Nowadays, it seems like choosing the right earbuds is the hardest task, especially with popular options like the Beats Studio Buds and AirPods Pro.
The decisions you have to make when it comes to maintaining sound quality, price, and unique features can seem overwhelming. Both products have a lot to offer, but which is better for your needs? Let's take a closer look at the differences to help you choose the best one.
Beats Studio Buds vs AirPods Pro: The Verdict
When comparing the Beats Studio Buds and the AirPods Pro, it's important to highlight how they stack up depending on what you're looking for. Here's a quick breakdown:
- Best Overall: AirPods Pro – With better noise cancellation, richer sound quality, and seamless Apple ecosystem integration, they offer the most complete experience for many users.
- Best by Price: Beats Studio Buds – These are more budget-friendly, giving you great sound and a solid feature set at a lower price point.
- Best for Fitness Enthusiasts: Beats Studio Buds – Their lightweight design and snug fit make them ideal for workouts and active lifestyles.
- Best for Apple Users: AirPods Pro – If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem, their instant pairing, spatial audio, and advanced H1 chip integration make them the ideal choice.
- Best for Noise Cancellation: AirPods Pro – Their active noise cancellation is superior, making them the better option for those who prioritize this feature.
While both products shine in different areas, the AirPods Pro edges out as the overall winner, but the Beats Studio Buds offer fantastic value if you're looking to save money.
Beats Studio Buds vs AirPods Pro: Detailed Comparison
To help you make the best choice, let’s go deeper into the key aspects of both the Beats Studio Buds and AirPods Pro. Each excels in different areas, and understanding the nuances can help you decide which product best fits your lifestyle and preferences.
Design and Comfort
- Beats Studio Buds:
The Beats Studio Buds are designed with simplicity and portability in mind. Their stemless design offers a low-profile appearance that many users find attractive. Weighing just 5 grams per earbud, these buds feel almost weightless in your ears. The minimalist form factor makes them especially suitable for users who prefer earbuds that don’t draw too much attention.
These buds come with three sizes of ear tips (small, medium, and large), allowing for a snug, customizable fit. Their compact design also makes them easy to carry, especially for people constantly on the move. The secure in-ear design ensures that they stay in place during activities like running or working out.
- AirPods Pro:
The AirPods Pro, with their iconic stemmed design, offer a more premium feel. The inclusion of pressure vents in the design alleviates discomfort during extended wear, which is a unique feature when compared to the Beats Studio Buds.
While they are slightly heavier at 5.4 grams per earbud, they still feel light enough for prolonged use. AirPods Pro also come with three sizes of silicone ear tips to ensure a tight seal for optimal sound performance and noise cancellation. If you're someone who wears earbuds for hours, the added comfort from these pressure-relief vents can make a significant difference.
Sound Quality
- Beats Studio Buds:
Known for their powerful, punchy bass, Beats Studio Buds are engineered for fans of bass-heavy music genres like hip-hop, EDM, and pop. The bass-forward tuning appeals to users looking for more energy and depth in the low-end frequencies.
However, the mids and highs aren’t as pronounced, meaning some detail can get lost in more complex tracks, making them less ideal for those who prefer a balanced sound signature. That said, the overall sound quality is impressive for the price, and many casual listeners will find the audio performance more than satisfactory.
- AirPods Pro:
AirPods Pro deliver a more refined and balanced sound profile compared to the Beats Studio Buds. Apple’s adaptive EQ fine-tunes the sound in real time based on the fit and seal of the ear tips, providing a more tailored listening experience. The soundstage is wider, and the mids and highs are much clearer, which makes the AirPods Pro more suitable for a wider variety of genres.
Whether you're listening to classical music, podcasts, or rock, the sound feels more natural, rich, and detailed. The AirPods Pro are also equipped with spatial audio technology, which provides an immersive 3D sound experience, making them ideal for those who want a theater-like audio experience when watching movies or TV shows on Apple devices.
Noise Cancellation
- Beats Studio Buds:
The Beats Studio Buds feature active noise cancellation (ANC) that performs adequately in everyday settings, such as when you’re commuting or in moderately noisy environments. However, their ANC isn’t as robust as the AirPods Pro, meaning that louder environments, such as airplanes or crowded places, might allow more ambient noise to seep through.
The transparency mode, which allows outside sounds to pass through the earbuds, is helpful for situations where you need to stay aware of your surroundings, but it’s not as seamless or clear as the AirPods Pro’s transparency feature.
- AirPods Pro:
Apple’s AirPods Pro are renowned for their exceptional noise cancellation capabilities. The ANC actively adjusts based on your environment, making it one of the best in the market for wireless earbuds. Whether you’re on a noisy train, in a crowded café, or on a flight, the AirPods Pro effectively minimize background noise to create an isolated listening experience.
Here, the transparency mode is also a standout feature, as it allows external sounds to filter in without requiring you to remove the earbuds. This feature is particularly useful for activities like walking in busy areas or engaging in conversations without taking the earbuds out.
