Airpods vs Beats Solo 3

[darthbane2k]

My airpods arrive on Monday. To be fair I wanted them originally but was frustrated with the delay. So I purchased the Beats Solo 3 (which is still under the Christmas return period). So do I stick with the Solos (which I'm quite fond of now, albeit they are bulky) or stick with the airpods?

First world problems...

 

[The Game 161]

My airpods arrive on Monday. To be fair I wanted them originally but wasn't frustrated with the delay. So I purchased the Beats Solo 3 (which is still under the Christmas return period). So do I stick with the Solos (which I'm quite fond of now, albeit they are bulky) or stick with the airpods?

First world problems...

I’m actually getting both. My air pods will arrive on Monday and the beats solo3 are a Christmas present. So will use the beats if I want more sound at home and use the air pods when I go to the gym/head to work or generally take the dog for walks. That’s my plan.

 

[Ma2k5]

Wear the Airpods and wear the solo 3 on top simultaneously. This adds extra security and sound isolation to your Airpods experience

 

[rock6079]

My airpods arrive on Monday. To be fair I wanted them originally but was frustrated with the delay. So I purchased the Beats Solo 3 (which is still under the Christmas return period). So do I stick with the Solos (which I'm quite fond of now, albeit they are bulky) or stick with the airpods?

First world problems...

I've had the Solo 3 for about a month now. I like them for exercising but I have had some charging woes with them and I really don't find them all that comfortable. I also don't prefer "in-ear" headphones that block all other noise. My AirPods arrive Tuesday and I think I'll be returning the Solo 3s

 

[twinlight]

It's to hot and sweaty with the Solo3's at the gym so I'm getting the AirPods for that. The Solo's I'll use for outdoor walks and work.

 

[AppleRobert]

My airpods arrive on Monday. To be fair I wanted them originally but was frustrated with the delay. So I purchased the Beats Solo 3 (which is still under the Christmas return period). So do I stick with the Solos (which I'm quite fond of now, albeit they are bulky) or stick with the airpods?

First world problems...

You will have the luxury of trying both at the same time before your Solo 3 return period ends.

Depends what you prefer, small convenient size versus the larger Solos that will probably block outside noise more. Battery life is exceptional with those and either should connect seamlessly.

 

[44267547]

It's to hot and sweaty with the Solo3's at the gym so I'm getting the AirPods for that. The Solo's I'll use for outdoor walks and work.

Agreed the Solo's are not for the gym. Hopefully the Airpods will hold up well in the gym with sweat and stability in the ear.

 

[Eric5273]

Here's what I would recommend....

Use them both for a few days and then post a detailed comparison here so none of us have to deal with making this same decision LOL

Seriously, I've been trying to make the same decision, although I haven't purchased either of them yet. I'm actually leaning towards the Beats X which sounds like is somewhere in the middle.... I'd expect the Beats X to have better sound quality than the Airpods, but be much more portable than the Solo 3.

I worry that I'd lose the Airpods, so I prefer the wire and the magnetic earbuds that can stay around your neck when you're not using them.

If you can post a sound quality comparison between those two, that would be much appreciated!

 

[The Game 161]

Here's what I would recommend....

Use them both for a few days and then post a detailed comparison here so none of us have to deal with making this same decision LOL

Seriously, I've been trying to make the same decision, although I haven't purchased either of them yet. I'm actually leaning towards the Beats X which sounds like is somewhere in the middle.... I'd expect the Beats X to have better sound quality than the Airpods, but be much more portable than the Solo 3.

I worry that I'd lose the Airpods, so I prefer the wire and the magnetic earbuds that can stay around your neck when you're not using them.

If you can post a sound quality comparison between those two, that would be much appreciated!

I will do some kind of in depth review well a review lol when i get both.

Will get the beats solo3 at christmas so maybe a full comparison a few days later I imagine.

 

[AppleRobert]

Agreed the Solo's are not for the gym. Hopefully the Airpods will hold up well in the gym with sweat and stability in the ear.

