Apple may be responsible for popularizing the truly wireless earbud trend with its AirPods, which have become so popular they've inspired memes and helped make the company's wearables business as big as a Fortune 200 company.
But since the original AirPods debuted in 2016, dozens of platform-agnostic alternatives have entered the market â many of which are less expensive than the iPhone maker's cord-free earbuds.Â
Anker's Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro earbuds, which launched in September, are one such example. Originally priced at $150 and currently selling for $110, they're cheaper than the $160 AirPods and noticeably less expensive than $250 AirPods Pro. Yet they still offer long battery life, a customizable and comfortable fit, and good sound quality.
Although they lack some of Apple's more useful features, I found that I didn't miss my AirPods much at all when making the switch.Â
Here's a closer look at what it's been like to use them.Â