With the release of the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation), you may be torn between various active noise canceling (ANC) earbud options. Beats Fit Pro is a slightly more affordable and OS-agnostic option that integrates extremely well into the Apple ecosystem, as Beats is an Apple subsidiary but also works well with other devices. If you can’t decide between the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and Beats Fit Pro, you’re in luck; let’s compare them (beats fit pro vs AirPods Pro 2) to determine which pair of earbuds is the best option for you.
How Does the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Compare to the Beats Fit Pro?
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) has a stemmed earbud design with interchangeable silicone ear tips in four different sizes and nothing else to keep it in your ear. The case is a rounded rectangle with a speaker and U1 chip inside. You can use the Find My app to make a loud sound from the case’s speaker to locate it in the same room you are in, and the U1 chip allows you to pinpoint its exact location on a map. The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) earbuds and case are IPX4 water resistant, so you can work out or walk in the rain with them without worry.
The Beats Fit Pro, on the other hand, is designed quite differently than the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), with wing tips to keep the buds secure in your ears. It comes with three different ear tip sizes. The case is a rounded rectangle that fits easily in your pocket, though Beats’ is slightly larger. The earbuds are also IPX4 rated, so with that and the wing tips, the Fit Pro is an excellent choice for athletes. However, the case is not water resistant. Beats’ case is also less sturdy than Apple’s: the hinge has some lateral play, whereas the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) case feels precisely machined.
Beats Fit Pro vs AirPods Pro 2
Price
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 launched in 2022 with the same $249 price tag that the series has had since its inception. Now that they’ve been around for a while, you can occasionally find them on sale for $199.
The Beats Fit Pro debuted on November 1, 2021, with an MSRP of $199, and it has remained at that price since then, putting it on par with the AirPods Pro 2. Because the price of both earbuds is only the same when the AirPods are on sale, this one goes to Beats.
Fit and design
Whether you like them or not, the AirPods Pro has an iconic design, and Apple made little change with the AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods (in any incarnation) has never been the most comfortable or securely fitting earbuds, but with the second generation, there’s been a noticeable improvement in fit, particularly for everyday general use. They are still on the verge of slipping out during workouts or any strenuous activity.
The Beats Fit Pro, on the other hand, uses a combination of ear tips and a wing to keep them snugly secured in the ear. If you plan on using your earbuds during workouts or simply want the peace of mind that they won’t fall out as you rush for the bus, it’s a significant improvement over the AirPods in terms of fit.
Pinch controls are another feature that people either love or hate on the AirPods 2. The earbuds require a pinch of the stem to control playback or activate features, as opposed to tapping the outward-facing side of the AirPods. Technically, the capacitive sensor is along the front-facing side of the stem, marked by an indentation, but whenever I’ve tried to use just one finger without my thumb to stabilize, I end up jostling the earbud’s position in my ear.
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Another nod to tradition, the Beats has an all-control button on the outside of the earbuds. It comes down to personal preference, as both the Apple and Beats controls are excellent and responsive.
In terms of waterproofing, both earbuds have an IPX4 rating, so unless you sweat a lot, they’ll be fine during exercise. Just don’t try to rinse them in the sink afterward.
The AirPods Pro 2 are only slightly lighter than the Beats Fit Pro, weighing 5.4 grams per earbud versus 5.6 grams for the Beats. Apple’s case, at 45.6 grams, is also 9 grams lighter and, perhaps more importantly, more compact, opting for a rectangular shape rather than square.
Unless you want the iconic look of the AirPods (or the slightly smaller case), the Beats Fit Pro is the more comfortable and stable option with the same water-resistance rating. The Beats is also available in seven different colors: black, white, coral pink, volt yellow, tidal blue, stone purple (shown), and sage gray. The AirPods Pro, on the other hand, are available in white and…white.
Features and Controls
Because of the performance boosts provided by the H2 chip, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 stands out from the Beats Fit Pro. The H1 chip found in the Beats Fit Pro represented a significant improvement in Apple ecosystem integration and connectivity performance over the W1 chip. The new H2’s power dramatically improves noise cancellation and transparency mode (also known as hear-through). The ANC improvement is so significant that the AirPods Pro 2 are now one of the best noise-canceling earbuds available, second only to the Bose QuietComfort II.
Another advantage of the AirPods Pro 2 is the Adaptive Transparency mode, which can help reduce external noise while maintaining a natural-sounding sense of your surroundings. They aren’t a replacement for hearing protection, but in situations where the outside world has sudden bursts of noise (a construction site, for example), your ears won’t be bombarded with the worst of it.
That’s not to say the Beats Fit Pro’s ANC and Transparency mode aren’t good, but with a year older H1 chip, they simply can’t compete.
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Another advantage of the AirPods is their wireless Qi charging capability. Simply place the case on a Qi-charging base, such as an Apple MagSafe pad, with or without the earbuds inside, and the case will charge. Unfortunately, the Beats Fit Pro lacks this feature.
While it may appear that Apple outperforms the Fit Pro in every category, there is one that is a foregone conclusion: Android functionality. It’s not surprising that Apple prioritizes getting the AirPods to work flawlessly within the Apple ecosystem, but even if they don’t want to admit it, iPhones aren’t the only option. The Beats Fit Pro retains full functionality when used with an Android phone thanks to the Beats app for Android (there is no official Android app for the AirPods Pro). That isn’t to say the AirPods Pro 2 won’t work with Android phones, but their functionality will be limited. That is not the case with the Beats.
Despite this, the AirPods Pro 2 easily outperforms the Beats Fit Pro in terms of features.
Battery life
Battery life is a wash between the AirPods Pro 2 and the Beats Fit Pro, with both getting up to 6 hours of listening time with ANC engaged (7 hours without) and a similar amount available from their cases (30 for the AirPods and 27 for the Beats).
