Brandwave

Beats vs Skullcandy:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Beats had more branded searches than Skullcandy among wireless headphones brands worldwide. Beats had about 1.5 million branded searches, while Skullcandy had 550,000. Beats made up 6% of all wireless headphones brand searches we track, and Skullcandy accounted for 2.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about wireless headphones brands, Beats appeared in one of the five answers and Skullcandy in none.

Among wireless headphones brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Beats, about 3 searches for every 1 for Skullcandy

Beats 1.5M searchesSkullcandy 550K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Beats, mentioned in 1 of 5 answers, Skullcandy in 0

Beats in 1 of 5Skullcandy in 0 of 5

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Top wireless headphones brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Beats was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. 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.

  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.

Is Beats or Skullcandy more popular in search?

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

Beats and Skullcandy among wireless headphones brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Beats, Skullcandy. 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%

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

3 findings

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

1 change

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

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Beats’ 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.

Beats

1 branded search term

  • beats

Skullcandy

1 branded search term

  • skullcandy

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among wireless headphones brands

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