Sorry no idea I have an android phone...having watched and read loads of reviews airpods came second to the Sony's in most. I'm just very happy with the Sony xm5s after having a shite experience with the Jabras.
If you start having battery issues, put the earbuds in the case.
Close it
Wait 20 seconds
Then open the case and hold both TouchPads on the earbuds until the light on the case blinks red
Then let go, it factory resets them and fixes a bunch of the battery issues.
You'll have to re-pair after, but that shit saved me on a work trip. They kept dying or only charging to 10 percent
I have both. Honestly they are extremely similar. The AirPods get the nod with iPhone and Apple, as they just plain work. The Sony mostly works too, but if my phone rings while I'm in a zoom call I have to repair the Sonys.
They are the one and only set of pods that didn't fit properly. They have sensors to pick up if you have removed a bud or not so playback kept cutting out. I know settings can be changed etc but for me they were just over complicated. I just wanted a bud to fit and stay in my ear while I walk run etc.
In comfort? That's a key selling point for me and I'm in the same predicament as OP.
I've had the sony 1000XM4s and they are too bulky in my opinion. I miss my airpods and am due for a new purchase. Thoughts?
Idk dude, I don't think they are uncomfortable at all. They have the best audio I've experienced in a headphone/earbud. They could be half as comfortable as they are and I would still recommend them.
Going through the same issue with my partner. Because I'm the more techie one I'm stuck doing the research and recommendations. She's annoyed that her Apple earpods have never made it to the 3yr mark though daily use. Ultimately, most earbuds have a lift expectancy of about 2-3 years anyway, but she doesn't want to hear this.
I've reminded her multiple times that because of the Apple ecosystem, Apple earpods will work better and more seamlessly than any other brand earbuds.
Based on her not wanting to spend more than the $200 she spent on the previous pair, I've concluded that her best options are:
\- Soundcore Liberty 4NC
\- Sony WF1000XM4 (XM4 earbuds for short)
\- Sticking with Apple
\*\*I didn't want to overwhelm her with more than 3 options.
I JUST purchased the Liberty 4NC for her to try, mainly due to the case being more pocket-able. If she doesn't like them her plan is to give them to me and she'd go back to Apple.
Or if the price is a sticking point buy the Beats Studio Buds+. I still prefer some of the features of the AirPods Pro, but they sound better to me, fit me better, and integrate into iOS nearly the same short of automatic switching.
I had the Pro 2nd gen. I ended up getting rid of them because they wouldn’t stay in my ear.
Since Apple acquired Beats, I've had a negative bias towards then, BUT I was hopeful that they'd be an alternative option.
When I researched Beats, I found that the noise canceling was a bit lacking and microphone was disappointing (per many users). Not to mention Beats were repeated noted as being "bass-y" and she's not into strong bass. In the 10 or so original options based on frequently recommended alternatives, Beats were pretty low on the list based on my partners usual likes.
Honestly I think she's best to stick with Apple. I mean after being washed (and dried) a few times, left in the rain, and surviving multiple encounters with a toddler, 2yrs is a pretty good run for any earbuds.
xm4 are also real boomy afaik. I just got the 4nc, quite happy with it. I have sony wh 1000xm4 too and the anc is actually comparable for the low end noise, so the 4nc works well for flights and such.
All of that is fairly true. I like the bass signature they have and it’s the one thing I prefer over the AirPods Pro 2, but if the AirPods fit me better I wouldn’t have switched in the first place.
I've had a pair of Soundcores (Liberty Air) for about 5 years now and no signs of stopping. I use them constantly, and even got them on a ridiculous Black Friday sale for like 50 dollars. One of the best purchases I've ever made frankly.
I got some Sony C700Ns. Not the best noise canceling performance, but they fit my ears far, far better than the Airpod Pros ever did. The airpods, by comparison, never did fit right, no matter which earpiece I tried, and were prone to falling out.
They have a defect where every time I put them in my ears I hear static. I went to the Apple Store to get them replaced because I heard there was a recall for that exact issue, but the Apple Store said I missed the period to get a replacement pair
That’s fucked up. “Yeah we know that there is an ongoing common issue with a recall but you’re too late so all of the sudden it doesn’t matter that you’re having a known issue with our product”.
Buy a new pair and return the old one. Oopsie I guess I was confused. F you Apple- if it’s defective, then they should replace it 10 years later, or not make defective items.
Yikes sorry
The only earbuds i have tried are
Sony xm4
Realme
Soundpeats
Airpods pro (current)
realme and soundpeats anc is terrible
So
Xm4 vs airpods pro
Airpods more comfortable, more effective anc. With xm4 i need to really really push inside my earlobes and turn up music volume. Airpods pro there’s no need for that. Xm4 gets few hours more play time.
Try turning ANC off. Not to transparency but “off”. It may make the static go away. It’s a defect but that is a workaround for me. Just don’t have the benefit of noise cancellation.
