HeadphonesAddict is user supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. Take a look at the best AirPods alternatives to the original Apple AirPods & AirPods Pro. Find yourself the best alternative in all price ranges that’s: Great for callsHas good ANCSuperb comfort Previous Next Rating Price Connection Noise cancelling Battery life Water resistance More info JBL Live Pro+ Best overall 3.9 Under $200 Bluetooth 5.0 checkmark 7h + 21h in case (USB-C & Qi wireless charging) IPX4 Review TaoTronics Soundliberty 80 Best for calls 4.3 Under $60 Bluetooth 5.0 cross 2.5h + 16h in case (USB-C) IPX8 Review Skullcandy Indy ANC 4.2 Under $70 Bluetooth 5.0 checkmark 9h + 23h in case (USB-C & Qi wireless charging) IP55 Review EarFun Air Pro 2 4.4 Under $80 Bluetooth 5.2 checkmark 6h + 27h in case (USB-C & Qi wireless charging) IPX5 Review Aukey EP-T21 Best cheap 4.2 Under $30 Bluetooth 5.0 cross 4.5h + 20h in case (micro-USB) IPX4 Review CONTENTS (show more) Fake AirPods exist for a couple of reasons. First, as they resemble one of the most popular true wireless earbuds on the market, they draw attention from potential buyers. Secondly, AirPods, especially the AirPods Pro model, are ergonomically designed. Copying that can actually benefit a customer since it makes the end product much more comfortable. While most fake AirPods are just a plain copy without substance, some AirPods lookalike are worth checking out. Here’s a list of the best fake AirPods you can find. You can get some compelling options for a fraction of the price of the original ones. Note that all the models on this list aren’t complete AirPods and AirPods Pro clones since those are illegal to sell. What Makes Earbuds “Fake AirPods”? For earbuds to be considered fake AirPods, they have to share design similarities with the original. Some earbuds blatantly copy the AirPods design right down to every detail. On the other hand, other “fake AirPods” aren’t an intentional copy, as they only share some similarities. Generally, earbuds considered an AirPods fake have: They have an elongated stem. This design (at least in true wireless earbuds) was introduced by Apple and widely mocked at first. Later on, it has become an iconic AirPods feature. Long stem pushes the microphone closer to your mouth, making voice calls clearer.Have sideways firing speakers. Normally, earphones had front-firing speakers, but ever since Apple changed the design, many earphones followed. The design makes sense since it forces the sound more directly into the ear canal.Earbuds are true wireless. We only consider true wireless AirPods lookalikes as possible contenders for this guide. Since they’re trying to mimic TWS AirPods models from Apple, you won’t see any wired earbuds in here. Only wireless earbuds with a Bluetooth feature.They have active noise cancellation. The AirPods Pro were the first Apple earbuds with ANC. It quickly became one of the top features on the AirPods Pro. Therefore, the fake AirPods Pro alternatives also need to have ANC. Check similar articles: Best Beats headphones 5 Best Fake AirPods 1. JBL Live Pro+ Best overall The best fake AirPods Pro that you can lay your hand on. They’re such a gem for a much lower price. Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 Driver size: 11m Frequency range: 20-20.000Hz Type: True wireless | Battery life: 7h + 21h in case | Wireless range: 33ft (10m) | Noise cancelling: Yes | Charging: 2h + quick charge – USB-C & Qi charging | Mic & Controls: Yes | Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC | Water resistance: IPX4 | Features: Ambient Aware, TalkThru, custom EQ Great sound quality (after EQ) Comfortable and stable fit Feature-rich companion app Compact charging case Good battery life with fast & Qi charging Responsive touch controls App experience could be better Manually selecting custom EQ after every pairing is frustrating JBL LIVE PRO+ TWS Wireless Earbud Headphones – Black JBL LIVE PRO+ TWS Wireless Earbud Headphones – Black $37.90 $54.92 in stock Buy now eBay JBL Live PRO+ TWS True Wireless in-Ear Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones, Up to 28H of… JBL Live PRO+ TWS True Wireless in-Ear Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones, Up to 28H of… $99.95 $179.95 in stock 1 used from $99.95 as of September 30, 2022 12:43 pm Buy now Amazon.com JBL Live Pro 2 True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds (Silver) JBL Live Pro 2 True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds (Silver) $149.95 $179.99 in stock Buy now Walmart.com Compared to other fake AirPods lookalikes, the Live Pro+ sound the best. They have a decently faithful sound to the original audio, with only some minor bass boost and elevation in the upper