Apple AirPods Alternatives: Samsung IconX, Sony's Upcoming Wireless Earbuds And More

AirPods, the wireless earphones from Apple, have been in high demand despite the demand for the tech giant's iPhone 7 slowing down. However, they are not the only wireless earphones in the market.

In fact, they are not even the first ones available in the market. In case you haven’t been able to get your hands on them because of availability or price issues, there are other alternatives available.

For instance, Sony showcased its own wireless earphones at CES 2017 on Wednesday. Currently no price or date of availability has been announced for the product.

But, if you are still looking for alternatives to Apple’s AirPods, here are some that could be worth considering:

Samsung Gear IconX

Samsung Gear IconX earphones made their debut alongside the now defunct Note 7 device. The IconX received much less attention than the AirPods despite being earlier on the scene due to the Note 7 fiasco.

The IconX earphones work in a similar fashion as the AirPods as they too have a battery case for recharging and carrying the earphones. In addition to listening to music, they can also be used for exercise tracking.

Unlike AirPods, Samsung’s earphones are in-ear earphones. In terms of design, the IconX are designed to fit into your earlobes compared to AirPods, which hang from your ear like large Q-tips. They also repel water and sweat and work with smartphones having Android 4.4 or above and at least 1.5GB of RAM. You can also use their 4GB internal storage to listen to music on the go without carrying a smartphone.

At $200, they are slightly more expensive than Apple’s device.

Jabra Elite Sport

Jabra, which generally makes earphones and speakers, has come out with its own wireless earphone. The company claims that its Elite Sport wireless earphones can last up to 9 hours on a single charge. The earphones are compatible with both iOS and Android devices. Users can press a button on the earphones to filter the sounds from their surroundings. The earphones come with a built-in heart rate monitor and exercise tracker.

Users can also get personalized audio coaching, which they can sign up for using the Jabra app. The $249.99 earphones are waterproof and come with a three-year sweat damage warranty.

Powerbeats 3 Wireless

Powerbeats 3 Wireless earphones look slightly different from other wireless earphones as they are connected to each other instead of being independent units. They are built to have a secure grip on your ear, so they wouldn’t fall even if you are twisting and twirling while wearing them. The $199.95 earphones come with adjustable ear hooks and a RemoteTalk button that can be used to take calls. They too come with a carrying-cum-charging case and the company claims that the device can last 12 hours on a single charge.

Earin M2

The Earin M2 wireless earphones are more compact than AirPods. They can be plugged into the ear without a hanging end like the one on the AirPods. The earphones, which were launched Tuesday, come with a tap to pause/play feature similar to AirPods. In terms of battery life, they can run for about 3 hours on one charge. Both earbuds are connected using NFC.

The earphones are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2017 at a price of about $249.

Motorola VerveOnes Plus

Motorola debuted its wireless earbuds at Mobile World Congress 2016. The VerveOnes Plus, priced at $250, is IP57 waterproof. Like AirPods, they come with a charging case.

The VerveOnes Plus is designed keeping in mind music enthusiasts and come with 6 EQ presets that can be set using the VerveLife app.