Since Apple bought Beats in 2014, it’s been refining its brand while developing its products. The AirPods Pro and Beats Studio Buds compete in the same true wireless earbud arena, so sometimes Apple competes against itself. Active noise cancellation is built into both sets of truly wireless earbuds. There’s a price difference between each headset, but it’s close, especially with the recent AirPods Pro price drop.
Find out if you should go for Beats Studio Buds or AirPods Pro when we put them head-to-head.
Beats Studio Buds are more colourful than AirPods Pro.
If you choose white, black, or red Beats Studio Buds, the paint job covers the case, earbuds, and ear tips uniformly. You’ll forget you’re wearing them when they’re so light at 5 grams a piece. Compared to AirPods Pro, each earbud is smaller without a protruding stem.
It’s only available in glossy white, keeping with the design philosophy of the original AirPods. Pro AirPods seal your ears, so you get better sound and isolation. Despite not protruding very far, the stems can get caught on a mask and send the earbuds flying out.
You can use the Beats Studio Buds or the AirPods Pro outdoors or at the gym because they’re IPX4 sweat and water-resistant. Each silicone ear tip comes in three sizes, so you can pick what fits you best.
Apple devices work better with AirPods Pro, but Android and iOS devices work with Beats Studio Buds.
More Apple devices can be connected to AirPods Pro. Your iCloud devices will automatically connect with an H1 chip. You can control the earbuds from your Apple device’s settings app or control center once connected. You can turn on spatial audio through the Settings app on iOS, auto-switch between sources, and test your ear tips.
Apple is now finally playing nice with Android with the Beats Studio Buds. You can customize the controls and toggle between listening modes with the Beats app. You can get battery information and find your headphones from the Bluetooth settings, and the earbuds seamlessly pair with Android devices.
The AirPods Pro has the best microphone.
Both are fine for on-the-go calls, even though neither is intended for professional conferences or podcasts. With the AirPods Pro, upper-midrange frequencies are emphasized more than with the Beats Studio Buds, which improves speech intelligibility. Let us know which microphone sounds better after you listen to both samples below.
Does the Beats Studio Buds or AirPods Pro have more connectivity?
Theudio Buds and AirPods Pro both have the standard SBC Bluetooth codec, as we andr great sound quality. Android users won’t access higher-quality Bluetooth codecs like aptX or LDAC since AAC performance varies widely across phones.
Bluetooth 5.0 is used by AirPods Pro, while Bluetooth 5.2 is used by Beats Studio Buds. With the newer Bluetooth version, you’ll have a stronger connection and a longer battery life. Over time, Studio Buds might get LC3 codec support, but AirPods Pro won’t.
How long do the Beats Studio Buds last compared to AirPods Pro?
Beats Studio Buds and Apple AirPods Pro have nearly identical battery life. Beats lasted 4 hours and 24 minutes with ANC, compared to AirPods Pro’s 5 hours and 6 minutes.
AirPods Pro charging case provides 24 hours of listening time, while Beats Studio Buds setting point gives you two more full charges. Beats Studio Buds are powered by USB-C, while Lightning charges AirPods Pro the Beats Studio Buds don’t support wireless charging, but the AirPods Pro do.
Which earphone sounds better: Apple AirPods Pro or Beats Studio Buds?
Studio Buds are more powerful than AirPods Pro because of their Beats brand. Many people like this sound, but the sub-bass and treble notes (200-500Hz) are louder than the bass and mids (200-400Hz), so it’s hard to hear the vocals. AirPods Pro sound better than Beats Studio Buds for many vocal performances.
The earbuds don’t come with EQs, so you’re stuck with the sound out of the box unless you explore third-party options. The Beats Studio Buds’ frequency response is good for energetic hip-hop or EDM. AirPods Pro have a more neutral sound for acoustic or vocal-oriented music.
What’s better, Apple AirPods Pro or Beats Studio Buds?
Android users have an easy choice here. Compared to Apple AirPods Pro Beats Studio Buds are more affordable and play nicer with your phone. The AirPods Pro isn’t recommended for Android users because of its high cost and limited functionality.
It’s a bit more complicated for iPhone owners. The AirPods Pro is a great choice if you’re looking for high-quality features like wireless charging, spatial audio, and seamless switching between Apple devices. Those looking for a premium earbud experience can justify the expense now that AirPods Pro are usually on sale for under $200.