DISCOVER AIRBUDS

What are AirBuds?

Do you want to enjoy your music while walking around without any device or audio source? It’s possible. Do you want to switch music through your air buds? It’s also possible. Do you want to instruct your device’s voice assistant using your air buds? Definitely, possible.

We’ve come a long way from those wired over-ear headphones or in-ear earbuds to the present wireless airbuds. Airbuds no longer need wires to connect to gadgets. They’re simply Bluetooth-enabled. Innovations in charging cases are now available with 20 - 30 hours of extra batteries for your airbuds. The air buds have become so powerful that we cannot think of any activity that we can live without it. We run with it. We eat with it. We work with it. This is the airbuds generation.

​

Types of Airbuds

​

Airbuds could be connected via different technologies like Bluetooth, Infrared, Radiofrequency, or Kleer. 

Most airbuds available on the market are powered by Bluetooth that could be connected by direct pairing. Its distance could reach as far as 33 feet or 10 meters. The most popular air buds which are the Apple AirPods are Bluetooth-enabled.

Airbuds powered by infrared (IR) transmit signals through infrared waves and offer a more surround sound quality audio. However, IR airbuds can only reach up to 23 feet or 7 meters without obstructions to interfere with the signal. Most IR airbuds are over-ear headphones like the J3 TV920 Listener Rechargeable Wireless Infrared Headphones. 

There are also airbuds powered by radiofrequency (RF) that allow a smooth connection to reach up to 300 feet or 91 meters. Generally, you get better sonic sound quality as well but these types of air buds are mostly used with a TV connection like the Sennheiser RS 175.

Lastly, there’s Kleer or KleerNet technology. Its sound quality is comparable to CD/DVD audio that could reach up to 328 feet or 100 meters in terms of range. Its innovation is that it uses low bandwidth, and low power consumption and it doesn’t budge easily with interference. The Sennheiser RS 180 is one example of this - it’s also an over-ear air bud.

Airbuds Wireless Earbuds vs Airbuds True Wireless Earbuds

​

You may also read on some airbuds true wireless earbuds and simply wireless. They are both connected through Bluetooth, IR, RF, or Kleer connection so they do away with wires that connect to an audio source. The difference between the two is that airbuds wireless earbuds may have a connector between the two buds. They don’t have a connector going through an audio jack. Still, there’s a cable that goes around the neck like sports airbuds that connect both ear pieces, or over the ear like what you usually find in over-ear headphones while airbuds true wireless earbuds really have no cables linking to anything. The true wireless air buds are the ones that usually come with charging cases.

​

The History of the Airbuds

​

Airbuds or air buds have come a long way since its inception way back in 2015. Bragi Dash was the first company that realized our dreams of not having to detangle wires around the airbuds. The Dash is basically the model of its successors in the airbuds industry. It features noise-canceling and touch controls and is powered by a Bluetooth connection. The Dash wasn’t perfect with its features but now the different air buds from other manufacturers have made sure the seamless controls, an enhanced noise-canceling feature, and smoother connectivity.

​

The Best Airbuds to Get Right Now

There are a lot of manufacturers offering different airbuds with extra features you didn’t even imagine. Some are cheap alternatives to AirPods, some may be worn when running or for other sports, and some are even waterproof and can be submerged in water. We’ve rounded up here the most popular and most trusted in the market. Here is our list of the best airbuds:

​

The Apple Airbuds

The Apple AirPods are the most popular airbuds to date. Despite the competition, Apple remains on top when it comes to sales. AirPods are now in their 3rd generation to date. AirPods 1 debuted in December 2016 with its minimalist design, easy pairing with iOS devices, and intuitive touch controls. It also comes with a sleek charging case that gives users up to 24 hours of battery life.

Apple continued to innovate addressing customers’ feedback and released AirPods 2 in 2019. It is powered by an H1 chip that promises a smoother and more stable connection than its predecessor. They also enhanced its battery life and sound quality. Moreover, the 2nd gen AirPods feature Siri activation.

Just 7 months after the release of AirPods 2, they released AirPods Pro. We would say this is the most sought-after airbuds. The first airbuds released by Apple (and only true wireless airbuds) to feature Active Noise Cancellation. It is also the first AirPods to be sweat and water-resistant before AirPods 3.

The AirPods Max is the only over-ear Apple airbuds to date. Yes, it is not truly wireless but it offers high-quality audio and great 20 hours of listening time on a single charge alone. Users say it offers the most comfortable feeling in the ears with pillow-like softness too. It is also best if you want to immerse yourself in some great tunes or movies as it offers great ANC as well.

Lastly, we have the newly-released AirPods 3. The first in the regular AirPods line to offer sweat and water resistance. It has better audio and battery life and has up to 30 hours of  listening time. It may not have ANC but it offers a wind noise minimizer. Like its predecessors, it comes with touch controls or force sensors, a charging case, and Siri activation. 

​

Beats Airbuds

​

Beats airbuds have some similar features to the AirPods (Yes, because it is also Apple-owned). Therefore, pairing is also seamless for Apple devices. It also offers Find My and autio-device switching. For Android users, the Beats app offer settings adjustments and other functions.

The favorite Beats airbuds are the Beats Fit Pro which specializes as a gym buddy or running mate. It’s great for sports because it offers sweat and water resistance, and great active noise cancellation. It also features a wing tip on its air buds to make sure they’re locked on your ears for that intense workout.

​

Samsung Wireless Airbuds

​

The Samsung Wireless Airbuds are praised for the battery life that makes them perfect to bring along anywhere you go. The Galaxy Buds+ contain up to 11 hours of playtime in a single charge. Plus another 11 hours from the charging case. Placing them back in the charging case for 3 minutes gives you more or less an hour of listening time.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds do not have ANC but because of the three sizes of wingtips offered, users can find the perfect seal to have noise isolation that is good enough to do away with the outside noise.

​

*Frequently Asked Questions*

​

How to charge Airbuds

​

Airbuds true wireless earbuds may be charged through their charging case. Simply put them back inside and it begins to charge. Another option is to place the AirPods inside and plug the charging case in through a wired connection to a socket. 

For more details on Apple airbuds’ battery life and charging, click here.

​

How to Pair Airbuds

​

Pairing airbuds isn’t a difficult task. Generally, there would be a button on the charging case that needs to be activated for pairing. Then, make sure the device’s Bluetooth is enabled. In some cases, you would have to go to Settings and connect through Bluetooth devices by finding the name of your airbuds. In other instances, like the air buds or AirPods, there are pop-up windows that direct the user to pair the airbuds in just one tap.

For a more comprehensive discussion on pairing air buds to different devices, read more here. We’ve created a step-by-step guide on how to connect airbuds to iPhone, an Android device, Mac, and Windows desktop

​

How to clean Airbuds

​

To clean air buds, make sure to use a dry lint-free cloth to wipe away dirt and grime around the ear pieces. For the more sensitive parts, like the speaker, use a cotton swab to move in circular motions around the mesh part. For accumulative dirt and grime, you might need to spray some disinfectant or alcohol on the cloth before wiping it on your airpods. For a more extensive guide on cleaning the air buds, click here.

Top Selling Air Buds Products

​

You might be convinced on switching to wireless airbuds but have you chosen the best one for you just yet? There are over 100 brands offering wireless air buds with a lot of selections too so how do you pick which one tops the list? 

Don’t worry, we’ve done the research for you. All you have to do is set back and read on the top selling air buds products you can get right now:

​

Sony WF-1000XM4

The Sony WF-1000XM4 is the top selling air buds in providing great noise cancellation and Alexa-enabled controls. It features a V1 processor that cancels more noise with the help of noise isolation air buds tips and dual noise sensor microphones. In contrast, the Sony WF-1000XM4 air buds also feature ambient mode perfect for times when you need to be aware of your environment like waiting for your flight. It also offers an automatic wind noise reduction that suppresses wind sounds so you can tune in to your music or calls. Moreover, its sound quality is superb having high-resolution audio. 

The Sony WF-1000XM4 is great for calls too. It automatically pauses your music when you’re going for a chat and plays right back after the call. It also features a beamforming microphone that only picks up sounds from your mouth and a bone-conduction sensor that catches the vibrations from your voice, totally clearing out ambient sounds during your calls. It also offers touch sensors for easier playback, call answering, and noise-canceling options.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 air buds are given an IPX4 rating which means it’s water-resistant and sweatproof. It also offers 8 hours of talk time with a single charge and an additional 16 hours in the case. It has a 4.4-star Amazon rating and retails for $279.99.

