FEBRUARY 2020 MACWORLD 101BOTTOM LINE
The Powerbeats Pro are better overall
than the second-generation AirPods, but
there are some trade-offs. At $249, they’re
$90 more expensive, for starters. And if
you really want wireless charging, it’s not
an option.
Part of the reason AirPods
don’t sound as good is because
they rest lightly in your ears,
instead of making a tight seal
with rubber eartips. This means
more of your environment’s
sounds make it through, which
can be valuable in some
situations and undesirable in
others.
AirPods are also much
smaller and lighter. The earhooks
on the Powerbeats Pro
make them too bulky to fit
in a tiny dental-floss-style
case. The big clamshell
case just won’t fit in your
pocket. And their stay-put
design make them a little
cumbersome to take on
and off frequently. If you
just want to answer short
phone calls with your
wireless earbuds, the
AirPods are much more
convenient.
If you want to block
outside noise, wear your earbuds
during rigorous activity, listen for long
periods without recharging, or if you
really care about sound quality, the
Powerbeats Pro are a better choice. If
you need to hear your surroundings, or
you put a premium on
pocketability and quickly
placing or removing your
earbuds, or just if price is a
critical factor, you’d be better
off with AirPods.
Now that Apple’s own Beats
subsidiary has officially one-
upped Apple’s true wireless
headphones, I look forward to
Apple returning the serve. Maybe
with a pair of noise-cancelling
studio headphones? ■mmmmh
Powerbeats Pro
PROS- Good sound quality.
- Comfortable fit.
- Epic battery life.
CONS - Pricey.
- Case is too big for your
pocket.
PRICE
$199.95
COMPANY
Apple
You’re definitely not going to get the Powerbeats Pro charging
case (left) in your pocket. It dwarfs the AirPods case (right).