Deciding the Superior Sound: Are Beats Better Than AirPods?

The question ‘are Beats better than AirPods’ stirs much debate, and the answer varies based on personal auditory priorities. This comparison cuts to the chase, focusing on the core aspects that influence your decision: sound quality, design, comfort, and value, providing clear insights to inform your choice.

Key Takeaways

• Beats Studio Buds cater to style and bass lovers with their color variety and enhanced bass, while AirPods Pro are known for a balanced sound and convenient stem design for easy control.
• Both brands offer comfortable designs, with Beats being more secure for workouts, but AirPods Pro being slightly lighter and offering advanced features like active noise cancellation and adaptive EQ.
• Battery life is crucial, with Beats Fit Pro offering up to 24 hours with the case and AirPods Pro providing a wireless charging case for added convenience, but Beats having an edge in fast charging.

Comparing Design and Comfort

Beats and AirPods each bring their unique appeal in terms of design. Beats adopt a rounded, stemless design, featuring a slightly protruding button for operational purposes. On the other hand, Apple AirPods Pro are designed with a familiar stem and interchangeable ear tips, which add a touch of elegance and sophistication.

Does one design outshine the other, and importantly, does one offer more comfort?

Beats Design

Beats Studio Buds are not only available in a range of color options, including bright red and ocean blue, but they also offer the convenience of wireless earbuds. This is ideal for those who like to express their individuality through their gadgets. The design is not just about aesthetics though.

The Beats Studio Buds feature a button that protrudes slightly for operational purposes, blending usability with style. This means you don’t have to fumble around when you want to change the track or adjust the volume.

Apple AirPods Pro Design

The AirPods Pro, on the other hand, are easily recognizable by their distinctive stem that extends down to the earlobe. An iconic look that has quickly become synonymous with the Apple brand.

If you’re a fan of the stem design, the AirPods Pro 2 model is your go-to choice. The stem not only adds to the aesthetic appeal but also incorporates functional elements like a force sensor for easy control of your music and calls.

Comfort Comparison

As for comfort, Beats and AirPods each have their pros and cons. For instance, the Beats Studio Buds have a more secure fit, making them ideal for workouts. However, they begin to create a pressure buildup after about three hours of continuous wear.

The AirPods Pro 2 are slightly lighter than the Beats Fit Pro, weighing 5.4 grams compared to 5.6 grams. This difference in weight may be noticeable to some users. During intense workouts, they may feel like they are about to slip out. This can be uncomfortable and distracting. So, which one’s more comfortable? Well, that depends on how and where you intend to use them.

Audio Quality Showdown

Let’s delve into the core aspect; the audio quality. Beats headphones are designed to emphasize bass, making them a hit among bass lovers. On the other hand, AirPods are known for their crisp and clear audio quality with a balanced sound profile.

So, if you’re a fan of deep, thumping bass, you might lean towards Beats. But if you prefer a more balanced, natural sound, AirPods could be your best bet.

Beats Sound Profile

Beats headphones are recognized for their enhanced bass response, which caters to listeners who prefer powerful, deep bass. This is particularly evident in Beats Studio Wireless headphones, which can reproduce deep bass sounds down to 22 Hz. But it’s not all about the bass. Other features of Beats headphones include:

• Noise cancellation technology
• Wireless connectivity
• Comfortable over-ear design
• Long battery life

These features combine to provide an immersive and enjoyable listening experience.

Beats Studio Wireless offers:

• Active noise cancellation
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Long battery life
• Balanced mid-range for consistent vocal and instrument reproduction

For those seeking high-quality audio, the Beats Studio Pro model offers compatibility with lossless content playback.

AirPods Sound Profile

AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, on the other hand, come packed with advanced technologies like adaptive EQ and active noise canceling to deliver premium sound quality. But it’s not just about the tech. The AirPods Pro provides effective sound isolation, which significantly enhances the listening experience, especially where there is a lot of background noise.

In addition to superior sound, AirPods Pro also offer features like spatial audio and wireless charging capabilities, adding to their overall value.

The Airpods Max cater to audiophiles with their over-ear design and advanced audio technologies such as the Apple-designed dynamic driver. This results in a rich, detailed sound that is sure to impress even the pickiest of listeners.

But what about lossless audio? With the recent announcement of Apple Music offering lossless and hi-res audio streaming, many are wondering if their beloved AirPods are compatible. The short answer is yes, but with some limitations.

Firstly, let’s define what lossless audio means. Lossless audio refers to music files that preserve all the details and nuances of the original recording without any compression. This results in higher quality sound compared to compressed formats like MP3.

Listener Preferences

Ultimately, the choice between Beats and AirPods comes down to your personal listening preferences. The AirPods Pro offers an array of features like Active Noise Canceling, Adaptive EQ, and Personalized Spatial Audio, which may align with the preferences of users looking for these specific functionalities.

On the other side, the treble performance in the Beats Studio Wireless is slightly below neutral, which might influence listener preferences against Beats if they prefer a brighter sound profile.

