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Consumers are spoiled for choice when it comes to earbuds and headphones, from sports earbuds to open-back earbuds, but there's a reason iPhone users continue to turn to AirPods. Sure, the design has changed little in 9 years, but with their solid audio performance and easy pairing with Apple devices, they're still actually It is the choice of many iPhone users.

People who are curious about headphones but don’t want to get lost also There are Beats options available outside of the Apple ecosystem. Apple makes Beats and AirPods using a lot of the same technology, but how do they perform? We pitted the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) against the brand's most popular noise-cancelling headphones, the Beats Fit Pro, to see which pair reigns supreme.

While neither of these earbuds are particularly new, they remain one of the Cupertino company's best noise-canceling options until Apple releases an updated version. Here's how they stack up.

Beats Fit Pro and Airpods Pro (2nd generation) specifications

Beats Fit Pro vs. Airpods Pro 2 design comparison

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

Stylistically, the headphones are quite different. The AirPods are available in any color as long as it's white, while the Beats Fit Pro are available in black, white, sage gray, and stone purple, and Beats regularly releases collaborative colorways, such as one with Kim Kardashian The one designed.

The case of the Beats Fit Pro is larger and slightly heavier. Using a home kitchen scale, I measured the Fit Pro headphones at 67 grams and the AirPods Pro 2 at 62 grams (with the headphones in the charging case). Each pair weighs 11 grams out of the box, making them relatively light on the ears.

Performance comparison between Beats Fit Pro and Airpods Pro 2

The AirPods Pro 2 and Beats Fit Pro are rated IPX4 for water resistance, which means they can protect against water splashes from any direction, but they don't have a dustproof rating. In short, both earbuds are built to withstand all but the toughest workouts.

Surprisingly, while the AirPods case is also IPX4 rated, the Beats Fit Pro case is not rated for water or dust resistance. I'd still choose the Beats Fit Pro for workouts because of its secure in-ear wings, but they're no more sweat-resistant than the AirPods.

When it comes to sound quality and audio performance, the AirPods Pro 2 have the edge, with crisper audio performance that doesn't lean too much toward the treble, mids, or bass. AirPods Pro 2 also perform better than Beats in active noise cancellation (ANC). Both are available, but AirPods have four modes: off, transparent, adaptive, and noise-canceling.

Beats lacks an adaptive mode, while the ANC on AirPods is more powerful. With the earbuds in and music playing in the background, AirPods Pro 2 lowers the sound to a whisper. When the track is played at normal volume, background noise is almost gone. With Beats Fit Pro, you can hear background sounds whether a track is playing or not.

Beats Fit Pro and Airpods Pro 2 Features

Both headphones work with iPhone, including automatic pairing. They're all compatible with Find My, allowing you to find them if you lose them. The Beats Fit Pro case lacks wireless charging and can't be found separately from the earphones, unlike AirPods, which show each earphone and case. AirPods Pro 2 also offer new features like hearing protection and hearing assistance. You can also swipe to change the volume on AirPods Pro 2, a feature not available on Beats Fit Pro.

Both work with Android phones, though there's no real reason to buy AirPods if you have an Android phone—there's no app, so you don't get features like spatial audio, and you have no way of knowing what the battery life will be like for the rest. Beats' Android app, on the other hand, is solid and mimics most of the functionality found on the iPhone.

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Although both headphones are several years old, the AirPods Pro 2 feature a newer chip with better ANC capabilities and clearer audio performance. Design-wise, there's not much to say about the AirPods - they're the same color and shape as before. If you don't mind the familiar anonymous design, that shouldn't be a problem.

The Beats Fit Pro are available in more colors and arguably have a sleeker design. They are also a safer workout design. However, the case lacks wireless charging capabilities, is a bit too big for your pocket, and doesn't offer any waterproof protection.

Beats Fit Pro are a solid choice for workouts or everyday use, and they're the clear choice if you're an Android user. For Android users, the AirPods (unsurprisingly) aren't a great choice, but for iPhone users, they ultimately surpass the Beats Fit Pro in performance and functionality.