******* MQ *******
Begin forwarded message: > From: Kliph <kliph.miller...@outlook.com> > Date: November 6, 2021 at 9:44:19 AM CDT > To: macvisionar...@googlegroups.com > Subject: Apple AirPods Pro vs Beats Fit Pro - Reviewed > Reply-To: macvisionar...@googlegroups.com > > >>> Lee NeikirkUpdated 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. These buds present a >>> high-value package for the price, not least of all because they so handily >>> emulate the Apple AirPods Pro, 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 >>> >>> Get the Apple AirPods Pro from Amazon >>> >>> 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. 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, 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, >>> 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 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 >>> >>> Get the Apple AirPods Pro from Amazon >>> > > -- > The following information is important for all members of the Mac Visionaries > list. > > If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if > you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or > moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. > > Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. 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