I Tried Knock-Off Apple AirPods
By: Alyssa Atkinson
Tags: Apple, Business, Tech, Electronics, Technology

Photo by Howard Bouchevereau on Unsplash

I wanted to know if Apple AirPods are really worth the investment. So, I tried a pair of knock-off wireless earbuds to see how they measured up. Here’s what I discovered.

The knock-off earbuds have a cheaper, less luxurious feel

When I opened up my package of $35 True Wireless Ear Buds, I immediately noticed that both the earbuds and the plastic casing have a cheaper feel to them. The plastic is thinner and it feels flimsier overall than the Apple AirPods. However, for the cost, this was to be expected, and it wouldn’t be a deal-breaker for me.

The charging cases and earbuds are almost identical in style

Side by side view of my Apple AirPods (left) and my pink knock-off wireless earbuds

When you look at the two pairs side by side, there are very few differences. The front of the charging case for the knock-off earbuds has four indicator dots to show how charged up the case is. The AirPods have a single indicator dot on the interior of the case which indicates whether the charging case is fully charged or not.

The knock-off earbuds come in a variety of colors. I chose baby pink, but they also offered classic white, which looks identical to the AirPods. There is a button on the back of the AirPods case which helps the earbuds pair with your device. Everything else looks pretty much the same. Both sets of earbuds connect magnetically into the charging case.

Side by side view of the back of the charging cases

The sound quality between the two pairs is noticeably different

Not unexpectedly, the sound quality of the Apple AirPods is noticeably superior to the knock-offs. I used each pair on a number of runs outside, and the exterior noise was louder with the knock-off earbuds, especially on days when it was windy. However, taking into account that there is a $100+ difference in cost between the two pairs, I was actually surprised that the sound quality of the knock-off pair was as good as it was. The earbuds never lost signal or cut in and out. The sound quality was simply not as clean nor as smooth as that of the AirPods. Even so given the price, the sound quality of the knock-offs was acceptable.

Side by side view of the earbuds

The AirPods show the percent battery life left

This feature is one that I wish my knock-off headphones would have had. The AirPods indicate the percentage charged for each earbud on your paired device. For example, when you open up the Apple AirPods charging case, the percent charge of each earbud shows up on your phone screen. With the knock-off earbuds I purchased, there is no way of knowing how charged up they are. My knock-off earbuds have actually died a few times while I was out running because I failed to charge them up and was unaware that they needed recharging.

There are some key differences in the specifications

Now, let’s take a deeper dive into the specifications of the Apple AirPods (I have version 1) vs. the knock-off earbuds (True Wireless Ear Buds). Both the AirPods and the knock-off earbuds have automatic on/off and pairing capabilities. They both have touch controls for the phone and music. They each support up to 5 hours of listening time for a single charge and transmit up to about 30 feet. However, there are some differences. The AirPods charge about 4 times as fast. They take only 15 minutes to charge up enough for 3 hours of listening time, whereas the knock-offs take 1–2 hours to charge. The AirPods have access to Siri. Finally, the audio and noise-cancelling capabilities of the AirPods are superior to that of the True Wireless Ear Buds. All of these added features are what elevate the Apple AirPods above other less expensive wireless earbuds on the market.

Knock-off earbuds package specifications

So, what’s my final verdict?

The Apple AirPods are undeniably a superior pair of headphones. However, if you are not super picky about sound quality and don’t need all of the extra bells and whistles, then a knock-off pair of headphones will work just fine for you. They’ll also save you a lot of money. What it really comes down to is your personal preference and how much use you think you’ll get out of them. If you plan to use them every day, then it may be worth investing in the Apple AirPods. Otherwise, I think you could be perfectly happy buying a decent pair of knock-offs and saving yourself $100.