The best answer is that the experience with the AirPods is not as good as it could be. You're better off with another pair of earbuds if you don't have the features you need.

AirPods on table

(Image credit: Daniel Bader / Android Central)

Let's start with the positives. Both the AirPods and the AirPods Pro act like regular earbuds when you use them with anAndroid phone. You can use them the same way you would any other wireless headphones/ ear buds if you put them into pairing mode.

The core experience is mostly the same because you'll get the same sound quality and battery life. Pick a song and listen to it wherever you go with the earbuds.

The regular AirPods are basic earbuds with a one-size-fits-all design that works well for some people, but others have difficulty getting a comfortable fit with them. Improved audio and active noise cancellation are included in the AirPods Pro.

The same Spatial Audio feature can be found on the Apple Music app for the iPad and the Apple TV. You can use either of those AirPods to listen to music on Apple's streaming service.

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There is something about using and owning AirPods that makes it worth it. Everyone is aware of what they are. They are an Apple product. Some people like the brand associated with it even if they don't like the phone.

AirPods in ear

(Image credit: Daniel Bader / Android Central)

It's a good experience to use AirPods with anandroid phone, but you lose a lot of what makes them feel so seamless withios and macs Once you realize how stripped down the experience is when they're connected to something other than an Apple device, it's obvious that Apple designed the AirPods to only work with an Apple device.

You don't get the automatic pair feature that made the AirPods so popular. When you open a case of AirPods, you can pair them with your phone. You need to manually pair AirPods with your device every time you use them, because this feature doesn't work onAndroid. This is reason enough to ignore the device as a user of the operating system. In our review of the AirPods Pro, it was noted.

The AirPods Pro don't seamlessly switch between Android devices as they do on iOS, nor do they have any customization; they're just dumb Bluetooth earbuds.

The fit and comfort is something else. There is less wiggle room to get a better seal with the regular AirPods. Bass response is better on earbuds with ear tips. Without the tips, the regular AirPods don't offer much recourse if you find them to be too "lossy" in allowing too much ambient sound in.

Most people don't know that Apple's Lightning cable is a type of cable that most people don't deal with. It's true that you get a Lightning cable in the box with your AirPods, but it's also true that you need another cable type for just one device. When it launched the AirPods 3, Apple decided to keep the lightning bolt.

You're not going to get the auto-pause/play feature if you're looking at the AirPods Pro. It's a great feature to have, but if you use a phone with an operating system that doesn't support it, it won't work.

AirPods are popular, but there are tons of other options out there

Jabra Elite 7 active earbuds

(Image credit: Ted Kritsonis / Android Central)

All of the best wireless earbuds that exist forAndroid users have the AirPods as one of the first catalysts for truly wireless buds. Companies have released their own take on the form factor. There have been some bad ones and some outstanding ones.

There is a wide range of cheap AirPods clones. The best ones, like the Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro, are more than just ripoffs. They sound better than the regular AirPods, but the overall performance is just as good. They sound good and have good app support, but they don't have any additional water resistance orDurability. They work the same on both phones.

If you're looking for a more premium product, check out the Jabra Elite 7 Pro. Both sound excellent, have ANC, and come with tons of useful software features through their respective apps.

If you're looking for a user experience that you can't get anywhere else, you can't go wrong with the Apple earbuds. Those exclusive goodies are not all that special. You can spend the same or less money for better earbuds, and if you use a mobile operating system, it makes sense to use it.