Hacker Noon's VP of Editorial by day, VR Gamer and Anime Binger by night.

When it comes to mainstream Bluetooth earbuds, Apple owns the lion’s share of the market. In fact, in 2021 Apple made $12.1 billion dollars in revenue on Airpods alone. So when a new player enters the market, it’s always good to compare them to the most popular alternative out there and see how they fare.

This year, artistic tech manufacturer Angry Miao released the Cyberblade, extremely stylish and futuristic Bluetooth earbuds that look like they belong on the set of Blade Runner. Don’t believe me? Check out their product trailer:

But fancy animated advertising materials aside, how does the Cyberblade compare to the Apple Airpods?

What is The Cyberblade by Angry Miao?

Angry Miao’s Cyberblade vs. The Apple Airpods Verdict

Vested Interest Disclosure: I have not been paid for this review. However, I did receive a pair of The Cyberblade earbuds for review from the company. I also did not pay for my Apple Airpods (I received those as a wedding gift =D )

Angry Miao has quickly become one of my favorite tech companies. I would describe them as a luxury tech brand that produces mainly PC peripherals and accessories. I use the word luxury because they are to PC tech what Louis Vuitton is to the handbag market. Most people can’t afford them, but those that can are diehard fans.

For example, their Cyberboard Terminal wireless keyboard goes for $600 USD and is already sold out on their website.

The Cyberblade is Angry Miao’s first foray into the world of audio. They are taking their futuristic art style and implementing it into a pair of designer wireless earbuds that will make everyone stare (at your ears).

In their own words, the design was inspired by the Focus effect from the videogame Horizon Zero Dawn:

Let’s take a look at what is under the shell. These specs are taken directly from the product page on Angry Miao.

Dual mics for high quality voice input

Weighs only 6.5g per earbud and comes with an array of eartip sizes/materials for optimal comfort

ASE connection mode supports a variety of devices*

One of the most impressive features of the Cyberblade is their ASE connection mode. Even if your device (PS4, Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, Android phone) doesn’t have a Bluetooth dongle or Bluetooth functionality for whatever reason, the charging case itself can act as a dongle.

All you need to do is:

Once you do, your wireless Cyberblade earbuds connect to the device as if they were plugged in via an AUX jack. Using the case itself, you can raise or lower volume by twisting the cover. This was surprisingly easy to use and I tried it on my Windows PC, my Android phone, and my Nintendo Switch and had no issues at all.

Currently, you can only order the Cyberblade on their Kickstarter page. On the page, the company lists the Cyberblade at a $328 USD MSRP.

That is well above other competitors on the space. As a comparison, on Amazon the Apple Airpods Pro retail for $239, and the Airpods 1st gen are just $137 as of the writing of this article.

The Apple Airpods are among the most popular Bluetooth earphones in the world.

My hunch is that their sales are due to the market share dominated by the iPhone itself, rather than the performance of the earbuds. Sure they work well, but nothing really separates them from the rest of the market (other than their compatibility with iOS and MacOS devices).

Below, we’ll take a look at the specs, pros, and cons of the device to back up my opinion.

These specs are taken directly from the Apple website.

While it makes them easy to lose, the Airpods lightweight nature makes them super comfortable and easy to carry. The case itself is just around 1.8 x 2 inches and can easily fit in your pocket. Furthermore, because they are not the noise-canceling type, they’re also easy on the ears and can be worn for long periods of time with little-to-no discomfort at all.

Perhaps the most important functionality is just the connection strength itself. Many claim that the connection distance of the Apple Airpods surpasses many non-Apple Bluetooth headsets. Be it my Windows PC, Android phone, MacBook, or even Nintendo Switch, I had no issues connecting the Airpods to any device. They connected instantly and were never disrupted.

3. Best for iOS and MacOS Devices

Almost as if it were by design, I find it painful to get non-apple Bluetooth earphones to connect and stay connected to my Macbook Air. However, with Airpods it’s plug-and-play with no connectivity issues.

1. Functionality is limited to iOS devices

The biggest disappointment was learning that the Airpods had touch controls that only worked on iOS devices. I looked like an idiot constantly tapping my ears to try to get the song to stop playing, until I finally Googled it and learned my Android phone wasn’t worthy of the function. Apparently you can only customize the touch controls on iOS devices. On my Android phone, the double tap feature worked, but it was auto-set to the skip function.

For those of you looking for wireless earbuds for gaming, the Airpods aren’t going to cut it (if you are playing competitive games). Sure, they will connect to your PC just as easily as any other Bluetooth device. However, you just lose the competitive edge in FPS games where footstep sound effects are crucial.

On Amazon the Apple Airpods Pro retail for $239, and the Airpods 1st gen are just $137 as of the writing of this article. You can also buy them directly on the Apple site.

I hope the comparison of the specs, pricing, and pros and cons of each device above helped you make your own verdict. But, here’s mine:

If you want to keep your costs down, and multi-purpose general device, the Apple Airpods are your way to go.

The Airpods 1st gen are less than half the price of the Cyberblade, and while they won’t help you become a pro gamer, they can connect to gaming devices, and both Apple and non-Apple products (albeit not as easily).

If you are a tech connoisseur, and prefer to spend your money on hardware rather than fancy clothes, shoes, or designer furniture, the Cyberblade will make you look like a sci-fi character.

The specs and features of the Cyberblade beat the Airpods in almost every category. They are good for competitive PC gaming, and have perhaps the coolest and sleekest design we’ve ever seen in a pair of wireless earbuds.

And while they are much more expensive, at the end of the day who would you rather support with your cash? The billionaire tech conglomerate Apple, or this scrappy small team at Angry Miao putting their heart and soul into every design? I know my answer. What’s yours?

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