Brandwave

Apple AirPods vs Shokz:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Apple AirPods had more branded searches than Shokz among headphone brands in the United States. Apple AirPods had about 1.5 million branded searches, while Shokz had 90,500. Apple AirPods made up 52.7% of all headphone brand searches we track, and Shokz accounted for 3.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about headphone brands, Apple AirPods appeared in three of the five answers and Shokz in none.

Among headphone brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Apple AirPods, about 17 searches for every 1 for Shokz

Apple AirPods 1.5M searchesShokz 90.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

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

Apple AirPods in 3 of 5Shokz in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Apple AirPods, the only one of the two named

Apple AirPods first in 3Shokz never named

Follow Apple AirPods vs Shokz and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

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. Shokz 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. Soundcore3rd
  4. Apple AirPods4th
  5. Sennheiser5th
  6. JLab6th
  7. Beats7th
  8. Audio-Technica8th
  9. JBL9th
  10. +1 more
  11. Shokz–
  12. +4 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
  • Shokz0 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 Shokz more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple AirPods and Shokz 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 Shokz among headphone brands in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Apple AirPods, Shokz. 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 Shokz 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, Shokz lost share of searches among headphone brands in the United States, from 4.6% to 3.2%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

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

Shokz

1 branded search term

  • shokz

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among headphone brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free