Brandwave

Skullcandy vs Sony:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Skullcandy had more branded searches than Sony among headphone brands in the United States. Skullcandy had about 165,000 branded searches, while Sony had 137,000. Skullcandy made up 5.8% of all headphone brand searches we track, and Sony accounted for 4.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about headphone brands, Sony appeared in four of the five answers and Skullcandy in none.

Among headphone brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Skullcandy, about 20% more searches than Sony

Skullcandy 165K searchesSony 137K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Sony, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Skullcandy in 0

Sony in 4 of 5Skullcandy in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Sony, the only one of the two named

Sony first in 4Skullcandy never named

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Top headphone brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Sony was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one 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 Skullcandy or Sony more popular in search?

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

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

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

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Skullcandy took it in November 2025, Sony took it in June 2026, Skullcandy took it in July 2026.
  • 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.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sony’s share of searches among headphone brands in the United States moved from 5.8% to 4.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 168K to 137K.

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, Sony lost share of searches among headphone brands in the United States, from 5.7% to 4.8%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Skullcandy’s and Sony’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.

Skullcandy

1 branded search term

  • skullcandy

Sony

2 branded search terms

  • sony earbuds
  • sony headphones

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among headphone brands

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