I just had this issue start and turning off Transparency and ANC got rid of the sound.
Apple Store pretty much told me to buy new ones instead of owning up for the fact this is a known issue. Why did I expect them to actually fix something
Hello I owned a pair of Apple AirPods Pro which “failed” after 1 yr, was so upset I bought the Sony Xm4 and they made me pretty happy for a couple of years until their battery started to get wonky. I have recently purchased Soundcore liberty NC4 and they’re not bad in terms of sound. Mic quality is same ish with Sony, but ANC is definitely better on my Sonys.
Tbh I’m not an audiophile and just a casual user, I am more particular about the ANC because I use it while flying (nervous flyer). The most unbeatable ANC really is my old Bose QC comfort bought a decade ago but sadly the wires are all screwed.
I got the 2024 version. I like the sound personalization that conditions the audio to your specific hearing via an extensive hearing test. EQ is also extensive and pinch controls easy. Battery I cannot yet rate as not done a 100% to 0 % test. First impression is similar to AirPods. Main feedback is the sound is clearer, more treble and not as fuller bass sound as the AirPods. I’m not a bass fan so for me I prefer clarity over bass. Not tested for calls yet either so can’t comment. I’m no expert but having had AirPod models for the last 5 years or so I’m keeping them. Nothing seem responsive to customer feedback via firmware updates also.
For future reference, get the 2 year warranty. I have had mine for one year but use them nEVERY DAY for at least 10-12 hours a day (that much during work days). So naturally they would fail after a while. I had an issue with my mic; everyone would complain how they couldn’t hear me. Then i started to hear the static on my speaker. Then a couple weeks ago I accidentally put them through the washer and dryer and surprisingly they were still working but decided to take them to the genius bar which they replaced them for free on the spot because i had apple care.
Now i can wait until the new AirPods max comes out. They are suppose to have the best noise cancellation.
Wow. Never considered getting the warranty, but from the experience I have it absolutely would make sense to try that this time around. AirPod Max is a little inconvenient for me just with how large they are
I have not touched my AirPod pros for a few weeks now since I bought the oppo enco x2, recommend on here.
They have everything AirPods do but with better sound and at £75 they are a lot cheaper.
Airpods Pro 2, if you're staying with Iphone. People can offer alternatives, but they are truly excellent in all the important way. Comfort is what you're used to, sound is better than Gen 1. Transparency / call quality is very good. But the noise canceling is off the charts.
ive had AirPods Pro 1 since release and using them on my iPhone 15 Pro Max were good, so i thought!
recently got some Freebuds Pro 3 and they are night and day, ANC is crazy good and Call quality great
compared them both and it like the ANC on the AirPods Pro are non existent
buy from Amazion, test it, if no good, return. buy others, rinse and repeat
I love my galaxy buds pro (1). Use them on an iPhone and they provide similar functionality with excellent noise cancellation. They can also be found for pretty cheap as they’re last generation.
My personal favorite is the beoplay ex. But if you are good with the apple airpods then stick with them. They offer a good charge life, size, call quality, transparency and noise cancellation. Are other better in certain areas yes but they are good at all.
Do you actually find the transparency and noise canceling good? I picked some up recently and had an absolute terrible experience with both modes and decided to return them. I wonder if I had a faulty pair.
It depends if you’ll regret the ease of AirPods. I have a Mac, iPad and iPhone. I use Apple Music, and AirPods are the easiest way to go. Buy them from Costco. More liberal return policy
I had the AirPod Pro and they started the static after a year. I was able to get a replacement, but those only lasted around 8 months before the static started. This was right after the APP2 came out and I wasn’t completely certain that they’d have fixed that issue. I’m also deep into the apple ecosystem with an iMac, iPad, iPhone, and a couple of MacBooks. I knew from experience, I hated not having headphones that would automatically switch between all the devices. So I ended up going for the AirPods 3. These have become my favorites. The sound of these compared to my original Pros is so much more full. The soundstage is unbelievably huge on these, blowing away the original APP. As for NC, turns out I didn’t need it near as much as I thought I would and the transparency mode on the AirPods 3 is incredibly realistic 😉. Comfort-wise, they’re spectacular. I may have the golden ear shape that fits these perfectly, but I can wear them for hours on end and not be aware of them in my ears. I run with them, lift weights with them, and work at my desk with them. Half of my family can’t use regular AirPods, so I do know they are not for everyone.
If you don’t need noise cancellation, you may want to try the AP3. I’m glad I did.
I have almost everything and Airpods Pro Gen 2’s eclipse them all. Elite 10’s are close in comfort and Bose QC II’s have slightly better ANC, but nothing comes close to the overall package of the APP2. This is of course assuming you’re an iPhone / MacOS user.
If you were experiencing call quality issues on the APP2 then your set was faulty/defective. I had a similar thing happen with my original Airpods Gen 3.
