Brandwave

Apple AirPods vs BuddyPhones:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Apple AirPods had more branded searches than BuddyPhones among headphone brands worldwide. Apple AirPods had about 14.9 million branded searches, while BuddyPhones had 2,900. Apple AirPods made up 68.9% of all headphone brand searches we track, and BuddyPhones accounted for 0.01%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about headphone brands, Apple AirPods appeared in three of the five answers and BuddyPhones in none.

Among headphone brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Apple AirPods, about 5138 searches for every 1 for BuddyPhones

Apple AirPods 14.9M searchesBuddyPhones 2.9K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Apple AirPods, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, BuddyPhones in 0

Apple AirPods in 3 of 5BuddyPhones in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Apple AirPods, the only one of the two named

Apple AirPods first in 2BuddyPhones never named

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

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
  • BuddyPhones0 of 5Named in 0 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 BuddyPhones more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple AirPods and BuddyPhones 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 BuddyPhones among headphone brands worldwide, by month

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

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

3 findings
  • Apple AirPods was ahead of BuddyPhones 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, BuddyPhones’ share of searches among headphone brands worldwide held steady at 0.01%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.4K to 2.9K.

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

2 changes

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

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for BuddyPhones worldwide rose 20.8% over 12 measured months, from 2.4K to 2.9K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

5 search terms

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

BuddyPhones

1 branded search term

  • buddy phones

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among headphone brands

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