I am not planning to take them to the gym until I am comfortable with them staying in and not falling out easily. I work out pretty hard btw.

 

[44267547]

I am not planning to take them to the gym until I am comfortable with them staying in and not falling out easily. I work out pretty hard btw.

I mainly weightlift. The Airpods would be used on the go for me. I'm somewhat hesitant to use them where they would be subjected to water until Apple can improve on this.

 

[Gregintosh]

I also bought Solo 3's because I was tired of waiting for AirPods. I like them and will be keeping both. Here's how I see it:

1. Solo 3's are great as ear muffs in the winter, so for the 6 colder months of the year, I will be wearing them outside in lieu of actual ear muffs.

2. Solo 3's have great music reproduction. Makes them ideal for wearing at home/work or when you really just want to get into the music.

3. Solo 3's have excellent battery life. That makes them ideal for lengthy phone calls which I tend to make. It is not uncommon for me to spend 3-5 hours on the phone during a day, and with AirPods having only 2 hours of "phone call" battery per charge, they may not be enough.

4. AirPods don't insulate you from outside sounds. That makes them good biking/jogging headphones where hearing incoming traffic and whats going on around is important. Will be perfect for the 6 warmer months of the year for me, during which I typically spend 3 to 4 hours outside daily -- perfect amount of time for a fully charged pair of AirPods.

5. AirPods won't look as silly if you wear them at malls or other indoor places, making them good "daily" headphones for when the spouse drags you to a mall or you will be going to some other event where you can get away with listening to your own stuff but don't want to stand out with a big pair of ear muffs.

6. AirPods will be comfortable to use at home for podcast listening and light phone convos. It will give your head a break from having a giant band on them once in a while.

So my verdict: Buy both, enjoy!

 

[twinlight]

I'm going with all the same points as Gregintosh!

 

[MICHAELSD]

5. AirPods won't look as silly if you wear them at malls or other indoor places, making them good "daily" headphones for when the spouse drags you to a mall or you will be going to some other event where you can get away with listening to your own stuff but don't want to stand out with a big pair of ear muffs.

Yes, they will.
[doublepost=1482050867][/doublepost]The Apple Solo3 are going to have significantly better sound unless the early reviews are inaccurate regarding AirPod sound quality. The Solo3 provide a far superior listening experience over the EarPods, so I imagine it being the same with the EarPods.

AirPods for background music and phone calls over long periods, Solo3 for enjoying music. Two completely different uses.

I've come to find that the AirPods are really just wireless EarPods; no less, no more. I was hoping for more but it's just a wireless version of what's already included free with every iPhone.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

First world problems...

Solution to your first-world problem:
Don't buy things you don't really want or think you maybe won't need.

Buying and returning stuff after you've used them is wasteful. Like there isn't enough **** being thrown away on this planet already; we don't need to deliberately add to the pile. Besides, this kind of behavior drives up prices for everyone.

Keep your headphones and enjoy them. That's what they're there for!

 

[darthbane2k]

Solution to your first-world problem:
Don't buy things you don't really want or think you maybe won't need.

Buying and returning stuff after you've used them is wasteful. Like there isn't enough **** being thrown away on this planet already; we don't need to deliberately add to the pile. Besides, this kind of behavior drives up prices for everyone.

Keep your headphones and enjoy them. That's what they're there for!

Apple failed to release their complete wireless range of headphones on time for me to be able to make a comparison (for example in store) and then make a decision. I don't usually spend £150+ on ear/headphones so if I'm going to make sure an investment , I want to consider/try all options

 

[MICHAELSD]

Apple failed to release their complete wireless range of headphones on time for me to be able to make a comparison (for example in store) and then make a decision. I don't usually spend £150+ on ear/headphones so if I'm going to make sure an investment , I want to consider/try all options

Easy way to decide without also ordering the AirPods:

1. Connect included EarPods to iPhone.
2. Listen to your favorite music.
3. Pretend they're wireless.
4. Decide if you'll be happy with a similar sound quality with the AirPods enough so to sell the Solo3.
5. Keep Solo3 or purchase AirPods depending on the decision.

