Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 offer iPhone users features and close integration that rival earbuds do not fully match, but their $249 price makes alternatives attractive. Other brands can provide strong sound, active noise cancellation and useful extras for less, though buyers may give up some Apple-specific convenience and features.

The article highlights Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds, now priced at $149, with effective noise cancellation, multipoint Bluetooth and up to 8.5 hours of battery life with noise cancellation on. Anker’s Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro costs $170 and is praised for voice capture, though its sound and noise cancellation have limits; Beats Powerbeats Fit are also mentioned at a current $170 price, particularly for workouts.