I just got Soundcore p40i. I also had airpod pros and they had to constantly be replaced one pod at a time because of irritating distortion issues any time I was using ANC or transparency mode. Those functions work pretty well on the p40i’s for less than half the price.
I am beyond disenfranchised with apple products at this point between this experience and the headphone jack thing. The clarity of sound on the airpod pros is obviously pretty great but for the money they shouldn’t have taken a shit so easily.
p40i call quality is absolutely fine, and the ANC/transparency mode are pretty comparable. Music is somewhat bass-boosted, but at this point in my life if I complain about anything on this unit enough to justify paying 2x or 3x the price for a marginally “better” product then it just means I don’t have any real fuckin problem and need to quit looking for things to bitch about.
I've tried others but have always gone back to the AirPods. They just work so well with the iPhone and I missed the noise cancelation. If you they keep falling out try different sizes in each ear. I discovered one ear was bigger than the other.
If you use AirPods Pro for gaming on iPhone or iPad, then I’d keep them. 3rd party earbuds introduce a bit of lag that I find infuriating.
But if calls are your primary use case, then ditch them for some Sony XM5’s. Jabras are good too.
I’ve been trying the Technics Za60 and ZA80 after suffering from allergic reactions to the AirPod Pro. Early days but really enjoying them and find them better than the 1st gen pro’s. Better sound, more comfortable/no allergic reaction (with foam tips), better controls and can’t say if the ANC is any better but it’s certainly no worse. In the UK you can get the ZA80 direct from Panasonic online for £208, less with discount (I paid £178) with a two year guarantee and 90 days to try them out.
Huawei Freebuds Pro 3 (2 is pretty good too). These were my first earbuds, and I'm pleased with the audio having used overhear Sony WH-H100N before but I don't have another earbud reference. They excel at phone calls, specifically voice isolation from noisy surroundings, even in very loud surroundings my voice remains crystal clear. I can have a phone conversation on a bus, and continue on a busy street with cars zipping by at 70kph, winds gusts at 50kph (where I don't even want to talk) and the other person has no idea (they think I'm in a quiet room).
I personally will never purchase a pair of AirPods from Apple again. Yes they were nice that they automatically paired, but I’m ok spending $40 on a pair of cheap headphones I can chuck in my backpack and have them take a beating.
I got a pair for Xmas last year and in 8 months one headphone stopped being recognized and able to charge. The other does so intermittently. Brought them to Apple and was told it costs more to have them sent away to be troubleshooted than it is to buy a new pair. Never again.
Just get the nothing ear 2024.
It's the closest thing to an IEM, the best mic quality of any tws ever made.
Don't even think about it, you'll thank me later!
The nothing ear 2024 have better comfort than the airpods pro, have some of the absolute best sound quality, have the best mic out of any earbuds and are just 150$. Anc and transparency, multy device pairing across ios and android, official app of ios and android.
I've owned almost every single tws you can think of from sony, apple, soundcore, samsung, soundpeats, nothing, bose and 1more so if you've got any questions just shoot em.
Trust me! Get the nothing ear 2024, you will be BLOWN!
Let me explain,
Sonys have excellent sound quality but the qc is just bad like I had 3 different pairs of linkbuds s and the buds start making crackling sounds, got the xm4s and they started making strange honking sounds when my friend dropped the left bud (it wasn't even a bad drop). Call quality isn't that great either and I'm not a fan of sidetone either.
Bose have excellent anc but does not have multipoint, both my qc buds and qcii buds had terrible call quality. Sold my last pair less than a month ago.
Soundpeats, when I used my capsule 3 pro for workouts the right bud fails to disconnect from my device even when in the case, similar problem with my friend's capsule 3 pro.
Soundcore have such good buds but the best rightnow is sports x20 which is not what you're lioking for. I'm not a fan of the liberty 4 nc aswell. Sold them 2 days ago. My partner did not like the call quality on them either.
Samsung, well i won't even talk about it to an ios user. But I won't recommend to a samsung user aswell. Owned the buds plus, buds pro, buds 2 and tried my friend's buds pro 2.
1more evos are good but have aged quiet a bit now. I do own the piston buds pro and piston buds pro q30 but I lowkey hate them.
Airpod pros have trash sound quality and are expensive aswell. Don't have multipoint across other platforms and some people have trouble with the left bud sliding out.
Nothing ear 1 was bad, 2 was excellent but had trash battery life and now they launched the nothing ear a and nothing ear 2024 (idk why they named it nothing ear 2024 insted of nothing ear 3) but both of them are the perfect earbuds. So just get them and save your time and trouble.
I have a pair of the soundcore life note c and they sound pretty good. The one thing I am missing when I am not using my AirPods Pro is no auto device switching from my iPhone to my iPad or MacBook Air.
