>> Lee Neikirk <https://www.reviewed.com/authors/lee-neikirk>Updated November >> 5, 2021 >> >> Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases >> you make through our links may earn us a commission. >> >> >> Beats recently launched what are arguably the company’s most exciting pair >> of true wireless earbuds yet: the Beats Fit Pro >> <https://www.reviewed.com/headphones/content/beats-fit-pro-earbuds-review>. >> These buds present a high-value package for the price, not least of all >> because they so handily emulate the Apple AirPods Pro >> <https://www.reviewed.com/headphones/content/apple-airpods-pro-review-the-best-wireless-earbuds-yet>, >> generally regarded as the best earbuds for pairing with an iPhone. >> >> You might know where this is going: After careful evaluation, we’re >> impressed enough with the Beats Fit Pro that we don’t just think these true >> wireless buds successfully emulate the AirPods Pro—for many folks they might >> just be the superior choice. So what else could we do but put these two >> mighty true wireless options head-to-head to see which is best? Let’s find >> out. >> >> Get the Beats Fit Pro from Amazon >> <https://www.amazon.com/Beats-Fit-Pro-Cancelling-Built/dp/B09JL41N9C?ots=1&tag=rvwfeature-20> >> Get the Apple AirPods Pro from Amazon >> <https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MWP22AM-A-AirPods-Pro/dp/B07ZPC9QD4?ots=1&tag=rvwfeature-20> >> Price >> >> >> Credit: Reviewed / Lee Neikirk >> Not sure which buds to give your dollars to? >> Price tends to be the easiest comparison to make, and while that’s still >> generally true here, there are a few considerations to take into account. >> For example, the AirPods Pro originally launched in 2019 at an MSRP of $249, >> but you can often find them on sale well below the $200 mark. >> >> ADVERTISEMENT >> The Beats Fit Pro launched on November 1st, 2021 at an MSRP of $199. They’re >> certainly the cheaper of the two from an MSRP perspective, but it’s also >> unlikely we’ll see similar price drops for the Fit Pro for a while >> considering how much newer they are. >> >> Without the advantage of sales during holiday season, however, the AirPods >> Pro are often pricier than $200, and that's may be even more likely as they >> transition to a newer version that tacks on MagSafe wireless charging. As >> such, we’ve got to give this one to the Beats. >> >> Our pick: Beats Fit Pro >> >> Fit and design >> >> The AirPods Pro went a long way to fixing some of the issues we took with >> the original AirPods, not least of which was to drastically improve the >> general level of comfort thanks to their magnetic ear tips. >> >> Related content >> >> Yet they also continue to use Apple’s “semi-open fit” design, which means >> that despite replacing the plastic shell of the original AirPods with an >> ear-tipped design that fits comfortably and snugly into most ear canals, >> they still fit a bit loosely in the outer ear. >> >> Some folks love this design—and swear by it—but to my ears, the AirPods Pro >> always feel like they might jump ship unexpectedly, especially during a >> workout or any kind of vigorous activity. >> >> >> Credit: Reviewed / Lee Neikirk >> Design and fit are one major way these true wireless buds differ. >> The Beats Fit Pro take a different approach: They’re not just fitted with >> traditional ear tips, they also have a stabilizing wing that fits snugly >> into the outer ear. This is in place of the clunkier (but very stable) ear >> hooks that defined previous Beats buds like the Powerbeats and Powerbeats >> Pro >> <https://www.reviewed.com/headphones/features/beats-powerbeats-vs-powerbeats-pro>. >> The wing design isn’t a new thing for true wireless earbuds, but if most of >> your experience revolves around AirPods, it’s a notable change in fit and >> feel to be sure. >> >> ADVERTISEMENT >> In terms of waterproofing, the AirPods Pro and Beats Fit Pro are essentially >> identical: both offer an IPX4 Ingress Protection rating >> <https://www.reviewed.com/headphones/features/what-do-waterproof-and-water-resistant-really-mean>, >> which translates to “water splashes over 5-10 minutes have no harmful >> effect.” That means you can work out with either pair of buds, but probably >> shouldn’t rinse them off in the sink afterward. >> >> Finally, what about weight? The AirPods Pro clock in at 5.4 grams per bud, >> while the Beats Fit Pro are just a smidge heavier at 5.6 grams per bud. >> However, there’s a larger difference in case size and case weight: the >> AirPods Pro case is smaller and a little lighter at 45.6 grams, compared to >> the Fit Pro’s 54.5 grams. >> >> >> Credit: Reviewed / Lee Neikirk >> The Beats Fit Pro case is definitely the larger of the two. >> Unless you’re just really into the iconic (and admittedly useful) stem on >> the AirPods Pro, the Beats Fit Pro offer a more stable and potentially more >> comfortable fit while offering similar weight and the same waterproofing. >> Their stabilizing wing makes them especially snug for workouts when compared >> to the AirPods Pro. >> >> ADVERTISEMENT >> Finally, while it's not a huge bonus, the Beats Fit Pro are also available >> in a wider range of colors: Black, White, Sage Gray, and Stone Purple (the >> version pictured). As always, the AirPods are only available in White. >> >> Our pick: Beats Fit Pro >> >> Features and controls >> >> One thing that makes the Beats Fit Pro really stand out as major competition >> is that they essentially match the Apple AirPods Pro feature for feature. >> This isn’t just well-molded software: Apple’s H1 chip is what gives the >> AirPods Pro their iPhone ecosystem hutzpah, and the Fit Pro have it too >> (Apple owns Beats, after all). >> >> This makes for almost complete parity across both headphones’ feature lists. >> Not only do both pairs offer top features like Adaptive ANC, Transparency >> Mode, and Auto Play/Pause, but both also sport all the iPhone extras like >> iCloud/Audio Sharing, Spatial Audio, Hands-free “Hey Siri,” and