Apple & Beats. The 2 manufacturers have gone hand in hand ever since Apple acquired the trendsetting headphone maker again in 2014. Quick ahead to the current, and these names have grow to be mainstays within the true wi-fi house.
The AirPods Professional 2 and Powerbeats Professional 2 are two of the finest wi-fi earbuds cash should purchase. One is seen as a necessary pickup for iOS/macOS customers. The opposite stands out as a noteworthy improve to one of many best pairs of exercise headphones ever made.
Neither possibility comes low cost, however should you’re an Apple fanboy, each might be rewarding purchases. Nonetheless, one is the superior funding. Which is it? Learn our in-depth comparability to seek out out.
Editor’s Word: Apple has since launched the AirPods Professional 3, which supply heart-rate monitoring and different fitness-forward options. For that reason, it is also very easy to seek out the AirPods Professional 2 on sale.
3D audio, ANC, and practicality favor the AirPods Professional 2
Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable
The AirPods Professional 2 have a nice soundstage that delivers crisp highs, placing mids, and thumpy lows. However that’s not their greatest promoting level. Personalised Spatial Audio is. The 3D audio format makes Dolby Atmos content material really feel all-encompassing, and flicks on suitable streaming providers sound extra immersive.
Apple’s noise-cancelling know-how eliminates a excessive quantity of exterior sound to take pleasure in music peacefully in most environments. Transparency mode is even higher and boosts consciousness by making ambient noise sound extra pure. The excess of listening modes raises the AirPods Professional 2’s inventory. Adaptive Audio terrifically blends each ANC modes to attain one of the best sound efficiency potential. Dialog Consciousness mechanically lowers quantity and will increase voice seize for clearer communication. Then there are the a number of Listening to Well being modes that rework the buds into listening to aids, which is essential for these with gentle or reasonable listening to loss.
All these sides don’t work with no strong ecosystem on the helm, in fact. How the AirPods Professional 2 seamlessly interconnect with all model gadgets is nothing in need of distinctive. Pairing is fast, vary is robust inside a 40-foot radius, and signature options like “Hey Siri” voice command are complementary.

Some customers complain in regards to the match of the AirPods Professional 2.
Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable
Spatial audio on the Powerbeats Professional 2 works fantastic, although the characteristic sounds clearer on the AirPods Professional 2. It is best to nonetheless have the ability to decide up on the elevated acoustics and readability when vibing out to Apple Music tracks. The Powerbeats Professional 2’s noise cancellation doesn’t measure as much as opponents, or to different in-house releases just like the Match Professional. It struggles to drown out most mid- and high-frequency sounds. Carrying the buds round a crying child or in a rowdy setting received’t grant a lot silence.
Transparency mode is clutch for out of doors adventures. Whether or not it’s climbing within the woods or operating by high-traffic areas, you’ll have the ability to preserve tabs in your environment and speak to individuals with out taking off the earbuds. The Powerbeats Professional 2 run on the identical H2 processor because the AirPods Professional 2. Subsequently, they’re programmed to immediately join with all iOS/macOS gadgets and share lots of their counterparts’ options, although not all. That’s a disgrace contemplating their steep MSRP.
Winner: Apple AirPods Professional 2 | Learn our full assessment of the AirPods Professional 2.
Battery life, commonplace sound, and flexibility go to the Powerbeats Professional 2

Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable
The place the Powerbeats Professional 2 achieve critical traction is of their conformity. Beats merchandise have at all times been identified for his or her lengthy battery life and interesting audio output. We will now add multiplatform help to that record. These buds nail all three targets.
As much as 10 hours per cost (8 hours with ANC) is essentially the most listening time you’ll get from any Apple or Beats buds available on the market. The AirPods Professional 2 max out at a measly 6 hours per cost. There’s a important distinction in further playtime between the 2 wi-fi charging circumstances. Beats’ case holds as much as 45 hours and Apple’s case reaches a max of 30 hours. Quick-Gasoline charging is stronger on the Powerbeats Professional 2: a 5-minute cost generates half-hour extra playtime (complete of 1.5 hours) than the AirPods Professional 2.
Beats improved its soundstage to present listeners the bass-fueled sonic presentation they need. There’s a notable dip in midrange, however general, the Powerbeats Professional 2 produce emphatic and resonant sound. Sound high quality on Android gadgets is simply as spectacular.

Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable
The Powerbeats Professional 2’s built-in earhooks kind a comfortable and extremely safe match. Full-on compatibility with iOS and Android makes these buds splendid for multiplatform fanatics. As well as, options like multipoint know-how allow you to pair to 2 gadgets on the identical time, irrespective of the working system. One thing else that makes the Powerbeats Professional 2 extra distinctive is the built-in coronary heart price monitoring, which is just accessible with the brand new AirPods Professional 3. The characteristic isn’t essentially the most correct, but it surely’s a option to gauge exercise when your Apple Watch isn’t accessible.
Now you see what we imply by versatility.
Winner: Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 | Learn our full assessment of the Beats Powerbeats Professional 2.
Apple’s very best wi-fi earbuds are…

Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable
The AirPods Professional 2. Contemplating they’re virtually at all times on sale, they provide essentially the most bang in your buck. Entry to newer listening modes, stronger ANC, and the assure of extra updates by way of iOS are properly well worth the present asking value ($199 on Amazon). To not point out their flawless performance with model gadgets and unmatched spatial audio, no less than on the subject of Apple earbuds.
Simply because the Powerbeats Professional 2 misplaced this battle doesn’t imply you need to overlook them. Sporty attributes just like the earhook design and heart-rate monitoring make them the higher exercise buds. (Nonetheless, the brand new AirPods Professional 3 do supply heart-rate monitoring now.) In addition they present the longest playtime of any Apple or Beats true wi-fi mannequin. Beats’ refined soundstage additionally stabilizes frequencies, whereas sustaining loud and energetic bass response. If solely their ANC, characteristic set, and pricing matched the AirPods Professional 2.
Winner: Apple AirPods Professional 2
[/gpt3]