HomeFeatured It wasn't easy. But with the Beats Fit Pro someone eventually managed to make better earphones than the AirPods Pro . Ironically, these headphones that sound better and longer, that fit better and cost less than the Airpods Pro , are always made by Apple. If you are eager to understand why we think the Beats Fit Pro are better than all AirPods, including the recent Airpods 3, and why we think they are the earbuds that anyone who has iPhones and largely Android ones should seriously consider as earbuds. buy, you can go directly to the bottom. If you want our arguments, continue below.
Beats Fit Pro as they are made
The Beats Fit Pro arrive a short distance from the launch of the Beats Studio Buds of which they are close relatives at first glance: design and structure are the same. In both cases “in ear” models , with noise cancellation and transparency mode , which seal the earphone cable with rubber pads (there are three sizes available) and rely on the anatomical structure of the ear cable itself to stay in place. From the point of view of the structure (functionally and technically the speech is different: the Fit Pro are more sophisticated and complex) there is only one main difference between the Beats Studio Buds and Beats Fit Pro lies in the fact that the latter have a hook that enters the hollow of the ear improving stability.
The contents of the package The affinity between Beats Studio Buds and Beats Fit Pro is also determined by the fact that both earphones are built with colored plastics . Those of the Beats Fit Pro have a couple of more sophisticated colors in addition to the classic black and white: amethyst purple and sage gray. Since people like the colors and the monochrome (white) of the AirPods doesn't go down at all , here's a first point of advantage of the Beats Fit Pro over its internal competitors.
The colors of the Beats Fit Pro Among the other construction details there is the resistance to water (IPX4) but not to immersion or to dust . The specification is the same as the Airpods Pro and it would be adequate were it not for the fact that in this tumultuous world of earphones many competitors are classified as protected from dust and often even temporary immersion.
The custody
A note on the case which is larger than that of the AirPods Pro (essentially due to the ear hook) but has nothing to do with the gigantic one of the PowerBeats Pro. fits well in your trouser pocket and isn't very heavy either . However, there are some flaws: light plastic and a somewhat cheap closing mechanism give the impression of an accessory made with the aim of saving.
1 of 3 The case of the Beats Fit Review beats fit pro3172 Compared to the case of the Airpods Review beats fit pro3183 Various cases compared: From left to top: PowerBeats Pro, Airpods Pro; below: Beats Fit Pro and Beats Studio Buds review beats fit pro3177
Beats Fit Pro ergonomics
We mentioned the rubber pads of three different sizes and the hook for the basin. The former are a standard for Beats (and Apple) the latter a touch of genius. Although, contrary to what many competitors do, the hook is fixed, it performs its function perfectly . Beats explains that they used a catalog of anthropometric data to design the Beats Fit Pro and have done extensive testing to come up with a product that fits ears of all sizes and shapes.
This is how Beats Studio Buds fit Airpods Pro Beats Fit Pro In fact, even running, jumping and shaking the head there is no way to see the earphones fall which are far more stable than the Airpods Pro, let alone the AirPods 3. Neither the hook. nor the earphones that enter the ear cord cause discomfort even after use for several hours. The comfort and stability are almost equal to those of the Powerbeats Pro which are the “golden standard” in these areas. At the moment we can say that we have not tried more comfortable in-ear headphones than the Beats Fit Pro.
The controls
Virtually all Beats earphones have at least one button to control certain aspects of playback, and the Beats Fit Pro is no exception. Behind the logo with the classic “b” there is a button with which you can start playback and manage incoming calls and activate or deactivate the noise suppression mode; we can also customize the meaning of the long press on the key , making it operate as an alternative to increase the volume.
The point where the multifunction button of the Fit Pro is located We are not at the perfection of the technology of the PowerBeats Pro which have a rocker for the volume and a button for each earphone, but since we are talking about much smaller earphones there is no reason to complain. Especially here we have an advantage over the tiring and uncomfortable touch control of the AirPods with their bizarre “squeeze” system which, besides the rest, does not even allow you to control the volume. Maybe Apple could ask Beats engineers for advice on how to manage the controls of a pair of in-ear headphones …
Beats Fit Pro has a music control button
How it works on iPhone and Android
Inside the new Beats earphones there is the H1 chip , the same chip that allows AirPods Pro and AirPods to operate in such an innovative and integrated way with iPhones. For this from a functional point of view there are no differences between AirPods and Beats Fit Pro. The Beats earphones automatically switch between Apple devices and synchronize via iCloud, they have the functions share audio, support Hey Siri, deliver spatial audio, and integrate with Where's. However, there is a limit to this function; there is no proximity tracking system (present in the Airpods 3 and Airpods Pro) which, however, could arrive with an upcoming update.
