Beats Studio Buds vs. Airpods Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: In-Depth Comparison And Verdict

Overview of Beats Studio Buds, Airpods Pro and Powerbeats Pro

| #1  Beats Studio Buds Totally Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds

Google Users Rating: 4.0/5

• Bestbuy: $149.99 (up to 0.5% cashback)

• Walmart: $143.95 (up to 4% cashback)

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The Beats Studio Buds serves as the Beats company’s entry-level true wireless model. It comes with an all-new design, Bluetooth 5.2 and active noise cancellation, a first for wireless Beats buds. This tiny pair of buds also has a non-Apple chipset that was designed to play nice with iOS and Android, while leveraging high audio and ANC performance.The Beats Studio Buds  also support for Apple’s Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos format. It sounds great, with a lively sound quality that elevates the highs and lows of your music, and feel supremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

It is not without some drawbacks, though. Chief among them is their lackluster call quality and lack of an H1 Wireless Chip. Battery life with either ANC or Transparency mode turned on is a little short at only five hours (15 hours with the case), and their noise cancellation isn’t exactly class-leading, either. Since the Studio Buds don’t run on the H1 chip, it also miss out on some exclusive iOS features such as auto-switching between iCloud-registered devices and Siri Announce Notifications.

| #2  Apple AirPods Pro with Wireless Charging Case

Google Users Rating: 4.6/5

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The AirPods Pro is, without a doubt, the best earbuds that Apple has ever made. It is a welcome upgrade of the Apple AirPods 2 Truly Wireless 2019 which features Active Noise Cancellation, the H1 chipset, changeable ear tips, longer battery life, and easier-to-use touch control.  It is also small, lightweight, and has an IPX4 rating for water resistance. The AirPods Pro also has upgraded drivers and support more immersive technologies, such as spatial audio and Dolby Atmos, so it sound noticeably better.

The AirPods Pro offers a more customizable fit with three sizes of flexible silicone tips to choose from. With an internal taper, they conform to the shape of your ear, securing your AirPods Pro in place and creating an exceptional seal for superior noise cancellation. A force sensor on the stem makes it easy to control music and calls and switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode. The Apple AirPods Pro also has fairly neutral sound profile, which makes them suitable for a variety of audio content. Moreover,  the H1 chip delivers incredibly low audio latency.

| #3  Beats Powerbeats Pro Totally Wireless Earbuds

Google Users Rating: 4.4/5

• Bestbuy: $179.99 (up to 0.5% cashback)

• Amazon: $179.95

The Beats Powerbeats Pro Truly Wireless is one of the best wireless sports earbuds. Thanks to its ear-hook design, they should stay in place during tough runs or workouts at the gym. It is also comfortable, well-built, and are rated IPX4 for resistance against water splashes.The company's even gone as far as to include the new H1 chip, making seamless integration with all iDevices even faster. Automatic switching has been added as well via the iOS 14 update. The Powerbeats Pro has a balanced presentation sound that blends emphatic lows and tighter mids and highs which is versatile for a wide variety of music genres.

But it doesn't offer any sound customization features and also doesn't support Spatial Audio or Adaptive EQ offered by Apple AirPods Pro. Another regret is that it lacks active noise reduction, so it doesn't block out much in terms of background noise. But thanks to features like the pressure-reducing micro-laser barometric venting hole, it has long on-board battery life which generates  nearly double the playtime of the AirPods Pro.

Beats Studio Buds vs. Airpods Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: In-Depth Comparison

Beats Studio Buds vs. Airpods Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: Size and Weight

Among the three, it's fair to say that the Beats Studio Buds are the smallest option by far. It is a mere 0.8 inches by 0.73 inches and 0.59 inches thick. The other two are bigger because they include extra elements in their construction. AirPods Pro have the downward-descending stalk that adds length to the body. The Powerbeats Pro turns out to be the largest by far, it uses an ear hook. The hook does offer considerable security in making sure they are hooked onto the ear, making them ideal for fitness and activities.

AirPods are the lightest overall, with each earbud weighing in at 0.14 ounces. The Studio Buds are the second-lightest at 0.17 ounces, narrowly ahead of the AirPods Pro at 0.19 ounces.The Powerbeats Pro tipping the scales at 0.38 ounces which is the heaviest among the three.

Beats Studio Buds vs. Airpods Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: Design

Beats introduced an all-new design for the Studio Buds that's striking, classy and takes on a more traditional in-ear form. The smaller size is discrete and sits handsomely on your ears. Build quality is strong and sustains scratches and scuffs, while IPX4 certification protects the buds from sweat and water splashes.

