Last Updated on January 22, 2021 by Jay
In many ways, putting the now outdated and cheaper Apple AirPods VS the PowewrBeats Pro is an unfair comparison to make. But this is what you’ve been asking for, so, we are here to deliver.
This is our in-depth review of 2 of the best-selling headphones that are out there. So, without any further ado, let us get right into it!
Apple Airpods VS PowerBeats Pro: Design
The first thing you are likely to notice when comparing these two headphones is the very different design that they come with.
The Apple AirPods use the old-fashioned, conventional earbud design. Rather than going inside your ears, they just rest there – which is rare nowadays – especially for premium headphones.
We’d say this kind of design feels more comfortable since it’s less intrusive. But the downside is that you get less stability and noise isolation than you’d otherwise get with in-ear headphones such as the PowerBeats Pro.
Speaking of PowerBeats, the PowerBeats Pro are clearly designed for sports.
The ear-hooks along with the in-ear design are going to give you a lot more stability and also a lot more passive noise isolation. And that’s especially true when you are running or doing any other intense activities. But it’s worth keeping in mind that the in-ear design may feel uncomfortable for some of you.
Another reason that the two earbuds differ massively in terms of noise isolation is due to their enclosure. The AirPods come with an open-back design while the PowerBeats Pro, by contrast, use a closed-back design.
This means that the PowerBeats Pro are naturally going to sound boomier while also offering more noise isolation. Whether that’s actually good or not mostly comes down to personal preferences, though.
Audio
Audio quality and audio signature are obviously one of the most important, if not the most important aspects when buying headphones. So, it’s worth paying attention here.
Starting off with the Apple AirPods, since they use an open-back enclosure, you are naturally going to get less bass. They use more of a “chill” sound signature that may slightly disappoint those of you who love bass-heavy genres.
That’s not to say that the sound quality isn’t good or that the sound signature, in general, is unpleasant. In fact, the first generation of AirPods can still compete with most of the latest releases. It’s just that they noticeably lack the low, thumpy bass that you otherwise can get with closed-back variants.s
The PowerBeats Pro sound just as good if not slightly better – but they also offer a lot more thump and a stronger kick as far as bass is concerned.
It’s also worth noting that the AirPods sound a bit sharper and, in some cases, even harsh and piercing when it comes to highs. Some of you may find that kind of sound to be more detailed, but, if you find sharp headphones unpleasant, consider sticking with the PowerBeats Pro.
The winner?
- If you like a chill but slightly sharp audio signature: AirPods
- And if you prefer a more intense bass at the expense of less detailed highs: PowerBeats Pro
Comfort
When it comes to earbuds, comfort is largely a matter of personal preference. But we’d generally say that the first generation of AirPods are among the most comfortable pairs we’ve ever tried.
This is largely due to the fact that the AirPods don’t go inside your ears at all and they also don’t have an ear-hook that can feel annoying for some people.
There is an argument to be made about the multiple ear tips and adjustable ear-hook of the PowerBeats Pro. But, ultimately, we’d say that anything that rests on your ears is generally going to feel more comfortable than an alternative that needs to go inside instead.
And, thus, the AirPods are a clear winner here.
Stability
Stability is the most important factor if you are interested in working out or doing any sort of intense activities while wearing headphones.
This is where there is no doubt that the PowerBeats Pro has a significant advantage. After all, they are clearly designed for sports.
The ear-hooks along with the ear-tips that come in multiple sizes provide a much more stable fit than both the AirPods and most of the competition out there. If you want stable earbuds, it’s hard to go wrong with the PowerBeats Pro.
That said, the AirPods can also be extremely stable depending on the shape and size of your ears. But without an option to change the size of the ear tips, you are basically forced to take a small gamble.
So, when everything is said and done, the PowerBeats Pro are without a shadow of a doubt the superior choice in terms of stability.
Portability
All true wireless earbuds are extremely portable. You’d think that there would be at least a bit of competition here. But, we’d say that the AirPods get an easy win in terms of portability.
It’s not just that they are more portable as earbuds, their charging case is also much smaller to the point where you can easily take the whole package in your pocket. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the PowerBeats Pro.
So, again, that’s an easy win for the AirPods.
Build Quality
Build quality is one of the first things that you should look at in anything that’s tech-related – including headphones. After all, nobody likes cheap earbuds that stop working after a small period of time.
And as you’d probably expect from Apple, both the AirPods and the PowerBeats are very sturdy headphones with decent build quality. It’s hard to say if one is better than the other.
There is an argument to be made about the moving parts and the buttons of the PowerBeats Pro. But, since we haven’t heard any major complaints about their overall endurance, it’s hard to put them any lower than the AirPods. Thus, this one is a tie.
