Powerbeats Pro vs AirPods Pro: Which Is Right for You?
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Apple overhauled the AirPods lineup with AirPods Pro, a new style of the standout wireless headphones that feature Active Noise Cancelation, silicone ear tips among other exciting new features. We’ve previously compared AirPods Pro to regular AirPods. But there are, of course, other Apple audio accessories with a “Pro” moniker — like the Beats-branded Powerbeats Pro debuted earlier this year. Note that we may earn a commission from purchases made using the links provided. Here’s how Apple's two Pro wireless earphones stack up. Continue reading to learn which "Pro" earphones from Apple are right for you.
Design and Form Factor
AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro both feature an in-ear fit with interchangeable ear tips. That ensures good noise isolation and a snugger overall fit. AirPods Pro also exclusively feature a new “Ear Tip Fit Test.”
AirPods Pro offer pretty much the same legendary experience as regular AirPods when it comes to fit and comfort.
Powerbeats Pro are a bit bulkier and feature signature ear hooks that will help keep them from falling out of your ears during an intense run or workout.
Noise Cancelation
The marquee feature for AirPods Pro is Active Noise Cancelation, which uses a mix of hardware and software to block out external noises. (There’s also a Transparency mode for those who don’t want ANC.)
While Powerbeats Pro feature noise isolation due to their in-ear fit, they actually don’t have any type of active noise cancelation feature. That is, arguably, the biggest difference besides design and form factor.
Charging Case
AirPods Pro feature a new charging case that’s differently sized and shaped from their regular AirPods counterpart, but it is still noticeably smaller than the Powerbeats Pro charging case. So AirPods Pro will be more pocketable.
The AirPods Pro charging case also comes standard with Qi wireless charging support. That’s something that the Powerbeats Pro don’t offer (even as an add-on option).
Battery Life
When it comes to battery life, Powerbeats Pro have a slight edge (likely due to their size). Apple says that the headphones offer up to 9 hours of battery life for playback and 6 hours for calls. They also have a “Fast Fuel” feature that can give you up to 1.5 additional hours of battery life in just 5 minutes of charging.
For comparison, AirPods Pro offers 5 hours of playback and 3.5 hours of call time. With Active Noise Cancelation enabled, that drops to 4.5 hours. Both charging cases can bump up overall battery life to more than 24 hours, however.
Controls
Like AirPods, the new AirPods Pro don’t feature any type of physical controls. Instead, there’s a new force sensor in each AirPod Pro that lets you control playback or call functions by squeezing the stem.
Powerbeats Pro, on the other hand, actually feature physical buttons on the side that let you control playback. That’s going to be a subjective choice, but many users may find physical buttons easier to get used to than the force sensor controls.
Colors
If the color of your headphones is important to you, you may want to opt for the Powerbeats Pro. Contrary to earlier rumors, AirPods Pro only come in the signature white color option of Apple’s first-party accessories.
Powerbeats Pro, on the other and, are available in a variety of different shades. There’s the standard Black color option that was available at launch, but there’s now also new Ivory, Moss and Navy options you can buy.
Where They’re Similar
Both AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro feature an Apple H1 chip for seamless pairing and Hey Siri support. They’re also both rated as IPX4 dust- and water-resistant, which means they can survive most splashes of liquid.
Audio quality is also going to be much more similar than, say, comparing normal AirPods to Powerbeats Pro. While AirPods Pro feature ANC and a new Adaptive EQ, expect similar “in-ear” audio quality.
Conclusion
Whether or not you buy AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro really comes down to your aesthetic and lifestyle.
- AirPods Pro have many of the same characteristics that made regular AirPods such a consumer hit. Although Powerbeats Pro may be better-suited for users who have a more active lifestyle.
- That being said, if noise cancelation and wireless charging is important to you, get AirPods Pro.
AirPods Pro currently cost $249, although they’re not in stock at many retailers. Powerbeats Pro headphones are listed at the same price, but have gone on sale at a discount in the past.