How to replace AirPods, or What wireless headphones to buy for Android

AirPods are a very local story. Despite the fact that they are considered the most popular wireless headphones on the market, they are mainly used by equipment owners Apple. This is due to the fact that using them on devices with Google OS on board is frankly inconvenient. Pairing is slower, there is no connection animation, and Siri, which reads the contents of incoming messages, is not supported in principle. However, the success of AirPods literally forced competitors Apple to start producing clone headphones. Let's see what came of it.

AirPods are only suitable for iOS. But Android does not lag behind

Cheap AirPods analog for Android

If you want real TWS earbuds in a form factor close to AirPods, you should check out the Funcl AI APT-X. This is a product of the Chinese company Funcl, which offered quite a good solution, given the low price of the accessory. If you get on sale, you can grab headphones for 2500-2700 rubles. True, for this you have to monitor Chinese online sites like AliExpress, TaoBao, JD or BangGood. However, AI APT-X is worth every dollar.

This is the cheapest, not quite copy of AirPods

• The Qualcomm QCC302x processor, which underlies the headphones, is analogous to Apple W1. It provides them with a stable Bluetooth – connection with a smartphone, eliminating involuntary breaks, high energy efficiency and high-quality sound with minimal latency.
• Unlike most clones of AirPods, Funcl AI APT-X is made in a plug form factor, which means it has silicone ear pads. They act as seals, delivering deeper bass and directing sound directly into the ear canal, and also act as cutoffs to block out external noise.
• Despite the low price, the headphones have partial support for active noise cancellation. Partially, because this technology is turned on only during telephone conversations, cutting off external noise.
• Funcl AI APT-X is controlled by touching the contact area on the earpieces. AirPods of the first two generations were controlled in a similar way, until Apple made a bet on pressing in AirPods Pro. Thus, you can rewind tracks, adjust the volume and answer calls.
• The autonomy of the headphones is also at a fairly high level. According to the manufacturer, they are capable of working for 6.5 hours, and the complete charging case provides them with another 24 hours of operation.

Full copy of AirPods for Android

For those who are ready to overpay a little and at the same time want to get headphones with an appearance as close as possible to AirPods, I can recommend Realme Buds Air. You will not be able to find an accessory more accurately copied from the original. After all, if you do not know where to look, the likelihood of confusing the offspring Realme with real AirPods is extremely high.

Realme did not hesitate and copied the AirPods almost completely

• At the heart of the Realme Buds Air is the R1 processor. He, like the Apple W1, plays the same role, being responsible for saving battery life, synchronous operation of headphones and a stable connection from smartphones.
• The autonomy of Buds Air is worse than that of the original and the brainchild of Funcl – only 3 hours for the headphones themselves and 17 hours when using the included charging case. Not that much, but given the high charging speed, you can put up with it.
• The original AirPods are only available in white, and most competing manufacturers are blindly following this trend. Realme decided that she didn't have to follow Apple, so she took and painted Buds Air in different colors – from green and yellow to red and black.
• The low price of Buds Air – only 4990 rubles – did not affect their technical equipment. It's hard to believe, but Realme even equipped its headphones with Qi wireless charging, which is available in the basic (and the only, by the way) headphone configuration.

JBL Wireless AirPods

As cool as Funcl and Realme headphones are, it is obvious that music fans are unlikely to buy them. If you are one of them, then you should like the JBL Tune 220 TWS headphones, which are quite similar in appearance to AirPods, but much more advanced musically. And if we take into account the reasonable price of 6 thousand rubles, it is obvious that the brainchild of JBL is in danger of finding serious popularity.

JBL clearly has more headphone experience than everyone else

• The JBL Tune 220 TWS features a 12.5mm diaphragm and supports JBL Pure Bass technology. Honestly, I have no idea how it works, but the manufacturer assures that thanks to these two chips, the headphones provide super-high-quality sound typical for solutions in a higher price segment.
• In terms of autonomy, the Tune 220 TWS does not break records. The manufacturer promises 3 hours of work without recharging for the headphones themselves and up to 19 hours when using the included charging case.
• The Tune 220 TWS is controlled by the AirPods Pro principle. JBL decided that pushing the temples would be a more reliable way of control than touching, avoiding inadvertent commands such as adjusting the headphones if desired.
• The JBL Tune 220 TWS have an in-ear form factor. That is, no ear pads are provided in the design, which means that you should not dream of juicy bass. At the same time, this form factor can be considered more versatile, since it will most likely prevent the headphones from falling out of the ears.

Copy of AirPods from Huawei

The last solution on this list is the most expensive and it belongs Huawei. Huawei Freebuds 3 was introduced last year, halfway between AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro. On the one hand, these are ordinary earbuds without ear cushions, however, on the other hand, technically sophisticated headphones with support for wireless charging, active noise reduction and a stylish design of the charging case. True, this pleasure costs from 9 to 12 thousand rubles, depending on the store where you will buy it.

Freebuds 3 are very cool headphones. At least in appearance

• The Kirin A1 processor ensures the performance of the headphones. This is the only custom chip, for which Huawei a separate respect. So there is a good chance it does better than Qualcomm's and Realme solutions.
• The battery life of Freebuds 3 is better than most of the competitors on this list – a full 4 hours. The charging case provides another 20 hours, which is already very close to the AirPods.
• Headphones are controlled using swipes along the bow – just like AirPods 1 and 2 generations.
• But Google Assistant headphones Huawei for obvious reasons do not support, although it would be very helpful. Celia compatibility has not yet been announced.
• The rounded charging case personally attracts me more to the 'cigarette case' of AirPods and all other models. I associate it with the Bulgari eau de toilette.

I will not recommend any specific headphones from this list. Therefore, choose the one that suits your expectations of quality TWS headphones and an acceptable price.