Airpods AND new BeatsX owners....which are your favorite?

[Geert76]

So, there will probally a few AirPods and new BeatsX owners.

I am looking for some real life experience from people who own both AirPods and the new BeatsX.
I currently have the AirPods and I really like the fact that there's no cord.

But I am thinking of buying a pair of the new BeatsX, but reading here and on Reddit some people who dont like the strange longe cord / neckband of the new BeatsX.

 

[sunapple]

There's just a few reviews on YouTube right now but no real mention yet about that long cord. I would assume it's a downside to these headphones compared to for example the JayBirds X3 or PowerBeats that shorten the cable to wrap around your head. Especially with running, wouldn't the long cable just bounce up and down in your neck?

And it's not just a long cord, it also has some weight to it in the form of batteries.

Would go for AirPods if they had in ear design, but might go for X3's instead. But then there's the W1-chip...

 

[Geert76]

There's just a few reviews on YouTube right now but no real mention yet about that long cord. I would assume it's a downside to these headphones compared to for example the JayBirds X3 or PowerBeats that shorten the cable to wrap around your head. Especially with running, wouldn't the long cable just bounce up and down in your neck?

And it's not just a long cord, it also has some weight to it in the form of batteries.

Would go for AirPods if they had in ear design, but might go for X3's instead. But then there's the W1-chip...

You can search ''BeatsX and long cord / neckband'' here at the forums of macrumors and Reddit and you'll find people mentioning the annoying neckband and length of it.

 

[Nikhil72]

I have both and have to admit, airpods are great tech wise, but I am in love with the beats x. First caveat, I don't intend them for workouts. They're for doing work, commuting on the NYC subway, etc. And for that, sound is fantastic, isolation is great, they're more comfortable for me than the airpods which hurt, volume is stellar, and I don't find the cord too long. Actually, with the powerbeats, the cord is short enough if I turn my head, it sometimes dislodges a bud despite the hook. Because of the generous length on the BeatsX, they sit comfortably without getting disloged, even with winter clothes/coat/etc. on top.

 

[sunapple]

You can search ''BeatsX and long cord / neckband'' here at the forums of macrumors and Reddit and you'll find people mentioning the annoying neckband and length of it.

There seems to be two groups of people, those who hate the long cord (looks silly, goes everywhere, etc) and those who like the long cord (no rubbing against face, buds stay in, etc). There's also many people who like the JayBird X3's better for some reason (cord as well?).

So it's personal, I'm going to see for myself when I get them on Tuesday.

Still, compared to AirPods I think it's not so much about the length of the cord as it is about having a cord and in ear design vs no cord and EarPod design. I think that's easier to compare without owning them. Sound wise I've heard BeatsX is better and AirPods sound like EarPods. Should be pretty clear.

 

[Minarets]

There seems to be two groups of people, those who hate the long cord (looks silly, goes everywhere, etc) and those who like the long cord (no rubbing against face, buds stay in, etc). There's also many people who like the JayBird X3's better for some reason (cord as well?).

So it's personal, I'm going to see for myself when I get them on Tuesday.

Still, compared to AirPods I think it's not so much about the length of the cord as it is about having a cord and in ear design vs no cord and EarPod design. I think that's easier to compare without owning them. Sound wise I've heard BeatsX is better and AirPods sound like EarPods. Should be pretty clear.

The x3 cord comes with clips that allow it to sit taught along the back side of your head so it doesn't interfere with anything while working out.

 

[Double0CK7]

These interest me a lot more than the AirPods but I'm really not a fan of the Beats brand... Has it improved? My expierence is cheapish build quality and soso sound.

Hmm. I currently use cheap Anker Bluetooth earphones for the gym and they're great for the job but not the best sound quality for anything else. Still on a 6 so I use wired sennheisers most of the time and they're just the best brand I've ever used. Anyway I've been looking at their Momentum M2s which are cheaper and obviously I trust them a lot but I wonder if these are better?

