Beats put out a surprisingly good pair of earbuds with the Beats Fit Pro, blessing them with great sound and Android compatibility. On the other hand, the Apple AirPods Pro 2nd generation are the top earbuds recommended for Apple users. With their recent update with USB-C, they have also become better compatible with Android smartphones, though imperfect. If you are in the market for new earbuds, which should you prefer? We pit the Beats Fit Pro vs the AirPods Pro 2nd Gen to determine which earbuds make more sense.
Beats Fit Pro vs AirPods Pro (2nd gen): Specs
| Beats Fit Pro | Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen) | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions and weight | Bud: 0.75 x 1.18 x 0.94″, 5.6g
Case: 1.12 x 2.44 x 2.44″. 55.1g |
Bud: 1.22 x 0.94 x 0.86″, 5.3g
Case: 1.78 x 2.39 x 0.85″, 50.8g |
| Wireless connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 NFC Apple H1 chip (for Automatic Switching, Audio Sharing, Siri) Apple Find My support |
Bluetooth 5.3 Apple H2 chip (for Automatic Switching, Audio Sharing, Siri) Apple Find My support with precise location with U1 UWB chip |
| Water resistance | IPX4 sweat/water resistance on earbuds, but not on case | IPX4 sweat/water resistance on earbuds and case |
| Battery life and charging | Case: 18 hours
Buds: 6 hours (ANC on) USB-C charging |
Case: 24 hours
Buds: 6 hours (ANC on) USB-C charging |
| Device compatibility | iOS/iPadOS, macOS, Android, Windows | iOS/iPadOS, macOS
Limited compatibility: Android, Windows |
| Spatial audio | Apple Spatial Audio Dolby Atmos Personalized head tracking (iPhone and iPad only) |
Apple Spatial Audio Dolby Atmos Personalized head tracking (iPhone and iPad only) |
| Noise cancelling | ANC and Transparency modes | ANC and Transparency modes |
| Ear tips | 3 sizes | 4 sizes |
| Release date | November 1, 2021 | September 22, 2023 |
| Price | $200 | $249 |
Beats Fit Pro vs AirPods Pro (2nd gen): Design and features
The Beats Fit Pro (pictured above) has a finned earbud design with wingtips. The wingtips are not only cosmetic, but they are functional too. They help secure the earbuds in your ears, making them less prone to falling off even during heavy workouts.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 has a stemmed design with a bulbous head. There are no wingtips here. While they often sit snug inside the ears, they can fall off if you have a lot of head movement. To Apple’s credit, it now ships the AirPods Pro 2nd gen with a new XS size ear tip, alongside S, M, and L sizes.
When it comes to the case, there are some differences. The case of the Beats Fit Pro is not large by any means, but it is bigger than the Apple AirPods Pro 2’s case.
Further, the AirPods Pro 2’s case is a lot more feature-packed. It has an integrated hole for attaching a lanyard. It has a speaker within itself to play sound if you lose the case, and it also features the U1 chip for UWB-based precise location through the Apple Find My service.
On the other hand, the Beats Fit Pro has a simpler case that misses out on all of the above functions.
For IP rating, the Beats Fit Pro is IPX4 rated for sweat resistance on the earbuds. The Apple AirPods Pro 2 is IPX4-rated for the earbuds and the case.
The Beats Fit Pro is the better earbud for Android users because it officially supports the platform. There is feature parity on iOS and Android when using these earbuds.
In contrast, the AirPods Pro 2nd gen works best with iOS. You can use them on Android as standard Bluetooth earbuds, but you lose out on many features, so you should explore other Android earbuds instead.
The AirPods Pro 2nd gen takes the cake with audio quality, active noise cancelation (ANC), and transparency. The Beats Fit Pro is also pretty good, but the AirPods Pro is noticeably better on these three qualities.
Beats Fit Pro vs AirPods Pro (2nd gen): Battery life and charging
The Beats Fit Pro loses out to the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen) regarding battery life and charging.
You can get about 6 hours of music playback on either earbud with ANC on. The case of the Beats Fit Pro adds another 18 hours, while that of the AirPods Pro 2nd gen adds a higher 24 hours. You’d get more cumulative battery life on the AirPods Pro, making them better for longer travels, though the battery life on the Beats Fit Pro is also fairly respectable.
Apple promises one hour of listening time if you pop your AirPods Pro (2nd gen) back into the case for just five minutes, and the same is promised with the Beats Fit Pro.
The Beats Fit Pro’s case can be charged through the USB-C port, but not wirelessly. The Apple AirPods Pro 2nd gen’s case can be charged with either USB-C, MagSafe, Qi wireless charging, or even an Apple Watch charger. Apple recently updated the AirPods Pro 2nd gen with USB-C, but the older version uses a Lightning port if you prefer that.
Beats Fit Pro vs AirPods Pro (2nd gen): Price and availability
- Beats Fit Pro: $200
- AirPods Pro (2nd gen): $249
The Beats Fit Pro has a list price of $200, but you can find deals that bring the price down to $150-$180. You can buy them in seven colors: Coral Pink, Volt Yellow, Tidal Blue, Beats Black, Beats White, Stone Purple, and Sage Gray. You can also get them in Moon, Dune, and Earth colors as part of the Kim Kardashian special edition.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen) has a list price of $249. During special sale days, you can find them discounted to around $200. They are available in only one color: White.
The lower pricing of the Beats Fit Pro makes it a better value for most users. However, the Apple AirPods Pro 2nd gen has many features that help justify the higher price tag to users who want premium earbuds.
Beats Fit Pro vs AirPods Pro (2nd gen): Which should you buy?
The Beats Fit Pro is the better choice if you are an Android user or looking for a good pair of earbuds that work reliably across platforms with no fuss. It does most of what the Apple AirPods Pro 2nd gen can do and at a lower price tag. The wingtips are great for keeping the earbuds within your ears at all times, and those working out frequently will appreciate the excellent fit.
However, Android users also have other earbud choices, like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, and more. So, make an informed decision when purchasing the Beats Fit Pro.
If you are an iPhone user, choose the AirPods Pro (2nd gen) over the Beats Fit Pro. The AirPods Pro integrates very tightly into Apple’s ecosystem and does things a little better overall. The price difference is worth the better experience for iPhone users.
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