Summary and Rating: Beats Fit Pro vs AirPods PRO
Beats Fit Pro
AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
Beats Fit Pro – Our Rating
4.1 (out of five)
3.4 Sound
3.8 Noise-Cancelling
4.8 Build Quality
4.2 Comfort
4.3 Value
AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) – Our Rating
4.6 (out of five)
4.4 Sound
4.5 Noise-Cancelling
4.8 Build Quality
4.6 Comfort
4.6 Value
Pros – Beats Fit Pro
- Quality Build
- Seamless connection with Apple devices
- Dedicated Android App
Pros – AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
- Excellent stock tuning – sparkly high mids, nice overall balance
- Excellent noise cancellation
- Seamless connection with Apple devices
Cons – Beats Fit Pro
- Poor tuning – muddy bass and odd midrange
- Buds can be a bit too chunky for some ears
Cons – AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
- Offer only basic connectivity for Android devices
Bottom Line:
The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) offer better sound quality, noise canceling, and overall value. That said, if you’re an Android user, the Beats Fit Pro are worth considering.
Intro: Which Pros for You?
Since Apple own Beats by Dre, it leaves some confusion about how all these Apple AirPods and Beats Earbuds compare.
Beats earbuds and headphones are worth considering especially if you are an iPhone user. When used with Apple devices, Beats headphones that use Apple chips have distinct advantages in the ecosystem. Most notably, the Beats-Apple pairing delivers the same efficient use of battery life, lower latency, and Siri functionality that the Apple AirPods offer.
For this review, we got our hands on the Beats Fit Pro and the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) and tested them along with their competition to see how these models compare and if they’re worth buying.
See here for all of our Earbuds and Headphone Reviews. See here for all of our Audio Gear Reviews.
Beats Fit Pro
The Beats Fit Pro are true wireless earbuds targeting both music enthusiasts and fitness buffs. Their unique wingtip design ensures a snug fit, ideal for workouts. They come in black, white, gray, two shades of pink, purple, dune, blue, and bright yellow (shown above).
With a bass-heavy sound profile, they cater to fans of genres like EDM and hip-hop. The earbuds feature active noise cancellation, though it might not rival the best in the industry. Integrated with Apple’s H1 chip, they offer seamless connectivity with iOS devices but also perform well with Android.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) maintain a design similar to their predecessors but introduce internal enhancements, the most notable being the H2 Chip which nearly doubles the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) performance.
These earbuds offer a slightly warm sound profile, adapting to various music preferences. While they seamlessly integrate with the Apple ecosystem, offering features like Spatial Audio personalization, they’re versatile enough for general use.
The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) are tailored for those seeking a combination of comfort, cutting-edge tech, and quality sound, marking their spot in the premium earbuds segment.
Alternatives to the Beats fit Pro and AirPods Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro
Best overall value and sound quality on the market for ANC earbuds in our book. Excellent noise cancellation, IPX7 rated.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Superior noise-cancellation capabilities, better than the AirPods Pro. Very good sound with warmer, thicker bass frequencies.
Shokz OpenRun Pro
Some of our favorite fitness headphones. Bone conduction tech leaves ear canal open allowing you to hear your environment. (See here for our full OpenRun Pro review)
Beats Studio Buds +
Great design, similar ANC and sound to Beats Fit Pro. Different chip, native Android support. AirPods Pro 2 comparison here.
Sound Quality
Winner: AirPods Pro
The AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) have a lovely, balanced frequency response with a little sparkle in the treble. The Beats Fit Pro are decent sounding but they have some frequency response balance problems.
Comparing the two, it is clear off the bat that you’re getting better detail resolution and overall better sound performance with the AirPods Pro.
To find out why, let’s dive into the details…
Beats Fit Pro vs AirPods Pro 2 Frequency Response Diagram
High Frequencies
The Beats Fit Pro and the Apple AirPods Pro both deliver commendable performance in the high frequencies. The AirPods Pro, in particular, exhibit a clear and detailed treble range, ensuring that instruments like cymbals and high-pitched vocals are well-represented.
