AirPods Vs. AirPods Pro: Should You Spend The Extra 100
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[ ]
[ AirPods 2019]
[ $159 at Apple]
[ ]
[ AirPods Pro]
[ $249 at Apple]
Apple currently makes two true wireless earbud models: the second-gen [/reviews/apple-airpods-2019-review/ AirPods] (which list for $159, but are generally sold for closer to $139 in the US) come with optional wireless charging, and the $249 [/reviews/apple-airpods-pro-review/ AirPods Pro], which feature active noise cancellation. I personally prefer the AirPods Pro and rated them higher than the standard AirPods in my review. But they cost around $110 more than the base AirPods without wireless charging and not everyone likes their noise-isolating design, which leaves you with a silicone ear tip pushed slightly into your ear canal. The looser fit of the AirPods has its advantages if you don't want to spend $250 on earphones, especially ones that are easy to lose.
AirPods vs. AirPods Pro Comparison
AirPods
AirPods Pro
List price
[ $159]
[ $249]
Active noise cancellation
No
Yes
Noise-isolating design
No
Yes
Battery life (between in-case charges)
4.5 hours
5 hours
Wireless charging
[ In $199 model]
Yes
That, in a nutshell, is why some people aren't sure about which AirPods to buy. And while there are plenty of excellent non-Apple true wireless earbuds out there -- just peruse my list of the [/news/best-true-wireless-earbuds-in-2020-apple-airpods-pro-jabra-elite-sony-more/ best true wireless earbuds of 2020] -- you're presumably here because you're on the fence about the AirPods or AirPods Pro. Let's see if we can help you make a decision.
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Read more: [/news/best-cheap-true-wireless-headphones-top-airpods-alternatives-for-less/ Best cheap true-wireless earbuds of 2020]
[ AirPods 2019]
[ More affordable, more open sound]
[ ]
Sarah Tew/CNET
Simply put, the main reason to buy the standard AirPods is to save money. The model with the regular charging case currently sells for $139 while the model with the wireless charging case sells for $169 ($199 if you buy at the Apple Store). Occasionally, the prices dip to $130 and you can find "renewed" options for as low as [ $120]. I personally think wireless charging is a bit overrated (when it comes to headphones, anyway), so I wouldn't pay the extra money for it. If I was buying the standard AirPods, my goal would be to pay as little as possible for them.
As I said, some people don't like having silicone buds stuck in their ears. That's the reason why so many people like the original AirPods. They just sort of nestle in your ear -- and when they fit right, they're really comfortable. And a few folks at CNET have told me that even though the AirPods Pro sounded better, they still preferred the fit of the regular AirPods.
I'm among those who can't get the standard AirPods to stay in my ears securely without using third-party stabilizing wings (and you have to take off the wings to get the AirPods back in their charging case, which is a nuisance). That's the main reason I prefer the AirPods Pro.
The biggest drawback of the standard AirPods' "open" design is that it allows ambient sound to leak in. They sound decent in quieter environments -- and their performance as a headset for making calls is almost as good as the AirPods Pro -- but the listening experience deteriorates in noisy environments.
While plenty of people use the standard AirPods for working out and even running, Apple does not say they are sweat-resistant -- they have no IPX water-resistance rating -- and penzu.com any water damage isn't covered by their warranty. The AirPods Pro have an IPX4 water-resistance rating, which makes them splashproof and sweat-resistant.
[/reviews/apple-airpods-2019-review/ Read our Apple AirPods 2019 review].
[ $159 at Apple]
[ $139 at Amazon]
[ $140 at Best Buy]
[ AirPods Pro]
[ Better fit, better sound]
[ ]
Sarah Tew/CNET
[/awards/ ED I T O R S ' C H O I C E Nov 2019]
[ ][ ] that the AirPods Pro will get a big upgrade this fall with the release of iOS 14: a [ ] that simulates surround sound.
Both the AirPods and AirPods Pro will get automatic switching between Apple devices, another new feature in iOS 14, but only the AirPods Pro will get the virtual surround feature.
[/reviews/apple-airpods-pro-review/ Read our Apple AirPods Pro review].
[ $249 at Apple]
[ $234 at Amazon]
[ $250 at Best Buy]
Read more: [/news/apple-airpods-pro-spatial-audio-headphone-feature-should-have-bose-sony-worried-commentary/ Apple's new spatial audio feature should have Bose and Sony worried]
More AirPods coverage[/news/how-to-use-airpods-with-an-android-phone-samsung-galaxy-pixel-huawei-and-more/ How to use AirPods with an Android phone: Samsung Galaxy, Pixel, Huawei and more][/news/best-airpods-pro-accessories-for-2020-cases-wireless-in-flight-transmitters-and-chargers/ Best AirPods Pro accessories for 2020: Cases, wireless in-flight transmitters and chargers][/news/best-cheap-true-wireless-headphones-top-airpods-alternatives-for-less/ Best cheap true-wireless earbuds in 2020: Top AirPods alternatives for $100 or less][/videos/airpods-pro-after-3-months-worth-it/ AirPods Pro after three months: Worth it?]
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[ AirPods 2019More affordable, more open sound$159 at Apple]
[ AirPods ProBetter fit, better sound$249 at Apple]
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