(Prototype credit: Adam Oram / iMore)
Though Apple bought Beats back in 2014 primarily for its music subscription service, there take been no signs that the company intends to ditch the popular headphone make. Even subsequently launching AirPods, its own supremely pop Apple-branded earbuds, in that location take been several brand new Beats headphone and earbud models released. For example, checking out the differences between Beats Fit Pro and Studio Buds is likely to be many people's get-go call.
In 2021, Apple showed no signs of slowing down with both Beats Studio Buds and Beats Fit Pro launching this fall. The latter is positioned to take on AirPods Pro in a battle to have the title of all-time true wireless earbuds. And for some users, they'll win that battle.
Beats Fit Pro: Price and availability
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Beats Fit Pro launched in the U.S. in November 2021 at the superlative end of the Beats collection of earbuds. Retailing for $200, they cost $50 more than the recently released Beats Studio Buds but have several boosted features that warrant the jump in price, which we'll explore in item below. At that price, they come in at $50 less than the AirPods Pro, making for a tough choice between the two.
Beats Fit Pro are currently only bachelor in the U.S. and are sold through all of the major retailers y'all'd wait, including Apple. China is set up to exist the adjacent launch location in Dec 2021, with other regions slated to get the Fit Pro in 2022.
Beats Fit Pro: What'southward good
Coming into a crowded marketplace, Beats Fit Pro need to have a unique selling point in order to stand out. True wireless earbuds are everywhere now and bachelor for as little as $30, with products from Apple tree, Bose, Sony, Samsung, Google, and many more all jostling for position.
For the Beats Fit Pro, the target market place seems to be those looking for a fix of earbuds for do that will stay put even during the most vigorous of workouts, though they don't cede audio quality to become there.
Putting the fit in Beats Fit Pro
The design of the Beats Fit Pro is similar to that of the Beats Studio Buds that came shortly earlier, though the main departure is the addition of flexible wingtips that aid hold them in place. Coupled with the in-ear pattern, information technology does that job admirably. The instructions for the Beats Fit Pro suggest you place the earbud in your ear and and so twist forward gently to hook the wingtip into your upper ear. It's a bit of an unusual gesture, but the earbuds fit very well when yous put them in place like this, though they aren't the most comfortable to apply for an extended period. Since these are conditioning buds, I took them for a spin on a long run and never once felt like they had come loose or were at risk of falling out.
Each wingtip flows seamlessly into a push button on the side of each earbud. These aren't touch surfaces like some other options out in that location but bodily clickable buttons. These are super easy to operate while wearing the earbuds and preferable to sometimes finicky touchpads, especially for a workout-focused earbud. With the buttons, you can control media playback, take calls, and switch betwixt dissonance cancellation and transparency modes. You can likewise customize what the press-and-concur gesture does for each earbud if you prefer to have like shooting fish in a barrel volume adjustment or the ability to invoke Siri with a long-press.
Another boon for exercisers is the IPX4 h2o-resistance rating of the Beats Fit Pro. Though not truly waterproof, that rating makes them resistant to sweat and getting defenseless in the rain. I haven't dunked my Beats Fit Pro to examination out their ruggedness, but I have worked out in them, getting all kinds of sweaty, and they have survived thus far.
Audio quality and battery life
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I mentioned that the fitness focus hasn't been to the detriment of the audio experience earlier, just I tin can't emphasize this betoken plenty. I'm not an audiophile by any means, but the Beats Fit Pro sound excellent to my ear, so much so that, in switching between them and my AirPods 2, I have found myself wondering how I ever listened to such flat music before.
Apple says that the Beats Fit Pro use a "proprietary, dual-element diaphragm driver" inside a "two-chamber housing, resulting in articulate audio with outstanding stereo separation" with an "advanced digital processor then optimizes audio performance for loudness and clarity." While that might sound like mumbo-jumbo, the results are stellar in the Beats fit Pro. The audio is deep and clear, with fantabulous separation between dissimilar instruments and vocals.
Beats Fit Pro sound deep and articulate, with immersive ANC and spatial sound support.