Controls
This is where the PowerBeats Pro get an easy win. Unfortunately, the AirPods can only be controlled via voice commands and simple touch inputs that you can use for simple commands – such as skipping tracks or answering calls.
Anything else needs to be controlled via Siri. And that’s arguably not the best way to control earbuds. Especially when it comes to adjusting the volume.
The PowerBeats, on the other hand, get controls for a little bit of everything.
There are separate buttons for volume and track controls along with the option to individually control an earbud. And just like the AirPods, the PowerBeats Pro have full Siri support. So, there’s almost no competition in this category.
Water and Dust Protection
IP ratings are a great way to accurately tell how much abuse a pair of headphones can take – at least in terms of dust/dirt and water.
Both the Apple Airpods and the PowerBeats Pro come with an IPX4 certification. So, as far as official measurements are concerned, one is not going to be more endurable than the other.
It’s worth noting that IPX4 refers only to splash resistance. Do not, under any circumstances, leave your headphones submerged underwater. You’d need at least IPX7 for that.
And when it comes to IPX4, a little bit of rain is possibly the best that you can hope for. We personally wouldn’t even risk that – which is a bit of a shame considering that the PowerBeats Pro are great for outdoor sports.
At the end of the day, since both models come with the same IP rating, we’ll have to mark this one as a tie.
Apple AirPods VSS PowerBeats Pro: Battery Life and Charging
As far as battery life is concerned, the Apple PowerBeats Pro are a no-brainer. That’s because the AirPods come with an average battery life of 5 hours while the PowerBeats Pro can give you more than 9 hours. But when it comes to the charging case, both can give you up to 24 hours – which is a bit surprising considering how the PowerBeats’ case is a bit bulkier.
At this point, it’s also worth considering the quick charging capabilities.
The PowerBeats Pro get 1.5 hours of listening time after a 5-minute charge while 15 minutes of charging on the AirPods gives you 3 hours of listening time. Apple doesn’t mention anything about the 5-minute mark on the AirPods, though. So, this is probably another win or a tie at worst for the PowerBeats Pro.
Overall, this is one more sector where the PowerBeats Pro get an easy win.
Noise Isolation
As we mentioned before, the AirPods use an open-back enclosure. This means that they offer little to no noise isolation at all.
And it’s not like the PowerBeats Pro are great at noise isolation either. But, as closed-back earbuds, they have a massive advantage over their cheaper competitor.
But it’s also worth keeping in mind that more noise isolation isn’t always better. Sometimes you need to stay aware of your surroundings. And while both earbuds don’t block a lot of noise, the AirPods block almost nothing due to their design. So, that’s a better pick if you want to stay aware of what’s going on around you. Unless we are talking about workouts where we’d suggest going with the PowerBeats if only due to the stability they offer.
To wrap things up:
- If you want better noise isolation: PowerBeats Pro
- If listening to the surrounding environment takes priority: Apple AirPods
Microphone
Microphone quality may not be too essential for you – but it’s pretty important for the one on the receiving end of the call. And when it comes to microphone quality, we can hardly tell the difference between the two.
Both the Apple AirPods and the PowerBeats Pro sound identical no matter if you use them in a quiet or noisy environment. So, that’s clearly a tie.
If you want an audio sample to check for yourself, you can either refer to YouTube or down to our sources at the bottom of this article!
Connectivity
Both models support Bluetooth 5.0 and Apple’s H1 chip. And both models connect just as easily, quickly, and efficiently on iOS devices. Unfortunately, both headphones are also just as unstable at times on Android devices.
With all that said, according to our sources, the PowerBeats Pro are somehow more energy efficient when used with an Android device compared to their cheaper siblings.
While the AirPods get between 4-5 hours of playback on iOS devices, they only give you 3.5 on Android devices. The PowerBeats Pro, on the other hand, easily surpasses 9 hours of battery life on both iOS and Android.
At the end of the day, connectivity may be the same on both earbuds. But the PowerBeats Pro are more energy efficient when used with other devices. And that’s why we give this one to them!
Features
Headphones are no longer simple devices that you can only use for listening to music. Premium variants such as the AirPods and the PowerBeats Pro offer a few features that make cheaper earbuds irrelevant.
To be more specific, both models give you:
- Voice control with Siri
- Automatic pairing when used with a compatible iOS device that’s connected to the iCloud
- And automatic disconnect when you take them out of your ears
However, the PowerBeats Pro also go to sleep automatically when you don’t use them outside of their case. And while that’s not exactly a massive advantage, it can still be a lifesaver that one time that you’ll forget to put the headphones back in their case. So, we’ll have to give this one to the PowerBeats Pro!
