Every Wednesday, AppleUnboxed lands in subscribers’ mailboxes. It’s an all-things-Apple guide to what’s going on with the world’s most fascinating company. Each weekend, I’ll be publishing just one item from a previous newsletter.
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Ten days ago, here’s just one of the things subscribers saw…
AirPods Pro vs Beats Studio Buds
Previously in AppleUnboxed, I compared AirPods Max and Bose Headphones 700. Now, the newest noise-cancellers from Apple’s other brand, Beats, go head-to-head with the AirPods Pro.
Similarities
Pairing is sublimely simple with both pairs of headphones: open the case next to the iPhone or iPad and press an onscreen button.
Design
AirPods Pro and Beats Studio Buds are both very recognizable. But Beats have glossy and matte sections where AirPods Pro are glossy all over. If you like colors, then the red Beats are very attractive, and the black ones more discreet-looking. They’re available in white, too, where AirPods Pro have only ever come in a white finish.
AirPods Pro come in a smaller charging case, so have the benefit of greater portability and though Beats Studio Buds are brilliantly made, I think the charging case has higher build quality.
Fit
Both sets of earbuds come with easily removable ear tips. Three pairs are included in the box for the perfect fit. But only Apple’s headphones come with the Ear Tip Fit Test which plays music so the headphones can tell you if you’ve got the right pair.
Sound quality
Both sound fantastic, but for my money, the AirPods Pro have a more effective sound. To my ears, the Beats are similar in quality to AirPods, rather than Pro.
Features
One of the coolest things about AirPods from day one is their ability to know if they’re in your ears or not, and pause audio as you take them out. That’s not on the Beats. Similarly, you don’t get the seamless device switching that AirPods Pro have when you move from iPhone to iPad, say.
Noise-cancelling
This is really excellent on both pairs, though again I think the AirPods Pro have the edge. Both have a transparency setting as well.
Interface
For AirPods Pro, you squeeze the stem of the earbud to change from noise-cancelling to transparency, for instance. It can take a bit of getting used to. Beats have a clickable button which is easier to use.
Price
AirPods Pro cost $249, Beats Studio Buds $149.
Verdict
There’s no denying that AirPods Pro are better, but are they so much better that they justify an extra $100 cost? I’m really not sure here. For most people, in most situations, Beats Studio Buds will be more than good enough. I’d say it’s really only if you want extra features, like device switching and automatically pausing the music which the Apple H1 processor offers, that you should go for the AirPods Pro.
One More Thing
Readers of Dwight Silverman’s excellent Release Notes newsletter will know he includes a photo of his cats to show off smartphone photography capabilities. I’m eager to do the same and as I don’t have ready access to his pets, will choose photos of my dog. Here’s a couple of examples.
The thing about puppies is they are in constant motion. Back in 2012, when this dog was three months old, the best way to capture a rare moment of stillness, close up and without freaking out the subject was still to use a DSLR. This photo was shot on a Fujifilm X10 and offers a bokeh effect achieved entirely through the glass.
By comparison, the iPhone 5 was able to capture the gawkiness of a puppy whose proportions were changing on a daily basis, and though the photo below couldn’t manage an artfully blurred background, the addition of HDR helps make the most of the exposure.
