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Airpods or Beats X or PowerBeats 3?

Which are you considering: Airpods or Beats X or PowerBeats 3?

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    592
MrXiro

MrXiro

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Nov 2, 2007
3,850
599
Los Angeles
Mr.C said:
One thing I noticed which does seem strange and doesn't make sense is the type of charge cable they come with. The Beats X come with a lightning to USB cable and the Power Beats 3 come with a micro USB to regular USB cable. I think the lightning to USB is better as it allows you to use the same cable you would for your iPhone or iPad. I'm not a big fan of Beats as a brand or ear bud type headphones but I'm tempted to get the Power Beats 3 just for the W1 chip. I just wish they came with a lightning to USB charge cable.
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I think it's cause they didn't want to do any redesigns on the older models. The Beats X is a new design but Solo3 and PB3 are just the previous models with the W1 chip crammed inside. I'm assuming switching to lightning would incur more costs.
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rpearlberg said:
what's the difference between the Beats X and the Powerbeats 3? Also, what about the Bose Soundsport wireless?
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$50 :p
 
M

Mr.C

macrumors 603
Apr 3, 2011
5,535
1,543
London, UK.
MrXiro said:
I think it's cause they didn't want to do any redesigns on the older models. The Beats X is a new design but Solo3 and PB3 are just the previous models with the W1 chip crammed inside. I'm assuming switching to lightning would incur more costs.
[doublepost=1477503368][/doublepost]
$50 :p
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You could well be right. Still it's an odd thing to do. In my opinion consistency between a product range especially when it comes to connectivity is always a good thing. I guess it just means carrying an extra cable around.
 
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drewcosten

drewcosten

macrumors member
Nov 30, 2007
92
26
Toronto, ON
Just picked up the Powerbeats3 from the Eaton Centre Apple Store in Toronto this morning (I wanted black but they only had Siren Red, which will do).

I love how easy they pair with my iPhone 7. I'm used to the over the ear Solo2 headphones, so these will take some getting used to, but so far so good.
 
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V

vasquez

macrumors newbie
Jun 14, 2012
21
3
Beats X. Airpods seem a bit too risky for what I need them for. I currently use a pair of bluetooth headphones with a big fat battery around the neck area - which is really annoying because they slide down my back and pull on the ear pieces.
 
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R

Resqu2

macrumors 6502a
Apr 23, 2011
869
305
Glad I'm not the only one having trouble deciding, I ruled out the air pods just due to Siri having to skip songs and do volume up and down. I just don't think that will work out very well at all plus I'm into running and biking and can see loosing one real easy. I have about decided on the Beats X but they need to put them on sale now as I currently don't have a set of EarPods of any kind.
 
M

Mr.C

macrumors 603
Apr 3, 2011
5,535
1,543
London, UK.
Resqu2 said:
Glad I'm not the only one having trouble deciding, I ruled out the air pods just due to Siri having to skip songs and do volume up and down. I just don't think that will work out very well at all plus I'm into running and biking and can see loosing one real easy. I have about decided on the Beats X but they need to put them on sale now as I currently don't have a set of EarPods of any kind.
Click to expand...

I would have thought the Powerbeats 3 would be a better option for someone who does running and biking.
 
P

perezr10

macrumors 68020
Jan 12, 2014
2,014
1,486
Monroe, Louisiana
Resqu2 said:
Glad I'm not the only one having trouble deciding, I ruled out the air pods just due to Siri having to skip songs and do volume up and down. I just don't think that will work out very well at all plus I'm into running and biking and can see loosing one real easy. I have about decided on the Beats X but they need to put them on sale now as I currently don't have a set of EarPods of any kind.
Click to expand...

I'll warn you now that if you're into running and biking , sweat will kill lots of bluetooth headphones that are not designed to get wet. The only reason I started using PowerBeats 2s was because in the summer I was lucky to get a month of use out any other headphones out there due to the sweat killing them. If the BeatsX are not designed to get wet I wouldn't exercise with them.

