Is it worth buying AirPods if you use an Android phone?

Android users looking for their next pair of headphones might be tempted to pick up a pair of Apple AirPods, especially considering how popular they’ve been over the years. However, while you can use AirPods with an Android phone, the truth is that pairing a set of AirPods with your Android device will treat the earbuds as nothing more than a traditional Bluetooth headset, causing you to miss out on many of the features that make AirPods worth the asking price.

The features you’ll miss aren’t limited to active noise cancellation technology, either. AirPods don’t support ear detection on Android, which means you won’t be able to pause your media simply by removing your earbuds. Additionally, you’ll lose native access to customization control on the stem of your AirPods, so you won’t be able to tap them to answer calls, skip songs, or pause playback. You’ll also miss out on Spatial Audio and other premium features that AirPods offer when paired with an Apple-branded device.

While not directly related to audio, features like Apple’s Live Translation won’t work on Android either, as they require an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence. Of course, other issues may arise, like the fact that you’ll need to visit an Apple Store or have a Mac or iPad handy to update the firmware on your AirPods.

The good news is that you don’t have to settle for using a pair of AirPods that have most of their features disabled. There are many high-quality Android-compatible headphones available, and depending on the brand of smartphone you own, the options become even clearer. If you use a Samsung phone like the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, you’ll probably want to connect your phone to a pair of Samsung’s latest Galaxy Buds Pro.

This line of headphones from Samsung is comparable to AirPods and even offers some of the same features, such as active noise cancellation, EQ customization, and more. Pixel users may also find that Google’s Pixel Buds line performs better than other options, as working within the same ecosystem of devices often brings first-party features and functionality.

Plus, if you really want the same sound and features, or at least as close as possible on Android, then opting for headphones from Beats might also be a good choice. Users often recommend Beats headphones because they rely on some of the same technology that Apple uses for AirPods, but they are designed to work more smoothly with multiple types of devices. Beats has lost some of its luster in recent years, thanks to Apple prioritizing AirPods over branding, but they’re still a decent option, especially if you want Apple-oriented audio on your Android phone.

Although most of the biggest features like active noise cancellation and even transparency modes are available on Android-branded headphones, they are still lacking in some places. One notable area that many users complain about is that Android earbuds seem too bulky, even when the earbuds in question are earbuds like the AirPods or AirPods Pro 3. Even the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, which are the closest to the AirPods Pro 3 you can get, have a slightly thicker case, which could make them bulkier in your pocket.

Additionally, AirPods feature a different sound profile than other headphones, so if you’ve gotten used to the sound of AirPods, you might not always like what you hear when you switch to another brand. Another issue is multi-device switching. It ultimately depends on the model, but the new Android-based earbuds have branched out with their multi-device support. For example, Google’s Pixel Buds allow you to switch connections between two different devices, even if they aren’t Google devices. Apple’s multi-device switching only works on Apple devices, but this makes sense because AirPods are designed specifically for Apple hardware.