The Best Cheap AirPod Alternatives
Above-average ratings, below-average prices, no fake reviews.
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There are more than 500 models of true wireless earbuds available online (and well over 1,000 variations when color is considered). The majority of these products have near-perfect customer ratings, but statistically speaking, this cannot be true. Wireless earbuds have the most suspicious reviews of any category of electronics, according to data published by Fakespot. My own research confirms this.
I analyzed the wireless earbuds for sale on Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Newegg and found several examples of repurposed product pages, incentivized reviews and other forms of deception. Anecdotally, the worst offenders seem to be earbuds with marketing photos that depict electricity jumping between the headphone and its charging case.
Nevertheless, some true-wireless earbuds are truly a good value. The following AirPod-style earphones are legitimately-rated at four stars or better and have sold for $50 or less in the past 12-months. Some earbuds have sold for as little as $20 while on sale:
- Aukey EP-T21 True Wireless Earbuds
- Mpow M7 MPBH389AB-US01 Earbuds
- Letsfit T13 True Wireless Earbuds
- Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo
- Boltune BT-BH020PRO-Pink Wireless Earbuds
- JLab Audio JBuds Air True
- SoundPEATS TrueFree+ SP-TF-Plus-WT-US
- TaoTronics SoundLiberty 53
- Pasonomi TWS-X9 Bluetooth Earbuds
- Anker Soundcore Life P2
- TaoTronics TT-BH053 True Wireless Earbuds
Headphones are no longer a one-size-fits-all product: Customers will have mixed viewpoints regarding style, call quality, sizing, fit and comfort. I’ve attempted to condense the typical user experience into as few words as possible. I’ve also included a simple price guide for each product. “Good value” is the approximate average sale price throughout the year; “great deal” is the lowest discounted-price that I have on record.
If you’d like to learn more about true wireless earbuds, or to read more about my methodology for selecting products, scroll to the bottom of this buying guide for more information.
1. Aukey EP-T21 True Wireless Earbuds
Good Value: $28 | Great Deal: $23
Aukey’s budget AirPod alternatives have an excellent microphone and a convenient design that allows them to be used independently of one another, according to several online customers. Some reviewers wish these earbuds had longer battery life (and say that four hours is the max); others were disappointed that these earphones don’t have a volume knob. Most customers describe the sound quality as good, but not great.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
2. Mpow M7 Bluetooth Sports Earbuds
Good Value: $38 | Great Deal: $20
Mpow’s M7 true-wireless earbuds pair quickly, hold a stable Bluetooth connection and unlike most earbuds, have detailed, nuanced and bass-rich sound, according to several online customers. Some reviewers say that the physical buttons are hard to press; others complain that these earbuds are bulky and cumbersome.
3. Letsfit T13 Bluetooth True Wireless Earbuds
Good Value: $26 | Great Deal: $20
Letsfit’s wireless earbuds pair quickly, last for five hours on a charge and are truly waterproof, according to several online customers. Some reviewers had trouble keeping these earbuds secured; others wish that integrated volume control was included. A few customers say that the charging case doesn’t work well.
4. Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo True Wireless Earbuds (IPX7)
Good Value: $44 | Great Deal: $30
Check Current Price on Amazon | Check Current Price on Anker | Check Current Price on Walmart
These true-wireless earbuds have great sound and a comfortable fit, according to several online customers. Many reviewers say these earbuds last for three hours on a charge. A common criticism is that these earbuds do not have physical volume controls. Some customers had trouble with audio drop outs.
5. Boltune Bluetooth V5.2 In-Ear IPX8 Earbuds
Good Value: $41 | Great Deal: $33
Boltune’s true wireless earbuds have excellent sound quality, all-day battery life and an attractive design, according to several customers. Many reviewers warn that the microphone is a weak point (and advise looking elsewhere if calls are a priority); others say these earbuds don’t stay in place during activities.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday.
6. JLab Audio JBuds Air True Wireless Signature Bluetooth Earbuds
Good Value: $48 | Great Deal: $40
Check Current Price on Amazon | Check Current Price on JLab Audio | Check Current Price on Walmart
JLab’s budget wireless earbuds sound good and have excellent battery life, according to several online customers. Many reviewers say these earbuds are large and stick out of the ear; others say the bass is weak.