 

[Nikhil72]

These interest me a lot more than the AirPods but I'm really not a fan of the Beats brand... Has it improved? My expierence is cheapish build quality and soso sound.

Hmm. I currently use cheap Anker Bluetooth earphones for the gym and they're great for the job but not the best sound quality for anything else. Still on a 6 so I use wired sennheisers most of the time and they're just the best brand I've ever used. Anyway I've been looking at their Momentum M2s which are cheaper and obviously I trust them a lot but I wonder if these are better?

Definitely less bloated bass, more balanced with some increased sibilance. Remember this is the first one Apple contributed to, but even the Solo3 had a more nuanced sound

 

[edlex]

I like them both for different applications. The sound isolation of the BeatsX definitely brings out a richer audio experience, along with inline controls, but I don't always wish to be cut off from the outside world. The AirPods will continue to be my daily drivers giving me the flexibility they offer, like using one versus both pods, auto pause, and the portable charging. But when I want to shut out the world the BeatsX are my choice now. I'm a fan of both and will carry both from now on.

 

[burgman]

I like them both for different applications. The sound isolation of the BeatsX definitely brings out a richer audio experience, along with inline controls, but I don't always wish to be cut off from the outside world. The AirPods will continue to be my daily drivers giving me the flexibility they offer, like using one versus both pods, auto pause, and the portable charging. But when I want to shut out the world the BeatsX are my choice now. I'm a fan of both and will carry both from now on.

I feel the same, when I'm walking in the city situational awareness is key to survival. I don't take selfies on cliffs either
Though now I have three, Bose QC 35, BeatsX and I just purchased AirPods. I can easily rationalize all three

 

[edlex]

I feel the same, when I'm walking in the city situational awareness is key to survival. I don't take selfies on cliffs either
Though now I have three, Bose QC 35, BeatsX and I just purchased AirPods. I can easily rationalize all three

Awesome to have choices isn't it?

 

[burgman]

Awesome to have choices isn't it?

Wait for it, someone will post #firstworldproblem...

 

[MJedi]

I have both, but haven't used the BeatsX long enough compared to the AirPods.

I like the BeatsX because it has in-line controls, and great sound-isolation. I don't have problem with the length of the wire so far, but it does look a bit weird to me when they're in my ears. IMO, there's too much slack between the earbud and the battery/circuitry compartments.

I like the AirPods because of the technology that pauses when I take one earbud out of my ear, then resumes when I put it back. I have set the double-tap to pause/play, which is a nice feature, too. The charging case is very convenient.

I hope that the next-generation of the BeatsX includes the same pause/resume function when an earbud is removed/placed back.

 

[matthijst]

How do you switch the Beats X off?
Of will the go into hibernate if you take them out of your ears?

 

[bgro]

Im having trouble deciding which ones i'm going to end up keeping.

Beats X

Pros
- Much better all around sound than the AirPods imo
- Love the magnets that allow me to wear around my neck all day
- No worries about losing them or a case
- Sound isolation (can be a pro or a con depending on usage)
- I can fall asleep with them on and not worry about where they are in the morning
- Inline controls

Cons
- cable is just too long, looks funny and I've found that sometimes my cheek can catch the cable and pull the earphone out or loosen it
- Power button seems finicky, I can't really tell when they're off/on without looking at the light. placement of power button kind of a pain
- connection time is slow vs AirPods which are pretty instant
- have to power off when not in use to preserve battery

AirPods

Pros
- No wires
- Battery life (full day with the case)
- Auto pause when taking out of ear
- Find my AirPods (in the newest iOS beta) - not sure this is a real pro since its really saying they could be easy to lose but you could misplace your Beats X as well
- Less sound isolation (again a pro or con depending on your use case)

Cons
- Not the best fit for all people (mine are loose and i'm still testing them for different use cases). Definitely can't exercise with them in my case as they are just not a good tight fit like the Beats X
- Easy to lose/misplace. I'm afraid to wear them outside around my pool or walking where they can fall and roll into a gutter or something like that. Chances are that won't happen but I just feel like i have to be extra cautious compared to the Beats X. Same thing when I fall asleep with them in, they are always out of my ear the next morning and usually somewhere in my bed. I can def see them falling on the floor one day and the dog eating or chewing them. This can probably be solved with some of the straps i've seen on Amazon but that kind of defeats the purpose imo.
- The sound is "airy" compared to the beats x. Not bad on their own but Beats X are much better imo.


