Brandwave

Beats vs JBL:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Beats had more branded searches than JBL among headphone brands in the United States. Beats had about 301,000 branded searches, while JBL had 171,000. Beats made up 10.6% of all headphone brand searches we track, and JBL accounted for 6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about headphone brands, Beats and JBL each appeared in one of the five answers. Beats and JBL were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.

Among headphone brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Beats, about 77% more searches than JBL

Beats 301K searchesJBL 171K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 1 of 5 answers.

Beats in 1 of 5JBL in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.

Beats first in 1JBL first in 1

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Top headphone brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, 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. JBL was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Beats and JBL were each listed first in one of the two answers 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 Beats or JBL more popular in search?

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

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

3 findings
  • Beats was ahead of JBL in every measured month of the 12 months ending 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, JBL’s share of searches among headphone brands in the United States moved from 5.9% to 6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 171K.

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, JBL lost share of searches among headphone brands in the United States, from 6.6% to 6%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

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

JBL

2 branded search terms

  • jbl earbuds
  • jbl headphones

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among headphone brands

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