Wireless Headphone Showdown 2021

Table Of Contents

Rapid-Fire Features

Features PowerBeats Pro AirPods Pro

Brand

Beats

Apple

Colors

Black, Navy, Moss, Ivory

White

Bluetooth

5.0

5.0

Listening Time

9 Hours (More than 24 hours with charging case)

4.5 Hours (More than 24 hours with charging case)

Resistance

Sweat & water resistance with IPX4 rating

Sweat and water resistant with IPX4 rating

Noise Cancellation

N.A.

Yes

Compatibility

Compatible with iOS and Android

Compatible with iOS and Android

Comfort

PowerBeats Pro

Both the models have improved on the fit issues that plagued their predecessors. AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro both come with three different-sized ear tips, but the latter has a distinctive ear hook design. When we tested these, the hook felt more secure, and the earbuds felt less prone to losing, which is excellent considering the amount of money you will be shelling out.

Winner: Powerbeats Pro

>> SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

Connection

Apple Airpods Pro

Nobody likes constant interruption, attempts at reconnection, and dropping in sounds. Thankfully, you will not have these issues with the AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro, given that they both have Bluetooth 5.0 and a quality Apple’s H1 chip installed. The software together provides a lag-free and stable connection, and there were minimal issues while testing. 

Connecting AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro to an iOS device is a dream. When the option to “connect” pops up, it will connect the earbuds to all devices connected in iCloud. While connecting with Android, there may be slightly more disturbances in connection, but that too is minimal. The issue is that the Bluetooth codec used works great with AAC, which Apple supports, but Android, not so much. 

However, these issues were extremely minimal, and whether Android or iOS, AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro work great where the connection is concerned.

Winner: Tie

 

>> SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

Sound Check

Let’s be clear – neither of them is famed for their studio-quality audio. Having said that, they both excel for everyday use. 

When it comes to features, there is no competition – AirPods Pro is a clear winner. Between touch controls, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and a transparency mode, it doesn’t give Powerbeats Pro even a fighting chance. However, due to the snug fit, Powerbeats Pro manages to keep the outside noise at bay reasonably well.
For music quality, AirPods Pro pumps out a more consistent output, which is best for people who has a varied music taste. On the other hand, Powerbeats Pro picks up on low-frequencies very well and makes the bass quite elevated. 

Naturally, when you have earbuds in all day, you are bound to take some calls here and there. Thankfully, both the contenders performed fairly well in our microphone test. Powerbeats bro was able to pull slightly ahead due to its noise rejection, but Airpods Pro was able to pick up our voice’s lower frequency better.

Winner: Tie

Battery Life

The battery is where Powerbeats Pro is able to make major brownie points over its competitor. However, to be fair, Powerbeats does not have ANC (takes up a lot of battery), and this is why the advantage is so striking. 

For us, the Powerbeats Pro was easily able to last 10 hours on a single charge, whereas AirPods Pro tapped out at 5 hours. Both the models come with a charging case, and a quick charge can have these earbuds ready to go in mere minutes of charging.

On 5 minutes of charge, AirPods Pro will rub for about 60 minutes, whereas Powerbeats Pro will yield 90 minutes of playtime. Another thing to note is that Apple’s case supports wireless charging, while Beats does not. 

Winner: Powerbeats Pro

Showdown Champion

Power Beats Pro Showdown Winner

This is where it gets tricky. While we were able to narrow down a clear winner in each of the categories, picking the best is difficult, given everyone wants different things out of their gadgets. Apple AirPods Pro is a robust, best-selling earphone (and for good reason!), not to mention a fan-favorite. They also come with portability and noise cancellation. 

Given that the prices between the AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro are almost similar, we are leaning more towards Apple’s pods.

>> SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

When you invest your hard-earned money into expensive gadgets, it is only sensible to want to derive maximum value out of them, and accessories help you achieve that. While they provide convenience, truly wireless headphones are notorious for getting lost. Here are some accessories that will make the experience of using headphones a breeze:

Apple AirTag – A nifty device that helps you keep track of your headphone that can be easy to lose, given the handy size of the case. It can pinpoint the exact location of any device it is paired with and is great to recover the pods in the unfortunate circumstance that they are stolen. 

Earphones Anti-Lost Strap – These affordable straps are great to ensure that your earbuds stay together. They also come in a variety of colors so that you can match them with your outfit! 

Replacement Eartips – The default design of earbuds may not suit your ear shape, or the ear tips can get easily get lost. These silicone tips come in a bunch of different shapes and colors. You can continue using your favorite earbuds without discomfort!

With the wireless headphones market getting more saturated by the day, consumers are getting spoilt for choices. However, more choices create confusion. AirPods Pro has pulled ahead of the competition so far but is starting to face stiff competition, namely from Powerbeats Pro. If you have been confused between the two or just a curious Susan, let’s put these two against each other and help you make a decision!