Now the PowerBeats 2s on the other hand are rock solid when it comes to sweat resistance. I've literally had a pair go through the washing machine and work fine when they came out. It's the main reason I buy Beats. I assume the 3s will also be as good.
 
fatalogic

fatalogic

macrumors 6502
Aug 16, 2016
251
244
Beat X , imo airpods look ridiculous on most people. I think a lot of people thing they will look like the cool model they showed but they will probably end up looking like the cnet tech reviewer when they wear them. Also I doubt I could workout in air pods.
 
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I-Bot

I-Bot

macrumors regular
Sep 12, 2008
109
22
My City
So I bit the bullet and my local Target store had one Beats Solo 3 left so I got tired of waiting for the BeatsX, PB3 and the Airpods and purchased the Beats Solo 3 to test out the W1 Chip. This weeks Target ad has the Powerbeats 3 wireless in them so hopefully they'll get them sometime this week and I can exchange my Beats Solo 3 for them but if they don't get them this week, I'll wait for AirPods which is what I selected in the survey and use the AirPods and Beats Solo 3 has both my main drivers.
 
S

SonRK

macrumors 6502
Aug 9, 2011
258
18
Really wanted to try these out since my SoundPeats QY7 suck for biking. Constantly 'skips'. Makes the experience quite awful.

Surprised to see they hit the Canadian Apple Stores first and there are none in stock in Manhattan Apple Stores. I jsut got off a call with Apple and they said perhaps they will be in next week, but still show a mid November (in stock) date


*These being PowerBeats3. If the BeatsX are sweat resistant, then I would probably wait for it.
 
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R

ricktat

macrumors 68000
Feb 18, 2013
1,933
1,767
Hmm.. I may just get the Powerbeats 2 now since they are $99. The W1 is a great selling point but the micro USB and not lightning really stinks.

Plus if reported they are exactly the same except for the W1 as the Powerbeats 2.

I currently have a Monster set that I sync to my phone for exercise and yard work. I would like to leave my phone at home but hate re-syncing.

But at $99 I could buy 2 or just keep one set paired to my phone and 1 paired to my watch.

Am I missing anything? Some people talk about using these on an Ipad but I have always had issues with the sound being delayed when watching a movie/youtube.
 
J

jok3rr

macrumors newbie
Aug 30, 2010
11
1
Just got my PowerBeats3 delivered to me, the W1 chip connectivity works flawlessly.
Have BT turned on (obviously), turn on the PowerBeats3, have it near your phone (2-3in away) and a popup will come up on the phone to connect them (just follow the wizard) and thats it!

Ive never owned a pair of PowerBeats before, I like this fit, but im not liking the seal from the tips.
Ive tried all 3 tips and none of them seal as well as my Shure earphones did..so i might buy some Comply tips for them (Comply SX-400) so i get a good seal and isolation.

As for the sound quality, haven't had enough time to really compare the sound quality, but it seems like (with most Beats) they are more tuned with bass as its main emphasis, which is great for working out!!

They could definitely be my daily driver earphones..
 
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clunkmess

clunkmess

macrumors 6502a
Jul 28, 2011
628
489
California
jok3rr said:
Just got my PowerBeats3 delivered to me, the W1 chip connectivity works flawlessly.
Have BT turned on (obviously), turn on the PowerBeats3, have it near your phone (2-3in away) and a popup will come up on the phone to connect them (just follow the wizard) and thats it!

As for the sound quality, haven't had enough time to really compare the sound quality, but it seems like (with most Beats) they are more tuned with bass as its main emphasis, which is great for working out!!

They could definitely be my daily driver earphones..
Click to expand...
Sounds tempting. I'm still holding out for the BeatsX though. I like the fact that you can take the buds out of your ears and wear them like a necklace when not in use.

Hopefully they're coming soon.
IMG_1062.jpg
 
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Prabas

Prabas

macrumors 65816
Sep 14, 2010
1,149
1,282
Europe
I was for BeatsX but seeing that long wire... It kinda sucks when you're wearing a coat or something, wires are always being pulled down so you have to keep readjusting them.

I can't make up my mind. AirPods are better with one exception being lack of noise insulation that all in-ear earphones have.
 
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