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 in the United States. Apple AirPods had about 1.5 million branded searches, while Audio-Technica had 9,900. Apple AirPods made up 52.7% of all headphone brand searches we track, and Audio-Technica accounted for 0.35%. 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 in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Apple AirPods, about 152 searches for every 1 for Audio-Technica

Apple AirPods 1.5M searchesAudio-Technica 9.9K 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 3 of 3 answers

Apple AirPods first in 3Audio-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. Soundcore3rd
  4. Apple AirPods4th
  5. Sennheiser5th
  6. JLab6th
  7. Beats7th
  8. Audio-Technica8th
  9. JBL9th
  10. Skullcandy–
  11. +5 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Bose5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Sony4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Soundcore4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Apple AirPods3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sennheiser2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Beats1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • JBL1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • JLab1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Audio-Technica1 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

+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 United States on October 26, 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 searches in United States.

Apple AirPods and Audio-Technica among headphone brands in the United States, 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 AirPodsBeatsBoseJBLSkullcandySonyShokzJLabRayconSoundcoreSennheiserJabraMarshallAudio-TechnicaBowers & Wilkins
Oct 202551.6%10.4%10%5.9%5.7%5.8%2.5%1.7%3.1%0.76%0.76%0.51%0.51%0.62%0.19%
Nov 202550.2%12.3%11.3%5.4%5.5%5.4%2.5%1.4%3%0.61%0.74%0.41%0.5%0.61%0.15%
Dec 202554.1%10.9%10.5%7%4.9%4.6%2.2%1.5%2.2%0.53%0.53%0.29%0.44%0.36%0.13%
Jan 202645.9%11.3%11%7.4%6.2%6.1%3.4%1.9%2.8%1%1%0.46%0.56%0.84%0.2%
Feb 202650.1%10.1%8.6%6.5%6.8%5.6%3%2%3%0.91%0.74%0.5%0.5%1.4%0.22%
Mar 202649.5%10%8.5%6.9%6.7%5.6%3.7%2%3%1.1%0.9%0.49%0.6%0.9%0.22%
Apr 202645.8%9.2%9.6%7.3%7.6%6.3%4.1%2.3%4.1%1%0.83%0.55%0.55%0.45%0.25%
May 202645.8%9.2%9.6%7.8%7.6%6.3%4.1%2.3%3.4%1.2%0.83%0.55%0.55%0.55%0.3%
Jun 202646.7%9.4%9.8%6.5%6.3%6.4%5.1%2.3%2.8%1.5%0.69%0.57%0.57%0.85%0.38%
Jul 202646.6%9.4%9.7%6.5%7.7%6.4%4.2%2.3%2.8%1.3%0.69%0.46%0.56%0.84%0.46%
Aug 202650.7%8.3%8.7%6.6%6.9%5.7%4.6%2.1%2.5%1.1%0.75%0.5%0.5%0.75%0.34%
Sep 202652.7%10.6%10.5%6%5.8%4.8%3.2%1.7%1.7%0.95%0.52%0.43%0.43%0.35%0.23%

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

3 findings

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Apple AirPods gained share of searches among headphone brands in the United States, from 50.7% to 52.7%.

  2. In September 2026, Audio-Technica fell from 11th to 14th among headphone brands in the United States.

How are branded searches counted?

2 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

1 branded search term

  • airpods

Audio-Technica

1 branded search term

  • audio technica headphones

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among headphone brands

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