Packaging. Photo: Winnie Chung
Source:
https://scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3017109/we-review-new-powerbeats-pro-headphones-are-they-better Tech & Design
We review the new Powerbeats Pro headphones – are they better than the Apple AirPods?
Apple is looking at another revolution with the Powerbeats Pro from Beats, which Apple acquired in 2014
Inside the box of Powerbeats
Finding the perfect headphones has been like the holy grail for me, not that I can justify forking out five-figure prices for Final Audio or Ultrasone earphones, especially since a life on the go means that I am constantly listening to my music collection on my iPhone.
Apple pushed the wireless trend when the iPhones lost their audio jack and quickly turned out the AirPods which, as with many Apple products, attracted sneers for their weird design – until everyone started wearing them.
Now Apple is looking at another revolution with the Powerbeats Pro from Beats, which Apple acquired in 2014. Like the AirPods when they were first released, the Powerbeats Pro will have to win over fans with their design when they are finally released in Asia “this summer”. (At the moment they are available in parts of Europe.)
So, will the Powerbeats Pro win over AirPods fans? STYLE got hold of a pair to find out what all the fuss is about.
Packaging
Let’s start with the Powerbeats Pro’s least attractive factor: its size. With a squarish case measuring 7.5cm wide and 4cm deep, it’s too large to fit comfortably in jeans or trouser pockets – especially for guys. The earphones are available in four colours – black, ivory, moss and navy – although only the first two have been made available in the first releases.
I like the matt black case, which works better for the darker-coloured earbuds than for the ivory ones. Like the AirPods, the case also serves as the charging port using a lightning cable. The buds fit into set grooves in the case, which click in place through magnets like the AirPods’ case.
The position of the fit is not the most obvious and requires a bit of fiddling and, perhaps an engineering degree, before you get it right the first few times. Fortunately, the battery life means you can leave the case behind if you are only out and about for a few hours and you don’t mind stuffing the earpieces in your pockets without protection.
Connectivity
Like the AirPods, connection is easy; essentially all you have to do is turn on the Bluetooth on your Apple device and open the case and the connection is automatic. Android users need to go through the process of turning on the Bluetooth and searching for new devices to connect.
You can see the amount of charge left on your buds and the case on any connected device within range. Connection remains crisp and clear within a respectable distance. I can still hear my music clearly when I am in my bedroom and my phone is outside.
The Powerbeats Pro uses Apple’s H1 chip which also powers the latter’s second generation AirPods. The chip allows for lower gaming latency, faster switching between active devices, faster call connection as well as voice-activated “Hey Siri” controls.
Form and comfort
Powerbeats. Photos: Winnie Chung
If you’ve been a fan of the Powerbeats 2 or 3, the over-ear hook and in-ear bud form of the Powerbeats Pro is not new – but it is truly wireless. I have grown to love my AirPods (even though I never thought I would) but they have never fitted as comfortably or as snugly as I would have liked.
I’m not the most sporty person, but I do travel long-haul a lot and like to listen to podcasts as we take off. With the AirPods, I’m always afraid that my pods will fall out when I am asleep and be devoured by my seat. With the Powerbeats Pro, however, essentially you can headbang all night at a silent rave without them falling out.
I can see runners and sportspeople liking them because they sit so firmly on the ears even during strenuous exercise, without the connecting wire (as in the Powerbeats 3) smacking against the back of your neck. They are also sweat and water-resistant.
The over-ear hooks fit comfortably over my ears. With the right-sized tips, the in-ear buds also fit perfectly and come with extra sizes so that you can pick the right one. The headphones are so light that you soon forget they are there. However, I did notice after about three hours that there was a little ear fatigue, which could affect people with bigger ears more.
Unlike the trend of touch controls, the Pro relies on actual buttons which I prefer as I often accidentally brush the controls and send my iTunes into a schizophrenic spin. Here, the volume, play/pause, and yes, even Siri, are controlled with the same physical buttons on either earphone.
Sound quality
Powerbeats
I have spent thousands looking for great sound and I haven’t been a big fan of the sound of the Beats headphones. I have often found better sound quality in similar-priced brands such as AKG or Shure.
The AirPods didn’t have the best sound quality either, with less range. The loose fit of the pods in my ears didn’t help with any kind of noise isolation. I could often have conversations even with the music playing.
I didn’t come into this with much hope for the Pro either. I confess when I ordered my pair, I had been more enamoured by the form rather than any hopes of better sound quality. I was pleasantly surprised.
Until I heard the richer tones, I had not realised how much I was compromising on sound with my AirPods. Like with many other Beats products, the bass was strong especially when I was listening to Eminem’s The Ringer, yet still could do credit to Celine Dion’s vocals on How Does A Moment Last Forever?
The snug fit keeps the earbuds from moving, blocking out more of the outside noise and preventing major variations in sound, and making for a more pleasant sound experience all-round. These are, however, not noise-cancellation earphones.
Phone connection is clear although voices from the other end of the line seem to come in a little softer than the music even when I have it on full volume – but still clear enough for a good natter.
Battery life and charging
This is where the Powerbeats Pro pulls away from the AirPods and its closest rivals, claiming nine hours of battery life on a charge for the earphones, which is 80 per cent more than the second generation AirPods.
To be fair, I’ve never had a problem running out of juice with my AirPods if the case is fully charged. The Powerbeats Pro offers hours of playback time, which allows you to enjoy podcasts or music on a flight from Hong Kong to New York City with little battery anxiety.
The case also has a Fast Fuel feature that gives you 90 minutes of use with a five-minute charge or 4 hours 30 minutes with a 15-minute charge, compared to 3 hours on a 15-minute charge on both generations of the AirPods.
The Powerbeats Pro is the clear winner in this respect, although JLab is laying claim to that crown with 10 hours of play time with its coming Epic Air Sport earbuds. Whether its whole package will trump the Powerbeats Pro on other fronts remains to be seen.
Conclusion
Powerbeats vs AirPods
Some people will be put off by the price tag – US$250 – which is almost US$100 more than the AirPods, but its functions and performance easily trump the latter. It’s also a little cheaper than the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II. Granted, the Powerbeats Pro does not fully cancel external noise, but the sound quality is more than decent, and regardless of how big the case is, it beats carrying the Bose case (or wearing the headphones for long periods). The Powerbeats Pro are arguably the best wireless in-ear headphones around today and the most secure. They will be my choice for coming travels.