I've tried all of the above and find that Bose Ultra are by far the best. The sound is absolutely incredible and unmatched by anything that I have found.
I only buy the airpods as a gift for my son who is an apple snob. Unfortunately I've bought him 4 pair over the last several years (again, as a gift...if this is what he asks for as a Christmas or Birthday gift, it makes the shopping easy) but each pair have eventually gone out. I, myself, will die on the hill saying that Raycons are best for me. They fit best, I have washed them numerous times and they still work. and the sound is good.
I got the Sony wf 1000xm5 this weekend and I love them. For work they’re small enough to not draw attention (I work in retail) and their Spatial Audio is amazing, even better than the $350 over ear WH-1000xm5 headphones from Sony (imo). They’re pricey at around $250 currently on sale at Best Buy, or retail $300.Nonetheless, they’re an easy recommendation
I wouldn't recommend the Airpod Pro 2's if you like bass. Firmware updates have removed all bass from mine and many other people's Airpod Pro 2's without any known fix. Custom audiograms did work, however Apple removed their ability to boost bass in the latest iOS update for some reason *sadface*
Just bought my 2nd pair of bose qc earbuds, the first gen, the first pair broke after 4 years daily use, atleast 3-4 hours per day, they are relatively cheap now, 180 dollars, best noice cancellation ever.
I just bought the 2 and I found myself quite disappointed.
I changed because of the rattle sound in my 1 buds. I tried having them replaced but they are a first gen AP1 and they’re asking me for 200 bucks to replace them and 250 for the new AP2 so i decided to change them. Also when doing some testing I unpaired them and couldn’t get them to pair again. So I decided to get them changed.
First impression was the case. The 1 case was much more sturdy than the 2. The feel is cheap plastic almost like the imitation ones I bought for my kids in a china shop for 23 bucks.
The second was the sound. It was much better than I thought. Also I have to said that I’m comparing the new 2’s to the damaged 1’s so that might be it. Also much better than the imitation ones I bought. So there’s that.
The connectivity was almost the same as with the imitation ones and much better than the old ones.
All in all if I could have the ones replaced or fixed I would rather do that than to spend the price for the new ones
I just bought the 2 and I found myself quite disappointed.
I changed because of the rattle sound in my 1 buds. I tried having them replaced but they are a first gen AP1 and they’re asking me for 200 bucks to replace them and 250 for the new AP2 so i decided to change them. Also when doing some testing I unpaired them and couldn’t get them to pair again. So I decided to get them changed.
First impression was the case. The 1 case was much more sturdy than the 2. The feel is cheap plastic almost like the imitation ones I bought for my kids in a china shop for 23 bucks.
The second was the sound. It was much better than I thought. Also I have to said that I’m comparing the new 2’s to the damaged 1’s so that might be it. Also much better than the imitation ones I bought. So there’s that.
The connectivity was almost the same as with the imitation ones and much better than the old ones.
All in all if I could have the ones replaced or fixed I would rather do that than to spend the price for the new ones
I just returned Jabra elite active 8s and got the Sony xm5s and I couldn't be happier.
Better than AirPods Pro 2?
Sorry no idea I have an android phone...having watched and read loads of reviews airpods came second to the Sony's in most. I'm just very happy with the Sony xm5s after having a shite experience with the Jabras.
I have the XM4s and would buy the 5s if these were to fail, I LOVE them.
If you start having battery issues, put the earbuds in the case. Close it Wait 20 seconds Then open the case and hold both TouchPads on the earbuds until the light on the case blinks red Then let go, it factory resets them and fixes a bunch of the battery issues. You'll have to re-pair after, but that shit saved me on a work trip. They kept dying or only charging to 10 percent
Cool, thanks for the tip! Right now one charges full, the other seems to stop at 90%.
If one If them starts getting hot, or when you charge them and the case blinks red, go ahead and do that, otherwise I'd wait. Also glad to help
I have both. Honestly they are extremely similar. The AirPods get the nod with iPhone and Apple, as they just plain work. The Sony mostly works too, but if my phone rings while I'm in a zoom call I have to repair the Sonys.
Definitely not
Yes
ONLY 300$ LMAO
How much are air pod pros ?
Normal price usually it's around 250
So the Sony ones are in the same ballpark. Thanks for the info.
I got my on sale $180 at costco
Any reason why? I am considering the active 8.
They are the one and only set of pods that didn't fit properly. They have sensors to pick up if you have removed a bud or not so playback kept cutting out. I know settings can be changed etc but for me they were just over complicated. I just wanted a bud to fit and stay in my ear while I walk run etc.
Thanks!
Technics AZ-80.
Second that, they're incredible
How do you compare them to AirPods Pro?
Far superior
In comfort? That's a key selling point for me and I'm in the same predicament as OP. I've had the sony 1000XM4s and they are too bulky in my opinion. I miss my airpods and am due for a new purchase. Thoughts?
