The AirPods Professional 2 and Beats Match Professional are, arms down, two of the greatest Apple earbuds you should purchase. They share lots of the identical options (e.g., energetic noise cancellation (ANC), “Hey Siri” voice activation, Personalised Spatial Audio) and function equally, because of impeccable iOS integration. Different elements equivalent to battery life and sound high quality are comparable as properly.
Nevertheless, variations in design and {hardware} make them utterly totally different merchandise. Apple’s introduction of the H2 processor offers the AirPods Professional 2 a useful leg-up in opposition to their sporty rival, whereas the Match Professional’s extra fitness-centric look and distinctive mic array make them the extra reliable exercise companion.
Just one will be thought-about Apple’s high true wi-fi mannequin. Learn our in-depth evaluation to see whether or not the AirPods Professional 2 or Beats Match Professional are worthy of that title.
AirPods Professional 2 vs. Beats Match Professional: Worth
The AirPods Professional 2 replaces the unique on the identical $249 value level. It’s solely been a number of weeks since their launch, however main on-line retailers like Amazon (opens in new tab) are at the moment promoting them for $234. In the meantime, the Beats Match Professional carries a $199 MSRP, although it’s continuously on sale (we’ve seen it go for as little as $160).
Each merchandise are anticipated to be a part of this 12 months’s greatest Black Friday offers and greatest Cyber Monday offers.
Taking value and efficiency into consideration, the Match Professional is the extra attractive buy.
Bookmark our greatest AirPods offers and greatest headphones offers pages to remain notified of the most recent wi-fi earbuds gross sales.
Winner: Beats Match Professional
AirPods Professional 2 vs. Beats Match Professional: Specs in contrast
| Header Cell – Column 0 | AirPods Professional 2 | Beats Match Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Worth | $249.99 | $199.99 |
| Wirelesw charging | Sure | No |
| Battery life | 5.5 hours (Spatial Audio and Head Monitoring on) 6 hours (ANC on); 7 hours (ANC off); 30 hours (charging case with ANC on); 34 hours (charging case with ANC off) | 6 hours (ANC on), 7 hours (ANC Off), 27 hours (ANC on with charging case), 30 hours (ANC off with charging case) |
| Processor | H2 | H1 |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| IPX ranking | IPX4 (buds and case) | IPX4 (buds solely) |
| Dimension and weight (buds) | 1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 inches (per bud); 0.19 ounces (per bud) | 0.75 x 1.18 x 0.94 inches (per bud); 0.2 ounces (per bud) |
| Dimension and weight (charging case) | 1.78 x 2.39 x 0.85 inches (charging case); 1.79 ounces (charging case) | 1.94 ounces (charging case); 1.12. x 2.44. x 2.44 inches (charging case) |
| Particular options | ANC, adaptive transparency mode, adaptive EQ, customized spatial audio, automated switching, Ear Tip Match Take a look at, bodily quantity controls, audio sharing, introduced messages with Siri, Discover My (AirPods), “Hey Siri” voice-activated help, Reside Pay attention, MagSafe charging case with built-in speaker, Apple Watch charging, lanyard loop help | ANC, adaptive EQ, customized spatial audio, transparency mode, automated switching, audio sharing, introduced messages with Siri, Ear Tip Match Take a look at, “Hey Siri” voice-activated help, Discover My in iOS |
AirPods Professional 2 vs. Beats Match Professional: Design
Attractiveness and construct high quality go to the Match Professional. Plastic makes up all the product and the fabric feels extraordinarily sturdy. IPX4 certification means the buds can maintain sweat and heavy splashing. Beats’ iconic brand is positioned on the multifunctional button and the highest of the charging case, which is compact and shops the buds handsomely on the within. You can even buy the Match Professional in several colours, together with Black, Sage Grey, Stone Purple, White, and three restricted version variations from the Kim Kardashian assortment.