every other >> feature folks love about the AirPods experience. >> >> ADVERTISEMENT >> Apple's H1 chip is what gives the AirPods their iPhone ecosystem hutzpah, >> and the Fit Pro have it too. >> >> But as a bonus, the Beats Fit Pro are also a better choice for Android >> users, thanks to the official Beats app. During our Beats Fit Pro review >> <https://www.reviewed.com/headphones/content/beats-fit-pro-earbuds-review>, >> Beats gave us a pre-launch preview of the app which included full Fit Pro >> functionality. >> >> While not as simple as the direct iOS integration you get on an iPhone, it >> was still a clean, intuitive way to adjust all of the Fit Pro’s features on >> an Android phone. There’s no official app, as such, for AirPods Pro. >> >> As for controls, there’s no denying the appeal of the AirPods Pro’s Force >> Sensor, where actions like play/pause, answering calls, or scrubbing tracks >> are handled by pressing/squeezing the iconic white stems. With the Beats >> Pro, you’re getting essentially the same control scheme, with the only real >> difference being that you’re pressing on the lowercase-b “Beats” logo rather >> than a stem. >> >> ADVERTISEMENT >> There is one feature the AirPods Pro deliver that is entirely missing from >> the Beats: wireless charging for the case. You can set your AirPods Pro case >> (with or without the buds in it) on any Qi charging pad to juice it up, and >> the updated AirPods Pro >> <https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZPC9QD4?ots=1&tag=rvwreview-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1&language=en_US&asc_source=direct&asc_campaign=23696&asc_refurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reviewed.com%2Fheadphones%2Fcontent%2Fapple-airpods-pro-review-the-best-wireless-earbuds-yet> >> even add MagSafe charging with Apple charging pads, which is quite >> convenient. For whatever reason, the Beats Fit Pro completely lack the >> (rather common) ability to charge wirelessly. >> >> >> Credit: Reviewed / Lee Neikirk >> One major feature discrepancy between these two is wireless charging for the >> case: the AirPods Pro have it, the Beats Fit Pro don't. >> While we can’t deny the physical utility of the AirPods Pro’s stems in terms >> of placing them in your ears, the basics of the controls are otherwise >> identical. And where features go, you lose nothing by way of the Beats Fit >> Pro besides Qi charging, and Android users gain plenty. This one is too >> close to call. >> >> Our pick: Tie >> >> Battery life >> >> Battery life is a very important aspect of true wireless buds. Since there’s >> no way to replace the batteries, which will naturally lose longevity over >> the years, you want as much as possible from the get-go. >> >> The Beats Fit Pro are quite a bit newer than the AirPods Pro, and the >> battery life reflects that. Apple’s top-end buds average around 4.5 hours on >> a single charge and about 24 hours total with the charging case, while the >> Beats Fit Pro net you 6 hours (with ANC engaged) and around 27 hours total >> with the charging case. Testing also confirmed that you can get closer to 7 >> hours with ANC off. >> >> While this is perhaps the most unfair comparison due to differences in age, >> the winner here is clear. >> >> Our pick: Beats Fit Pro >> >> Calling and sound performance >> >> Last but certainly not least, calling and sound performance are also hugely >> important factors. Folks love using the AirPods Pro for calls, so we did >> extensive head-to-head comparisons between them and the Beats Fit Pro to >> find out how they compared in basic call quality and in windy conditions. >> >> This is one area where the AirPods Pro are still the champ—even on an >> Android phone. Testing revealed just a smidge more vocal clarity for the >> AirPods Pro, and better vocal isolation when the speaker was inundated by >> heavy winds. >> >> Calling is one area where the AirPods Pro are still the champ—even on an >> Android phone. >> >> On the other hand, the Beats Fit Pro have the edge where sound quality goes, >> particularly for music. It may simply be due to their firmer fit (thanks >> again, stabilizing wings), but the Beats—far from the massively bassy sound >> they’re infamous for—present a robust, balanced sound that, to our ears >> anyway, is just a hair more satisfying across musical genres compared to the >> AirPods Pro. >> >> The truth is, both calling and sound quality are very close between these >> two. We doubt most folks will hear much difference in either instance. >> >> Our pick: Tie >> >> And the winner is… >> >> >> Credit: Reviewed / Lee Neikirk >> With every category tallied, the Beats Fit Pro come out on top. >> A quick scan of each section here paints a winner: the Beats Fit Pro. While >> they may appear to simply be a more affordable version of the Apple AirPods >> Pro at first glance, they outpace them in some key ways, and if you plan on >> switching phones down the line, they’re just about as valuable paired with >> an Android phone as they are with an iPhone. >> >> That said, you’d be forgiven for still grabbing the AirPods Pro: These buds >> are iconic, and we all see them everywhere. More importantly, they're still >> deserving of the praise they get, and especially if you can find them on >> sale around $180 during the holidays, they’re an excellent choice for iPhone >> users of all stripes. >> >> But in most of the ways that matter, the Beats Fit Pro are the better buy. >> They do everything the AirPods Pro do for less money, and they do a fair few >> things better. At least until we get a new generation of AirPods Pro, the >> Beats Fit Pro are a stellar choice. >> >> Get the Beats Fit Pro from Amazon >> <https://www.amazon.com/Beats-Fit-Pro-Cancelling-Built/dp/B09JL41N9C?ots=1&tag=rvwfeature-20> >> Get the Apple AirPods Pro from Amazon >> <https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MWP22AM-A-AirPods-Pro/dp/B07ZPC9QD4?ots=1&tag=rvwfeature-20>
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