Brandwave

How popular isApple AirPods?

In September 2026, people searched for Apple AirPods by name about 14.9 million times worldwide, a 10% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 58.2% of all global wireless earbud brand searches, placing Apple AirPods first out of nine brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about wireless earbud brands, Apple AirPods appeared in all answers and was the third most recommended of the nine.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Apple AirPods is the most searched of 9 competitors and the third most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Apple AirPodsShare of searches 58.2%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  2. JBLShare of searches 14.4%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 8th
  3. SonyShare of searches 14%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. BeatsShare of searches 5.9%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  5. SkullcandyShare of searches 2.1%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

+4 more

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Top wireless earbud brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Apple AirPods appeared in all five answers. Apple AirPods is the third most recommended of the nine.

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. Samsung5th
  6. Beats6th
  7. Jabra7th
  8. JBL8th
  9. Skullcandy–

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
  • Bose5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Soundcore4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Beats3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Samsung3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • JBL2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Jabra1 of 5Named in 1 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

See every answer about wireless earbud brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Which wireless earbud brands compete with Apple AirPods?

Apple AirPods against wireless earbud brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Apple AirPods, JBL, Sony, Beats, Skullcandy, Soundcore. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthApple AirPodsJBLSonyBeatsSkullcandySoundcoreBoseJabraSamsung
Oct 202563.5%12.9%11.3%5.8%2.1%1.7%0.81%1.4%0.58%
Nov 202562.5%14.6%11.3%5.5%2%1.6%0.94%1.1%0.55%
Dec 202562.1%15.2%11.4%5.4%2%1.6%0.93%0.89%0.45%
Jan 202657.4%15.9%14.1%6%2.2%1.8%0.83%1.2%0.6%
Feb 202656.4%14.6%14.8%6.2%2.3%2.3%0.88%1.6%0.89%
Mar 202659.2%13.8%13.7%5.6%2.5%2.1%0.96%1.4%0.8%
Apr 202652.9%20%13.9%5.8%2.2%2.2%0.82%1.5%0.72%
May 202653.6%18.3%14.5%5.9%2.2%2.7%0.83%1.3%0.73%
Jun 202654.5%18%14.2%5.8%2.1%2.6%0.82%1.3%0.71%
Jul 202653.4%17.6%16.2%5.7%2.1%2.1%0.81%1.3%0.82%
Aug 202654.2%17.2%15.7%5.2%2.4%2.4%0.9%1.2%0.75%
Sep 202658.2%14.4%14%5.9%2.1%2.1%1.5%1.2%0.59%

  1. 1.Apple AirPods

    58.2%

    Held 1st. 14.9M estimated branded searches, +18.3% vs prior month. Share +4 points.

  2. 2.JBL

    14.4%

    Held 2nd. 3.7M estimated branded searches, -8% vs prior month. Share -2.8 points.

  3. 3.Sony

    14%

    Held 3rd. 3.6M estimated branded searches, -1.8% vs prior month. Share -1.7 points.

  4. 4.Beats

    5.9%

    Held 4th. 1.5M estimated branded searches, +23% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  5. 5.Skullcandy

    2.1%

    Held 5th. 550K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  6. 6.Soundcore

    2.1%

    Held 6th. 550K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  7. 7.Bose

    1.5%

    Moved from 8th to 7th. 377K estimated branded searches, +79.7% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  8. 8.Jabra

    1.2%

    Moved from 7th to 8th. 300K estimated branded searches, +4.7% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  9. 9.Samsung

    0.59%

    Held 9th. 151K estimated branded searches, -14.2% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

Compare popularity between Apple AirPods and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Apple AirPods

12 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Apple AirPods changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Apple AirPods worldwide fell from 16.6M to 14.9M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple AirPods’ share of searches among wireless earbud brands worldwide decreased from 63.5% to 58.2%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple AirPods’ share of searches among wireless earbud brands worldwide peaked at 63.5% in October 2025 and was lowest at 52.9% in April 2026.

How did search popularity change for wireless earbud brands worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Bose overtook Jabra to rank 7th among wireless earbud brands worldwide, with 1.5% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Apple AirPods gained share of searches among wireless earbud brands worldwide, from 54.2% to 58.2%.

  3. In September 2026, Beats gained share of searches among wireless earbud brands worldwide, from 5.2% to 5.9%.

  4. In September 2026, JBL lost share of searches among wireless earbud brands worldwide, from 17.2% to 14.4%.

  5. In September 2026, Sony lost share of searches among wireless earbud brands worldwide, from 15.7% to 14%.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Soundcore worldwide rose 22.2% over 12 measured months, from 450K to 550K in September 2026.

How are Apple AirPods’ branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple AirPods’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • airpods
  • airpods 4
  • airpods pro
  • airpods pro 3

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Do you work for Apple AirPods? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

Where does Apple AirPods compete?

Apple AirPods is ranked in five competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Wireless earbud brands1st of 958.2%Shown above
Headphone brands1st of 1058.9%Show ranking
Wireless headphones brands1st of 1059.8%Show ranking
Ear buds brands1st of 564.5%Show ranking
Earphones brands1st of 864.8%Show ranking
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Is Apple AirPods your brand?

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