Brandwave

Apple AirPods vs Audio-Technica:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Apple AirPods had more branded searches than Audio-Technica among headphone brands worldwide. Apple AirPods had about 14.9 million branded searches, while Audio-Technica had 9,100. Apple AirPods made up 68.9% of all headphone brand searches we track, and Audio-Technica accounted for 0.04%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about headphone brands, Apple AirPods appeared in three of the five answers and Audio-Technica in one. Apple AirPods was mentioned before Audio-Technica in every answer that named either.

Among headphone brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Apple AirPods, about 1637 searches for every 1 for Audio-Technica

Apple AirPods 14.9M searchesAudio-Technica 9.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Apple AirPods, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Audio-Technica in 1

Apple AirPods in 3 of 5Audio-Technica in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Apple AirPods, named ahead of Audio-Technica in 2 of 2 answers

Apple AirPods first in 2Audio-Technica never first

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Top headphone 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 two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Audio-Technica was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Apple AirPods was listed before Audio-Technica in every answer that named either.

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. Bowers & Wilkins5th
  6. Apple AirPods6th
  7. Audio-Technica7th
  8. JBL8th
  9. Beats9th
  10. Beyerdynamic10th
  11. +5 more

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
  • Bose5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Sennheiser4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Soundcore4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Apple AirPods3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Bowers & Wilkins2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Beats1 of 5Named in 1 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
  • Beyerdynamic1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Audio-Technica1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about headphone 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 Audio-Technica more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple AirPods and Audio-Technica by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 headphone brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Apple AirPods and Audio-Technica among headphone brands worldwide, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthApple AirPodsSonyBeatsBoseJBLSkullcandySamsungSennheiserMarshallSoundcoreJabraBowers & WilkinsBeyerdynamicAudio-TechnicaBuddyPhones
Oct 202571.1%7.3%5.6%4.5%3%2.4%1.5%1.6%0.98%0.99%0.88%0.1%0.05%0.04%0.01%
Nov 202569.6%7.5%6.5%5.8%2.6%2.2%1.5%1.8%0.92%0.72%0.68%0.09%0.05%0.04%<0.01%
Dec 202569.1%7.1%7.6%5.4%3.1%2.2%1.5%1.5%0.91%0.81%0.64%0.09%0.05%0.03%0.01%
Jan 202668%8%6.1%4.9%3.7%2.6%1.7%1.8%1.1%1%0.89%0.11%0.06%0.05%0.01%
Feb 202665.5%9.1%5.8%5.1%3.8%2.7%2.2%1.9%1.4%1.2%1.1%0.13%0.07%0.06%0.01%
Mar 202667.7%8.3%5.6%4.8%3.4%2.9%1.9%1.8%1.2%1.2%0.98%0.12%0.05%0.05%0.02%
Apr 202666.9%8%5.5%5.2%3.9%2.7%1.9%1.9%1.4%1.3%1%0.11%0.06%0.05%0.01%
May 202665.6%9.1%5.4%5.2%4.1%2.7%2%1.9%1.3%1.4%1%0.13%0.05%0.05%0.01%
Jun 202666.8%8.1%5.4%5.3%4%2.6%1.9%1.8%1.3%1.5%0.99%0.15%0.05%0.05%0.02%
Jul 202666.7%8.1%5.2%5.3%4%2.6%2%1.8%1.4%1.6%0.96%0.18%0.05%0.05%0.02%
Aug 202666.3%8.5%5.3%5.5%3.7%2.9%1.9%1.7%1.5%1.5%0.93%0.14%0.05%0.05%0.02%
Sep 202668.9%7.2%5.8%5.2%3.5%2.5%1.7%1.5%1.3%1.3%0.87%0.1%0.05%0.04%0.01%

Audio-Technica sells other things too, so only its searches that name this product count here, like “audio technica earbuds”.

How has the Apple AirPods and Audio-Technica comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

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

1 change

  1. In September 2026, Apple AirPods gained share of searches among headphone brands worldwide, from 66.3% to 68.9%.

How are branded searches counted?

7 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple AirPods’ and Audio-Technica’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

Audio-Technica

3 branded search terms

  • audio technica earbuds
  • audio technica headphones
  • audio technica headset

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among headphone brands

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