Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) vs Beats Studio Buds

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and the Beats Studio Buds are interesting to compare, especially considering that Beats is a subsidiary of Apple. In some ways these true wireless earbuds are very similar, but they also have some notable distinctions. The most clear difference is the better support for Android on the part of the Beats Studio Buds. But which of these pairs of earbuds is better overall?

Editor’s note: this article was published on January 11, 2023, and is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

The overall design language of both of these products is fairly comparable, with them both being true wireless earbuds with a charging case. The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) features a lightning connector for charging, whereas the Beats Studio Buds supports USB-C instead. This is due to the Beats Studio Buds aiming to support phones beyond Apple’s iPhone line. The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) comes with four differently sized silicone tips that you can swap out to find the correct fit, whereas the Beats Studio Buds comes with only three different sizes. The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) will also automatically pause when you remove the earbuds, but the Beats Studio Buds will not. Both of these products have an IPX4 rating, meaning that they’ll hold up okay in wet conditions. 

Each set of earbuds has notably different controls. The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) uses a touch and swipe based system, and the Beats Studio Buds sports a physical clickable button on either earbud. However, despite this the two products have a nearly identical set of controls options. On both products you’re able to play, pause, take calls, raise and lower the volume, and enable or disable active noise cancelling.

iPhone users will be able to summon their phone’s voice assistant by invoking the phrase “Hey Siri” on either set of buds, whereas Android users may have to physically press the buttons on the Beats Studio Buds to bring up their voice assistant depending on their phone’s settings. You’re also able to adjust which button presses do what in the app for the Beats Studio Buds.

Both the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and the Beats Studio Buds works effortlessly with iOS and iPad OS devices, with no additional app required. If you’re using an iPhone you’ll have no trouble at all pairing and configuring either product, and the setup process is almost exactly identical. Android users will have a little trouble using the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation). There is no app for Android, and obviously the Settings app won’t have the same sort of integration with the device. There’s no way to receive updates, either. It’s a very barebones experience, but you will at least be able to get some audio over Bluetooth.

The Beats Studio Buds on the other hand is fully supported on Android, and have its own app that will allow you toggle listening modes, customize the controls, and apply firmware updates. That being said once you’re through setting them up the Beats app is mostly superfluous to the day-to-day experience.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and the Beats Studio Buds are both Bluetooth earbuds, with no backup wired option like some Bluetooth headphones. The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) supports the latest Bluetooth 5.3 standard, whereas the Beats Studio Buds ships with the Bluetooth 5.2 standard. These are functionally very similar, with Bluetooth 5.3 mostly paving the way for Bluetooth LE support. Both of these earbuds support AAC and SBC Bluetooth audio codecs, which are the default options for Bluetooth 5.0 and higher,  but they lack options capable of higher quality like aptX or LDAC.

With active noise cancelling enabled on both, the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) lasts longer than the Beats Studio Buds, with 5 hours, 43 minutes and 4 hours, 24 minutes, respectively. The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) promises 24 hours of total use when charging with the case, while the Beats Studio Buds promise only two additional charge cycles (of course, it’s also important to note that battery performance will degrade over time).

Both products support fast charging, but it’s crucial to note that the AirPods use a Lightning connector to charge, whereas the Studio Buds support USB-C. Additionally the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) supports wireless charging, whereas the Beats Studio Buds does not.

The Beats Studio Buds active noise cancelling simply doesn’t hold a candle to most other true wireless earbuds on the market right now. While both it and the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) have fairly decent noise isolation without active noise cancelling enabled, the AirPods are simply far better when ANC is fully enabled. This makes the AirPods Pro better suited for travel and commuting—it’s good at blocking out the noises of airplanes, buses, and trains. Of course, it’s also important to get a proper seal and fit to obtain the full ANC effect, which you’ll have an easier time doing with the AirPods’ four different sized ear tips compared to the three ones included with the Beats Studio Buds. Additionally, the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) features ANC that will automatically adjust depending on if you’re listening in a particularly loud environment.

When it comes to our testing with sound quality both the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and the Beats Studio Buds are clearly drawing from the same school of thought. They both stick very close to the SoundGuys house curve, with only slight deviations here and there in the frequency response. This means a slight emphasis on the bass and high end frequencies. The Beats Studio Buds falter only slightly with a slightly stronger set of peaks and valleys around 10kHz, as well as a ~5dB deviation in the midrange. Generally these two are fairly neck and neck with regards to sound quality. The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) also features an adaptive EQ, which attempts to compensate for differences in the shape of the listener’s ear. Of course, you can adjust the EQ manually on the Beats Studio Buds, but you likely won’t get the same results.

Both the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and the Beats Studio Buds operate on a similar principle of using two microphones to enhance their call quality. Under ideal conditions both of these earbuds perform fairly well. However, in louder environments or windy weather they both falter somewhat. Basically, they both provide adequate results and have similar strengths and weaknesses. You can listen below to hear our samples for yourself, and vote in the associated poll.

Should you get the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) or Beats Studio Buds?

For the most part. this choice depends on which smartphone you use. If you have anything other than an iPhone, the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) just isn’t really for you. Sure, it’ll work in a pinch, but you’ll be missing out on several important features and the slick Apple ease of use. The choice is also already made for you if you’re someone operating on a budget. The Beats Studio Buds are $100 cheaper than the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation). With the sound quality being nearly on par, and the design and battery life being only a little bit behind, the Beats Studio Buds are an appealing choice.

However, if you’re an iPhone user, someone that appreciates the more premium quality that comes with a more expensive product, or just appreciate that Apple magic, the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) is the superior choice. It has an extra hour of listening time, 24 hours of battery total, slick integration with iOS/iPad OS, and wireless charging.

If you’re looking for alternatives the first place to check would be other products from the same product lines as these two. The Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) is fairly comparable to the new second generation version, but can be found for a fair bit cheaper if you know where to look. The Beats Fit Pro is a great set of true wireless earbuds for anyone looking for a more workout-focused product. If you’re looking for another Android-oriented option, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 might interest you, coming in around the same price as the Beats Studio Buds. Finally if you want a platform-agnostic option that matches Apple for that luxury feel, the Sony WF-1000XM4 is a fantastic option.