Apple AirPods vs Beyerdynamic:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Apple AirPods had more branded searches than Beyerdynamic among headphone brands worldwide. Apple AirPods had about 14.9 million branded searches, while Beyerdynamic had 10,000. Apple AirPods made up 68.9% of all headphone brand searches we track, and Beyerdynamic accounted for 0.05%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about headphone brands, Apple AirPods appeared in three of the five answers and Beyerdynamic in one. Apple AirPods was mentioned before Beyerdynamic in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Apple AirPods, about 1490 searches for every 1 for Beyerdynamic
Who does AI mention more?
Apple AirPods, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Beyerdynamic in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Apple AirPods, named ahead of Beyerdynamic in 2 of 2 answers
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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. Beyerdynamic 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 Beyerdynamic in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Sony1st
Bose2nd
Sennheiser3rd
Soundcore4th
Bowers & Wilkins5th- Apple AirPods6th
Audio-Technica7th
JBL8th
Beats9th
Beyerdynamic10th- +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
See every answer about headphone brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which headphone brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best headphone brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best headphone brand for everyday listening?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best headphones”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best 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 Beyerdynamic more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple AirPods and Beyerdynamic 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.
Share of searches by month for Apple AirPods, Beyerdynamic. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Apple AirPods | Sony | Beats | Bose | JBL | Skullcandy | Samsung | Sennheiser | Marshall | Soundcore | Jabra | Bowers & Wilkins | Beyerdynamic | Audio-Technica | BuddyPhones |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 71.1% | 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 2025 | 69.6% | 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 2025 | 69.1% | 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 2026 | 68% | 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 2026 | 65.5% | 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 2026 | 67.7% | 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 2026 | 66.9% | 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 2026 | 65.6% | 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 2026 | 66.8% | 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 2026 | 66.7% | 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 2026 | 66.3% | 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 2026 | 68.9% | 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% |
Beyerdynamic sells other things too, so only its searches that name this product count here, like “beyerdynamic earbuds”.
How has the Apple AirPods and Beyerdynamic comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Apple AirPods was ahead of Beyerdynamic in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple AirPods’ share of searches among headphone brands worldwide moved from 71.1% to 68.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 16.6M to 14.9M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Beyerdynamic’s share of searches among headphone brands worldwide held steady at 0.05%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12K to 10K.
How did search popularity change for headphone brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Apple AirPods gained share of searches among headphone brands worldwide, from 66.3% to 68.9%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Beyerdynamic worldwide fell 16.7% over 12 measured months, from 12K to 10K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
7 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple AirPods’ and Beyerdynamic’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
Beyerdynamic
3 branded search terms
- beyerdynamic earbuds
- beyerdynamic headphones
- beyerdynamic headset
Other head-to-heads among headphone brands
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