Battery Life and Wireless Charging

We now turn our attention to battery life and charging, a key factor that can be a deal maker or breaker. Here’s a comparison of the battery life for different headphones:

• AirPods Max: around 20 hours of constant playback with active noise canceling.
• Beats Studio Buds: up to 5 hours
• AirPods Pro 2: 6 hours with ANC engaged
• Beats Fit Pro: 6 hours with ANC engaged

What about the charging capabilities of these devices?

Beats Battery Life

Beats Fit Pro earbuds offer up to six hours of playback with Active Noise Cancellation on, and up to seven hours without it. Beats Studio Buds offer up to 5 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation. The Beats Studio Pro, on the other hand, provides up to 24 hours of listening time without Active Noise Cancellation, indicating a significant battery capacity for prolonged use.

With the charging case, Beats Fit Pro can provide an impressive total of up to 24 hours of combined playback.

AirPods Battery Life

AirPods Pro come with a charging case that supports wireless charging, adding to the convenience. The AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 cases provide an additional 19 and 24 hours of listening time, respectively. However, unlike the AirPods Pro, Beats Studio Buds do not offer a wireless charging case, which might be a drawback for some users.

Charging Convenience

Regarding charging convenience, AirPods Pro cases are compatible with wireless charging, keeping up with the trend of multi-device charging stations. Beats Fit Pro includes a Fast Fuel feature that provides up to one hour of playback after just five minutes of charging, contributing to swift recharges when needed.

With Beats Fit Pro, users have the option to charge the case either with or without the earbuds inside, using the provided USB-C cable.

Compatibility and Connectivity

Other significant factors to consider when choosing between Beats and AirPods are compatibility and connectivity. Both Beats Fit Pro and Apple AirPods Pro 2 excel in seamless connectivity not just with the iPhone but also with other Apple devices, including iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Mac, highlighting the convenience of connecting to various Apple products. However, Beats Fit Pro is recommended for users who are considering using an Android phone due to better performance on non-Apple platforms.

Beats Connectivity

Beats headphones can connect to both Android and Apple devices, facilitating a versatile listening experience for users of different platforms. They can be paired with Android devices using the Beats app available from Google Play Store, which might require enabling location access for the Beats app to function correctly on their Android devices.

Beats headphones have features like one-touch pairing for Apple devices and Fast Pair for Android, enhancing the ease of connection and user convenience.

AirPods Connectivity

On the other hand, AirPods offer automatic pairing with apple device and other Apple devices within the Apple ecosystem, enhancing user convenience. Once set up, AirPods can automatically connect to your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac, providing a seamless auditory experience across your devices.

What’s more, AirPods can also be manually paired with non-Apple devices that have Bluetooth capabilities, offering versatile connectivity.

Cross-Platform Performance

When it comes to cross-platform performance, both Beats and AirPods offer great performance during calls across various devices. AirPods slightly outperform Beats, which is thanks to the processing capabilities of the H2 chip. This gives AirPods a slight edge in performance..

AirPods also provide a user-friendly experience with automatic switching between Apple devices that are logged into the same iCloud account.

Price and Value

Finally, let’s discuss the price and value. AirPods Pro is priced at $249, but can often be found for much less, while Beats Studio Buds have a price tag of $149, often found as low as $100. Price, however, is just one component of the overall picture. The perceived value of these devices depends on a multitude of factors, from sound quality, design, and comfort to battery life, compatibility, and, of course, brand prestige.

Beats Pricing

Beats offers a variety of headphones, including in-ear, on-ear, and over ear headphones models, with prices generally ranging from under $100 to several hundred dollars. Different Beats models come with varying features like Pure Adaptive Noise Canceling in high-end models, which can significantly impact their price.

Entry-level Beats headphones can be quite affordable, with options available under $100, while premium models like Beats Studio Buds can cost significantly more.

AirPods Pricing

The AirPods Pro 2nd Gen launched with a price of $249. The suggested value of AirPods Pro 2nd Gen is considered worth spending an extra £70 over the Beats Studio Buds.

This is reflective of the premium features and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem that the AirPods offer.

Determining Value

The perceived value of Beats and AirPods is influenced by factors beyond just the price. Here are some factors that can impact the perceived value of Beats:

• Rich sound profile with deep bass and clear highs
• High-quality sound for those prioritizing sound quality over other features
• Stylish design that appeals to a style-conscious audience

These factors suggest a high value for those who prioritize sound quality and style.

On the other hand, AirPods offer seamless connectivity with Apple devices, which may constitute a higher value for users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem.

Summary

The debate between Beats and AirPods is not about which is better, but which is better for you. Both offer unique features and advantages, and your decision should ultimately be based on your personal preferences and needs. Whether you prioritize sound quality, design, comfort, battery life, compatibility, or price, both Beats and AirPods have something to offer. So, the next time you find yourself in the middle of the Beats vs. AirPods debate, remember, the best choice is the one that best suits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions