AirPods are great. They have that magical connection to Apple devices, great build quality, and (quite unlike Apple) relatively affordable price points. Not looking at you, AirPods Max.

But what if you're looking for some of the best earbuds to pair with your shiny new iPhone that don't come in white plastic, or what if you've got an Android phone and don't want something from the Apple ecosystem?

Well, you're in luck — as much as I love AirPods, I've tried out enough other earbuds to tell you that there is great sound, comfort and build beyond something designed in Cupertino. So let me talk you through the best earbuds around that aren't made by Apple.

On a budget: CMF Buds Pro 2

This pair of buds is currently on the Tom's Guide's reviews team test bench, but things are going very wel

See Full Page