The $139 Bang and Olufsen earphones that rival Apple AirPods
Not only are these chic Danish-designed earphones currently on sale from $199, their long list of features will have Apple fans thinking twice.
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more
Once upon a time, the Apple AirPods were held as the gold standard of wireless earphones.
While they weren’t the first wireless devices to hit the market, the Apple effect quickly took over and you’d now be hard-pressed to take a bus or train trip or go to the gym without seeing someone sporting the bright white buds.
However, four years since their launch in 2016 there are now several wireless earphone models on the market at varying price points.
In fact, one of the internet’s favourite dupe’s for the AirPods, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 In-Ear Wireless Earbuds, is currently on sale at Catch Australia for $139, down from $199.
They’re made with Bang and Olufsen’s signature high-quality sound and easily pair with your devices via Bluetooth. The schmick in-ear devices give four hours of playtime in a single charge, with its charging case adding another 12 hours of playtime. The Beoplay E8 buds also come with a clever Transparency Mode which lets in some of your surrounding noise. This feature could be helpful if you were walking home in the dark or enjoy listening to music at work.
The reviews for the wireless earphones have been overwhelmingly positive as well.
“Excellent present for my daughter and son-in-law. They love them. Use them every day and delighted with the sound quality,” read one.
“These are fantastic, only difference between these and the new 2.0 is slightly less battery life and the charging case is wired,” wrote another.
It is worth noting however, this model is the first generation of the Beoplay E8 earphones, with two newer models preceding it.
Despite this some reviews have said the difference between the newer Beoplay E8 2.0 earphones isn’t very noticeable. However Catch Australia also have the updated model on sale for $339, from $530 (meaning you save $191). Owners of the 2.0 version can enjoy lightly increased sound quality and intuitive and voice interfacing so you can control your music and accept calls.
Catch Australia is also currently celebrating its 14th Birthday and offering customers hefty markdowns on select items. All orders on products sold and delivered by Catch.com.au from October 6 to 11 also have the chance to win one of 30 ‘Golden Tickets’. On every day of the promotion, five tickets will be dropped into the boxes of five orders and the lucky recipients will win $1000 to spend at Catch.com.au.
Now, if you’re after more wireless earphone options, here are two other highly-rated models worthy of your consideration. And yes, the classic Apple AirPods did make the cut.
THE $69.99 BUDGET BUY
Anker, Liberty Neo Wireless Earbuds, Amazon, $69.99
According to its 16,000 plus Amazon reviews, these $69.99 wireless earbuds rival much more expensive models. They’re sweatproof, waterproof, have noise-cancellation abilities and are made to amplify the bass levels in your music by 43 per cent. The earbuds also offer 3.5 hours of playtime on a single charge, with the charging case boosting your listening time by an extra nine hours.
Apart from its very tempting price tag, its many glowing reviews state the buds feel comfortable in your ear, stay put during running and exercise and offer great sound quality. Giving the product a 5 star rating, Amazon user Smithy wrote: “I found these buds on a website reviewing running headphones. They were rated quite highly so I took the punt as they were sub $100. They have been absolutely perfect so far. They do not budge at all when I run (literally not at all) which was the number one priority for me. They pair nice and quickly with my phone. They are light and they have heaps of charge. Sounds quality is great for the price. Top Buy!”
THE ORIGINAL APPLE AIRPODS
Apple AirPods with Charging Case, $249
Arguably the most easily recognised and popular wireless earphones on the market, the Apple AirPods are great for everyday use. The sound quality is clear and they easily connect to your phone, laptop or computer via Bluetooth.
The AirPods offer five hours of listening time on one charge and extends to over 24 hours when used with the charging case. The only drawback is that depending on your ear shape the curved plastic bud may not be the most secure option for high-intensity exercise.
From budget to blowout, we’ve got the top 10 portable wireless speakers you can take from the kitchen to the car or a picnic.
For more wireless earphone recommendations here’s a stack of other options from $39 to $519.
If you’re after a tech bargain make sure to check out our coupons page. We’ve got all the big brands covered like The Good Guys, Bing Lee, Vodafone and more.
Unusual headphones we’ll all be using
Whether it’s swimming in the pool or attending a Zoom meeting, fans are raving about these ultra versatile headphones.
Incredible headphones deals to expect this Black Friday
With the Black Friday sales soon underway, we’ll be rounding up the best discounts on your favourite headphones and earbuds.
‘Next level’ Dyson steals Apple’s crown
Dyson has re-entered the competitive ring of premium headphones. And it may have just emerged the winner.
‘Magical’: Best earbuds for exercise, running and the gym
Bringing impressive noise-cancellation and a “pocketable” charging case, these buds come highly recommended by reviewers.