The Beats Fit Pro, while also delivering clarity in the highs, are not as pronounced as the AirPods Pro in this range (mostly due to balance issues). The AirPods Pro to have a slightly brighter sound signature in comparison.
Midrange
In the midrange, the differences become obvious. The Beats Fit Pro have a pronounced peak in the upper mids from 2-3 kHz. As a result, instruments like trumpets and high guitars sound a little unnatural.
If you make an EQ adjustment of -5 dB in the 2-3 kHz range, things start to sound a bit more normal.
Additionally, in the lower mids, the Beats Fit Pro are scooped out from 100-600 Hz, giving an old-radio veil to music. As a result, the results here are generally less clear and further away sounding.
The Apple AirPods Pro have sparkle here in the upper mids. In general, we find them to be appropriately full-bodied across the midrange.
Bass
The AirPods Pro deliver good bass with excellent articulation for commercial earbuds.
Upon first listen, it would seem that the Beats Fit Pro have more bass, but this is only because the midrange is scooped out to make the bass sound more prominent. Again, this is in the 100-600 Hz area.
Overall the Beats Fit Pro have a muddy frequency response in the Bass with no separation between sub-bass and bass frequencies.
Noise Canceling
Winner: AirPods Pro
The Beats Fit Pro and the Apple AirPods Pro both incorporate active noise cancellation (ANC) technology, but their performance varies due to differences in design and build. The AirPods Pro have an improved H2 Chip while the Beats Fit Pro have the H1 chip (same as the 1st generation AirPods Pro). According to Apple, the H2 chip cancels nearly twice as much noise as the H1.
In our tests, the AirPods Pro with the H2 chip performed far better than the Beats Fit Pro – most notably in the bass and midrange. Noise-canceling performance in the treble was about the same for both models.
Both models offer the choice of three ear tip sizes to ensure a tight seal, enhancing both passive and active noise isolation. This tight seal is particularly effective against consistent low-frequency sounds, such as the drone of engines or machinery.
The wingtip design of the Beats Fit Pro, although ensuring a secure fit, might not provide as tight a seal on some ears as the AirPods Pro. The larger size of the buds with their wingtips can be too bulky and pull the eartip out of the canal slightly. This can affect its ability to passively block out some noises.
Battery Life
Winner: AirPods Pro
In the area of battery life, the AirPods Pro have the edge.
The Beats Fit Pro, with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) turned on, delivers up to 6 hours of listening time. In our tests, when paired with its charging case, the total playback time extend to about 23 hours.
The Apple AirPods Pro, with ANC on, also offers up to 6 hours of listening time on a single charge. Using their MagSafe Charging Case, the total listening duration for the AirPods Pro reached approximately 28 hours.
In essence, while both earbuds offer similar listening times on a single charge, the Apple AirPods Pro, with its charging case, provides a slightly longer playback time compared to the Beats Fit Pro.
Water, Sweat, and Dust Resistance
Winner: AirPods Pro
The Beats Fit Pro and the Apple AirPods Pro are both designed with durability in mind, especially when it comes to resistance against water, sweat, and dust.
The Beats Fit Pro boasts water and sweat resistance with an IPX4 rating. This ensures that they can handle splashes, sweat from workouts, or light rain, making them suitable for active lifestyles and outdoor use.
In comparison, the Apple AirPods Pro offers slightly more comprehensive protection with an IP54 rating. This means they are not only resistant to water and sweat but also provide a degree of protection against dust ingress. This rating ensures that the AirPods Pro can withstand everyday challenges, from workouts to unexpected weather changes, while also being safeguarded against minute particles.
What is an IP Rating?
Terms like ‘waterproof’ or ‘dustproof’ can mean a lot of things. To clarify what a manufacturer means when they use such terms, the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) created the IP code or Ingress protection code.
IP ratings typically have IP followed by two numbers. The first number indicates the level of protection against solids, ranging from larger solids (like fingers) to smaller solids (like dust ). The solid range is from 0-6, 0 being no protection, and 6 being dust-tight.
The second number indicates the level of protection against liquids, ranging from drops of water to full immersion and high-pressure water jets. The liquid range is 0-9.
An ‘X’ indicates that there is insufficient data for that category. For example, IPX4 means the device is not dustproof, but it is level 4 waterproof.
