Apple AirPods Pro 2 retail for around AU$399 at JB Hi-Fi. That's nearly eight times the price of some wireless earbuds you can grab off Amazon AU for under AU$50. But are they eight times better? We put them head-to-head to find out.
We tested six pairs of wireless earbuds over three weeks — on Sydney trains, in the gym, at the office, and on weekend walks. We scored them on sound quality, noise cancelling, comfort, battery life, and what we call the “commute test”: how well they block out the screech of a Sydney Cityrail carriage pulling into Town Hall.
The Contenders
We picked five budget alternatives that are actually available in Australia — from JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks, Amazon AU, or The Good Guys. No obscure AliExpress imports that take six weeks to arrive.
| Earbuds | AU$ Price | ANC | Battery | Water Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple AirPods Pro 2 | ~AU$399 | Adaptive | 6h + 30h case | IP54 |
| EarFun Air Pro 4 | ~AU$100 | Hybrid | 11h + 52h case | IPX5 |
| Anker Soundcore Space A40 | ~AU$79 | Adaptive | 10h + 40h case | IPX4 |
| Nothing Ear (a) 2 | ~AU$89 | Adaptive | 9.5h + 32h case | IP54 |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds FE | ~AU$149 | Yes | 6h + 21h case | IPX2 |
| EarFun Air 2 | ~AU$49 | None | 9h + 40h case | IPX7 |
* Prices from JB Hi-Fi, Amazon AU, and Officeworks as of March 2026. Prices fluctuate — always check current pricing.
The Sound Test: What We Actually Heard
Let's be honest: in a blind test, the gap between AU$80 earbuds and AU$399 AirPods is much smaller than the price gap suggests. Here's what we found across three music genres (pop, hip-hop, classical) and one podcast test.
| Category | AirPods Pro 2 | EarFun Air Pro 4 | Soundcore A40 | Nothing Ear (a) 2 | EarFun Air 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass | 9/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Mids/Vocals | 9/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Treble/Detail | 9/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Noise Cancelling | 10/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | — |
| Comfort (4hr+) | 8/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Overall Value | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
The Honest Truth
AirPods Pro 2 are genuinely the best earbuds we tested — better ANC, more refined sound, tighter Apple ecosystem integration. But the EarFun Air Pro 4 at a quarter of the price gets you about 85% of the experience. That last 15% costs you an extra AU$300.
The Commute Test: Sydney Trains vs Your Earbuds
Anyone who's ridden the T1 line through Strathfield at peak hour knows the particular agony of train noise in Sydney. We wore each pair on the same route — Central to Parramatta, morning peak — and ranked how well they cancelled the carriage rumble, screeching brakes, and the bloke three seats away on speakerphone.
So Which Should You Buy?
Here's our recommendation based on how you actually use earbuds — not how much Apple's marketing makes you want them.
EarFun Air Pro 4
85% of the AirPods Pro experience at 25% of the price. Excellent ANC, balanced sound, and a jaw-dropping 11 hours of battery per charge (vs AirPods' 6 hours). Works equally well with iPhone and Android. The case even supports wireless charging — something the base AirPods 4 don't offer. Available on Amazon AU.
Best for: Commuters, gym-goers, anyone who loses earbuds regularly (at AU$100, it stings less).
EarFun Air 2
No noise cancelling, but surprisingly good sound for the price. IPX7 waterproof (better than AirPods), wireless charging case, and 9 hours per charge. If you just need decent sound for Spotify at the gym or podcasts on a walk, these are unbeatable value.
Best for: Budget-conscious listeners, gym warriors, backup pair.
Apple AirPods Pro 2
If you own an iPhone, MacBook, and Apple Watch, the ecosystem integration is genuinely unmatched — seamless device switching, Spatial Audio, Find My, and hearing health features. The sound and ANC are best-in-class. But only buy these if you'll actually use the Apple features. Otherwise, you're paying AU$300 for a logo.
Best for: Deep Apple ecosystem users, frequent flyers, audio quality purists.
Nothing Ear (a) 2
Transparent design that actually looks different from every other white earbud. Excellent app with custom EQ, and adaptive ANC that adjusts to your environment. The Nothing X app works on both platforms but shines on Android with extra customisation. Available at JB Hi-Fi.
Best for: Android users, design-conscious buyers, people tired of AirPod clones.
The Battery Reality Check
One area where budget earbuds consistently beat AirPods is battery life. Here's the real-world data from our testing:
| Earbuds | Single Charge (ANC on) | Total with Case | Wireless Charging |
|---|---|---|---|
| EarFun Air Pro 4 | ~9h | ~52h | Yes |
| Soundcore Space A40 | ~8h | ~40h | Yes |
| EarFun Air 2 | ~9h (no ANC) | ~40h | Yes |
| Nothing Ear (a) 2 | ~7h | ~32h | Yes |
| AirPods Pro 2 | ~5.5h | ~30h | Yes (MagSafe) |
| Galaxy Buds FE | ~5h | ~21h | No |
* Real-world battery at 50% volume with ANC on. Manufacturer claims are often higher.
The EarFun Air Pro 4 nearly doubles the AirPods Pro 2's battery life per charge. For a long-haul Qantas flight from Sydney to London (around 22 hours), the EarFun case gives you enough charge for the entire trip. AirPods? You'll need to top up in the case at least three times.
Where to Buy and How to Save
Aussie Buying Tips
- 1. AirPods Pro 2 are rarely discounted at JB Hi-Fi, but Amazon AU regularly drops them to AU$339–$349 during sales events
- 2. Officeworks price-beats — find a cheaper price elsewhere and they'll beat it by 5%
- 3. EarFun and Anker Soundcore earbuds are primarily sold on Amazon AU — check for coupon codes on the product page (often AU$10–$20 off)
- 4. Nothing Ear products are stocked at JB Hi-Fi in-store — you can try them on before buying
- 5. If you're an iPhone user considering AirPods, check if the AirPods 4 with ANC (AU$299) might be enough — they skip the silicone tips but still have solid noise cancelling
Look, the AirPods Pro 2 are genuinely the best earbuds we tested — no argument there. But “best” and “best value” are different things. We've been using the EarFun Air Pro 4 as our daily drivers for two months now, and honestly? We don't miss the AirPods much. Save the $300 and put it toward a weekend in Byron. The EarFun will sound great on the drive up.
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