AirPods really aren't that great at all, in my opinion. I prefer Bose, Sony, B&W, and even Soundcore (Liberty Pro 3).
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
AirPods Are Still Untouchable as Apple Crushes the Competition in 2025
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
This is similar to my experience. Best ear buds that I have ever had.
I’ve had great experience with AirPods, starting from the original through to APP2. I’ve been happy with them, even though they don’t always live up to “it just works”. In my mind, the future of AirPods is huge for Apple. I can imagine that they will have “personal assistant” capabilities on the level of the device used in the movie “Her” in the near future.
My Pro 1st gen are still going strong after 2 years except for worn silicone tips. Got the Pro 2nd gen around 6 months ago and they have been fabulous. I had the original AirPods when they were released and they lasted 3 years before I gave them to a family member. Not sure why I (and others) have had trouble free experiences while some have had the exact opposite.
Suuuuure, but in public setting, headphones/earbuds make a lot of sense.
AirPods have gotten better and better over time. If you're all in on Apple, the integration is what makes them winners.
I have a set of Sony MX4's that I travel with and while they are better than AirPods Max for travel, they don't sound anywhere near as good and I'm constantly futzing with Bluetooth pairing. If the AirPods Max were folding I'd use them instead.
I have a set of Sony MX4's that I travel with and while they are better than AirPods Max for travel, they don't sound anywhere near as good and I'm constantly futzing with Bluetooth pairing. If the AirPods Max were folding I'd use them instead.
These numbers don't include the countless counterfeit AirPods all over Asia.
From a marketing point of view it's interesting, because in a crowded market people pick the bigger names by default because it's impossible for people to find quality choices. The JLab buds are supposed to be great, but why take the risk?
From a marketing point of view it's interesting, because in a crowded market people pick the bigger names by default because it's impossible for people to find quality choices. The JLab buds are supposed to be great, but why take the risk?
Used my AirPods Pro 2 for two years until I lost the left bud. Now I'm back on my first gen pros!
In your own space, sure. But you have to be a ****ing sociopath to play your music out loud in public spaces, on transit, hiking trails, etc.
I see absolutely TONS of counterfeit AirPods Max on the street in NYC. Saw a whole table of them in the "original" fake Apple boxes on a sidewalk recently.
I always wonder the type of person that’s buys things off people in the street, whether it’s electronics or just flowers or oranges off the street corner. It’s just weird to me. You’re either propping up a theft ring or overpaying another middleman.
"We are forcing Apple to sell AirPods at cost to competitors and allow them to add their own branding."-EU, probably
Apple crushing the competition? Well that sounds downright anti-competitive to me. Apple should be forced to make AirPods available to everyone that wants to sell headphones. AND they should manufacture and deliver them for free to their competition’s customers. That’s the only way the competition will have a chance. /s
Beat me to it!
Beat me to it!
It’s like Apple is the ONLY company where “competing” is never the solution
If you fancy a chuckle go and read the comments about the original iPad launch
AirPods Pro 2 (even at 3 years old) feel like new, with all the continual upgrades.
Apple maintained its position as the global leader in the wireless headphone market in the first quarter of 2025, achieving 18.2 million shipments and capturing a 23.3% market share, according to new data from Canalys.
The data suggests that Apple, including its Beats subsidiary, continues to leverage its hardware-software ecosystem to dominate the true wireless stereo (TWS) market. Although its market share declined slightly from 24.4% in the first quarter of 2024, Apple still obtained a 12% year-over-year growth in shipments, contributing significantly to the global market's overall rebound. Total global TWS shipments rose to 78.3 million units—marking an 18% annual increase, which is the fastest growth rate for the category since 2021.
Leading brands are reportedly expanding aggressively in both geographic reach and product positioning to capture new customers. Apple's continued growth is attributed to its strategic focus on adding health-related integrations and ecosystem. Features such as seamless device switching, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and hands-free Siri continue to differentiate Apple's products in a crowded and increasingly price-sensitive market. The latest Powerbeats Pro 2 include heart rate monitoring, while the AirPods Pro 2 now feature a series of hearing health functionalities, including the ability to work as medical-grade hearing aids.
While Apple continues to lead in established markets, including North America where it holds over 50% market share, growth in emerging regions is being driven by aggressive pricing and localization strategies from rival vendors. For example, Xiaomi achieved a 63% year-over-year increase in shipments, reaching nine million units and surpassing Samsung to become the second-largest TWS vendor globally. Samsung, which includes Harman subsidiaries such as JBL, shipped 5.6 million units and held a 7.1% share. Huawei and Indian brand boAt rounded out the top five, with a 6.0% and 4.9% market share respectively.
The broader market shift away from basic audio functionality toward lifestyle and ecosystem value places Apple in a favorable position, provided it continues to expand the utility and desirability of its headphone offerings. Canalys attributed the U.S. market's renewed growth partly to inventory buildup ahead of anticipated tariff changes, which prompted retail partners to stockpile high-demand products, including Apple's.
Canalys also highlighted the growing momentum of open-ear wireless devices (OWS), a category that includes ear-hook and ear-clip designs aimed at merging audio technology with fashion and a more ambient listening experience. OWS products currently trail traditional TWS devices in terms of audio fidelity, but Canalys said that some vendors are working with audio labs to narrow the gap. While Apple has not entered the OWS segment, the trend toward lifestyle-oriented form factors could influence the company's future products.
Article Link: AirPods Are Still Untouchable as Apple Crushes the Competition in 2025
As far as I'm concerned, they're the best and I have no plans to change them any time soon!
My original AirPods Pro, lasted over 3 years, the 2's I've had 2 years and they are going strong!
I suspect if someone uses them all day, everyday, they may only last 18 months, however so will all the others!
I mean if there was a way to carry speakers around and to only be able to hear it ourselves yes…
I have both as well as the older PBP 1, the PBP 2s are fantastic, sound quality is great, decent bass and I can wear them all day long without discomfort. Really don't get the hate for them.
I bought my AirPods Pro 2 on November 2022 and since then I been daily using them basically 2 times at least draining them from 100% to 10% and to this day they work very well, i use the for gym, running, I dropped them, in rain/snow… basically any scenario you can image, it’s been 30 months until now and they work perfectly fine, maybe if people are a bit more careful about their stuff then their stuff will last.
Like my 3rd gen AirPods very much. They are very good. Planning on getting the 4th gen sometime this year. The wireless earbuds from competition are also good.