Apple AirPods vs Skullcandy:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Apple AirPods had more branded searches than Skullcandy among wireless earbud brands worldwide. Apple AirPods had about 14.9 million branded searches, while Skullcandy had 550,000. Apple AirPods made up 58.2% of all wireless earbud brand searches we track, and Skullcandy accounted for 2.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about wireless earbud brands, Apple AirPods appeared in all five answers and Skullcandy in none.
Who do people search for more?
Apple AirPods, about 27 searches for every 1 for Skullcandy
Who does AI mention more?
Apple AirPods, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Apple AirPods, the only one of the two named
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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. Skullcandy did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Sony1st
Bose2nd- Apple AirPods3rd
Soundcore4th
Samsung5th
Beats6th
Jabra7th
JBL8th
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which wireless earbud brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best wireless earbud brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best wireless earbud brand for everyday listening?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best wireless earbuds”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“noise cancelling earbuds”
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 Skullcandy more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple AirPods and Skullcandy 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.
Share of searches by month for Apple AirPods, Skullcandy. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Apple AirPods | JBL | Sony | Beats | Skullcandy | Soundcore | Bose | Jabra | Samsung |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 63.5% | 12.9% | 11.3% | 5.8% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 0.81% | 1.4% | 0.58% |
| Nov 2025 | 62.5% | 14.6% | 11.3% | 5.5% | 2% | 1.6% | 0.94% | 1.1% | 0.55% |
| Dec 2025 | 62.1% | 15.2% | 11.4% | 5.4% | 2% | 1.6% | 0.93% | 0.89% | 0.45% |
| Jan 2026 | 57.4% | 15.9% | 14.1% | 6% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 0.83% | 1.2% | 0.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 56.4% | 14.6% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 0.88% | 1.6% | 0.89% |
| Mar 2026 | 59.2% | 13.8% | 13.7% | 5.6% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 0.96% | 1.4% | 0.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 52.9% | 20% | 13.9% | 5.8% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 0.82% | 1.5% | 0.72% |
| May 2026 | 53.6% | 18.3% | 14.5% | 5.9% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 0.83% | 1.3% | 0.73% |
| Jun 2026 | 54.5% | 18% | 14.2% | 5.8% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 0.82% | 1.3% | 0.71% |
| Jul 2026 | 53.4% | 17.6% | 16.2% | 5.7% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.81% | 1.3% | 0.82% |
| Aug 2026 | 54.2% | 17.2% | 15.7% | 5.2% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 0.9% | 1.2% | 0.75% |
| Sep 2026 | 58.2% | 14.4% | 14% | 5.9% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.59% |
How has the Apple AirPods and Skullcandy comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Apple AirPods was ahead of Skullcandy 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, Skullcandy’s share of searches among wireless earbud brands worldwide held steady at 2.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 550K.
How did search popularity change for wireless earbud brands worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, Apple AirPods gained share of searches among wireless earbud brands worldwide, from 54.2% to 58.2%.
How are branded searches counted?
5 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple AirPods’ and Skullcandy’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
Skullcandy
1 branded search term
- skullcandy
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