Of course, the Beats Fit Pro also feature active noise cancellation to really immerse yourself in the music. I oasis't used AirPods Pro, so I can't make a direct comparing, though I can confirm (once you have the correct ear tips installed) Beats Fit Pro do a proficient job of blocking out external noises, though not quite equally well equally over-ear headphones tin can.
Transparency manner is also here, so y'all can filter external noises back in should you desire to. That's useful when crossing the street or when talking to someone and means you don't have to remove an earbud each time. Information technology's easiest to switch between the dissimilar modes using the on-ear controls though you can also practise it via Control Middle on your iPhone.
Setting the Beats Fit Pro apart from the Beats Studio Buds and diverse other true wireless earbuds is the inclusion of proper spatial sound, including dynamic head tracking. That means y'all can enjoy Apple Music all around you and, when watching Dolby Atmos content on Apple Television receiver+ or other supported video, experience a theater-like environment. I find Dolby Atmos content in Apple tree Music to be hit or miss, but watching an epic scene in
See
or
Foundation
with spatial audio turned on makes for a actually immersive experience.
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When it comes to listening time, Apple says you'll get six hours of playtime from the earbuds with ANC turned on equally well as a further xviii hours stored in the charging case. From my usage, that seems about right, and you'll probably plug them in to accuse earlier you really need to. Apple has included the Fast Fuel feature in the Beats Fit Pro too, and so if you find yourself low on bombardment, you lot can plug them in for five minutes and gain an hour of playback.
All of Apple'southward smarts + the best of Beats
For Apple users, going with a modernistic Beats product brings with it a bunch of advantages over not-Apple tree earbuds. That means if AirPods don't work for you, you even so take a viable option without missing out on all of the smart integrations with Apple platforms.
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Virtually notably, Beats Fit Pro employ Apple'south H1 wireless bit. That's the same that is found in the latest AirPods models and enables one-tap pairing and automatic device switching across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and more. To go on costs downwards, the Beats Studio Buds lack this flake and and so don't bask the aforementioned benefits, which is worth noting if you're choosing between the two. Finer being an Apple tree product, y'all also get hands-free admission to Siri by saying "Hey Siri," and incoming text messages tin can be read out to you if y'all wish.
Modern Beats products offer a bunch of advantages for Apple users.
Other neat integrations include battery levels showing in the Batteries widget on your iOS devices, AirPods-like in-ear detection sensors that can automatically intermission playback, the Ear Fit Test that ensures you lot take the correct fit for noise cancellation, and enough of customization options via the iOS settings.
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Not really being an Apple tree product means that Beats Fit Pro can brand some accommodations for non-Apple users. They work bang-up with Android (it even says it on the box!) with one-tap pairing and a whole host of customization options via the Beats app for Android. Beats Fit Pro also employ USB-C for charging instead of Apple tree's proprietary Lightning connector.
Non actually existence an Apple tree production means that Beats Fit Pro tin make some accommodations for non-Apple users.
Better yet, Beats isn't afraid to experiment with colour, which means you can get an AirPods-like product without having to settle for stark white. Beats Fit Pro come in black, white, sage gray, and stone imperial. Information technology might seem a minor thing, but people similar color, and I'yard a large fan of the sage grey colorway of my review prepare.
Beats Fit Pro: What's non expert
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In that location'due south a lot to love well-nigh the Beats Fit Pro, and it'due south clear the pros outweigh the cons for the bulk of people, merely that doesn't mean they are perfect, and everyone should ditch their AirPods and run out to buy a set.
As I mentioned earlier, they fit very deeply, but this is at the detriment of long-term condolement. During testing, I've worn the Beats Fit Pro for curt spells as well as more extended periods and found that subsequently a couple of hours, my ears began to anguish. This is commonplace for a lot of in-ear products, but I think the wingtip keeping each Beats Fit Pro earbud totally stationary definitely adds to the feeling hither. It'southward worth considering if yous are choosing between regular AirPods and Beats Fit Pro.