7. SoundPEATS TrueFree+ Wireless Earbuds
Good Value: $35 | Great Deal: $23
These Bluetooth earbuds are small, comfortable and they sound great (for both music and calls), according to several online customers. Most reviewers say these earbuds have good battery life. On the negative side, many customers say they’ve suffered synchronization issues when watching videos or playing games.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday.
8. TaoTronics SoundLiberty 53 True Wireless Earbuds
Good Value: $47 | Great Deal: $28
Check Current Price on Amazon | Check Current Price on TaoTronics
TaoTronic’s AirPod alternatives sound great and have long battery life, according to several online customers. Some reviewers (especially those running iOS) say that the touch controls are finnicky; others say that these earphones are uncomfortable during extended wear. A few customers had Bluetooth pairing issues.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday.
9. Pasonomi TWS-X9 Bluetooth Earbuds (IPX7 Waterproof)
Good Value: $44 | Great Deal: $25
Pasonomi’s wireless earbuds are good for running and playing music, but not great at taking phone calls according to several customers. Many reviewers appreciate these earbuds’ IPX7 waterproof designation.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
10. Anker Soundcore Life P2 True Wireless Earbuds
Good Value: $55 | Great Deal: $36
Check Current Price on Amazon | Check Current Price on Anker | Check Current Price on Newegg
Anker’s budget wireless earbuds charge quickly, have amazing battery life (6–7 hours) and sound good for the money, according to several online customers. Some reviewers say that these earbuds only work well as a pair and aren’t good for calls; others warn that they are difficult to remove from their case.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
11. TaoTronics TT-BH053 True Wireless Earbuds (Bluetooth 5.0)
Good Value: $39 | Great Deal: $28
Check Current Price on Amazon | Check Current Price on TaoTronics
TaoTronics’ wireless earbuds have good battery life, decent sound and excellent Bluetooth connectivity, according to several online customers. Some reviewers had trouble finding the perfect fit adjustment; others say the touch controls are clumsy. Customers have mixed feelings about microphone/call-quality.
Why Buy AirPod Alternatives?
Apple’s AirPods are true wireless earbuds: They don’t have any cables or cords. Like tethered sport earbuds, true wireless earbuds are a popular choice for running and exercise. However, AirPods start at $159 MSRP, which is pricey for sport earphones, especially for those who are outside of Apple’s product ecosystem.
AirPods Are Not Waterproof
The best AirPod alternatives are sweatproof and have official designations like “IPX5 Water Resistant” or “IPX7 Waterproof.” However, no AirPod-shaped earbuds are made for underwater use because they would fall out of the ear too easily. Don’t believe claims that an earbud is made for swimming: Swim-friendly headphones are a specialty product with a unique shape.
Beware Fake AirPods
Just because a pair of earbuds looks exactly like Apple’s AirPods doesn’t mean that they sound the same. That was the upshot of a Motherboard review that analyzed three pairs of counterfeit AirPods with names like AirPlus, i9WS and LK-TE8. Notwithstanding the low-quality of these knockoffs, counterfeit products hurt American businesses and pose a fire and electrocution risk.
How Much Does a Good Pair of True Wireless Earbuds Cost?
A good pair of true wireless earbuds (with verified, above-average reviews) costs approximately $39, according to a 12-month analysis of price trends. Those same AirPod alternatives cost around $28 while on sale: an average discount of 28%.
Methodology for Selecting Products
I use data science to discover above-average products that are selling for below-average prices. To find true wireless earbuds with below-average prices, I first assemble a list of candidates, then organize those products by their 12-month average sale price, determine the median value and then exclude any earphones with a price above the mid-point.
To find wireless earbuds with above-average reviews, I measure the relationship between 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 star ratings and flag outliers that fall outside of a normal statistical distribution. I also discount paid, sponsored and unverified reviews as well as unhelpful review behaviors from verified customers. Models with an average adjusted rating of less than 3.9 out of 5 are excluded; in the end, a small percentage remain.
About the Author: John DeFeo is an avid audiophile, a one-time A/V salesman, and more recently, was the head of insights for Tom’s Guide.
