can match the Soundpeats H2 for their price. These unassuming earbuds use a hybrid driver design. They feature a special xMEMS solid-state driver for high frequencies. A traditional dynamic driver handles the bass.
The result is sweet, detailed sound and smooth, precise bass. Our editor, Parker Hall, gave them a perfect 10/10 score. While the touch controls can be a bit unresponsive and noise canceling is only adequate, their sound quality is outstanding for the cost.
Another Affordable Choice: Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Soundcore is known for delivering great sound and value. The Liberty 4 NC perfectly embodies this philosophy. They produce tight and detailed sound. Their noise canceling is very good for the price.
These earbuds come with a long list of features. Some are unexpected at this price point, such as spatial audio. While not every feature matches premium AirPods Pro, they offer unique options. These include fully customizable controls and a multi-band equalizer. You can tailor the listening experience to your preferences. From a distance, the white color option looks very similar to Apple’s top-tier earbuds.