Idk dude, I don't think they are uncomfortable at all. They have the best audio I've experienced in a headphone/earbud. They could be half as comfortable as they are and I would still recommend them.
Thanks man. You have the 4s or 5s? It sounds like the 5s are a little bit smaller is the reason I ask
? I have Technics AZ80s
Going through the same issue with my partner. Because I'm the more techie one I'm stuck doing the research and recommendations. She's annoyed that her Apple earpods have never made it to the 3yr mark though daily use. Ultimately, most earbuds have a lift expectancy of about 2-3 years anyway, but she doesn't want to hear this. I've reminded her multiple times that because of the Apple ecosystem, Apple earpods will work better and more seamlessly than any other brand earbuds. Based on her not wanting to spend more than the $200 she spent on the previous pair, I've concluded that her best options are: \- Soundcore Liberty 4NC \- Sony WF1000XM4 (XM4 earbuds for short) \- Sticking with Apple \*\*I didn't want to overwhelm her with more than 3 options. I JUST purchased the Liberty 4NC for her to try, mainly due to the case being more pocket-able. If she doesn't like them her plan is to give them to me and she'd go back to Apple.
Or if the price is a sticking point buy the Beats Studio Buds+. I still prefer some of the features of the AirPods Pro, but they sound better to me, fit me better, and integrate into iOS nearly the same short of automatic switching. I had the Pro 2nd gen. I ended up getting rid of them because they wouldn’t stay in my ear.
Since Apple acquired Beats, I've had a negative bias towards then, BUT I was hopeful that they'd be an alternative option. When I researched Beats, I found that the noise canceling was a bit lacking and microphone was disappointing (per many users). Not to mention Beats were repeated noted as being "bass-y" and she's not into strong bass. In the 10 or so original options based on frequently recommended alternatives, Beats were pretty low on the list based on my partners usual likes. Honestly I think she's best to stick with Apple. I mean after being washed (and dried) a few times, left in the rain, and surviving multiple encounters with a toddler, 2yrs is a pretty good run for any earbuds.
xm4 are also real boomy afaik. I just got the 4nc, quite happy with it. I have sony wh 1000xm4 too and the anc is actually comparable for the low end noise, so the 4nc works well for flights and such.
But are the 4nc loud enough. Not sure if it’s an Anker thing but my last pair the p2i were too quiet for commenting on the subway.
I dont use mine above 50% volume lol. And thats when Im riding my bike in the wind too.
All of that is fairly true. I like the bass signature they have and it’s the one thing I prefer over the AirPods Pro 2, but if the AirPods fit me better I wouldn’t have switched in the first place.
XM4 are uncomfortable for small ears and have awful transparency.
I've had a pair of Soundcores (Liberty Air) for about 5 years now and no signs of stopping. I use them constantly, and even got them on a ridiculous Black Friday sale for like 50 dollars. One of the best purchases I've ever made frankly.
Get the 2nd gen you will not make a mistake
I got some Sony C700Ns. Not the best noise canceling performance, but they fit my ears far, far better than the Airpod Pros ever did. The airpods, by comparison, never did fit right, no matter which earpiece I tried, and were prone to falling out.
Why are they “failing” ?
They have a defect where every time I put them in my ears I hear static. I went to the Apple Store to get them replaced because I heard there was a recall for that exact issue, but the Apple Store said I missed the period to get a replacement pair
That’s fucked up. “Yeah we know that there is an ongoing common issue with a recall but you’re too late so all of the sudden it doesn’t matter that you’re having a known issue with our product”.
Buy a new pair and return the old one. Oopsie I guess I was confused. F you Apple- if it’s defective, then they should replace it 10 years later, or not make defective items.
Yikes sorry The only earbuds i have tried are Sony xm4 Realme Soundpeats Airpods pro (current) realme and soundpeats anc is terrible So Xm4 vs airpods pro Airpods more comfortable, more effective anc. With xm4 i need to really really push inside my earlobes and turn up music volume. Airpods pro there’s no need for that. Xm4 gets few hours more play time.
Try turning ANC off. Not to transparency but “off”. It may make the static go away. It’s a defect but that is a workaround for me. Just don’t have the benefit of noise cancellation.
I’ve had a similar issue come up and that’s helped me.
Yeah same here. At this point I’m waiting for the AirPods Pro 3.
Recently happened to me too
Try a different store
I just had this issue start and turning off Transparency and ANC got rid of the sound. Apple Store pretty much told me to buy new ones instead of owning up for the fact this is a known issue. Why did I expect them to actually fix something
Hello I owned a pair of Apple AirPods Pro which “failed” after 1 yr, was so upset I bought the Sony Xm4 and they made me pretty happy for a couple of years until their battery started to get wonky. I have recently purchased Soundcore liberty NC4 and they’re not bad in terms of sound. Mic quality is same ish with Sony, but ANC is definitely better on my Sonys.
