Look, I’m not going to tell you AirPods aren’t very good. Far from it — AirPods are excellent headphones, and some of the best wireless earbuds if you’re looking for a new pair.
But there are still some key reasons why they don’t scratch my earbud itch, and why I often turn to other options when I listen to my music. Perhaps you’ll agree, or perhaps you vehemently disagree; but there are some things that AirPods just don’t do as well as other options.
Here’s why I don’t use any of the AirPods in my selection anymore as my primary, daily driver earbuds or headphones — and what you might want to use instead.
Battery life
A few years ago, when the AirPods Pro 2 were brand new, their 6-hour battery life would have seemed plenty when stacked up against the competition. Since their release, however, some key competitors have launched with much better staying power.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 has since launched with 8 hours of staying power on tap, and the Sennheiser options contain the same. Those 2 extra hours make all the difference when you’re on a longer trip and you need the battery to last just a little longer.
The AirPods have fallen out of contention when it comes to their battery life. The AirPods 4 only provide 4-5 hours, and the 20 hours of the AirPods Max are completely dethroned by the 30+ hours available in the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the 70 hours of the Marshall Monitor III. Alas, there are no exemplary AirPods for battery life — they’re all equally disappointing.
Compatibility
If you’ve got an iPhone, the AirPods make perfect sense. They connect immediately, and you don’t need to dip into a settings menu to get them working. They transfer between apple kit like magic without a hitch, with consistency between devices.
But if you’re an Apple heretic with an Android phone instead of an iPhone, things become a whole lot trickier. I’ve still got a MacBook and an iPad, and the buds work seamlessly between them — but throw my Android phone in the mix and things get annoying.
I have to go into settings to connect them, and they don’t connect anywhere near as easily as they would with an iPhone. C’mon Apple, give Google a little love.
Sound
AirPods sound fine. They’re a fairly balanced listen, with no one part of the soundscape getting more attention than the others. They’re ‘plain jane’ in musical form, missing any kind of spice, fun, or dynamism.
The AirPods Max are the best sounding of the bunch, but they still have some work to do when it comes to drawing me in. They’re not detailed enough for their neutral tone to be anything more than “Yeah, ok, but like, where’s the rest of it.”
There’s nothing inherently wrong with the AirPods sound profile, but I find that options like the Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 offer a more fun sound than the AirPods Pro 2. For AirPods Max alternatives, I’ve found better sound out of the Noble Fokus Apollo, the Focal Bathys, or even cheaper options like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 wireless.
I want more engagement with my sound — and the AirPods just aren’t quite there for my ears.
Longevity
When they come out of the box, AirPods look stunning. They’re attractive, well-built devices that stand out in a crowd of other options that all tend to look the same.
But after some use, every model starts to age more than the competition. My AirPods Max, for example, have yellowed beyond belief, and the once stretchy headband has loosened and slackened almost to the point of uselessness.
The white cases of my AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 have a habit of picking up the hue of whatever color jeans I might be wearing (usually black), and gaining a slick, cheap-looking sheen with a great deal of use. They scratch easily, and start to look ragged after a while.
Is this the worst problem in the world? No, but my old Sony WH-1000XM4 and their excellent hard case still looked reasonable after years of hard use, the longevity of the looks of the AirPods starts to come into question — especially at the price you pay for them.
And let’s not forget, not all Apple cases are made the same — what’s with the case that comes with the AirPods Max? We’re going to need a new one ASAP.
Closing thoughts
There’s a reason why the AirPods are so ubiquitous. They’re perfect partners for any iOS or iPad device, and they’re true jacks of all trades. They good at everything, but they’re not excellent at any one thing.
Their noise canceling is good, but it’s not as good as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra alternatives. Battery life is fine, but not as good as the Sony WH-1000XM5. Their sound is good, but not as refined as some of the competition like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 true wireless.
While I had an iPhone, I daily drove AirPods for years. But there are alternatives out there if you’re looking for the best wireless earbuds, the best wireless headphones, or the best noise-canceling headphones. You just have to shop around.
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