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Radon87000

macrumors 604
Original poster
Nov 29, 2013
7,777
6,255
I recently picked the Powerbeats Pro for $190 and they sound really great with a lot of bass and the battery life is really really good. Having said that, when I wear them in a coffee shop or a canteen or my office I still hear the chatter when I plug them in. Should I return them and get the AirPods Pro for $250 for noise cancellation? What are the disadvntages of this?
 
Last edited:

bpritchett

macrumors member
Jul 25, 2019
31
8
Chattanooga, TN
I have a pair of Airpods 1, Powerbeats Pro, and received my Airpods Pro yesterday. I am planning on selling my Airpods 1. After using the Airpods Pro for a little less than a day, I am wondering the same thing about the Powerbeats Pro.
 

TravisPNW

macrumors 6502a
Sep 15, 2017
653
924
Renton, WA
Mine just arrived and after 1 day I couldn't be happier with the Pros. Never cared for the original AirPods design. They just weren't comfortable and I even lost one once after it fell out of my ear. Been using a LG Tone headset looped around my neck for years because I loved the silicon earbuds and the comfort.

Apple FINALLY went with the design and that's what sold me. Not crazy about the cost, but I paid it. Now let me say the noise cancellation is as advertised. I run a machine at work that is quite loud and these Pros silence the machine.

I am expecting the same on my flight next month. The fact I'm seated close to the engines isn't going to phase me one bit now. :)

Sound quality is good. Bass is there. For me it's the silicon earbuds... comfort... and noise cancellation.

Win win.
 

nippyjun

macrumors 68000
Jul 26, 2007
1,646
332
I use the Powerbeats pro for working out. The AirPods Pro are for everything else.
 

blairh

macrumors 603
Dec 11, 2007
5,972
4,472
I recently picked the Powerbeats Pro for $190 and they sound really great with a lot of bass and the battery life is really really good. Having said that, when I wear them in a coffee shop or a canteen or my office I still hear the chatter when I plug them in. Should I return them and get the AirPods Pro for $250 for noise cancellation? What are the disadvntages of this?
There honestly is only one answer to this. You need to purchase the APP, see how you like them, and then make a choice. Sound is such a subjective thing. It's impossible for anyone to answer what you think will sound better. Plus you throw in the other features, etc. I recommend you purchase them from a retailer with a good return policy and then make your decision after giving them a try.

As someone who uses the PBP and recently returned the APP after a week, I can tell you from my experience. I find the PBP have overall better sound. Bass is noticeably stronger. Music simply feels more alive overall. This applies to a variety of genres.

Where the APP shine is the small carrying case, ANC/Transparency, and wireless charging. PBP instead offers better sound (IMO), twice as long battery life in a single charge, and volume controls on each bud. You have to decide for yourself what matters more altogether once you've listened to both headphones side-to-side.
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Any sound difference between the Beats Pro and the Airpods Pro? Do you have a preference?
PBP have noticeably better bass and overall I prefer their sound over the APP.
 

OneMike

macrumors 603
Oct 19, 2005
5,831
1,810
I had Powerbeats pro. Gave them to my father yesterday after picking up airpods pro.

you can’t go wrong with either but after owning the Powerbeats pro since May using almost every day for workouts. I prefer the airpods.
 

nas2344

macrumors regular
Oct 17, 2011
128
4
CT
Try the AirPods and decide, I sold my Powerbeats cause I like the AirPods better but everyone is different
 

Anarchy99

macrumors 65816
Dec 13, 2003
1,041
1,034
CA
while i haven't had issues with the AirPods Pro falling o when i go on hikes and or i plan on doing more strenuous activity/yardwork or worry what im doing i wear the power beats just incase the loop around the ear gives piece of mind.

i may grow bolder as i get used to the AirPods Pro in which case i'd pick AirPods Pro over the power beats pro.

the power beats do sound like they have more bass and gets you in a more thumpy pumped mood, but i prefer the ANC of AirPods Pro and use it more often than I notice a bass difference because at the end of the day the bass difference is really only noticeable when doing comparisons.
its not like the bass is crap on the AirPods Pro and if thats all your using you won't feel like your missing out.
 

NJRonbo

macrumors 68040
Jan 10, 2007
3,232
1,224
I went with the Powerbeats because of their clip-on system.

They just seem, to me, incapable of falling out of the ear.

I ride the NYC subway system often and usually see a single AirPod lying on the track that has fallen out of someone's ear.
 

Anarchy99

macrumors 65816
Dec 13, 2003
1,041
1,034
CA
if i were you i would buy the pro's and compare everything Apple has a 2 week no questions asked return policy
(which is really about 3 weeks because you have about 10additional days once a return label is printed)


heck, if you wait a few days to order for the 14th to order you'd have till january to return them (holiday hours FTW )
either way thats plenty of time to compare them and choose what to keep
 

Donnation

Suspended
Nov 2, 2014
1,686
2,083
I have both and prefer the AirPods Pro. The only reason I have the PowerBeats is that I like working out with them over the Airpods 2. For me, the AirPods Pro's are more comfortable, sound better, and have way more features than the PowerBeats Pro. Plus the case is much smaller and more convenient to carry around.
 

symphony

macrumors 68020
Aug 25, 2016
2,232
2,641
I recently picked the Powerbeats Pro for $190 and they sound really great with a lot of bass and the battery life is really really good. Having said that, when I wear them in a coffee shop or a canteen or my office I still hear the chatter when I plug them in. Should I return them and get the AirPods Pro for $250 for noise cancellation? What are the disadvntages of this?
AirPods Pro is better overall. Though I prefer the sound signature and bass with the Powerbeats Pro.

You get pretty good sound, noise cancellation, and transparency mode. It’s lighter, smaller, and it still has water resistance and the case is even more portable.

There’s no disadvantages really, besides lower battery life on the headphones themselves. But that doesn’t matter, people will see them on your ears and think your rich and in exclusive Apple circle.
 

haruhiko

macrumors 604
Sep 29, 2009
6,686
6,238
I have used PowerBeats Pro for half a year and recently got the AirPods Pro. I can say that in terms of sound quality they are not too different, but the PBP does not have any noise cancellation, instead, it only has minimal sound isolation, which is better than the 1st and 2nd gen AirPods, but nowhere near the ANC of AirPods Pro.

I always had to crank up the volume level of the PBP when I'm in the subway as a result. For AirPods Pro, I can just keep in normal volume since most of the train noise has been filtered out, while the announcement is still audible.

If I had the chance to return the PBP now, I would definitely do so. The ear hook is great for workouts but it also hurts the back of the ear quite a bit at the beginning, not to mention the trick you need to master to wear it quickly. The poor noise isolation, however, is the real dealbreaker for me.
 
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