Brandwave

Apple AirPods vs Skullcandy:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Apple AirPods had more branded searches than Skullcandy among bluetooth headphones brands in New Zealand. Apple AirPods had about 83,700 branded searches, while Skullcandy had 4,480. Apple AirPods made up 51.4% of all bluetooth headphones brand searches we track, and Skullcandy accounted for 2.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about bluetooth headphones brands, Apple AirPods appeared in three of the five answers and Skullcandy in one. Apple AirPods was mentioned before Skullcandy in every answer that named either.

Among bluetooth headphones brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Apple AirPods, about 19 searches for every 1 for Skullcandy

Apple AirPods 83.7K searchesSkullcandy 4.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Apple AirPods, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Skullcandy in 1

Apple AirPods in 3 of 5Skullcandy in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Apple AirPods, named ahead of Skullcandy in 3 of 3 answers

Apple AirPods first in 3Skullcandy never first

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Top bluetooth headphones 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. Skullcandy was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Apple AirPods was listed before Skullcandy 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. JBL4th
  5. Apple AirPods5th
  6. Skullcandy6th
  7. Beats–
  8. Samsung–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • JBL5 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
  • Bose4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sennheiser4 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
  • Skullcandy1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Beats0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Samsung0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about bluetooth headphones brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand 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 eight bluetooth headphones brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Apple AirPods and Skullcandy among bluetooth headphones brands in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthApple AirPodsJBLSonyBoseSennheiserSkullcandyBeatsSamsung
Oct 202552.2%22.5%10.8%8.4%3.2%2%0.51%0.28%
Nov 202551.4%24.1%10.8%8.4%2.9%1.8%0.46%0.25%
Dec 202546.1%31.6%9.3%7.8%2.7%1.8%0.49%0.23%
Jan 202649.6%26.2%10.8%7.8%2.8%2%0.54%0.29%
Feb 202655%21.8%10.7%6.8%2.8%2.1%0.4%0.27%
Mar 202654.9%21%10.9%7.1%3.1%2.3%0.45%0.3%
Apr 202650.6%25.1%10.8%7.3%3.2%2.2%0.45%0.3%
May 202652.8%22.3%10.6%7.6%3.9%2.2%0.41%0.22%
Jun 202652.5%22.3%10.2%7.7%4.5%2.2%0.4%0.22%
Jul 202651.7%22.6%10.7%7.4%4.6%2.3%0.4%0.27%
Aug 202653.4%22.7%9.1%7.5%3.9%2.8%0.37%0.3%
Sep 202651.4%24.1%10.5%6.9%3.4%2.8%0.61%0.24%

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

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand bluetooth headphones brands in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Apple AirPods lost share of searches among bluetooth headphones brands in New Zealand, from 53.4% to 51.4%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Skullcandy in New Zealand rose 56.1% over 12 measured months, from 2.9K to 4.5K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

22 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

12 branded search terms

  • airpods
  • airpods 2
  • airpods 3
  • airpods 3 pro
  • airpods 4
  • airpods max
  • airpods pro
  • apple airpods
  • apple airpods 4
  • apple airpods max
  • apple airpods pro
  • find mine airpods

Skullcandy

10 branded search terms

  • skullcandy
  • skullcandy crusher
  • skullcandy crusher evo
  • skullcandy evo
  • skullcandy evo crusher
  • skullcandy hesh
  • skullcandy hesh anc
  • skullcandy hesh evo
  • skullcandy push active
  • skullcandy smokin buds

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among bluetooth headphones brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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