Powerbeats Pro comes with the same IPX4 certification and is built from most of the same materials. It does have a more matte, soft-touch finish, plus the multifunctional button is circular and flush compared to the Studio Buds’ elongated and protruding button.

Some people like the AirPods design, some people don’t. While not exactly our favorite, we do commend Apple for implementing certain changes on the Pro version. The smaller stems, sturdier casing with sweat and water resistance, and black vents to equalize pressure are nice details that make these buds distinguishable in a crowd of the best Fake AirPods.

The Powerbeats Pro offers eight different bold and bright color options, whereas the Studio Buds currently offers three, Apple Airpods Pro offers only one color.

Beats Studio Buds vs. Airpods Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: Charging Cases

All the three earbuds include a charging case, used to recharge the earbuds while on the move. They all essentially work the same way, though with some differences in how they regain power and their dimensions.

Naturally, for the largest earbuds, the Powerbeats Pro also have the largest case, measuring 3 inches by 3 inches and 1.7 inches thick. It's also the heaviest at 2.82 ounces.While smaller than its stablemate, the Studio Beats case is still reasonably chunky at 2.83 inches by 2 inches by 1 inch. By contrast, the AirPods Pro case is 1.78 inches by 2.39 inches, by 0.85 inches. The Studio Buds case is similar to the AirPods Pro case in weight, at 1.69 ounces for the Studio Buds case versus 1.61 ounces. The AirPods have the lightest case of all, at 1.41 ounces.

Recharging the cases is marginally different for the Studio Buds, as its case is the only one to have a USB-C port, whereas the other two use Lightning. In addition, neither Beats Studio Buds and Powerbeats Pro case offers wireless charging capabilities. AirPods Pro ships with a Qi-compatible Wireless Charging Case.

Beats Studio Buds vs. Airpods Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: Comfort and Fit

The redesigned sound port and integrated silicone tips of Apple Airpods Pro provide a relaxed and secure fit.  Apple even went a step further and developed an Ear Tip Fit Test (checking the settings) to determine which tip sizes offer you the best fit. So the AirPods Pro does offer enough grip to stay put when running hard on the treadmill.

The Powerbeats Pro were made specifically for exercising and serve that purpose extremely well. They are light, have a slim profile that isn’t obtrusive, and stay latched onto your ears. Integrated hooks keep the buds properly positioned no matter the activity. You will never worry about them falling out. Unfortunately, those with sensitive ears will experience fatigue after an hour of wear; the front cavity sinks into the concha and creates some discomfort.

The BeatsStudio Buds design is comfortable too, except it features a new ergonomically tilted acoustic nozzle with laser-cut micro-vent that decreases pressure on the eardrum. However, when it comes to preventing slippage, the standard in-ear design can't compete with the Powerbeats Pro’s much more secure wrap-around design.

Beats Studio Buds vs. Airpods Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: Controls

Apple AirPods Pro offers pinch gestures which are initiated by squeezing the new haptic force sensors. One pinch will play/pause music or answer calls, two will skip forward, three will skip back, and a long pinch will switch between ANC and Transparency modes. It comes with “Hey Siri” integration and the feature works flawlessly. But Apple doesn’t allow for “Hey Siri” use on Android devices, therefore, it won't work when pairing the AirPods Pro to an Android smartphone.

The Studio Buds offers dual voice activation. It was designed to be more Android-friendly. Saying “Hey Siri” or “Hey Google” will fire up either AI bot on their respective platform (iOS or Apple), getting you quick and accurate results. The mics do a fantastic job of registering commands and vocals. There's also a multifunction button on each bud to handle playback, call management, and listening modes, and it's highly responsive to presses.

One thing the Powerbeats Pro has that the Studio Buds doesn’t is onboard volume controls. There are rockers located at the top of each bud to easily raise or lower volume. A multifunction button is available to perform the same functions as on the Studio Buds's MF button. “Hey Siri” performs equally well, and while Google Assistant does work when using these buds with an Android device, the “Hey Google” function doesn't.

Beats Studio Buds vs. Airpods Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: Audio Quality

Beats Studio Buds has audio quality most similar to Apple's AirPods, falling shy of both AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro.  Sound isn't quite as rich and full on the Beats Studio Buds, at times sounding a bit hollow in comparison.This could have multiple reasons, including a less-powerful driver, the lack of Apple's H1 audio processor, and the lack of an inward-facing microphone.

AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro both have more dynamic sound and more bass. But Apple’s adaptive EQ gives the AirPods Pro a major boost in sound quality, which leans towards the warm end of the audio spectrum and enhances both bass and clarity. Lows are given more oomph and vocals are crisp. Highs won’t blow you away, and in some cases, are barely audible on recordings with complex arrangements.

