Brandwave

Apple AirPods vs Beats:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Apple AirPods had more branded searches than Beats among headphone brands in the United States. Apple AirPods had about 1.5 million branded searches, while Beats had 301,000. Apple AirPods made up 52.7% of all headphone brand searches we track, and Beats accounted for 10.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about headphone brands, Apple AirPods appeared in three of the five answers and Beats in one. Apple AirPods was mentioned before Beats in three out of four answers that named either.

Among headphone brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Apple AirPods, about 5 searches for every 1 for Beats

Apple AirPods 1.5M searchesBeats 301K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Apple AirPods, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Beats in 1

Apple AirPods in 3 of 5Beats in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Apple AirPods, named ahead of Beats in 3 of 4 answers

Apple AirPods first in 3Beats 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, 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. 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. Apple AirPods was listed before Beats in three out of four 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 Apple AirPods or Beats more popular in search?

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

Share of searches by month for Apple AirPods, Beats. 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 Beats 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, Beats overtook Bose to rank 2nd among headphone brands in the United States, with 10.6% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Apple AirPods gained share of searches among headphone brands in the United States, from 50.7% to 52.7%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

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

Beats

1 branded search term

  • beats headphones

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among headphone brands

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