AirPods alternatives
Should Apple sweat over these wireless earphones?
The popularity of AirPods has once again justified Apple’s ruthless approach when it comes to shedding legacy technology
There’s no getting around the fact: AirPods have become incredibly popular among iPhone users. More than a few armchair commentators saw the launch of Apple’s wireless in-ear headphones in 2016 as a sad reflection of the times – an age of mobile streaming services in which audio quality standards had given way to cursory musical appreciation and casual listening convenience.
But the truth is that improvements in wireless streaming tech have made concerns over sound quality overblown, and that’s partly down to Apple’s own efforts (just have a listen to a HomePod, for example).
The trillion-dollar company may have dragged the technology industry kicking and screaming into the future when it dropped the headphone jack from its iPhones, but the popularity of AirPods has once again justified Apple’s ruthless approach when it comes to shedding legacy technology.
Apple has struggled to meet demand for the signature white earphones, and the numbers suggest why. Apple doesn’t disclose AirPods sales, but Barclays analysts recently forecast that shipments may approach 30 million units in 2018, while former KGI Securities pundit Ming-Chi Kuo estimated 26-28 million shipments for the year.
Creating a category
So Apple clearly didn’t just create AirPods – it created a category, which is why consumers now have several truly wireless alternative headphone products to choose from. AirPods cost £159, and for that you get up to five hours of playtime, a portable charging case with a 24-hour charging capacity, easy pairing, and fantastic sound.
Can the competition put together a package to match Apple’s runaway hit? We put five to the test – keep reading to find out how they compare.