Brandwave

Bose vs JBL:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Bose had more branded searches than JBL among headphone brands in Australia. Bose had about 39,200 branded searches, while JBL had 30,200. Bose made up 9.7% of all headphone brand searches we track, and JBL accounted for 7.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about headphone brands, Bose appeared in four of the five answers and JBL in one. Bose was mentioned before JBL in every answer that named either.

Among headphone brands in Australia in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Bose, about 30% more searches than JBL

Bose 39.2K searchesJBL 30.2K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Bose, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, JBL in 1

Bose in 4 of 5JBL in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Bose, named ahead of JBL in 3 of 3 answers

Bose first in 3JBL never first

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Top headphone brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Bose was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. JBL was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Bose was listed before JBL in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Sony1st
  2. Bose2nd
  3. Apple AirPods3rd
  4. Soundcore4th
  5. Sennheiser5th
  6. JBL–
  7. Beats–
  8. Skullcandy–
  9. Jabra–
  10. Marshall–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Apple AirPods5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Sony5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Bose4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Soundcore3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sennheiser2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • JBL1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Beats0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Skullcandy0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Jabra0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Marshall0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about headphone brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 26, 2026.

Is Bose or JBL more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Bose and JBL by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten headphone brands we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.

Bose and JBL among headphone brands in Australia, by month

Share of searches by month for Bose, JBL. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthApple AirPodsSonyBoseJBLBeatsSkullcandyJabraSennheiserMarshallSoundcore
Oct 202560.2%9.7%9.6%9%4.4%2%1.6%2%1.1%0.39%
Nov 202561.4%9.9%9.8%8.5%4.5%1.7%1.3%1.7%0.9%0.33%
Dec 202563.5%10.3%8.3%8.3%3.8%1.7%1.1%1.7%0.93%0.34%
Jan 202662.6%10.1%8.7%8.7%3.8%1.7%1.4%1.7%0.9%0.5%
Feb 202659.7%10.4%9.5%8.9%4.4%2%1.6%2%1%0.58%
Mar 202662.2%10.4%8.1%8.7%3.7%2%1.4%2%0.9%0.59%
Apr 202660.4%10.1%9.6%9%3.6%2%1.6%2%1.1%0.59%
May 202661.4%10.3%9.3%8.5%3.7%2%1.3%1.6%1.1%0.73%
Jun 202660.7%10.2%9.7%9.1%3.7%2%1.3%1.6%1.1%0.57%
Jul 202660.4%10.1%9.6%9.1%3.6%2%1.3%2%1.3%0.57%
Aug 202661.6%9.9%9.3%8.6%3.7%2.5%1.4%1.4%1.1%0.6%
Sep 202660.7%9.8%9.7%7.4%6.7%2%1.1%1.1%0.89%0.71%

How has the Bose and JBL comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: JBL took it in March 2026, Bose took it in April 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Bose’s share of searches among headphone brands in Australia moved from 9.6% to 9.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 32.1K to 39.2K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, JBL’s share of searches among headphone brands in Australia moved from 9% to 7.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 30.2K.

How did search popularity change for Australia headphone brands in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, JBL lost share of searches among headphone brands in Australia, from 8.6% to 7.4%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Bose in Australia rose 22.1% over 12 measured months, from 32.1K to 39.2K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Bose’s and JBL’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Bose

2 branded search terms

  • bose earbuds
  • bose headphones

JBL

2 branded search terms

  • jbl earbuds
  • jbl headphones

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among headphone brands

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