If you are no amongst the fans of Apple products or looking for an alternative to Apple’s AirPods, you are at the right place. Earbuds are also budget-friendly and they can work as a nice alternative to AirPods. Unlike AirPods, you can buy both cheaper and expensive earbuds that will cost you around $25 to $280.


Why choose earbuds over AirPods


I have thought a lot about why some people choose earbuds over AirPods. Then I have distinguished some important and some less important points. But I would be delighted if I can share these points with my readers.
Variety in the price: Airpods are available from $120 to $250, which is of course a shorter price range comparing to the earbuds $25 to $280. Within this long price range of earbuds, you can choose whatever type you want.
You can go for cheaper or an expensive one that has the same features as Apple’s AirPods. But Apple will only give you two types of AirPods within this price range. So with the variety in price, you will also find a variety in the earbuds as well.
Variety in design: As I told you can variety of earbuds within this long price range, which is impossible for AirPods. Both versions of AirPods are the same in design and build quality. However, earbuds offer you a great variety of design, color, and build quality. So the user can taste different features in differently designed earbuds.
Same features at low cost: You don’t need to only get the extra features in AirPods, not in earbuds. Some popular companies like Sony or Bose offer the same features as Apple’s AirPods but at a low cost. So why not customers will be attracted to those products?
Losing AirPods is more heartbreaking than losing earbuds: Well, when you lose an expensive product or the products get damaged, it’s a more regretful thing than losing a cheaper product. If you are among those guys who often lose their small electronic gadgets, you should go for earbuds instead of AirPods.
Don’t like apple products: I would mark this point as a less important one. However, everyone has their own brand choice for any electronic gadgets, and if you are a hater of Apple's products, you will always choose earbuds over AirPods.
Cost of earbuds
Category | Price |
Low-end earbud | $25-$120 |
High-end Earbud | $120-$280 |
As I have said, there are both cheap and costly earbuds available in the market. The cost of earbuds mainly depends on the design, features, and having charging. However, earbuds come with a huge price range, which is from $25 to $280.
The design: As a brand value, Apple is going to give you a premium look in all of their products. However, if you want to buy earbuds as an alternative to AirPods, you should look for a nice, premium design. Cheap earbuds tend to come with the cheaper build quality and design.
To have a premium look on the earbuds you are wearing, you must spend a bit more. Cheap earbuds are likely to cost you not more than $40. Expensive ones with a nice finish on the surface that provides a premium look will surely cost you something around $100. Now the choice is up to you.
Charging case: The second thing, I think that affects the cost of earbuds is the charging case. As you are buying a wireless earphone or specifically earbuds, you might also want to have a wireless charging case with it. This wireless charging case will also offer you to have uninterrupted service on the go.
If you want to have 24 hours of talk time or listen to music, you must look for this wireless charging case feature. Well, earbuds without charging are of course a lot cheaper and you will also get a short time service from them. So for longevity in performance, you should spend a few more dollars and buy earbuds with a charging case.
Additional features: You can only compare the earbuds with AirPods when they come with some additional features that are already part of AirPods. Features like noise-canceling will keep you tuned to the world of music or whatever you want to listen to by setting the earbuds into the ears.
Besides, different ear tips and soft construction of these tips will provide the user with a premium and comfortable feel all day. Moreover, the earbuds should also allow you to operate them with motion sensors built on the surface.


A few earbuds you might like
1. Sony Industry Leading Noise Canceling Truly Wireless Earbuds
You are going to get up to eight hours of playback from these truly wireless earbuds. Sony has launched these nicely designed earbuds to provide the customers with an alternative to Apple’s AirPods. The manufacturer has used QN1e NC Chip in these earbuds with two noise-canceling mics.
The noise-canceling feature will allow you to keep yourself away from the rest of the world and only concentrate on whatever you want. It comes with 6 mm closed dynamic drivers. There is a charging case included in the set that allows 24 hours of charging.
2. Apple AirPods Pro
Apple AirPods pro offers you resistance from sweat and water, so you can tirelessly use this thing in your day to day life doesn’t matter which type of environment you are in. There is an active noise cancellation system to provide excellent sound.
You can also connect with the people around you by turning on the transparency mode. The user is going to have a customizable fit with the three sizes of soft and tapered silicone tips. You can carry the wireless charger on the go to have 24 hours of battery life.
3. Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Earbuds
You can listen to music, podcasts, or whatever you like without any distraction with the 11 levels of the noise-canceling method. These earbuds offer you crisp, clear details, deep and full bass. It comes with three pieces of ear tips, and they are made of soft silicone to provide you enough comfort.
These earbuds are weather and sweat resistant. On a single charge, you can easily have 20 hours of endless music listening through these earbuds. You can increase, decrease volume, pause and play music or active noise-cancellation through simple taps on the surface. It comes with a 5.1 version of Bluetooth and works well within 30 feet.
4. ENACFIRE E60 Wireless Earbuds (cheap)
These wireless earbuds provides powerful, powerful, low bit rate transmission and scalability for free lossless audio. It comes with a charging pad, which provides you a true wireless charging by putting the earbuds on the charging pad.
It comes with smart touch sensors, which allow you to control the music, picking up calls, and so on. On a single charge, the earbuds will last for eight hours in a row. It is a waterproof earbud as it comes with the highest waterproof rating and nano-coating material design.
Why do earbuds get damaged?
Earbuds are small electronic products, and you have to take every care of them while they are in use or not in use. It would be helpful if you know how your earbuds can get damaged.
- Poor build quality: Cheaper earbuds come with poor build quality, and they tend to lose their quality quickly.
- Putting extra pressure on the motion sensor: Earbuds are wireless earphones, and they work with motion sensors. The motion sensors are sensitive things, and if you put immense pressure on the earbuds’ surface, it might damage the sensor resulting in a malfunctioned earbuds.
- Using rough weather conditions: If you need earbuds for regular use or use them in rough weather, you should buy an expensive one with the weatherproof feature. Using earbuds in rough weather without having this feature will turn out to another way of damaging your earbuds.
- Not charging when needed: If you don’t charge your earbuds when it is needed, you might notice consistent degradation in their performance.
Earbuds vs. Earphones


Earbuds are a type of earphones, but they come in wireless and this is the main difference between these two gadgets.
- Audio quality: This is the first and most important feature that keeps earphones on top of earbuds. Although both these gadgets provide noise cancellation, earphone does this with more accuracy. Besides, you will also get a better bass from earphones than earbuds.
- Fitting: For a snug and reliable fitting, I would prefer using earphones instead of earbuds. Most earbuds come with one size fit one feature that might actually not fit all users and provide the same comfort, but you will have different sizes of ear tips in earphones.
- Durability: Earbuds are durable than earphones, so you are supposedly going to have long-lasting service from earbuds.
- Easy to take care of: You can easily clean and take care of earbuds compared to earphones because of not having built-in wires.
Concluding words
I think it’s enough for you to decide whether you need earbuds or AirPods because I have also distinguished the difference between these two gadgets. And of course, you will have more variety on earbuds than AirPods with a huge price range.