10 affordable wireless earbud alternatives to AirPods — starting at just $18

    Moriba Cummings

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    Gone are the days of wired headphones and earbuds, especially when premium quality wireless technology no longer costs an arm and a leg to snag.

    Despite wireless and wearable tech being more affordable than ever, as seen in the smartwatch market, Apple has been continuously dominating the earbuds arena for some time now — dating all the way back to 2016.

    In fact, a recent report by Counterpoint Research via Bloomberg outlined that Apple could potentially sell 82 million AirPods in 2020 alone. This marks an increase of 61 million units compared to 2019’s sales.

    However, despite the massive surge in sales, the study explained that Apple is reportedly losing market share compared to other wireless earbuds brands.

    Putting that fact into perspective, in 2019 Apple Airpods (the standard AirPods models as well as the latest AirPods Pro) reportedly accounted for about half of all true wireless earphones. The study goes on to explain that this year, Apple AirPods sales are expected to decrease to around 35 percent due to rival brands gaining popularity.

    One of the major factors that’s most likely caused this decline of interest in Apple’s models is the influx of more affordable options that perform just as well as Apple’s AirPods. Currently, Apple AirPods retail for $159 on Amazon, and the AirPods Pro retail for $249.

    Below, we’ve listed eight of our favorite wireless earbud picks (all customer-approved and recommended) from other brands that range in price from $20 to $179. To make your shopping experience a bit easier, we’ve also listed the top features for each item.

    1. Letsfit Waterproof Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds With Touch Control And Charging Case, $17.80 (Orig. $21.95)

    Credit: Amazon

    Top Features:

    • Touch-control

    • Waterproof

    • USB-C

    • All-day battery life

    2. Letscom Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds With Charging Case, $19.99

    Credit: Amazon

    Top Features:

    • 20 hours of playtime

    • Low power consumption

    • Long-lasting battery

    3. Letscom Active Noise-Cancelling Wireless Earbuds, $54.99

    Credit: Amazon

    Top Features:

    • Active noise-cancellation

    • Dual built-in mics for better call quality

    • All-day battery life

    • Waterproof coating

    • Touch-control deep bass

    4. Tribit Active Noise-Cancelling FlyBuds, $59.99

    Credit: Tribit

    Top Features:

    • Environmental noise-cancelling

    • Dynamic drivers for deep bass

    • Charge 10 minutes for 1.5 hours of playtime

    • Sweat and water-resistant

    5. UrbanEars Alby Wireless Earbuds With Customizable Fit, $69

    Credit: UrbanEars

    Top Features:

    • Earbuds attach to charging case magnetically for extra security

    • Includes silicone in-ear tips for a customizable fit

    • Available in four colors

    • Voice and touch controls

    • Water-resistant design

    6. JBL Tune True Wireless In-Ear Headphones, $69.95 (Orig. $99.95)

    Credit: Amazon

    Top Features:

    • Two-hour charging time from empty

    • Hands-free stereo calls

    • Signature JBL pure bass sound

    7. Jabra Elite Wireless Earbuds With Charging Case, $92.97 (Orig. $119.99)

    Credit: Amazon

    Top Features:

    • Four-microphone call technology

    • Up to 15 hours of use on a single charge

    • Fast-charge compatible

    • Two-year warranty against dust and water

    • Voice assistant compatible

    8. Amazon Wireless Echo Buds With Immersive Sound, $129.99

    Credit: Amazon

    Top Features:

    • Immersive sound with Bose active noise reduction technology to limit background noise

    • Alexa-compatible

    • Customizable fit

    • Sweat-resistant

    9. AiPower Wireless Wearbuds With Wrist Charger, $179

    Credit: AiPower

    Top Features:

    • Innovative design: earbuds are stored and charged inside a fitness band

    • High-fidelity sound

    • Premium fitness tracking (heart rate, calories burned, steps, pedometer, distance)

    • Waterproof

    • Available in four colors

    10. Jaybird Vista, $179.99

    Credit: Jaybird

    Top Features:

    • Sweat and waterproof

    • Single earbud mode

    • Sport fit

    • Fast charge

    • Premium sound with custom EQ

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