Connectivity and Compatibility
- Beats Studio Buds:
One of the standout features of the Beats Studio Buds is their compatibility with both Apple and Android devices, making them more versatile across platforms. While they lack the Apple H1 or W1 chip found in the AirPods, they still offer fast pairing with both iOS and Android devices.
For Android users, the Studio Buds support Google’s Fast Pair feature, which is a convenient addition. However, Apple users will miss out on the seamless integration and features like automatic device switching or iCloud syncing that come with the AirPods Pro.
- AirPods Pro:
The AirPods Pro, with the H1 chip, offer unmatched integration within Apple’s ecosystem. Pairing is almost instantaneous with Apple devices, and they provide automatic switching between your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.
The H1 chip also enhances the performance of features like spatial audio and adaptive EQ, as well as enabling hands-free Siri. For Android users, while the AirPods Pro can still be paired, many of these advanced features won’t be available, which might reduce their overall appeal for non-Apple users.
Battery Life
- Beats Studio Buds:
The Beats Studio Buds offer up to 5 hours of listening time with ANC turned on, and up to 8 hours with ANC off. Combined with the charging case, you can get up to 24 hours of total battery life.
This makes them a reliable choice for users who need long-lasting battery performance throughout the day, whether commuting, working, or exercising. A quick 5-minute charge provides up to 1 hour of playback, a handy feature for those always on the go.
- AirPods Pro:
The AirPods Pro offer slightly less listening time, with up to 4.5 hours of battery life with ANC on, and around 5 hours with ANC off. However, like the Beats Studio Buds, they also provide up to 24 hours of battery life when you factor in the charging case.
One advantage of the AirPods Pro is that the case supports wireless charging, which makes it more convenient for users with wireless charging setups at home or work. They also support Apple’s MagSafe charging, offering more charging flexibility.
Price
- Beats Studio Buds:
At around $150, the Beats Studio Buds offer an affordable entry point for users seeking premium audio without breaking the bank. They provide excellent value for their feature set, particularly for users who prioritize comfort and a strong bass performance. - AirPods Pro:
Priced at approximately $250, the AirPods Pro are a more premium investment. While they are significantly more expensive than the Beats Studio Buds, the price is justified by their superior noise cancellation, sound quality, and seamless integration with Apple devices.
For users already embedded in the Apple ecosystem, the additional cost may be worth it for the extra features and smoother experience.
Water Resistance
- Beats Studio Buds:
Both the Beats Studio Buds and AirPods Pro have an IPX4 water resistance rating, meaning they are sweat and splash-resistant, but not waterproof. This makes both suitable for workouts and light rain, but neither should be submerged in water. - AirPods Pro:
Like the Beats Studio Buds, the AirPods Pro offer an IPX4 rating, so they can withstand sweat and minor splashes. However, they aren’t designed for swimming or heavy exposure to water.
Controls and Features
- Beats Studio Buds:
The Beats Studio Buds rely on physical button controls, which allow you to manage playback, adjust volume, and switch between ANC and transparency modes. While some users may prefer tactile buttons, they may not feel as seamless or responsive as the touch-sensitive controls found on other earbuds. - AirPods Pro:
The AirPods Pro offer a more sophisticated touch-based control system. You can squeeze the stems to toggle between ANC and transparency mode, or to control music playback. These touch controls are intuitive and responsive, making the overall user experience smoother compared to the Beats Studio Buds. The AirPods Pro also pause your music automatically when you remove them from your ears, an added convenience that Beats Studio Buds lack.
3 Alternatives to Beats Studio Buds and AirPods Pro That Might Fit Better to Your Needs
While the Beats Studio Buds and AirPods Pro offer solid performance, there are other earbuds on the market that might better suit your specific needs. Here are some great alternatives:
1. Titan: World’s 1st eSIM Connected Earbuds
Titan earbuds come with a unique feature: built-in eSIM connectivity. This makes them ideal for users who want true wireless independence, as you can stay connected even without your phone. They also boast superior sound quality and robust battery life, making them a worthy contender for those seeking cutting-edge features.
2. Sony WF-1000XM4
Sony’s flagship wireless earbuds are renowned for their industry-leading noise cancellation and superb sound quality. With LDAC support for high-resolution audio, these are perfect for audiophiles. The price point is similar to the AirPods Pro, but if sound quality and ANC are your top priorities, the WF-1000XM4s are a strong alternative.
3. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
If you’re in the Android ecosystem, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offers a fantastic alternative. They deliver excellent sound quality, solid ANC, and smooth integration with Samsung devices, making them a better fit for Android users compared to the Beats Studio Buds or AirPods Pro.
Conclusion
When deciding between the Beats Studio Buds and AirPods Pro, your final choice comes down to what matters most to you. If you’re an Apple user looking for the best overall experience, the AirPods Pro might be the way to go. On the other hand, if you're after a more budget-friendly option that still delivers strong sound quality and comfort, the Beats Studio Buds are a great alternative.
But hey! We are not here to limit you if neither of these quite hits the mark; there are other excellent alternatives out there, including Titan's eSIM-connected earbuds for true wireless freedom, Sony's WF-1000XM4 for superior ANC, and other top-tier options. Whether it's sound quality, fitness use, or staying connected without your phone, there's something for everyone.