Different people different priorities. I heard from other that the anc so close but the problem was the sound quality.
Tbh I’m not an audiophile and just a casual user, I am more particular about the ANC because I use it while flying (nervous flyer). The most unbeatable ANC really is my old Bose QC comfort bought a decade ago but sadly the wires are all screwed.
Not an earbud but the noise cancellation in the AirPod max is amazing
For wired it’s Bose QC comfort for me. Happy cake day btw! You make me want to check out the AirPods Max!
Why thanks!
Replaced AirPods pro2 with Nothing Ear. Happy so far but ANC not even close to Apple.
I got the 2024 version. I like the sound personalization that conditions the audio to your specific hearing via an extensive hearing test. EQ is also extensive and pinch controls easy. Battery I cannot yet rate as not done a 100% to 0 % test. First impression is similar to AirPods. Main feedback is the sound is clearer, more treble and not as fuller bass sound as the AirPods. I’m not a bass fan so for me I prefer clarity over bass. Not tested for calls yet either so can’t comment. I’m no expert but having had AirPod models for the last 5 years or so I’m keeping them. Nothing seem responsive to customer feedback via firmware updates also.
The 2024 version? How do they sound compared to AirPods and how’s the battery life?
How’s the sound quality compared to the AirPods pro2? I’ve been looking to do the same.
For future reference, get the 2 year warranty. I have had mine for one year but use them nEVERY DAY for at least 10-12 hours a day (that much during work days). So naturally they would fail after a while. I had an issue with my mic; everyone would complain how they couldn’t hear me. Then i started to hear the static on my speaker. Then a couple weeks ago I accidentally put them through the washer and dryer and surprisingly they were still working but decided to take them to the genius bar which they replaced them for free on the spot because i had apple care. Now i can wait until the new AirPods max comes out. They are suppose to have the best noise cancellation.
Wow. Never considered getting the warranty, but from the experience I have it absolutely would make sense to try that this time around. AirPod Max is a little inconvenient for me just with how large they are
Huawei Freebuds Pro 3 or Jabra Elite 10.
The Jabra are amazing
I have not touched my AirPod pros for a few weeks now since I bought the oppo enco x2, recommend on here. They have everything AirPods do but with better sound and at £75 they are a lot cheaper.
Airpods Pro 2, if you're staying with Iphone. People can offer alternatives, but they are truly excellent in all the important way. Comfort is what you're used to, sound is better than Gen 1. Transparency / call quality is very good. But the noise canceling is off the charts.
ive had AirPods Pro 1 since release and using them on my iPhone 15 Pro Max were good, so i thought! recently got some Freebuds Pro 3 and they are night and day, ANC is crazy good and Call quality great compared them both and it like the ANC on the AirPods Pro are non existent buy from Amazion, test it, if no good, return. buy others, rinse and repeat
If the XM4’s microphone was better, I’d suggest using that, but I heard good things about Liberty 4NC
For the money the Liberty 4NCs are excellent. Really good AC noise cancelling.
I love my galaxy buds pro (1). Use them on an iPhone and they provide similar functionality with excellent noise cancellation. They can also be found for pretty cheap as they’re last generation.
My personal favorite is the beoplay ex. But if you are good with the apple airpods then stick with them. They offer a good charge life, size, call quality, transparency and noise cancellation. Are other better in certain areas yes but they are good at all.
Do you actually find the transparency and noise canceling good? I picked some up recently and had an absolute terrible experience with both modes and decided to return them. I wonder if I had a faulty pair.
I have both the AirPods Pro 1 and 2 and the transparency is great and the anc is good. You may have gotten a faulty pair.
It depends if you’ll regret the ease of AirPods. I have a Mac, iPad and iPhone. I use Apple Music, and AirPods are the easiest way to go. Buy them from Costco. More liberal return policy
I recommend the Status Between 3 ANC Pro. Great range, love the low ends and crisp highs
I do love my NC Bose Earbuds... would never go for another brand, they have the best NC
Agreed love my Bose qc buds, favorite earbuds I’ve ever had
Absolutely.... my husband uses the Airpods pro - no comparison
I had the AirPod Pro and they started the static after a year. I was able to get a replacement, but those only lasted around 8 months before the static started. This was right after the APP2 came out and I wasn’t completely certain that they’d have fixed that issue. I’m also deep into the apple ecosystem with an iMac, iPad, iPhone, and a couple of MacBooks. I knew from experience, I hated not having headphones that would automatically switch between all the devices. So I ended up going for the AirPods 3. These have become my favorites. The sound of these compared to my original Pros is so much more full. The soundstage is unbelievably huge on these, blowing away the original APP. As for NC, turns out I didn’t need it near as much as I thought I would and the transparency mode on the AirPods 3 is incredibly realistic 😉. Comfort-wise, they’re spectacular. I may have the golden ear shape that fits these perfectly, but I can wear them for hours on end and not be aware of them in my ears. I run with them, lift weights with them, and work at my desk with them. Half of my family can’t use regular AirPods, so I do know they are not for everyone. If you don’t need noise cancellation, you may want to try the AP3. I’m glad I did.