midrange. Still, some might find them a bit piercing and sibilant. Thankfully, earbuds come with the JBL app, which includes a custom equalizer. Like Apple AirPods Pro, they share a similar design and ergonomic shape that nicely contours your outer ear, providing comfort for long listening sessions. Furthermore, Live Pro+ have active noise cancellation and transparency mode. While neither feature works as well as the ones from Apple, they can prove helpful if you ever need them. Earbuds have a stable Bluetooth connection, no audio lag when watching videos or playing video games, and even support multipoint. The long battery life is overall better than what Apple offers. You get around 7 hours of juice per single charge, with another 21 hours inside the charging case. The latter supports Qi wireless charging. JBL Live Pro+ review 2. TaoTronics Soundliberty 80 Best for calls AirPod alternatives with excellent voice quality for working from home and Zoom calls. Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 Driver size: 12mm Frequency range: n/a Type: True wireless | Battery life: 4h + 16h in case | Wireless range: 50ft (15m) | Noise cancelling: No | Charging: Quick charge – USB-C | Mic & Controls: Yes | Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX | Water resistance: IPX8 | Features: Mono mode, touch controls Good overall sound IPX8 water-resistant rating Excellent microphone quality Support for both AAC and aptX No audio lag with videos and games No passive isolation whatsoever Subpar battery life Poor stability TaoTronics SoundLiberty 80 Wireless In Ear Headset – White TaoTronics SoundLiberty 80 Wireless In Ear Headset – White $16.99 $19.50 in stock Buy now eBay TWS SoundLiberty 80, Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds with AI Noise Canceling Mic TWS SoundLiberty 80, Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds with AI Noise Canceling Mic $54.99 in stock Buy now Ravpower.com Wireless Earbuds TaoTronics SoundLiberty 80, Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds with AI Noise Canceling Mic,… Wireless Earbuds TaoTronics SoundLiberty 80, Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds with AI Noise Canceling Mic,… out of stock Buy now Walmart.com Despite having a classic earphone design, the Soundliberty 80 have a decent sound that’s quite full and punchy. While they’re enjoyable to listen to, don’t expect any low-end rumble. Design strongly resembles original Apple AirPods, with long stems and side-facing speakers. The only difference is a shiny blue color on the back. One of their best features is microphone quality. Making phone calls is a treat with these, as they can pick your voice with great clarity. Other features worth mentioning are the in-ear sensor and the earbuds’ protection against water. They carry an IPX8 rating, essentially making them fully waterproof. Apart from the rest on this list, these wireless earphones support aptX Bluetooth codec, providing better latency and audio quality for Android phones. Of course, they also support AAC for an optimal experience on Apple devices. In contrast, they don’t have the best battery capabilities out there, with around 2.5 hours on a single charge. At least a quick 5-minute fast charge via USB-C gives another hour of playtime. TaoTronics Soundliberty 80 review Check related guide: Best classic earphones How to clean earbuds 3. Skullcandy Indy ANC Fun-sounding fake AirPods alternative with decent ANC. Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 Driver size: 12mm Frequency range: 20-20.000Hz Type: True wireless | Battery life: 9h + 23h in case (ANC OFF) | Wireless range: 65ft (20m) | Noise cancelling: Yes | Charging: Quick charge – USB-C & Qi wireless charging | Mic & Controls: Yes | Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC | Water resistance: IP55 | Features: Companion app, EQ presets, Personal sound, Tile integration Pretty good sound quality (after some tweaks) Very comfortable and suitable for sports Decent active noise cancellation performance Great passive noise isolation Tile integration Microphone quality could be better Mediocre ambient sound mode ANC heavily impacts battery duration Skullcandy Indy XT ANC – Active Noise Canceling True Wireless Earbud Headphones in True Black Skullcandy Indy XT ANC – Active Noise Canceling True Wireless Earbud Headphones in True Black $64.99 in stock Buy now Walmart.com Skullcandy Indy ANC True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Earbud – True Black Skullcandy Indy ANC True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Earbud – True Black $74.40 $129.99 in stock 22 new from $64.95 8 used from $40.00 as of September 30, 2022 1:44 pm Buy now Amazon.com Best true wireless earbuds from Skullcandy