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In 2021, there's no way we're wearing a pair of wired headphones to the gym — or anywhere for that matter. There are no shades, just those wires that really get in the way.
Having to keep your phone in your sports bra close enough to keep your headphones from disconnecting during operation or getting tangled up every time you flip over during a tan is no fun at all.
Trust us, once you've tasted the sweet, sweet freedom of wireless headphones, there's no going back—and today, there's no compromise on sound quality or other features. But AirPods and other luxury models can be very expensive.
While we'd like to say you can't put a price on that kind of freedom, it turns out you can. So we decided to round up the best affordable AirPods alternatives, just in time for some sunbathing.
So, obviously, we wanted to focus on price while still getting the best quality headphones we could find. Most luxury models are priced in excess of £200, we're committed to staying under £180 and most of our selection is under £100.
Read more:
- 10 Best Wireless Headphones of 2021: Over-Ear and Over-Ear Noise Canceling Headphones
- 8 Best Running Watches: GPS Wristbands to Track Your Workout
- The 11 best smart speakers for virtual assistance at home and on the go
Along with price and sound quality, we also wanted to look at design, comfort, battery life, ease of use, portability, and other features like noise cancellation, ambient noise settings, and touch-sensitive controls. touch.
You can trust our independent reviews. We may win commissions from some retailers, but we never let that influence the choices, which are based on real-world testing and expert advice. Proceeds help fund journalismindependent.
Builder TS1 Professional Edition
Battery life, headphones:12 HOURS
Battery life, charging case:30 hours
Noise reduction;Yes
Wireless charging case?Yes
Built-in microphone;Yes
The battery life of Edifier TS1 pro is really amazing. You can get up to 12 hours of playback on the headphones with a single 40-minute quick charge and an additional 30 hours from the wireless charging case. At just £50, these are the slightly more luxurious Ausounds headphones (£129.95,Currys.co.uk website), and better than the Skullcandys sesh evo (£49.99,Currys.co.uk website), although only £10 more expensive.
The sound quality is excellent — thanks to the titanium diaphragm and noise cancellation technology, as well as the built-in microphone for clear calls. Again, these headphones come with different sized ear tips for a comfortable fit. Although they are stylish, they are a bit bulky compared to other wireless headphones, especially the AirPods. For an affordable pair of wireless headphones with great battery life, you can't go wrong.
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Ausounds AU Frequency Bluetooth Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
Battery life, headphones:5 hours
Battery life, charging case:20 hours
Noise reduction;Yes
Wireless charging case?Yes
Built-in microphone;Yes
Ausounds AU Frequency Wireless Bluetooth Noise Canceling Headphones do just about everything (what's in a name, huh?). They're lightweight at just 5.5 grams each, comfortable yet sturdy, and sound great. With a battery life of up to 5 hours (3 full charges thanks to the wireless charging case), these headphones are extremely portable.
What really makes them stand out, however, is their noise canceling capabilities. That's because these headphones make sure to match the frequencies of each song, whether they're in noise canceling mode or not, meaning there's no difference in sound quality. Sensitive touch controls provide ease of use, allowing users to answer calls or pause songs with a quick tap.
Skullcandy sesh evo true wireless headphones
Battery life, headphones:5 hours
Battery life, charging case:19 hours
Noise reduction;No
Wireless charging case?Yes
Built-in microphone;Yes
If you're looking for lightweight wireless headphones, the Skullcandy sesh evo headphones are a solid budget option. The sound quality is good, but not as good asAusounds earplugs, which is to be expected given that it's almost £100 cheaper. Again, the charging case is very convenient and gives you up to 3 full charges while on the go. A great feature of this case is that it has fast charging technology, which means you only need 10 minutes of charging to get 2 hours of battery life - the next 3 hours will be built into the remaining 50 minutes of charging.
One downside to these headphones is that they don't have noise cancellation and feel somewhat bulky despite their light weight. However, these headphones have three sizes of silicone tips to choose from for a comfortable fit. They're also available in five colorways, including bolder hues like maroon, pure mint, and bleach blue, or softer cool grays and solid black.
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LG Silent FN7
Battery life, headphones:7 hours
Battery life, charging case:21 hours
Noise reduction;Yes
Wireless charging case?Yes
Built-in microphone;Yes
The LG No Tone FN7 is an excellent pair of headphones. They're the most expensive on this list, which makes them less budget-friendly, but while they're available, we think they're a great alternative to Apple AirPods. You can also getnext modelJust £99.