(Level 4 means the device can handle splashed water from all directions. Higher levels offer protection against pressurized water and immersion.)
Controls
Winner: Draw
We liked both models for their intuitive, convenient controls.
Both the Beats Fit Pro and the Apple AirPods Pro can be controlled using the touch-sensitive areas on the earbuds themselves or using Siri commands on Apple devices. The control areas are located on the stems of the AirPods Pro and on the logo of each of the Beats Fit Pro buds.
They both have automatic ear detection which will pause your music when removed and resume your music when both buds are inserted.
Connecting to a phone was an easy process with both models, especially for Apple devices. Features like automatic switching make transitions between devices a breeze.
Here are some common Controls for both models:
- Play/Pause: Tap Once
- Answer Call: Tap Once
- Track Forward: Double Tap.
- Track Backward: Triple-tap
- Activate ANC/Transparency: Long Press
Android / iOS Flexibility
Winner: Beats Fit Pro
We liked the seamless experience with iOS devices. But when it comes to Android devices, the AirPods Pro offer only basic connectivity.
Beats wins if Android flexibility is a priority. They offer a dedicated Android app that allows you to receive firmware updates, adjust settings, and check battery levels.
Comfort and Fit
Winner: Draw
Both buds are comfortable for most users. It simply depends on your ear shape and size.
The AirPods Pro, with three different included ear-tip sizes, fit most ears without discomfort. Users who struggle to keep normal earbuds in might prefer the Beats Fit Pro.
The Beats Fit Pro, with its secure-fit wingtips, are crafted to adapt to the user’s ear shape. This design ensures a snug fit, making them particularly suitable for active scenarios like workouts. They definitely offer more stability than the AirPods Pro for most ears.
However, if you have small ears, the Beats Fit can be too bulky to achieve a perfect seal. The earbuds themselves are significantly chunkier than most. In addition, if the area of the ear where the buds rest (Concha Cavum) is larger on your ears, the wing tip might not be able to rest on the ledge of cartilage above (Inferior Crus).
Taking Calls
Winner: Beats Fit Pro
The supposedly superior mics of the AirPods Pro and their H2 chip should make for better call quality than the Beats Fit Pro. But this was not the case in our tests. For calls we found the two models to perform about the same with a slight edge for the Beats Fit Pro.
You can hear the results below.
Microphone Test, AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) – Normal Conditions
Microphone Test, Beats Fit Pro – Normal Conditions
Microphone Test, AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) – Windy Conditions
Microphone Test, Beats Fit Pro – Windy Conditions
Price and Overall Value
Winner: AirPods Pro
Considering the current price difference is somewhere around $50 USD, dependent on sale prices, the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) are definitely worth that little extra. With better noise cancellation and better sound performance, we consider the AirPods Pro 2 to be the best value of the two.
That said, especially fitness buffs looking for Android flexibility, the Beats Fit Pro deliver solid performance for a little less.
FAQ
Q: Are the AirPods Pro worth it?
A: Yes. Considering the competition, we think the 2nd generation AirPods Pro offer excellent overall value.
Q: When is the release date for the AirPods Pro 3?
A: The AirPods Pro 2 came out 35 months after the AirPods Pro 1. If that schedule remains consistent, the AirPods Pro 3 expected release date is sometime in the summer of 2025.
Q: Do the AirPods Pro 2 charge with USB-C?
A: Yes. The latest AirPods Pro 2 can be charged with a USB-C cable.
Q: Is Beats owned by Apple?
A: Yes. Beats by Dre was purchased by Apple in 2014.
Q: Are the Beats Fit Pro waterproof?
A: The Beats Fit Pro are rated IPX4 water resistant. They can handle splashed water from all directions without incurring damage but cannot be submerged in water or exposed to pressurized water.
Q: Can Beats earbuds be tracked?
A: All Beats Earbuds and Headphones that use the H1 and W1 chips can be tracked using the Find My app or the dedicated Beats Android App. The Beats Fit Pro have an H1 chip and can be tracked using the Find My app on IOS or using the ‘Locate my Beats’ function in the Beats Android App.
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