Beats Studio Buds vs. Airpods Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: ANC and Transparency

Both AirPods Pro and Beats Studio Buds offer Active Noise Cancellation, but they employ different noise-cancelling technologies. Apple’s ANC is superior with a two-mic noise-cancelling array capable of quieting close to 85% of external sounds. The feature is ideal for at-home use when you want to block out loud TVs, rowdy siblings, and kitchen appliances. It also works well on commutes to drone out gusty winds and even airplane engine humming.

Beats Studio Buds’ s digital hybrid ANC technology consists of a “finely-tuned filter with external, feed-forward mics and internal, feedback microphones” that measures ambient levels and adapts performance to your environment. It’s effective enough to block out any verbal spats on the train, rain hitting your windowpane, or any landscaping tools (like lawnmowers and leaf-blowers) being used from afar. The buds don’t handle wind so well, nor do they significantly reduce the loudness of a baby’s cries or vehicle sirens.

Transparency Modes come part of both packages, but the AirPods Pro has the better version. On top of being able to hear and communicate clearly without having to take off the buds, the AirPods Pro’s mics make ambient noises distinguishable for better environmental awareness. The Studio Buds is only good for brief and up-close chats, and whatever noises they do pipe in can sound harsh at times.

The Powerbeats Pro doesn't offer ANC, though its silicone ear tips help provide some noise isolation. The buds create a nice seal around the ear canal to limit external sounds from leaking onto the soundstage. It’s not as effective as noise cancellation, but decent enough where that you won’t feel bothered in busy settings, especially the gym. However, they do bleed sound when blasting music.

Beats Studio Buds vs. Airpods Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: Call Quality

Call quality is where Apple usually hits a home run. The AirPods Pro round the bases with ease, using its noise-cancelling mics to provide an extra layer of clarity. Outdoor calls sounded clearer and background noise was kept to a minimum for the most part. Wind resistance was solid as well.  The H1 chip also gives you 50% more talk time than the first-gen AirPods as well.

The Powerbeats Pro‘s call quality nearly match the AirPods Pro. Even without ANC technology, the beamforming mics block out a good amount of ambient noise during calls. This allows for loud and clear conversations both indoors and outdoors. Wind resistance is the only true weakness; it becomes difficult to communicate in drafty conditions.

It is shocking to see the Studio Buds underperform as a calling headset. Voices sounded clearer when chatting in quiet environments, but cutout was persistent no matter the location. Wind only made matters worse.

Beats Studio Buds vs. Airpods Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro:  Battery Life

The addition of ANC to a earbuds can be a massive drain on the battery life.The Studio Buds have a battery life of 8 hours with ANC disabled, it drops to 5 hours with ANC enabled. The ANC drop is less pronounced for the AirPods Pro, which goes from 5 hours to 4.5 hours of life under ANC, though the lower usage time works against AirPods Pro's favor. On the non-ANC side, the Powerbeats Pro leads the pack with 9 hours of battery life.

When used together with the supplied recharging cases, the group all offer similar battery lifetimes. For AirPods Pro, and Powerbeats Pro, it's marketed as "more than 24 hours," while Studio Buds is "up to 24 hours. There's also not much difference in terms of quick charging. The AirPods Pro, Studio Buds, and Powerbeats Pro all manage an hour of playback following a five-minute charge, which Beats brands as "Fast Fuel."

Verdict

Beats Studio Buds vs. Airpods Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: Who Is The Winner?

With no doubt that Beats Studio Buds, Airpods Pro and Powerbeats Pro all offer their own unique experience that caters towards a specific use. You can't go wrong with choosing any model.

The Beats Studio Buds are very compact earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation, putting it in the same category as the AirPods Pro. This  is a first for Beats in the true wireless space. In addition, the Studio does a fantastic job of defining an identify as the platform-neutral Apple wireless buds. So if you have an Android phone, the choice here is pretty straightforward. The Beats Studio Buds will play nicer with your phone and it’s more affordable than the Apple AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro.

The Airpods Pro and Powerbeats Pro operate on the same H1 chip also means they have many of the same performance perks. But When it comes to overall performance and higher value, splurge on the AirPods Pro. It has proven to be the perfect iPhone companion, with adaptive sound, customized fit, strong noise cancellation, wireless charging, spatial audio, and unbeatable iOS integration.

The Powerbeats Pro is still a go-to for avid exercisers. It has the sound, stability, and longer battery life necessary to push through long, intense workouts. But you must have to live with a gigantic charging case and zero noise cancellation.

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