​

Apple AirPods Pro

The Apple AirPods Pro Airbuds differ from the other Apple air buds because they have silicone tips that make sure the fit is perfect for comfortability, noise cancellation and so they don’t move around your ear making them great for running or working out. It’s easy to pair especially for iOS and macOS devices making them the top choice of these software users. Moreover, they offer the best in-ear detection playing music when air buds are in the ear and pausing when out.

The Apple AirPods Pro also offers active noise cancellation and transparency mode for users to choose between an enclosed and immersive sound and one that can let users hear their surroundings. It’s packed with technology that makes your bass-rich, sound clear and noise cancellation work effectively. It also features dual beamforming mics for great quality audio on your chats. Moreover, it offers intuitive touch controls through its Force Sensor and Siri as its voice assistant.

The AirPods Pro is also sweat and water-resistant with a BestBy rating of 4.8 stars. These pair of air buds offer 4.5 hours of talk time and about 20 hours more in its case. It retails for $249.

​

Beats Fit Pro

​

The Beats Fit Pro air buds support spatial audio that provides an immersive sound for your music, movies, and games. It also offers active noise cancellation and transparency mode. The Beats airbuds also have on-device controls that play and pause music, answer and put down calls, skip and playback, as well as a shift to ANC or transparency mode like other touch controls options in this list. Moreover, it has a b button to activate a voice assistant that works for both iOS and Android devices. It uses the Apple air buds’ H1 chip for auto-switching between devices like the AirPods. For Android, controls can be customized like the Galaxy Buds+ feature. It also has dual beamforming microphones for an easy-to-hear and crystal clear voice during calls.

The Beats Fit Pro air buds contain 6 hours of listening time in a single charge and an additional 18 hours on its charging case. It is IPX4 rated so it’s water and sweat-resistant. It retails for $199.99.

​

Jabra Elite 85T

The Jabra Elite 85T air buds are great for their 11 levels of sound from full active noise cancellation to full HearThrough. The Jabra Elite 85T offers silicone ear gels that secure the air buds in your ear and seal its noise cancellation features. It features a rich sound and strong bass that brings you enjoyable music.

Like the AirPods Pro, it has two mics in each air bud that cancels noises from the outside like traffic sounds and the inside like breathing etc, and another pair of 12mm speakers. Moreover, they feature wind protection and a sidetone  that makes you hear your own voice 

The Jabra Elite 85T features an IPX4 rating and offers 5.5 hours on a single charge and up to 19.5 hours with the charging case. It has an Amazon rating of 4.3 stars. It retails for $198.99.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus offers a customizable tap-to-control feature that may be changed according to your preference. Its noise isolation is pretty good too. They also made the Samsung air buds available for iOS users too. It has in-app EQ settings which are normal, bass boost, soft, dynamic, clear, and treble boost. 

They come in a wing tip design for noise isolation and a comfortable fit. It is also great for chatting with its internal and external microphones to isolate your voice from external noises. They also come in three sizes of ear gels to ensure noise isolation and the right fit.

A single charge of these air buds guarantees 11 hours of battery life and another 11 more from the charging case. The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus has a 4.6 star Amazon rating and retails for  $149.99.

​

Get Your Air Buds Now

These are the best and top-selling air buds in the market today and they offer the most needed features that are most needed in different activities. We’ve arranged them from the most expensive to the east expensive if this is something you consider.

Which ones are you considering buying, let us know in the comments?

About TheAirBudsPro

​

TheAirBudsPro, launched in 2022, brings you best of and how to’s articles to guide buyers and users to with the needed information in purchasing new air buds and the related how to’s after sales.

Wireless air buds started coming out in 2015 with the release of Bragi Dash which envisioned what we actually have now - Bluetooth-enabled air buds with touch controls and noise isolation that also acts as a fitness tracker. This set of airbuds was priced at $300.

After that, manufacturers keep innovating and releasing their own versions. In 2016, Apple released its first airbuds which ballooned the market. Everyone wanted these wearables or other cheap alternatives to AirPods.

Now that there are a lot in the market, we bring you the best air buds which include the best under $100, best air buds for running, best waterproof, and others that you would want to read about. We also deliver independent reviews of different air buds.

We wouldn’t end in guiding you on which ones are the best of course, we will be with you every step of the way.  We give you a step-by-step guide on how to connect your air buds to Mac or to a laptop and PC, how to use them, and all the necessary information to get you started. We also answer the why’s that you have when you’re panicking about your removing water from your air buds and the like.

With our passion for knowing the truth and the ins and out of these wearables, we’d like to share with you the truth about the air buds.