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 59.8% of all global wireless headphones brand searches, placing Apple AirPods first out of ten brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about wireless headphones brands, Apple AirPods appeared in three of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the ten.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Apple AirPods is the most searched of 10 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Apple AirPodsShare of searches 59.8%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  2. JBLShare of searches 14.8%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  3. SonyShare of searches 14.4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. BeatsShare of searches 6%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 8th
  5. SkullcandyShare of searches 2.2%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

+5 more

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Top wireless headphones brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Apple AirPods was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Apple AirPods is the fifth most recommended of the ten.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Sony1st
  2. Bose2nd
  3. Sennheiser3rd
  4. Soundcore4th
  5. Apple AirPods5th
  6. JBL6th
  7. Samsung7th
  8. Beats8th
  9. Skullcandy–
  10. Mpow–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Sony5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Soundcore5 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
  • Apple AirPods3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Sennheiser3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • JBL1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Beats1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Samsung1 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
  • Mpow0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about wireless headphones 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 headphones brands compete with Apple AirPods?

Apple AirPods against wireless headphones 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 AirPodsJBLSonyBeatsSkullcandySoundcoreSamsungBoseMpowSennheiser
Oct 202564.9%13.2%11.5%5.9%2.2%1.8%0.43%0.07%0.03%<0.01%
Nov 202563.8%14.9%11.5%5.6%2%1.7%0.41%0.06%0.02%<0.01%
Dec 202563.3%15.4%11.7%5.5%2%1.7%0.33%0.06%0.02%<0.01%
Jan 202658.6%16.3%14.4%6.1%2.2%1.8%0.45%0.06%0.03%<0.01%
Feb 202657.9%15%15.2%6.4%2.4%2.4%0.71%0.06%0.03%<0.01%
Mar 202660.7%14.2%14%5.7%2.6%2.1%0.63%0.05%0.03%<0.01%
Apr 202654.2%20.5%14.2%6%2.2%2.2%0.54%0.06%0.03%<0.01%
May 202654.8%18.8%14.8%6%2.2%2.7%0.54%0.06%0.03%<0.01%
Jun 202655.7%18.4%14.5%5.9%2.2%2.7%0.53%0.06%0.03%<0.01%
Jul 202654.6%18%16.6%5.8%2.1%2.1%0.64%0.05%0.03%<0.01%
Aug 202655.4%17.6%16.1%5.4%2.4%2.4%0.59%0.05%0.02%<0.01%
Sep 202659.8%14.8%14.4%6%2.2%2.2%0.44%0.06%0.02%<0.01%

  1. 1.Apple AirPods

    59.8%

    Held 1st. 14.9M estimated branded searches, +18.3% vs prior month. Share +4.4 points.

  2. 2.JBL

    14.8%

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

  3. 3.Sony

    14.4%

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

  4. 4.Beats

    6%

    Held 4th. 1.5M estimated branded searches, +23% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.

  5. 5.Skullcandy

    2.2%

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

  6. 6.Soundcore

    2.2%

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

  7. 7.Samsung

    0.44%

    Held 7th. 110K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  8. 8.Bose

    0.06%

    Held 8th. 14K estimated branded searches, +18.6% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  9. 9.Mpow

    0.02%

    Held 9th. 5.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  10. 10.Sennheiser

    <0.01%

    Held 10th. 480 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 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 headphones brands worldwide decreased from 64.9% to 59.8%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple AirPods’ share of searches among wireless headphones brands worldwide peaked at 64.9% in October 2025 and was lowest at 54.2% in April 2026.

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

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Apple AirPods gained share of searches among wireless headphones brands worldwide, from 55.4% to 59.8%.

  2. In September 2026, Beats gained share of searches among wireless headphones brands worldwide, from 5.4% to 6%.

  3. In September 2026, JBL lost share of searches among wireless headphones brands worldwide, from 17.6% to 14.8%.

  4. In September 2026, Sony lost share of searches among wireless headphones brands worldwide, from 16.1% to 14.4%.

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

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Mpow worldwide fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 5.4K 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%Show ranking
Headphone brands1st of 1058.9%Show ranking
Wireless headphones brands1st of 1059.8%Shown above
Ear buds brands1st of 564.5%Show ranking
Earphones brands1st of 864.8%Show ranking
Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Is Apple AirPods your brand?

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