have a fun, loud sound with plenty of low-end and sparkle up top. Technically, there’s nothing to write home about, but with prices coming down, they’re an exciting pair to check out. Earbuds are the biggest on this list. However, they provide a very comfortable fit. And with minimal weight and comfy ear tips, you barely feel them during use. For extra stability, Skullcandy Indy ANC use ear wings, making them suitable for light workouts. Furthermore, an IP55 rating ensures they don’t get damaged by sweat and dust. On top of 5.5 hours in earbuds, there are an additional 14 hours inside the case, which can charge wirelessly. The app lets you see the battery percentage in each bud. Skullcandy Indy ANC review 4. EarFun Air Pro 2 The new model boasts an improved version of active noise cancelling performance and all the features for under $100. Connection: Bluetooth 5.2 Driver size: 10mm dynamic Frequency range: 20-40.000Hz Type: True wireless | Battery life: 6h (ANC on) + 27h in case | Wireless range: 50ft (15m) | Noise cancelling: Yes | Charging: 2h + quick charging – USB-C & Qi wireless charging | Mic & Controls: Yes | Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC | Water resistance: IPX5 | Features: Auto play/pause, wind noise reduction, touch controls Okay sound quality Comfortable design Excellent active noise cancellation Good ambient mode Strong Bluetooth connection Intuitive touch controls Decent call quality Not the best passive noise isolation The bass can be sometimes overwhelming EarFun Air Pro 2 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earphones with Mic EarFun Air Pro 2 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earphones with Mic $42.99 in stock Buy now eBay Wireless Earbuds, EarFun Air Pro 2 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling ANC Earphones, Bluetooth 5.2… Wireless Earbuds, EarFun Air Pro 2 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling ANC Earphones, Bluetooth 5.2… $79.99 $83.99 in stock as of September 30, 2022 10:49 am Buy now Amazon.com A bass-forward tuning can sometimes ruin an overall good sound quality and dynamics. Of course, that only matters to audio purists as most users can still find them very enjoyable. Their shallow insertion ensures great comfort without the pressure build-up inside your ear canals. Stability is good, too, but can’t quite withstand vigorous workouts. The best thing is noise cancellation. Earbuds use a total of 6 microphones and the latest version of ANC tech to reduce the lower end of the spectrum entirely. In general, they’re comparable to more premium models. Furthermore, the Ambient sound mode for boosting ambient noise works well, too, although you can hear a faith static noise when in a quiet room. Bluetooth connectivity isn’t too shabby, either, using strong antennas that can easily receive signals through at least 2 concrete brick walls. The battery capacity is roughly 6 hours and 13 minutes with the ANC, and you get another 27 hours stored in the wireless charging case. EarFun Air Pro 2 review See the related guide: Best noise-cancelling headphones 5. Aukey EP-T21 Best cheap Cheap yet good fake AirPods Pro alternative with all the relevant features. Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 Driver size: 6mm Frequency range: 20-20.000Hz Type: True wireless | Battery life: 4.5h + 20h in case | Wireless range: 33ft (10m) | Noise cancelling: No | Charging: 2 hours – Micro-USB | Mic & Controls: Yes, built-in | Bluetooth codecs: SBC | Water resistance: IPX4 | Features: Touch controls Very loud Ergonomic design that’s stable and comfortable Good battery capacity Low price The lid on the case feels a bit flimsy Okay sound AUKEY EP-T21 Move Compact True Wireless Earbuds 35 Hours Playtimes AUKEY EP-T21 Move Compact True Wireless Earbuds 35 Hours Playtimes $13.99 in stock Buy now eBay AUKEY EP-T21 Move Compact True Wireless Earbuds 35 Hours Playtimes Black AUKEY EP-T21 Move Compact True Wireless Earbuds 35 Hours Playtimes Black $29.99 in stock Buy now Aukey.com AUKEY True Wireless Earbuds, BT 5 Headphones in Ear with Built-in Mic, Touch Control, 35 H… AUKEY True Wireless Earbuds, BT 5 Headphones in Ear with Built-in Mic, Touch Control, 35 H… $29.99 $45.99 in stock Buy now Walmart.com For under $30, the sound quality is more than adequate. The sound signature is balanced, with slightly subdued bass and clear treble. If you want something to watch videos or listen to audiobooks with, these will do perfectly fine. The EP-T21 have a basic design with a matte black finish. They don’t have the deepest fit, which can hurt overall stability. The seal can sometimes break if you smile too widely, after which you have to readjust the earbuds. On the other hand, they don’t create any