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Best alternatives to the Apple AirPods Pro 3

Q: Is there a more reliable alternative to the Apple AirPods Pro 3?

Yes, the Sony WF-1000XM5. It's less likely to give you trouble.

Q: Is there a cheaper alternative to the Apple AirPods Pro 3?

Yes, the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro. It usually costs less and suits you if you commute or fly often and want strong noise cancelling on a budget.

The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is already among the best we've found; the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds comes closest.

The verdict in 10 seconds

Strongest all-rounder

Bose QuietComfort Ultra EarbudsBest-in-class quiet in a bulky earbud with only average battery life

Suits you if

You commute or fly often and want the quietest earbuds you can get
You like a rich, bass-forward sound

Most dependable

Sony WF-1000XM5Superb sound and strong quiet, as long as they fit you

Suits you if

You commute or fly often and want the drone of engines and traffic quieted
Sound quality matters most to you and you like adjusting the sound in an app

Easiest to live with

Sennheiser Momentum 4 WirelessSuperb battery and comfort, rich sound, but noise cancelling isn't class-best

Suits you if

You want long listening sessions and rarely want to think about charging
You care most about rich, balanced sound you can tweak to taste

The short version

If the Apple AirPods Pro 3 isn't quite right, start with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: it suits you if you commute or fly often and want the quietest earbuds you can get. The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is still a great fit if you use an iPhone and other Apple devices.

We researched 142 expert reviews, analyzed 237,040 owner ratings and comments across 30 sources for 13 noise cancelling headphones, and cross-checked them into one verdict, so you don't have to.