Brandwave

Apple AirPods vs Bose:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Apple AirPods had more branded searches than Bose among ear buds brands worldwide. Apple AirPods had about 14.9 million branded searches, while Bose had 370,000. Apple AirPods made up 64.5% of all ear buds brand searches we track, and Bose accounted for 1.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about ear buds brands, Bose appeared in all five answers and Apple AirPods in four. Bose was mentioned before Apple AirPods in every answer.

Among ear buds brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Apple AirPods, about 40 searches for every 1 for Bose

Apple AirPods 14.9M searchesBose 370K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Bose, mentioned in every answer we collected

Bose in 5 of 5Apple AirPods in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Bose, named ahead of Apple AirPods in every answer

Bose first in 5Apple AirPods never first

Follow Apple AirPods vs Bose and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

Top ear buds brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Bose appeared in all five answers. Apple AirPods was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Bose was listed before Apple AirPods in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Sony1st
  2. Bose2nd
  3. Soundcore3rd
  4. Apple AirPods4th
  5. JBL5th

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 AirPods4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • JBL2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about ear buds brands

5 answers

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

Is Apple AirPods or Bose more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple AirPods and Bose by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five ear buds brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Apple AirPods and Bose among ear buds brands worldwide, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthApple AirPodsJBLSonySoundcoreBose
Oct 202570.4%14.3%12.5%1.9%0.87%
Nov 202568.7%16.1%12.4%1.8%1%
Dec 202568.1%16.6%12.5%1.8%0.99%
Jan 202663.7%17.7%15.7%2%0.89%
Feb 202663.4%16.4%16.7%2.6%0.95%
Mar 202666%15.4%15.3%2.3%1%
Apr 202658.9%22.3%15.5%2.4%0.89%
May 202659.6%20.4%16.1%3%0.9%
Jun 202660.5%20%15.8%2.9%0.88%
Jul 202659.2%19.6%18%2.3%0.86%
Aug 202659.9%19.1%17.4%2.6%0.97%
Sep 202664.5%16%15.5%2.4%1.6%

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

3 findings
  • Apple AirPods was ahead of Bose in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple AirPods’ share of searches among ear buds brands worldwide moved from 70.4% to 64.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 16.6M to 14.9M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Bose’s share of searches among ear buds brands worldwide moved from 0.87% to 1.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 203K to 370K.

How did search popularity change for ear buds brands worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Apple AirPods gained share of searches among ear buds brands worldwide, from 59.9% to 64.5%.

  2. In September 2026, Bose gained share of searches among ear buds brands worldwide, from 0.97% to 1.6%.

How are branded searches counted?

7 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple AirPods’ and Bose’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.

Apple AirPods

4 branded search terms

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

Bose

3 branded search terms

  • bluetooth speaker bose
  • bose ear buds
  • bose earbud

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among ear buds brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free