pressure in your ears, ensuring good comfort. With an IPX4 rating, you can use them for light workouts as they can deflect sweat. Earbuds support touch and voice control for music playback and have built-in mics for hands-free calls. The battery life of 4.5 hours inside the buds and an extra 20 in the case should provide enough juice for at least a few days of use. Aukey EP-T21 review Honorable Mentions TaoTronics Soundliberty P10 PRO – A cheap AirPods alternatives with decent active noise cancellation and Ambient mode performance in true wireless earbuds. On top of that, you can also rely on amazing battery life (9.5 hours per charge) and high water protection (an IPX8 rating). TaoTronics Soundliberty P10 PRO review TaoTronics Soundliberty 92 – Another one of the affordable alternatives with excellent durability and clear sound. Thanks to a small dip at the stem, they better grab your ears, ensuring slightly better stability than the original AirPods. TaoTronics Soundliberty 92 review Aukey EP-N5 – AirPod alternative with extremely bassy overall sound quality. Despite that, they’re suitable for different genres, from hip hop to rock. They’re comfortable to wear for the entire day, with a decent noise cancellation that removes most of the low-end hum. Aukey EP-N5 review Learn how to keep your earbuds from falling out. What to Expect from Top Fake AirPods? If you call something “fake”, it gives it a negative connotation. In the case of the latest fake AirPods, that’s only half true. Most fake AirPods on Amazon or other stores are truly terrible. However, if you choose one of the models from above, your experience will be quite different. Lower price You can get some fake AirPods for half the price of the real ones, if not even cheaper. Ergonomic design The best thing about AirPods replicas is that they also copy a rather comfortable design of the original ones. Better cross-platform support Apple’s AirPods are known to work much better for iOS than Android users. There’re no such discrepancies with fake AirPods as they work equally well with both operating systems. Same sound quality or better Authentic Apple AirPods have good but not excellent sound quality. On the other hand, if you pick carefully, you can get fake AirPods with surprisingly high-quality sound. Lower quality build Budget knockoff AirPods are usually so cheap because they use low-quality plastic. The latter starts deteriorating much quicker. Of course, that doesn’t apply to all fake AirPods. The JBL Live Pro+ prove that the fake AirPod doesn’t have to be bad in performance or build quality. How to Tell Fake AirPods From the Real Ones? If you weren’t convinced by our list and you still want to buy the real Apple AirPods, you have to be careful about fake AirPod replicas. While most fakes look fake right off the bat (extremely low price, weird product images), some can look almost exactly the same. That’s why you have to be vigilant and check every detail before making a purchase. Especially if you aren’t buying from an official retailer. Always check the price. Apple doesn’t like dropping their products on sale. Therefore, be aware of massive sales and temptingly low prices.Check product description and images. Fake products may use broken English in their descriptions, and present the product with images that look poorly photoshopped.Check the product’s serial number. If you already have the product in possession, check your coverage on the official Apple website. There, you’ll see if your product is genuine and if it’s still in warranty. Sometimes you can spot an AirPods clone by examining the packaging. Most times it’s cheaply made, the brochure inside looks nothing like the official one, and the included charging cable isn’t as meticulously wrapped. Apple’s packaging is always tidy and clean, which isn’t true for many fakes. However, since some fake products can be so well-made (even having the H1 chip to fool your device into thinking the product is genuine), checking the serial number is the best thing to do. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Are fake AirPods any good? Not even the best AirPods Pro clone is good. It only recreates the design but cheaps out on materials, sound quality, and premium features. On the other hand, AirPods lookalikes can perform quite well and are worth checking out. Some even have a decent noise cancellation feature. Are fake AirPods better than real AirPods? Many fake AirPods can actually outperform original ones in some areas, like sound quality or even call quality. However, genuine AirPods still offer greater support for iOS and have better performing features, such as active noise cancellation and Transparency mode.
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