They're sleek, stylish, and sturdy—you'll rarely find them coming out of your ears while you're out on the road. The noise canceling function keeps the sound quality at its peak and the ambient noise function keeps listeners alert when they are out for a walk or waiting for a delivery. The compact round case - with up to 21 hours of battery life - is the perfect size and the most portable of our picks.
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JBL tune225 TWS
Battery life, headphones:5 hours
Battery life, charging case:20 hours
Noise reduction;No
Wireless charging case?Yes
Built-in microphone;Yes
The JBL tune225 TWS headphones are definitely a top contender for sound quality. Available in six colors including blue, pink, black and white, it is definitely stylish. But, unlike many of the other options on this list, they have one general (or one unique) trick. In this way, they resemble the original AirPods without the silicone tips. Although this means that without the adjustable ear tips, they may not be as comfortable or as durable as some of the other ear tips on this list, depending on how they're worn. They also don't have noise cancellation, but will allow you to take hands-free calls.
The headphones have an hour of battery life on a 15-minute charge, and with dual connectivity, listeners can choose to use both headphones at once or just one. JBL Pure Bass delivers a high-quality listening experience with up to 25 hours of battery life (5 hours on the headphones, 20 extra hours in the case) — so if silicone isn't your thing, these headphones are definitely worth the cut-edge .
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JBL Reflex Mini NC
Battery life, headphones:7 hours
Battery life, charging case:14 hours
Noise reduction;Yes
Wireless charging case?Yes
Built-in microphone;Yes
The JBL reflect mini NC headphones are quite different from the other headphones on our list. That's because they have an earcup cover for extra security, as well as silicone tips in different sizes, making them the perfect headphones for sports. Whether you're running or working out at the gym, these headphones aren't going anywhere. An added bonus is that they are also water and sweat resistant, so you can always count on them to get you through a tough workout or rainy commute. A downside, however, is the charging case's limited battery life, which is reduced by a few hours.
The ambient noise function means you can stay awake when you're out and about, but the noise cancellation combined with the excellent JBL sound quality lets you hear as if you were there. We really like the shape of these headphones and they are definitely one of the most comfortable headphones we've tried. The case even has a small strap for extra comfort! However, being at the high end of our price range, we wouldn't expect anything less.
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True Wireless Earbuds House of Marley Champions
Battery life, headphones:8 hours
Battery life, charging case:20 hours
Noise reduction;No
Wireless charging case?Yes
Built-in microphone;Yes
These eco-friendly headphones are indeed a dark horse on this list. Made from sustainable materials like bamboo and packaged in fully recyclable packaging, the Champion True Wireless Earbuds are not only an affordable alternative to AirPods, but an environmentally friendly alternative as well. Plus, for less than £60, we can forgive the lack of noise cancellation, especially if it means being more environmentally conscious.
Despite the assumptions that might be made about sustainable merchandise, these headphones don't sacrifice quality or comfort. They especially don't waste battery life, thanks to a wide range of different-sized ear tips and great sound quality (and probably noise-canceling tech anyway). These headphones have up to 8 hours of playtime and 20 hours of playback, in a stylish and durable case reminiscent of LG's No-Tone case (£179.99,Currys.co.uk website) Definitely the first choice for eco-friendly earplugs.
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Jam audio True Wireless Athlete Earbuds
Battery life, headphones:6 hours
Battery life, charging case:24 hours
Noise reduction;No
Wireless charging case?Yes
Built-in microphone;Yes
These earmuffs are built with athletes in mind, so they're sweat-resistant and wrap around the ears for extra security. One downside that we mentioned directly is that while there are different sizes of headphones, the actual frame of the headphones is quite large, which means they don't fit everyone.
However, they're definitely safe for the right person and feature premium full-range drivers for a fantastic listening experience -- perfect for working out. With 6 hours of playback, plus an additional 24 hours, these headphones are extremely reliable. The case is big, but that's just to hold the headphones, and it still fits in a pair of trouser pockets, so we don't mind.
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Conclusion: Airpod alternatives
Our best bet isAdvantages of Builder TS1- In terms of quality, they are by far the best, and at a fraction of the cost of some of the others in the range, they can't be beat. However, if you want to enter the slightly more luxurious market,LG No Tone FN7sDefinitely the best luxury AirPods alternative.
If you plan to use the headphones mainly for sports, we recommend youMini NC headphones JBL reflectAnd, if you want to save pennies and your carbon footprint,Champion True Wireless HeadphonesIt is obvious.
Coupon code
For the latest Airpods discounts and other tech deals, try the links below:
- Curry discount code
- apple discount code
Combine the best wireless headphones with the best phone deals
Still deciding? see our reviewAirPods Max vs AirPods Pro: Should you buy Apple headphones or earphones?