The best replacement for equals is hashcode.

The best alternatives to equals are rated as following:
★★★★★  hashcode
★★★★★  == c#
★★★★  equal
★★★★  ==
★★★  equalsignorecase
★★★  in java
★★  compareto java
★★  c
★★  double equals
★★  java
★★  == java string
★★  == java
★  hashcode in java
★  matches java
★  colon equals
★  php
★  c#
★  compareto
★  javascript
★  == in java
  contentequals
  compareto c#
  referenceequals
  contains java
  compare
  equals to

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Speaking about equals, one probably shouldn't forget about hashcode.

Other search terms related to equals and their ratings are:
★★★★★ hashcode
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equals
hashcode
== c#