 

[rockyromero]

Solution to your first-world problem:
Don't buy things you don't really want or think you maybe won't need.

Buying and returning stuff after you've used them is wasteful. Like there isn't enough **** being thrown away on this planet already; we don't need to deliberately add to the pile. Besides, this kind of behavior drives up prices for everyone.

Agreed.

Realistically, this is true for others and usually not oneself.

The economic world is also based on reckless consumption.

For now.

➰

 

[Antgb84]

Apples and oranges, do you prefer a truck or a sedan? It comes down what you want, fully enclosed headphones block out most of the noise and little sound actually bleeds out compared to tiny earphones with little or no noise cancellation but portable and always ready to go?

 

[Gregintosh]

I have been used the EarPods since I got my iPhone 7 plus, and I gotta say they are quite alright. Maybe my Bose Earbuds are a bit better, especially when you really listen to the details and crank it up. But the EarPods don't bother me with their music reproduction like some people here, and they're certainly just fine for podcasts and calls.

The wires often get tangled and pulled, and they're the real reason they fall out of people's ears. Snipping the wires makes them perfect.

 

[AppleRobert]

Easy way to decide without also ordering the AirPods:

1. Connect included EarPods to iPhone.
2. Listen to your favorite music.
3. Pretend they're wireless.
4. Decide if you'll be happy with a similar sound quality with the AirPods enough so to sell the Solo3.
5. Keep Solo3 or purchase AirPods depending on the decision.

Stuff magazine article I read yesterday about truly wireless said if one likes the earpods' fit and sound quality then go for the Airpods, if not look elsewhere.

The gear icon X trash the Apple EarPods for sound so if the Airpods are the same sound quality as the EarPods they would not be a keeper for me. Too bad the icons sucked for battery life cause I liked their sound.

I doubt the airpods will best or even keep up with the Solo3's as well for sound quality so we agree, unless reviews are wrong which I also doubt. And discounted the Solo3s are a better buy.

 

[The Game 161]

I highly doubt you will find any or many earbuds type wireless be as good sound wise as headphones like beats.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Stuff magazine article I read yesterday about truly wireless said if one likes the earpods' fit and sound quality then go for the Airpods, if not look elsewhere.

The gear icon X trash the Apple EarPods for sound so if the Airpods are the same sound quality as the EarPods they would not be a keeper for me. Too bad the icons sucked for battery life cause I liked their sound.

I doubt the airpods will best or even keep up with the Solo3's as well for sound quality so we agree, unless reviews are wrong which I also doubt. And discounted the Solo3s are a better buy.

Right, the AirPods have their uses but you'd have to be pretty easygoing on sound quality to use them for more than background music.

Shame. It's a wasted opportunity to take the unique EarPod design and put premium audio components in it.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

Apple failed to release their complete wireless range of headphones on time for me to be able to make a comparison (for example in store) and then make a decision.

So wait then. What's the rush? Nobody is holding a gun to your head demanding you buy some Apple wireless headphones - any headphones! Now!!! - is there?

It's a wasted opportunity to take the unique EarPod design and put premium audio components in it.

I doubt the reason some people are dissatisfied with earpod sound quality is the components inside them - it's hard to screw up a speaker driver; if you know your rear from your elbows you can make a set that sound decent enough.

Rather, I suspect the reason is what you call "the unique earpod design"; IE, they are rigid. If they don't adhere closely to your ear canals and form a seal you lose a lot of efficiency, and as the earpods can't deform to fit to your body then your body has to fit to them. If that isn't the case, then the earpods simply won't sound good, and all the audiophile componentry in the world will not be able to change that...

 

[AppleRobert]

Right, the AirPods have their uses but you'd have to be pretty easygoing on sound quality to use them for more than background music.

Shame. It's a wasted opportunity to take the unique EarPod design and put premium audio components in it.

I suppose Apple figures there are millions walking around with EarPods now just lose the wires and give good connectivity and many would be happy.

Who knows, maybe the sound quality will be a surprise. That should not be the biggest factor for anyone looking to purchase them though.