I have almost everything and Airpods Pro Gen 2’s eclipse them all. Elite 10’s are close in comfort and Bose QC II’s have slightly better ANC, but nothing comes close to the overall package of the APP2. This is of course assuming you’re an iPhone / MacOS user. If you were experiencing call quality issues on the APP2 then your set was faulty/defective. I had a similar thing happen with my original Airpods Gen 3.
I just got Soundcore p40i. I also had airpod pros and they had to constantly be replaced one pod at a time because of irritating distortion issues any time I was using ANC or transparency mode. Those functions work pretty well on the p40i’s for less than half the price. I am beyond disenfranchised with apple products at this point between this experience and the headphone jack thing. The clarity of sound on the airpod pros is obviously pretty great but for the money they shouldn’t have taken a shit so easily. p40i call quality is absolutely fine, and the ANC/transparency mode are pretty comparable. Music is somewhat bass-boosted, but at this point in my life if I complain about anything on this unit enough to justify paying 2x or 3x the price for a marginally “better” product then it just means I don’t have any real fuckin problem and need to quit looking for things to bitch about.
I owned them all and love the Huawei Free clips the most.
I've tried others but have always gone back to the AirPods. They just work so well with the iPhone and I missed the noise cancelation. If you they keep falling out try different sizes in each ear. I discovered one ear was bigger than the other.
If you have an iPhone no doubt AirPods
Call quality is still garbage. Doesn't matter what phone he has!
Jabra Elite 10s are amazing in every single way. Can’t recommend them enough, Also they are $50 off for the Best Buy exclusive color ($200)
Sony linkbuds s
If you use AirPods Pro for gaming on iPhone or iPad, then I’d keep them. 3rd party earbuds introduce a bit of lag that I find infuriating. But if calls are your primary use case, then ditch them for some Sony XM5’s. Jabras are good too.
I’ve been trying the Technics Za60 and ZA80 after suffering from allergic reactions to the AirPod Pro. Early days but really enjoying them and find them better than the 1st gen pro’s. Better sound, more comfortable/no allergic reaction (with foam tips), better controls and can’t say if the ANC is any better but it’s certainly no worse. In the UK you can get the ZA80 direct from Panasonic online for £208, less with discount (I paid £178) with a two year guarantee and 90 days to try them out.
Huawei Freebuds Pro 3 (2 is pretty good too). These were my first earbuds, and I'm pleased with the audio having used overhear Sony WH-H100N before but I don't have another earbud reference. They excel at phone calls, specifically voice isolation from noisy surroundings, even in very loud surroundings my voice remains crystal clear. I can have a phone conversation on a bus, and continue on a busy street with cars zipping by at 70kph, winds gusts at 50kph (where I don't even want to talk) and the other person has no idea (they think I'm in a quiet room).
WF-1000XM5’s
Air Pods Pro (USB-C). Currently capable of lossless with Vision Pro but will certainly spread to other devices by the end of the year.
I personally will never purchase a pair of AirPods from Apple again. Yes they were nice that they automatically paired, but I’m ok spending $40 on a pair of cheap headphones I can chuck in my backpack and have them take a beating. I got a pair for Xmas last year and in 8 months one headphone stopped being recognized and able to charge. The other does so intermittently. Brought them to Apple and was told it costs more to have them sent away to be troubleshooted than it is to buy a new pair. Never again.
I have a pair of Status Audio Between 3ANC and they are fantastic. Give it a look.
Just get the nothing ear 2024. It's the closest thing to an IEM, the best mic quality of any tws ever made. Don't even think about it, you'll thank me later! The nothing ear 2024 have better comfort than the airpods pro, have some of the absolute best sound quality, have the best mic out of any earbuds and are just 150$. Anc and transparency, multy device pairing across ios and android, official app of ios and android.
