Tech
The 5 best AirPods alternatives for if the iPhone 12 doesn't come with earbuds
Apple is not expected to ship its next iPhone with its EarPods wired headphones. For those that don't want AirPods, here are some alternatives.
Sony WF-1000XM3
What they are: These $229 earbuds offer active noise cancellation, long battery life and battery life up to 24 hours when used with the charging case.
What you'll love: What HiFi ranked these as their number one choice of AirPods alternative, highlighting the impressive noise cancellation.
What you won't love: The price isn't exactly on the budget end, making it a tough sell for price-conscious consumers.
Google Pixel Buds 2
What they are: These $179 earbuds are designed primarily to pair with Google's Pixel phone.
What you'll love: Raymond Wong's review highlighted their sleek design and comfortable fit in the ears.
What you won't love: One of the set's best features is the always-on Google Assistant, which doesn't work with iOS.
Samsung Galaxy Buds+
What they are: These $149 Samsung alternatives drop high-end features like noise cancellation in favor of a lower price tag, while still maintaining 11 hours of battery.
What you'll love: Raymond Wong's review in March praised the true wireless earphones as the "best" AirPods challenger "yet," citing their high "comfort, sound, battery life, connectivity, and case size."
What you won't love: The sound quality doesn't compare to more high-end offerings, and no noise cancellation could be a dealbreaker for some.
Microsoft Surface Earbuds
What they are: These $249 earbuds come in a unique flat box, with flat earbud exteriors.
What you'll love: The Guardian praised their open earbud design, one of the few alternatives to the non-Pro AirPods that feature this. They also offer good sound and quick pairing with Windows 10 and Android.
What you won't love: They lack noise cancelling, and they're relatively expensive considering the competition.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2
What they are: These $299 earbuds are the most expensive on the list, but they offer good quality sound, a cool design, and seven hours of battery life.
What you'll love: TechRadar declared in its review that it would "recommend them to anyone looking for an alternative to the Sony WF-1000XM3."
What you won't love: The noise cancelling may not be quite as good as Sony's, and they are pretty pricey.