Apple principally carried out a copy-and-paste job with the AirPods Professional 2. They did add the AirPods 3’s skin-detect sensors for distinction. These buds are composed of the identical low cost plastic used to create the earlier model. The IP ranking (IPX4) hasn’t modified both. Apple does give the MagSafe charging case the identical IP safety, together with new options like a built-in speaker with location monitoring capabilities (extra on this later) and a loop on the aspect to connect a lanyard.
The AirPods Professional 2 comes with a brand new ear tip equipment for optimum match and has the extra correct Ear Tip Match Take a look at. Nevertheless, the Match Professional’s suggestions provide higher sweat absorption and the put in wings maintain the buds locked in place when engaged in lateral-heavy workouts.
Winner: Beats Match Professional
AirPods Professional 2 vs. Beats Match Professional: Controls
Every gadget comes with a full suite of instructions that may be enabled manually or by means of voice activation through “Hey Siri” wake phrase performance. Apple’s AI bot works barely higher on the AirPods Professional 2; the twin beamforming mics and speech-detecting accelerometer assist seize each phrase. Put on detection can also be accessible on each fashions and works properly to provoke auto-pause when eradicating both set of buds.
The true differentiator on this class is bodily controls, one thing that is much better executed on the AirPods Professional 2. Apple’s progressive pressure sensors are the very best enter methodology for wi-fi earbuds, plus the inclusion of contact sensors to simply elevate and decrease quantity utilizing slide gestures is an ingenious transfer. Urgent the Match Professional’s buttons provides nice tactility to make sure customers of supposed instructions are met. Nevertheless, this motion results in soreness after a number of makes an attempt because it pushes the buds additional into your ears.
You may customise the management scheme for both product within the iOS settings. Solely the Match Professional enables you to achieve this on Android gadgets through companion app. Beats buds are additionally appropriate with Google Assistant and Bixby – the AirPods Professional 2 aren’t.
Nonetheless, Apple’s pressure sensor system is simply too good to disclaim.
Winner: AirPods Professional 2
AirPods Professional 2 vs. Beats Match Professional: Energetic noise cancellation
We’ve praised the Match Professional for boasting the identical ANC efficiency as the unique AirPods Professional. The expertise nonetheless performs as much as par, eliminating as much as 85 p.c of exterior sounds, particularly those who fall inside low and mid-frequencies. Beats’ Transparency Mode is simply as dependable for growing environmental consciousness when exercising indoors or open air. You may even make the most of ambient listening alternate options like Reside Pay attention, which makes use of the iPhone mics to seize noises, so you may hear them.
Apple says the AirPods Professional 2 can “cut back as much as two occasions extra undesirable background noise,” however our testing says in any other case. These buds don’t outperform ANC goliaths such because the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 or Sony WF-1000XM4. That doesn’t imply they don’t do an outstanding job of decreasing undesirable noise. Like their predecessor, these buds tame low- and mid-frequency noises. Additionally they neutralize high-pitched sounds and wind higher than the Match Professional. Nevertheless it’s the brand new Adaptive Transparency mode that offers the AirPods Professional 2 this spherical, retaining listeners conscious of their environment and decreasing harsh environmental noise on the identical time.
Winner: AirPods Professional 2
AirPods Professional 2 vs. Beats Match Professional: Audio High quality
Count on lots of the identical audio specs, irrespective of which buds you select. Apple’s adaptive EQ optimizes audio on the fly to pump out wealthy, energetic sound. You may nonetheless tweak audio efficiency by switching between totally different music presets in iOS. And whereas Personalised Spatial Audio was first launched throughout the AirPods Professional 2 announcement, it’s additionally accessible on the Match Professional and helps improve 3D results when listening to Dolby-Atmos-supported content material.
The AirPods Professional 2 helps one additional function: Headphone Lodging to tune steadiness, vary, and brightness. Apple’s headtracking expertise is superior on the AirPods Professional 2, making a extra immersive listening atmosphere when zoning out to pick Apple Music tracks. The newest AirPods additionally obtain a brand new low-distortion driver and customized amplifier, which creates richer, extra energetic sound, although the Match Professional has a greater soundstage with well-balanced frequency vary and stronger bass.
