Beats Studio Buds or AirPods Pro 2?

The title of best wireless earbuds is the subject of endless debate, but there’s no denying that Apple’s latest has the popular vote of the market. With its dedicated section on the Apple website and impressive sales results, the AirPods Pro are a flagship product and excellent sound level.

But if you’re shopping for a pair of headphones, either on Apple’s website or in a store, don’t be surprised to find stocks of Beats Studio Buds headphones nearby. Because the famous Beats by Dre brand, which once clung to the ears of all athletes and celebrities, was acquired by Apple in 2014. Since then, Apple has been selling headphones and earphones made by Beats in its own stores.

While Apple doesn’t hype the $190 Beats Studio Buds as much as its own $300 AirPods Pro 2 headphones, that doesn’t mean the former should be overlooked when considering a potential purchase. In more ways than one, competitor Beats may be more suited to your needs. Here are more details.

Technical characteristics

Beats Studio Buds // Apple AirPods Pro (2^e generation)

• Features: spatial audio, active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode // spatial audio, ANC and custom transparency modes
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 // Bluetooth 5.3
• Water Resistance: IPX4 // IPX4
• Autonomy: up to 8 hours playtime (24 hours with charging case) // up to 6 hours playtime (30 hours with charging case)
• Chip: Beats proprietary chip // H2
• Price : €189.95 // €299

You should buy the Beats Studio Buds if…

Beats Studio Buds – Best Prices:

…you want the most inclusive user experience

While Apple’s AirPods Pro are arguably the best headphones for iPhone owners, they’re not the friendliest for Android users. For example, key features like Audio Spatial and the ability to control the headphones through an app are disabled when you connect them to an Android device. The Beats Studio Buds, on the other hand, not only have a dedicated Android app for controls, but also support Google’s Fast Pair technology, which allows you to simply connect to the headphones through the charging case.

Not to mention that the Studio Buds charge via USB-C, a more universal standard than the proprietary Lightning of the AirPods.

…you have a limited budget, but want a particular color

The Beats Studio Buds will appeal to those looking for a little more character and an affordable price. Available in six colors, including Ocean Blue, Aurora Pink and Beats Red, the Studio Buds bring a touch of vibrancy that the AirPods Pro lack.

That’s not the only hardware difference between Beats and AirPods. Studio Buds are sculpted to fit the curves of your ear, without the need for hooks or other extenders to hold them in place. Everything is offered at a price of 189.95 euros, or about 110 euros less than the latest AirPods Pro.

…you prefer more efficient command taps

For runners and more active users, there’s nothing worse than having to pause your music mid-workout or movement because you accidentally removed an earbud while trying to control it. Compared to the pressure-based gesture controls of the AirPods Pro, the Beats Studio Buds operate by tap and hold, which requires less effort to play, pause, skip tracks and pick up phone calls.

You should buy the AirPods Pro (2^e generation) of Apple if…

Apple AirPods Pro 2 – Best prices:

…you want Apple’s best performing headphones

The second-generation AirPods Pro sound better than the Beats, thanks to improved dynamic drivers in each earbud, capable of producing a fuller array of sounds while maintaining loud and clear mid and high frequencies. Are they more expensive than Studio Buds? Yes. But for superior sound quality and more effective noise cancellation, the AirPods’ price is justified.

…you want clear microphone quality

For years, Apple’s AirPods Pro have been at the pinnacle of microphone quality. They have become indispensable for working from home, and many users use them for video meetings and phone calls. ZDNET’s Christina Darby tested the earphones in September and found the microphones to be quite capable of isolating her voice from the bustle noises of New York City. Can we do better?

…you often lose your headphones

We’ve all been there: the distress when you misplace a pair of headphones. With the latest generation of AirPods Pro, Apple has built a speaker into the charging case, which allows it to beep on command through the app Locate. It can help!

Source: ZDNet.com