Pricing
To the massive surprise of, well, nobody, the AirPods have a massive advantage over the PowerBeats Pro in terms of pricing. At a list pricing of $159 over the $249.95 of the PowerBeats Pro, they are the ideal pick for those who need something decent but not too expensive.
Then again, you can often find the PowerBeats Pro for less than $170 – which makes them quite a good bang for your buck.
So, to wrap this up:
- If you want something relatively cheap that sounds good and gets the job done: Apple AirPods
- If you want the best bang for your buck, wait until the PowerBeats Pro go into a sale
And the Winner is
So, when everything is said and done, every battle needs to have a winner and a loser. But things are not as simple in the tech world. There are some aspects when one is better than the other. To put things in a nutshell:
- Audio: PowerBeats for stronger bass – AirPods for better highs
- Comfort: AirPods
- Stability: PowerBeats
- Portability: AirPods
- Build quality: Tie
- Controls: PowerBeats
- Battery life and charging: PowerBeats
- Noise isolation: PowerBeats
- Microphone: Tie
- Connectivity: PowerBeats (But just barely)
- Features: PowerBeats (Also just barely)
- Pricing: Tie (AirPods are cheaper but the PowerBeats offer a better value when on sale)
In the end:
Apple AirPods: 6 points
Apple PowerBeats: 10 points
So, if you only care about what each pick brings to the table, the PowerBeats get an easy win. But, if you value a particular aspect, such as portability, definitely consider the AirPods.
That’s all for now. If you have any questions or anything to add, feel free to let us and everyone else know about it in the comments section down below!
Apple PowerBeats Pro VS AirPods Pro
As you probably already know, the AirPods are actually an outdated model that has been succeeded by the AirPods Pro.
This newer model is improved in basically every single way – if only for comfort – which is largely a matter of personal preference as far as in-ear headphone sare concerned anyway.
The AirPods Pro are actually better than the PowerBeats in terms of:
- Portability
- Noise isolation
- Audio (Mostly comes down to personal preference but it’s more balanced than what the original AirPods offer)
- Stability
- Controls
- Build quality
- And slightly better in battery life
These are much closer competitors to the PowerBeats Pro. However, they are also much closer in terms of pricing.
Considerchecking them out on Amazon. And if you want a more detailed comparison or review, feel free to let us know in the comments section.
FAQ
Are PowerBeats Pro Louder than AirPods?
The PowerBeats may indeed feel louder due to their closed-back and possibly louder drivers as well. But, with that said, we highly doubt that you are going to find the AirPods inadequate in terms of volume as well.
Which is Better? AirPods or PowerBeats Pro?
If we are talking purely about the overall pros and cons, the PowerBeats come on top. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that it’s not all black and white.
There are some aspects where Apple’s AirPods may be a better choice. We found them to be more:
- Portable
- Comfortable
- And cheaper as well
Do PowerBeats Pro Connect like AirPods?
Yes. Both headphones have the same Apple H1 chip and they can connect to any of your devices that are signed into the iCloud.
Are PowerBeats Pro Good for Everyday Use?
Of course. While they mainly seem to be designed for workouts, there is nothing stopping you from using them as a daily driver as well.
Should I Buy AirPods in 2021?
Sure. If you don’t mind the bad noise isolation due to their open-back design, the AirPods sound great without asking for a very high price tag. It’s hard to go wrong with them – especially if you own an iPhone.
Can I Wear PowerBeats Pro In the Shower?
No. The IPX4 rating means that the headphones are only splash-proof. They can’t handle pressurized water, so, we definitely wouldn’t recommend trying it.
Are PowerBeats Pro Worth the Money?
If you want one of the best models that are currently out there and you are willing to pay for it, we’d say it’s hard to go wrong with the PowerBeats Pro. They provide great stability and awesome sound with an IPX4 rating as well – which is what most people look for in true wireless headphones nowadays.
Can you Overcharge the PowerBeats Pro?
No. Their case will automatically stop charging when the headphones are fully charged. There is no risk of overcharging at all. Leaving them fully-charged for extremely long periods of time may wear out the battery, though – which is an entirely different matter.
Do PowerBeats Pro Hurt your Ears?
That can highly change from person to person. Most people don’t have any issues with in-ear headphones. But some people have sensitive ears or just can’t get a good fit. That’s why the first two generations of AirPods are generally considered more comfortable.
Can you Turn off PowerBeats Pro Without a Case?
Just like AirPods, the PowerBeats Pro don’t have a power button. But they’ll go to sleep automatically if they are sitting idle for some time. So, there’s no need to do anything if the case is not nearby. We’d obviously always recommend leaving them in their case if only for safety reasons and more battery life when you need it.
SOURCES: RTINGS 1 AND 2, SOUNDGUYS
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-k-8246a1169/
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