Special features and apps
These two products share very few features, so let’s take a quick look at what they do have in common. ANC, adaptive EQ, Siri-announced messages, audio share, automatic switching, control customization, Ear Tip Fit Test, EQ, Find My support, “Hey Siri” voice activation, Live Listen, Personalized Spatial Audio, and Transparency mode are all on the list.
The charging case for the AirPods Pro 2 emits a tone through the speaker to indicate charging statuses, low battery, pairing, or to help locate the case when misplaced, which is tracked via the Find My app. When paired to iOS/macOS devices, these buds use Bluetooth 5.3 for faster, higher-bandwidth connectivity and have a wireless range of up to 45 feet. Not to mention that they run on the new H2 chip.
Even without Apple’s latest processor, the Beats Fit Pro’s H1 processor performs admirably across all platforms. You’ll instantly connect to Apple devices and achieve the same range of up to 45 feet. The Fit Pro is more platform-agnostic, easily pairing with Android devices and displaying excellent auto-connect capabilities. It also supports Android apps. At the same time, these buds use a less powerful Bluetooth protocol (5.0) and lack cool niche features like Precision Finding with the charging case.
Call Quality
Neither model matches the original AirPods Pro’s call quality, but both are adequate for voice and video calls. When compared to our iPhone speakerphone, most calls made with the AirPods Pro 2 sounded a little muffled. The H2 chip does help to reduce background noise through audio processing. When speaking in a quiet environment, head tracking support for FaceTime calls makes conferencing chats feel more in-person.
The Fit Pro provides solid vocal capture and noise cancellation, blocking out a variety of external sounds, despite the fact that the technology struggles with the wind. FaceTime calls will also have high call quality.
Stability
Whether you’re about to begin an intense workout or simply have problems with other buds gradually falling out of your ears, the wing tips on the Beats Fit Pro are unrivaled. They do not wrap around your ears, making them more compatible with glasses than the Powerbeats Pro. And the flexible material helps to prevent soreness that can occur when other wing tips press into the folds of your ear.
Apple deserves credit for including four sets of ear tips with the AirPods Pro (including an extra small set) rather than the three that Beats provides. However, if you want the most secure fit from the AirPods Pro, you’ll probably end up swapping out the silicone tips for foam replacements anyway.
Water and Sweat Resistance
You’d think Beats would take this one, but he doesn’t. Both pairs of earbuds are rated IPX4 for water resistance. That means they shouldn’t have any trouble dealing with excessive sweat or water splashes (such as rain). Just don’t submerge them.
However, Apple extends the same durability to the second-generation AirPods Pro carrying case, whereas Beats makes no claims about the Fit Pro case being water resistant. This may not be important to you, but if your activities will expose the case to the elements, keep it in mind.
Active Noise Cancellation
Apple claims that the AirPods Pro 2’s active noise canceling has been significantly improved and can “reduce up to two times more unwanted background noise.” That is difficult to quantify, but the ANC subjectively feels better and more effective. Outdoor listening was peaceful because the buds muffled low- and mid-frequency noises. These buds reduce high-frequency noises and wind presence better than their predecessor; whisking effects and blaring noises have less of an impact on the soundstage. Another new feature introduced on the AirPods Pro 2 is Adaptive Transparency, which greatly improves awareness of one’s surroundings.
When it first came out, we praised the Fit Pro for having ANC performance comparable to the original AirPods Pro. It still does an excellent job of blocking out common distractions like doorbells, kitchen appliances, and chatty pedestrians. Transparency mode is equally beneficial for environmental awareness. Apple also provides the same ambient listening option as the AirPods Pro 2: Live Listen, which uses the iPhone mics to capture noises that you can hear on the buds.
Software Features
With many Apple software tricks, the AirPods Pro and Beats Fit Pro go tit for tat. They both support spatial audio, automatic device switching, one-tap setup, iCloud device syncing, and audio sharing.
The second-generation AirPods Pro, on the other hand, extend their lead with precise Find My Location tracking thanks to the U1 chip built into the case. They can be easily tracked down, just like an AirTag, and a speaker built into the case aids in determining their location. They also support more accessibility features such as conversation boost, though the Beats Fit Pro does offer live listen.
Ecosystem Adaptability
Are the AirPods Pro compatible with Android phones? Sure, sure. But you’d better be happy with how Apple’s buds work out of the box, because you won’t be able to change much.
Beats goes above and beyond by including an Android app for adjusting settings, updating firmware, and checking battery life on both the buds and the case. The AirPods team treats Android as an afterthought, but Beats is at least attempting to reach out and provide a good experience.
Should you get the Apple AirPods Pro or the Beats Fit Pro?
Both are excellent choices for iPhone owners, but Android users should go with the Beats Fit Pro.
You will get the most out of either of these earbuds if you own an iPhone. Owning an iPhone is required to enjoy the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation), as Android users will be unable to access important features such as Spatial Audio, firmware updates, and the fit test. The Beats Fit Pro is also a good choice for iPhone users looking for a less expensive option with great connectivity, Spatial Audio, ANC, and a bassy frequency response.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) improves on the first-generation AirPods Pro while maintaining the same iconic look. Apple’s upgraded H2 chip improves noise cancellation and battery life, while the case’s U1 chip and integrated speaker enable precise case location. If you own an iPhone, the AirPods Pro 2 is a no-brainer.
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Android users should choose the Beats Fit Pro, which includes the Beats app for software features. However, you won’t be able to use Apple’s Spatial Audio on an Android with the Beats Fit Pro, so keep that in mind if you decide to buy it.
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Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs. Beats Fit Pro: References