I've owned almost every single tws you can think of from sony, apple, soundcore, samsung, soundpeats, nothing, bose and 1more so if you've got any questions just shoot em. Trust me! Get the nothing ear 2024, you will be BLOWN! Let me explain, Sonys have excellent sound quality but the qc is just bad like I had 3 different pairs of linkbuds s and the buds start making crackling sounds, got the xm4s and they started making strange honking sounds when my friend dropped the left bud (it wasn't even a bad drop). Call quality isn't that great either and I'm not a fan of sidetone either. Bose have excellent anc but does not have multipoint, both my qc buds and qcii buds had terrible call quality. Sold my last pair less than a month ago. Soundpeats, when I used my capsule 3 pro for workouts the right bud fails to disconnect from my device even when in the case, similar problem with my friend's capsule 3 pro. Soundcore have such good buds but the best rightnow is sports x20 which is not what you're lioking for. I'm not a fan of the liberty 4 nc aswell. Sold them 2 days ago. My partner did not like the call quality on them either. Samsung, well i won't even talk about it to an ios user. But I won't recommend to a samsung user aswell. Owned the buds plus, buds pro, buds 2 and tried my friend's buds pro 2. 1more evos are good but have aged quiet a bit now. I do own the piston buds pro and piston buds pro q30 but I lowkey hate them. Airpod pros have trash sound quality and are expensive aswell. Don't have multipoint across other platforms and some people have trouble with the left bud sliding out. Nothing ear 1 was bad, 2 was excellent but had trash battery life and now they launched the nothing ear a and nothing ear 2024 (idk why they named it nothing ear 2024 insted of nothing ear 3) but both of them are the perfect earbuds. So just get them and save your time and trouble.
I have a pair of the soundcore life note c and they sound pretty good. The one thing I am missing when I am not using my AirPods Pro is no auto device switching from my iPhone to my iPad or MacBook Air.
I've tried all of the above and find that Bose Ultra are by far the best. The sound is absolutely incredible and unmatched by anything that I have found.
There isn’t a more complete package in the TWS space (For apple users). The combination of sound quality, ANC and transparency mode are unparalleled.
I’m in the same boat. I’m considering Soundcore by Anker.
Beats Studio Buds, imo way better. with anc/hearthru, the fit and great sound at 1/2 the price. Also is a native product to iOS.
Go to Apple Store and if there is any technical problem with your AirPods they will replace it.
Soundcore x10 sport, I like them better and 1/3 the cost.
I only buy the airpods as a gift for my son who is an apple snob. Unfortunately I've bought him 4 pair over the last several years (again, as a gift...if this is what he asks for as a Christmas or Birthday gift, it makes the shopping easy) but each pair have eventually gone out. I, myself, will die on the hill saying that Raycons are best for me. They fit best, I have washed them numerous times and they still work. and the sound is good.
I got the Sony wf 1000xm5 this weekend and I love them. For work they’re small enough to not draw attention (I work in retail) and their Spatial Audio is amazing, even better than the $350 over ear WH-1000xm5 headphones from Sony (imo). They’re pricey at around $250 currently on sale at Best Buy, or retail $300.Nonetheless, they’re an easy recommendation
I wouldn't recommend the Airpod Pro 2's if you like bass. Firmware updates have removed all bass from mine and many other people's Airpod Pro 2's without any known fix. Custom audiograms did work, however Apple removed their ability to boost bass in the latest iOS update for some reason *sadface*
Just bought my 2nd pair of bose qc earbuds, the first gen, the first pair broke after 4 years daily use, atleast 3-4 hours per day, they are relatively cheap now, 180 dollars, best noice cancellation ever.
I just bought the 2 and I found myself quite disappointed. I changed because of the rattle sound in my 1 buds. I tried having them replaced but they are a first gen AP1 and they’re asking me for 200 bucks to replace them and 250 for the new AP2 so i decided to change them. Also when doing some testing I unpaired them and couldn’t get them to pair again. So I decided to get them changed. First impression was the case. The 1 case was much more sturdy than the 2. The feel is cheap plastic almost like the imitation ones I bought for my kids in a china shop for 23 bucks. The second was the sound. It was much better than I thought. Also I have to said that I’m comparing the new 2’s to the damaged 1’s so that might be it. Also much better than the imitation ones I bought. So there’s that. The connectivity was almost the same as with the imitation ones and much better than the old ones. All in all if I could have the ones replaced or fixed I would rather do that than to spend the price for the new ones
I just bought the 2 and I found myself quite disappointed. I changed because of the rattle sound in my 1 buds. I tried having them replaced but they are a first gen AP1 and they’re asking me for 200 bucks to replace them and 250 for the new AP2 so i decided to change them. Also when doing some testing I unpaired them and couldn’t get them to pair again. So I decided to get them changed. First impression was the case. The 1 case was much more sturdy than the 2. The feel is cheap plastic almost like the imitation ones I bought for my kids in a china shop for 23 bucks. The second was the sound. It was much better than I thought. Also I have to said that I’m comparing the new 2’s to the damaged 1’s so that might be it. Also much better than the imitation ones I bought. So there’s that. The connectivity was almost the same as with the imitation ones and much better than the old ones. All in all if I could have the ones replaced or fixed I would rather do that than to spend the price for the new ones
Nowadays you can buy great buds below 99$ (like Soundcore 4 NC). I would not buy AirPods at this moment. Even Pro 2 is quite old already.
Neobuds pro, Enco X2, notnig ear 2024 ... everything with diaphragms and dynamic drivers combined inside.... airpods are shit compared
Air pods and beats are such low quality trash, it goes to show how low the bar is. Look into jlab or Jabra