Beats Fit Pro vs AirPods Pro 2 — How Do Apple’s Top Earbuds Stack Up?

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Consumers are spoiled for choice when it comes to earbuds and headphones, from sport-focused earbuds to open-ear earbuds, but there’s a reason iPhone users continue to turn to AirPods. Sure, the design has barely changed in 9 years, but between their solid audio performance and easy pairing with Apple devices, they remain the de facto choice for many iPhone users.

The earbud-curious who don’t want to stray too far from the Apple ecosystem also have Beats to choose from. Apple makes Beats and AirPods with a lot of the same tech — but how do they stack up? We pitted the Apple AirPods Pro (second generation) against Beats Fit Pro, the brand’s most popular noise-cancelling earbuds, to find out which pair reigns supreme.

While neither earbud is particularly new, until Apple releases updated versions, these remain some of the best noise-cancelling options from the Cupertino company. Here’s how they stack up.

Beats Fit Pro vs Airpods Pro (Second Generation) Specs

Beats Fit Pro vs Airpods Pro 2 Design

Both the AirPods Pro 2 and Beats Fit Pro have a soft ear tip, compared to the hard plastic tip of standard AirPods. Beats Fit Pro earbuds have a curved in-ear tip for a secure fit, while AirPods Pro 2 have the standard stemmed design AirPods are known for.

Stylistically, the earbuds are pretty different. AirPods are available in any color, as long as it’s white, while the Beats Fit Pro comes in black, white, sage gray, and stone purple, and Beats regularly rolls out collaborative colorways, like the pair designed by Kim Kardashian.

The Beats Fit Pro case is substantially larger and slightly heavier. Using a home kitchen scale, I measured the Fit Pro earbuds at 67 grams and the AirPods Pro 2 at 62 grams (with the buds in the case). Each pair tied at 11 grams out of the case, and they both wear relatively light in the ear.

Beats Fit Pro vs Airpods Pro 2 Performance

The AirPods Pro 2 and Beats Fit Pro have an Ingress Protection rating of IPX4, meaning they’re rated against water splashes in any direction, but they’re not rated for dust protection. In short, both earbuds can withstand all but the grimiest workouts.

Surprisingly, while the AirPods’ case is also rated IPX4, the Beats Fit Pro case isn’t rated for water or dust protection. I would still choose the Beats Fit Pro for workouts because of the secure in-ear wing, but it’s not any more durable against sweat than AirPods.

In terms of sound quality and audio performance, AirPods Pro 2 has the edge, with more crisp audio performance that isn’t overly tilted toward highs, mids, or lows. AirPods Pro 2 also outperformed Beats with active noise canceling (ANC). Both have it, but AirPods have four modes: Off, Transparency, Adaptive, and Noise Cancellation.

Beats lack the Adaptive mode, and the ANC on AirPods is more robust. With the earbuds on and loud music in the background, the AirPods Pro 2 cut the sound to a whisper. With a track playing at normal volume, background noise all but disappeared. With the Beats Fit Pro, the background sound was audible, both with and without a track playing.

Beats Fit Pro vs Airpods Pro 2 Features

Both earbuds play well with iPhone, including automatic pairing. They’re both compatible with Find My, allowing you to locate them if misplaced. The Beats Fit Pro case lacks wireless charging and can’t be found separately from the buds, unlike AirPods, which show each bud and the case. AirPods Pro 2 also offer newer features like hearing protection and hearing assistance. You can also swipe to change the volume on the AirPods Pro 2, something that’s not an option on Beats Fit Pro.

Both will work with Android phones, though there’s no real reason to buy AirPods if you have an Android — there’s no app, so you won’t get features like spatial audio, and you won’t be able to tell how much battery life is remaining. On the other hand, Beats’ Android app is solid, emulating most of the features found on iPhone.

Verdict

Even though both earbuds are several years old, the AirPods Pro 2 have a newer chip with better ANC features and more crisp audio performance. Design-wise, there’s not much to say about AirPods — they’re the same color and shape that they’ve always been. If you don’t mind a familiar, anonymous design, that shouldn’t be a problem.

The Beats Fit Pro is available in more colors, with an arguably more stylish design. They’re also a more secure design for workouts. However, the case lacks wireless charging and is slightly too bulky for a pocket, and it doesn’t have any waterproof protection.

Beats Fit Pro are a solid option for workouts or everyday use, and they’re the clear option if you’re an Android user. AirPods are (unsurprisingly) not a great option for Android users, but they ultimately edge out the Beats Fit Pro in performance and features for iPhone users.