Winner: Tie
AirPods Professional 2 vs. Beats Match Professional: Particular options and app
The function units for each fashions are practically equivalent. As for what’s shared: ANC, adaptive EQ, introduced messages with Siri, automated switching, management customization, Ear Tip Match Take a look at, EQ, Discover My help, “Hey Siri” voice activation, Reside Pay attention, Personalised Spatial Audio, and Transparency mode.
The AirPods Professional 2 do have some unique options. Apple’s H2 processor works with Bluetooth 5.3 to create sooner high-bandwidth connectivity with iOS/macOS gadgets. As beforehand talked about, the MagSafe charging case now helps the Discover My app and can ship out a tone by means of the speaker that signifies the situation of a misplaced gadget. It’ll additionally inform you of pairing, low battery, and charging statuses.
Even when the Match Professional runs on the older H1 chip, the expertise nonetheless operates at an elite stage on all platforms. These buds are extra platform-neutral, just like the Studio Buds, and simply pair to Android gadgets, which is one thing that may’t be mentioned concerning the AirPods Professional 2.
However, the H2 chip makes the AirPods Professional 2 extra futureproof.
Winner: AirPods Professional 2
AirPods Professional 2 vs. Beats Match Professional: Battery life
The AirPods Professional 2 acquired a lift in playtimes and provides the identical battery life because the Match Professional: 6 hours with ANC on and seven hours with ANC off. Quick-Gasoline charging is commonplace on each fashions, producing 1 hour of use on a 5-minute cost. Apple’s charging case holds extra transportable energy than Beats’ case (34 hours versus 28 hours), plus it helps wi-fi charging and Apple Watch charging.
Winner: AirPods Professional 2
AirPods Professional 2 vs. Beats Match Professional: Name high quality
We choose the Match Professional as a calling headset. Common calls and FaceTime chats sound loud and clear. The six microphones (three on every bud) and voice accelerometer enable for very good vocal seize and high quality noise discount.
The unique AirPods Professional are among the greatest earbuds for voice and video calls. We’re unsure what occurred, however the AirPods Professional 2 dropped the ball on name high quality. We skilled a number of muffle and background noise throughout testing. One optimistic is that they arrive with headtracking help for FaceTime calls, which makes conferencing chats really feel extra in-person.
Winner: Beats Match Professional
Winner: AirPods Professional 2
The AirPods Professional 2 wins this face-off. Apple’s H2 chip is a big function that offers these buds stronger ANC, smarter controls, and extra battery life. A lot of what made the unique a industrial smash stays intact, from convincing 3D sound to seamless iOS/macOS integration. New additions like Precision Discovering with the MagSafe charging case and contact quantity controls additionally make this model really feel like a splurge-worthy improve.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | AirPods Professional 2 | Beats Match Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Worth (5) | 4 | 5 |
| Design (15) | 12 | 13 |
| Controls (10) | 10 | 8 |
| Energetic noise cancellation (20) | 18 | 17 |
| Audio high quality (15) | 13 | 13 |
| App and particular options (15) | 15 | 11 |
| Battery Life (10) | 8 | 7 |
| Name high quality (10) | 8 | 10 |
| Complete Rating (100) | 88 | 84 |
The Beats Match Professional are a incredible worth for iPhone or Android customers that need stellar sound and nice noise cancellation at a extra attainable value. It’s a serious deal to get practically the identical options because the AirPods Professional 2, particularly these like Personalised Spatial Audio, which has been poorly promoted by Beats promoting group. A sporty design, enough playtimes, and stronger name high quality earn these buds even higher reward.
In the long run, it’s actually concerning the H2 chip and all the most recent tech it affords the AirPods Professional 2, together with what’s to return from future iOS updates.
