This might be an unpopular opinion but I thought I’d share it anyway just in case there’s other people on the fence.
So, previously I had a pair of Beats X which I really loved. After a little over a year of owning them, my right side went out and it was time for a replacement. I debated between the Powerbeats Pro and the Airpods. I ended up buying the Powerbeats.... but I returned them about an hour later for the Airpods... Why? Here’s so pros and cons for each:
As a side note: I own a pair of Beats Solo’s that I use for when I really want to get into my music. So sound quality, while important, wasn’t necessary my main focus. I mainly just wanted something that would work great for using at work and for workouts.
Powerbeats Pro:
Pros: Great sound quality, stays in your ears effortlessly, I actually like the look of them (I’m not really a fan of the way the airpods look), physical buttons on both sides, loooooong battery life, official IPX4 rating (airpods can withstands sweat and water but it’s nice to have it be officially rated).
Why I returned them: The main reason I returned them was for the lack of convenience... The charging case is big. I know many reviews have talked about it and I honestly thought they were overreacting until I brought it home. For me, the case was just too cumbersome. There are times when I don’t want to carry a bag or have a jacket with larger pockets. I like being able to bring my headphones wherever I go and with a case that large, it’s just a chore. It was also a little difficult to get the headphones back into the case to charge. The airpods go back into their case without much effort or strategy. The Beats took some fidgeting and even though it eventually makes sense the more times you do it, I can still see that becoming annoying in certain situations. While the headphones do stay in your ears much better than Airpods, I found that they became somewhat uncomfortable after about an hour or so... This was definitely going to be an issue since I use headphones while I’m working. Lastly the price... For $250, I just couldn’t justify it.
Airpods:
Why I bought them: The Airpods charging case is magnificent! It’s small and it just works. Wireless charging is also a very nice bonus. The airpods are light and can be very comfortable for long periods of use. Sound quality, while not quite as good as the Beats, is still very good. The price is right! I got my Airpods with the wireless charging case on sale for $179. I was also able to buy an accessory kit for $20 which includes attachments that make it easier for the Airpods to stay in your ears during workouts and I also bought a 2 set wireless charging mat for $50. All of those items together cost .2 less than the Powerbeats Pro...
Cons: I don’t really care for the way the Airpods look... perhaps it will grow on me. They don’t stay in your ears quite as well but with the accessories I got, they can be modified to fit nicely. Only comes in white. No official IPX4 rating.
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So in conclusion, both headphones are good depending on your needs. If you are ok with the higher price, ear hook design and much larger charging case then the Powerbeats are fantastic. However, if you want a better value, a more portable charging case, wireless charging and an overall lighter design, then the airpods are the way to go.
Hopefully this will be helpful to someone who’s on the fence.