Best new wireless headphones taking on Apple’s AirPods, from will.i.am to Audio-Technica

DON’T want Apple’s cotton bud-like AirPods sticking out of your ears? We found five wireless alternatives, from button-shaped buds to high-quality cans.

WIRELESS audio technology has come a long way, and will now reliably let you listen to songs without getting snagged on furniture.

But while Apple grabbed attention with its AirPods, and snapped up Beats from Dr Dre, there are still plenty of options for those who want something different in features and looks.

We’ve rounded up five of the best new wire-free audiomakers, from those shaped like buttons to a new kind of earbud that helps you hear conversations.

I.AM+ Buttons

4.5/5 stars

$290 / jbhifi.com.au

will.i.am Buttons are Bluetooth earbuds that work with Apple and Google smartphones.

Don’t let the celebrity endorsements put you off. Whether you like will.i.am’s music or not, his Bluetooth earbuds are worth a listen, with a stylish and practical design, plenty of fitting options, and support for Apple and Google devices. The rounded exterior of these Buttons is also magnetised so they can be worn as a necklace, they have an in-line remote for controls and taking calls, and the sound quality is impressive. One criticism: it would have been better if they went into sleep mode when stuck together, like some of their peers.

NuHeara IQbuds

4.5/5 stars

$399 / nuheara.com

The Nuheara IQbuds are wireless headphones that can also help you hear people speaking.

These earbuds are like Apple AirPods but much smarter. Made in Australia, these wireless earbuds not only deliver music from your phone, but they use microphones and smart software to amplify the conversations around you. With an accompanying app, you can set them up for the location you’re in — a restaurant, an office, or the car, for example — and they will let you hear the voices of your friends and family while lowering ambient noise. Aside from a hearing boost, they also ably deliver songs from your phone, and touch-sensitive controls feature on each earbud. Tap the left bud and you’ll play or pause a song, tap the right and you can change your audio profile. If you double-tap either, you’ll trigger Siri or Google Assistant on your phone. The audio they deliver can sound a little fake, like you’re listening to a recording of yourself, and they’re not as slick-looking as the AirPods, but these local creations are potentially a lot more useful.

Audio-Technica DSR7BT

4.5/5 stars

$599 / audio-technica.com.au

The Audio-Technica ATH-DSR7BT wireless headphones are the first to feature its Pure Digital Drive technology.

You might think you can hear more detail from these cans and you’re not wrong — Audio-Technica debuts new digital technology in these headphones that removes the need for a digital-to-analog converter and lets the headphone deal with the digital signal directly. The result is sound straight out of your smartphone that lets you identify a single crash of a high hat or the moment autotune kicks in. The new Audio-Technica headphones also connect to phones with Bluetooth, feature NFC for quick connections to Android phones, and a touch-sensitive panel you tap to control playback, answer and hang up calls, and even bring up a smart assistant, like Siri. For their price, it’s strange that they don’t offer active noise-cancellation, but their design does physically block plenty of din that would otherwise annoy commuters.

Plantronics Backbeat 505

3.5/5 stars

$120 / plantronics.com/au

Plantronics BackBeat 505 budget-priced wireless headphones.

Rather than pushing the technology to new limits, these wireless on-ear headphones bring some of the best features down into a product with a budget price. They don’t feature active-noise cancellation popular with travellers but, considering their sub-$150 price, they’re comfortable, compact, and long-lasting. Their hinged parts will collapse down into a carry bag, a fully charged battery will power these cans for 18 hours, and they deliver reasonable bass sounds from their 40mm drivers. Available in white, grey, or dark grey.

House of Marley Smile Jamaica BT

4/5 stars

$80 / houseofmarley.com.au

House of Marley Smile Jamaica Wireless

If you want a gadget that stands out for being different, these wireless headphones with up to eight hours of battery life fit the bill. They have a neckband made from timber and recycled materials that houses playback controls and sits fairly stably on your collarbone even during activity. The two-part design leaves no excess bulk and weight around your ears.