Beats Fit Pro'southward secure fit comes at the detriment of long-term comfort.
Some other uncomfortable aspect of the Beats Fit Pro are the on-ear button controls. While I adopt a physical button to a touch-sensitive pad, clicking the button has the drawback of a loud thunking audio in your ear. "Hey Siri," vocalism controls can assuage this, though it's not e'er advisable to be shouting commands out loud. The AirPods stem controls are a nice middle-ground solution, but a lack of stems on the Beats Fit Pro means that's not an option.
(Prototype credit: Adam Oram / iMore)
My other qualms with the Beats Fit Pro business organization the charging case. As far every bit first impressions get, getting it out of the box was a disappointment for a $200 product. It feels inexpensive, flimsy, and plasticky, whereas the AirPods cases feel dumbo and well-constructed. It's besides larger than the AirPods case, which makes for a more bulky in-pocket feel.
Non offering wireless charging seems like an own goal.
Further, the instance does not offer wireless charging. Qi charging is so commonplace now that it's effectively table stakes at this point. If Apple had added standard Qi charging here and saved MagSafe for its ain earbuds, that would have made sense, but to go wired-only feels similar an own goal, and I've certainly missed plonking my earbuds down on my various wireless charging pads.
Beats Fit Pro: Contest
(Paradigm credit: Luke Filipowicz / iMore)
Beats Fit Pro are competing confronting a plethora of truly wireless earbuds, though those unconcerned with some of the advanced features the Beats Fit Pro offer are likely not looking at earbuds in this price range. That puts them in direct contest with college-stop earbuds from Apple like the third-gen AirPods, AirPods Pro, as well equally slightly more stripped back Beats Studio Buds, in addition to the wide variety of workout earbuds out there.
AirPods 3 offer the aforementioned smarts in a pattern that doesn't use an in-ear tip which may arrange those with more sensitive ears, though you'll miss out on noise counterfoil and a secure fit. AirPods Pro have an in-ear design plus some added features like MagSafe wireless charging and more intuitive controls, but they price considerably more and only come in white.
To help y'all choose, we've compared the Beats Fit Pro to some competing products, so exist sure to hit up our Beats Fit Pro vs AirPods Pro, Beats Fit Pro vs AirPods 3, and Beats Fit Pro vs Beats Studio Buds guides for a more detailed wait.
Beats Fit Pro: Should you buy information technology?
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You should purchase this if ...
- You want a solid set of workout earbuds
- You want agile racket cancellation and transparency modes
- You want something other than AirPods that yet offer Apple's smart integrations
Yous shouldn't buy this if...
- You have sensitive ears
- You won't benefit from the fitness focus or multi-device switching (go for Beats Studio Buds)
- Wireless charging is important to you
With a secure fit and IPX4 h2o resistance, those on the sentry for premium workout earbuds should consider the Beats Fit Pro. That advice stands regardless of what platform you use, though it'southward especially true for Apple tree device owners thanks to the smart features enabled past Apple tree'due south in-house H1 wireless chip and deep integration with Apple'southward iOS, macOS, and tvOS.
If you lot just want a set of earbuds that look and sound great, the Beats Fit Pro are likewise a neat selection. They sound impeccable out of the box and tin be further tuned to your liking, with active dissonance counterfoil and transparency modes without the demand for over-ear cans. Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking is also stellar when using Beats Fit Pro with supported content.
Got sensitive ears? Then the Beats fit Pro are non for y'all if you want to be able to use them for an extended flow of fourth dimension. Similarly, if you don't want to drop $200 on your next fix of earbuds, then the Beats Fit Pro are not an option. You could stick with Beats and go for the less expensive Studio Buds and even so have a similar if more stripped dorsum, feel, or have a punt on some sub-$50 if you want something super basic.
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Bottom line:
Beats Fit Pro offer most of what AirPods Pro practise with some added features aimed at dandy exercisers. The look and sound great, integrate tightly with Apple devices, and help to block out annoyances with ANC. Outside of a plasticky case and uncomfortable fit for some users, at that place's not a lot to dislike.