Brandwave

Apple AirPods vs Beats:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Apple AirPods had more branded searches than Beats among wireless earbud brands worldwide. Apple AirPods had about 14.9 million branded searches, while Beats had 1.5 million. Apple AirPods made up 58.2% of all wireless earbud brand searches we track, and Beats accounted for 5.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about wireless earbud brands, Apple AirPods appeared in all five answers and Beats in three. Apple AirPods was mentioned before Beats in four out of five answers.

Among wireless earbud brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Apple AirPods, about 10 searches for every 1 for Beats

Apple AirPods 14.9M searchesBeats 1.5M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Apple AirPods, mentioned in every answer we collected

Apple AirPods in 5 of 5Beats in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Apple AirPods, named ahead of Beats in 4 of 5 answers

Apple AirPods first in 4Beats first in 1

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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. Beats was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Apple AirPods was listed before Beats in four out of five answers.

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.

Is Apple AirPods or Beats more popular in search?

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

Apple AirPods and Beats among wireless earbud brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Apple AirPods, Beats. 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%

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

3 findings
  • Apple AirPods was ahead of Beats in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple AirPods’ share of searches among wireless earbud brands worldwide moved from 63.5% to 58.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 16.6M to 14.9M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Beats’ share of searches among wireless earbud brands worldwide moved from 5.8% to 5.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1.5M.

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

2 changes

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

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

How are branded searches counted?

5 search terms

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

Beats

1 branded search term

  • beats

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among wireless earbud brands

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