They're both good products and I think the slight edge goes to the Beats X in my case. Still not sure and will be taking all of the 14 days to decide between the 2. Also had the Powerbeats 3 for a few days and liked those as well but could not justify purchase since i already own the Powerbeats 2. I don't like the hooks for normal usage (good for the gym though) so the AirPods or Beats X are going to be for everyday listening out and about. Although I could see the Beats X replacing the Powerbeats at the gym as well which could be another pro.

 

[Fthree]

absolutely love my AirPods! was fortunate enough to walk into the apple store one day while getting my phone fixed and found a box on the shelf. I was skeptical at first because i have never liked the earbuds that have came with my iPhones. However, these are amazing they stay in my ears and sound great. Almost feel like they are going to fall out at times but they have not. I typically use them in the gym and while running outside. I have ran about 50 miles with them on since i bought them and no problems.

ALSO- my wife has taken them from me during the day for her use at the gym.
[doublepost=1486840764][/doublepost]

I have both, but haven't used the BeatsX long enough compared to the AirPods.

I like the BeatsX because it has in-line controls, and great sound-isolation. I don't have problem with the length of the wire so far, but it does look a bit weird to me when they're in my ears. IMO, there's too much slack between the earbud and the battery/circuitry compartments.

I like the AirPods because of the technology that pauses when I take one earbud out of my ear, then resumes when I put it back. I have set the double-tap to pause/play, which is a nice feature, too. The charging case is very convenient.

I hope that the next-generation of the BeatsX includes the same pause/resume function when an earbud is removed/placed back.

how did you set the double tap if you don't mind me asking!

 

[Harmonious Zen]

So, there will probally a few AirPods and new BeatsX owners.

I am looking for some real life experience from people who own both AirPods and the new BeatsX.
I currently have the AirPods and I really like the fact that there's no cord.

But I am thinking of buying a pair of the new BeatsX, but reading here and on Reddit some people who dont like the strange longe cord / neckband of the new BeatsX.

A friend of mine got the BeatsX and I'm not a fan. The neckband feels oddly weighty and the cord from the neckband to the bud is too long. It dangles everywhere and catches on clothing or just plain looks weird. I've also got a pair of Powerbeats which I love and still have.

AirPods are my choice though, as long as I'm not in a place with strong ambient noise. I like the sound and I think they sound BETTER than my Powerbeats, which are more sound isolating. The AirPods have a fuller and crisper sound than the Powerbeats I have.

 

[Spankey]

From a Jaybirds user, I am loving the Beats X. The cord does not bother me at all. They are very light weight. The sound is extremely well balanced without any harshness and less prone to listening to fatigue. The magnets are great. I can just keep these on my neck all day at work and put em in when I'm ready to listen. Very pleasant surprise.

 

[edlex]

How do you switch the Beats X off?
Of will the go into hibernate if you take them out of your ears?

Long press the same button you used to turn them on. It's on the neck band bump without the beats logo.

 

[Geert76]

Thanks for all of your input. For now, I will stick with my AirPods, maybe in the future the BeatsX 2 will be interesting to replace my AirPods

 

[Korican100]

absolutely love my AirPods! was fortunate enough to walk into the apple store one day while getting my phone fixed and found a box on the shelf. I was skeptical at first because i have never liked the earbuds that have came with my iPhones. However, these are amazing they stay in my ears and sound great. Almost feel like they are going to fall out at times but they have not. I typically use them in the gym and while running outside. I have ran about 50 miles with them on since i bought them and no problems.

