Brandwave

Beats vs Bose:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Beats and Bose were level in searches among headphone brands in the United States, with an estimated 301K versus 300K branded searches, at 10.6% and 10.5% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about headphone brands, Bose appeared in all five answers and Beats in one. Bose was mentioned before Beats in four out of five answers.

Among headphone brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Beats and Bose are searched for about as often as each other.

Beats 301K searchesBose 300K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Bose, mentioned in every answer we collected

Bose in 5 of 5Beats in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Bose, named ahead of Beats in 4 of 5 answers

Bose first in 4Beats first in 1

Follow Beats vs Bose 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, Bose appeared in all five answers. Beats was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Bose was listed before Beats in four out of 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. 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 Beats or Bose more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Beats and Bose 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.

Beats and Bose among headphone brands in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Beats, Bose. 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 Beats and Bose comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Bose took it in April 2026, Beats took it in September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Beats’ share of searches among headphone brands in the United States moved from 10.4% to 10.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 301K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Bose’s share of searches among headphone brands in the United States moved from 10% to 10.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 292K to 300K.

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Beats overtook Bose to rank 2nd among headphone brands in the United States, with 10.6% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Bose gained share of searches among headphone brands in the United States, from 8.7% to 10.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Beats’ and Bose’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.

Beats

1 branded search term

  • beats headphones

Bose

2 branded search terms

  • bose earbuds
  • bose headphones

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