Brandwave

JBL vs Skullcandy:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, JBL and Skullcandy were level in searches among headphone brands in the United States, with an estimated 171K versus 165K branded searches, at 6% and 5.8% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about headphone brands, JBL appeared in one of the five answers and Skullcandy in none.

Among headphone brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

JBL and Skullcandy are searched for about as often as each other.

JBL 171K searchesSkullcandy 165K searches

Who does AI mention more?

JBL, mentioned in 1 of 5 answers, Skullcandy in 0

JBL in 1 of 5Skullcandy in 0 of 5

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Top headphone brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and 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. Skullcandy 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. 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 JBL or Skullcandy more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for JBL and Skullcandy 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.

JBL and Skullcandy among headphone brands in the United States, by month

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

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 8 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Skullcandy took it in November 2025, JBL took it in December 2025, Skullcandy took it in February 2026, JBL took it in March 2026, Skullcandy took it in April 2026, JBL took it in May 2026, Skullcandy took it in July 2026, JBL took it in September 2026.
  • 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.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Skullcandy’s share of searches among headphone brands in the United States moved from 5.7% to 5.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 165K.

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Skullcandy lost share of searches among headphone brands in the United States, from 6.9% to 5.8%.

  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 JBL’s 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.

JBL

2 branded search terms

  • jbl earbuds
  • jbl headphones

Skullcandy

1 branded search term

  • skullcandy

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among headphone brands

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