Apple's latest AirPods, the third-generation AirPods, are pretty great, sure, but they're not the only wireless earbuds under $200 in town if you're looking to break free of the Apple ecosystem. Fortunately, if you like the AirPod's design, especially eschewing the sometimes-annoying silicone eartips in favor of a cleaner design, then there are plenty of alternatives you can find ... and they tend to be more affordable than a pair of AirPods.
There’s also ANC here, like what higher-end AirPods offer, plus a transparency mode, although the tech can’t really compare to the advanced noise cancellation created in Apple’s labs. However, it is nice to see other welcome features here, including IPX5 water resistance for outside use, wear sensors for automatic pausing, and a nice EQ.
We’re especially impressed with the compact charging case — even smaller than anything AirPods have had so far — and the easy customizable controls, an AirPods advantage that’s difficult to give up once you’ve tried it. There’s also a lot going on inside these earbuds, and we like it: The 12mm carbon drivers produce excellent sound, there’s an EQ app for making adjustments, and the IPX4 weatherproofing means you don’t have to worry about taking them along for workouts or in the rain. The Twig also has a number of premium features you rarely see at this low of a price, including great touch controls with not only Siri but also Google Assistant, plus quick charging to get your battery life back fast.