ALSO- my wife has taken them from me during the day for her use at the gym.
[doublepost=1486840764][/doublepost]
how did you set the double tap if you don't mind me asking!

you have to go into the bluetooth settings. so under bluetooth devices in the settings, you tap your pods, and there is a menu in there

 

[cap7ainclu7ch]

I tried both and am most likely going with the AirPods. They feel like a whole new category for me, and are probably the most excited an apple product has made me feel in awhile. I was very doubtful, especially as EarPods wouldn't stay in during any movement, but the AirPods are solid and legitimately will not fall out (for me). That combined with the decent sound quality (I'm completely happy with using them for hours), and nice touches like ear detection and the charging case, makes them the pick over Beats X for me.

The Beats are pretty nice, but they just don't really compare to AirPods for me. The wires are long and noticeable, and I think they actually look stranger than AirPods due to the angle of the cables coming out of your ears. Sound quality also wasn't really better. Seemed like the AirPods have better highs and the Beats have better lows. If you need noise isolation then the Beats are the way to go. I've actually grown to enjoy having some outside noise with the AirPods as it lends itself to a bit more of a natural listening experience where you aren't totally disconnected from whats going on around you (100% personal preference and I'm sure most would take the isolation). I also think the earbuds are more comfortable than in ears over extended periods of time (just for the small pressure of the in ears).

Thats my logic, I'm sure everyone is going to have different reasons for picking on or the other. I'd recommend trying both if you can.

 

[bgro]

I tried both and am most likely going with the AirPods. They feel like a whole new category for me, and are probably the most excited an apple product has made me feel in awhile. I was very doubtful, especially as EarPods wouldn't stay in during any movement, but the AirPods are solid and legitimately will not fall out (for me). That combined with the decent sound quality (I'm completely happy with using them for hours), and nice touches like ear detection and the charging case, makes them the pick over Beats X for me.

The Beats are pretty nice, but they just don't really compare to AirPods for me. The wires are long and noticeable, and I think they actually look stranger than AirPods due to the angle of the cables coming out of your ears. Sound quality also wasn't really better. Seemed like the AirPods have better highs and the Beats have better lows. If you need noise isolation then the Beats are the way to go. I've actually grown to enjoy having some outside noise with the AirPods as it lends itself to a bit more of a natural listening experience where you aren't totally disconnected from whats going on around you (100% personal preference and I'm sure most would take the isolation). I also think the earbuds are more comfortable than in ears over extended periods of time (just for the small pressure of the in ears).

Thats my logic, I'm sure everyone is going to have different reasons for picking on or the other. I'd recommend trying both if you can.

I think your assessment of highs/lows is accurate. I've been listening to a bunch of music using both the AirPods and Beats X and the Beats X have a much better "punch" and overall lows but AirPods do better with the highs

 

[thadoggfather]

BeatsX pack more of a punch but I just returned mine.

Don't like the neck weights or cord length, flares out and looks odd. Also there are a lot of earbud sizes to try but they are either too loose or cause too much pressure in my ear. Any one of these things is a deal breaker combined definitely a deal breaker

AirPods all the way (for me)

As mentioned previously they are in another product category than wired Bluetooth headphones

 

[Fattytail]

BeatsX pack more of a punch but I just returned mine.

Don't like the neck weights or cord length, flares out and looks odd. Also there are a lot of earbud sizes to try but they are either too loose or cause too much pressure in my ear. Any one of these things is a deal breaker combined definitely a deal breaker

AirPods all the way (for me)

As mentioned previously they are in another product category than wired Bluetooth headphones

Yup, I reached the same conclusion. I was pretty excited for these earphones and equally disappointed put them on.

Now I have to decide whether to return the PowerBeats3 or keep them AND the AirPods. The AirPods are too cool to give up.