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AI-generated summary
After my first-generation AirPods died (the battery won’t hold a charge anymore), I ventured outside Apple’s ecosystem to see what the competition had to offer. It’s always good to look around, especially when you’ve been locked into one ecosystem.
I use wireless earbuds primarily for sport 🏋️♂️ — gym 🤸♂️, running 🏃♂️, and cycling 🚴. I also use them a lot as a hands-free kit when I’m on the move.
I tested 4 pairs:
- the Jabra Elite Active 65t
- the Bose Soundsport Free while waiting for their replacement next year
- the Sony WF-1000XM3
- and finally the AirPods Pro
Time to choose
How do you pick between these earbuds? Here’s my take: if all your devices are Apple, go straight for the AirPods Pro. They deliver better sound than the non-Pro version. The noise cancellation is very, very good — it can easily replace an over-ear headphone for most people.
If you’re on Android, go for their Sony counterparts, which are excellent but annoying to switch between sources.
Finally, the best value for money is the Jabra — just like the Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2 in the over-ear headphone 🎧 category, they deliver the best you can get for around a hundred euros.
Merry Christmas 🎄 and happy listening!
