It’s the holiday season! It seems like multiple times a year Apple releases a new product that we’re ready to throw our money at. This time, it’s the new AirPods Pro. While wireless headphones have been around for years, Apple was somehow able to revolutionize it. Now it’s hard to walk down the street without seeing someone with the Apple AirPods in their ears. Apple released their first AirPods in 2016 and just a few weeks ago, they released their latest – the AirPods Pro. With the time for giving (and receiving) around the corner, here’s everything you need to know about the AirPods before you gift it or ask for it in return.
Now here’s the rundown on the Apple AirPods Pro. When compared to the original, standard model, there are some differences:
- The AirPods Pro have better audio.
- The new AirPods have active noise cancellation so you can say goodbye to people disturbing your listening.
- The new design allows for a better in-ear fit. You can ask most people about their worries with the original AirPods and most are just worried that it’ll fall out of their ears.
While the new AirPods have these three new benefits, there are still a few cons to consider.
Similar to the standard design, the AirPods Pro have buttons, but there still aren’t any volume controls on the actual pods. And let’s be honest – the price is what most people care about. Even when the original AirPods came out at $150, tons of people balked at the price. Get ready to balk even more. The latest AirPods Pro retails for $100 more at $249.99.
While everyone’s talking about the Apple AirPods, it’s only right for us to bring up the other contenders in the battle of wireless headphones. Bose and Beats are two other brands that are also well-known for the quality of their products. How do they compare to Apple?
Well, looking at the design of both the Bose SoundSport Free and Powerbeats Pro, it seems that their designs might have more stability than the AirPods Pro. While Bose has a rubber portion that sits into the concha of the ear, the Beats alternative hooks around the back. Also, both brands and their products differ from Apple in that they offer their wireless headphones in four colors each while AirPods only come in white.
And while many consider the lack of volume control to be a negative for Apple, Bose SoundSport Free and the Powerbeats Pro both offer this. This might seem like a complete victory for Bose, but users have said that pushing the buttons does add pressure when pressed. As for Beats, their wireless buds have buttons on each ear that can be used to adjust the volume.
It all comes down to price. The AirPods Pro will run you $249.99 while the Powerbeats Pro are only four cents cheaper at $249.95. And while there used to be some very competitive pricing, Bose now comes on top after lowering their wireless earphones from $250 to $200.
It’s hard to believe that so much thought goes into buying a pair of earphones, but when you’re paying hundreds of dollars for it, it makes sense! Apple has definitely made a great marketing move by releasing their latest AirPods just in time for the holiday season. When balancing out the price and the features, the AirPods Pro are sure to end up on quite a few Christmas lists.