There are few differences in using Beats Fit Pro on Android versus iPhone. Those who have an Android phone only lose the inter-device sync function, spatial audio and quick pairing. The rest comes from a excellent and clear application that allows you to manage customizations that in other Apple headsets are only allowed to those who have an iPhone. Some examples: manage the listening modes, do the grip test of the rubber pads, see the battery of the case and turn the earpiece detection on and off.
All the operational differences of the Beats Fit Pro between an iPhone and an Android
Noise suppression
The Beats Fit Pro just like the AirPods Pro support noise canceling technology and transparency mode. Dependent on the H1 chip and based on an environment analysis system, very similar is also the effectiveness is the same as that of the AirPods Pro : far from that of the best competitors among which it is always worth mentioning the absolute parameter in this area, the Bose Quiet Comfort but still good. In fact, the Fit Pros have no difficulty in canceling sounds on a constant frequency and with low tones. They are a little less efficient on higher pitches and when there is a frequency difference in place such as a room with different voices and noises overlapping. In this case we must rely on the seal of the rubber pads.
In any case, the system, once calibrated and once you have found the right rubber to close the earphone cable, is definitely superior to the mediocre one of the Studio Buds and more than enough to make a train or plane trip more comfortable. Above all, the noise suppression is useful for hearing the sound of a film while the dishwasher or a vacuum cleaner works at home, decrease the environmental noise and listen to the music at a lower volume, capturing the various shades and tones.
Impeccable transparency mode which generates natural sounds without giving the impression of something artificial as happens with some competitors.
How they sound
Speaking of music, here we are: how does Beats Fit Pro sound ? The answer is easy: very well. If we still want to get in the way of the main internal competitors we would also say better than the AirPods Pro . The Beats music systems have long since left aside the all-bass style that marked the first products born from the entrepreneurial genius of Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. Since the engineering is by Apple, the focus has been on the balance between the various shades while not neglecting a certain controlled aggressiveness. This is also the case for the Beats Fit Pro, capable (also thanks to a new 9.5mm diameter transducer) to produce a detailed, rich and defined sound that ranges from highs to lows without ever exceeding, also managing to give a marked dynamism to the sound. The realm of the Beats earphones are the medium and medium bass , with good results also on the real bass ; the style of music that offers the most satisfaction is therefore pop, but also rap and hip-hop are well represented by the Beats Fit Pro which are the perfect earphones for the gym.
The overall sound quality is completely comparable to that of the PowerBeats Pro even if perhaps the latter do a little better in the bass that they manage to manage optimally, controlling them but managing to get to very high tones. deep. On the other hand, the sound of the Fit Pro is more refined and able to offer itself as pleasant to a wider audience. This is also thanks to the adaptive equalization system that we find here as in all other Apple products. No direct and “manual” sound customization, but a technology that adapts the music to the shape of the earphone cable.
We will say little or nothing about the Space Sound function. We have talked about it many times now, the last when we wrote our review of the AirPods 3. In the Beats Fit Pro the quality and the overall effect is the same as that obtained from other Apple earphones. The novelty, not only of this Beats model, is that now the spatial sound works even when making group calls with FaceTime . An extra bonus for those living in the Apple ecosystem.
Calls and conferences
If we talk about use of Beats Fit Pro to communicate this is perhaps where there is a point of disadvantage compared to AirPods . Despite having the same structure with six microphones, (three per earphone), five of which are used for telephone or video calls, the results of Apple's iconic white earphones do not offer the same quality. The volume of the voice was described by our interlocutor as a bit low and not particularly defined perhaps due to the ambient noise suppression system (moreover muffled but not completely canceled) or perhaps due to the shape of the more compact and different from that of the Airpods. In any case, this should not be a discriminating factor in the purchase of Beats Fit Pro that are not designed to be used specifically to offer the maximum in the context of a conference.
Autonomy
Another sector where, instead, the Beats Fit Pro beat the AirPods is in the autonomy omia . The official specifications speak of six hours with active noise suppression and 21 hours of additional operation thanks to charging in the case, so 27 hours without resorting to a plug. In the days in which we were able to use the Beats Fit Pro, we can say that the data is reflected in reality. By playing them for two hours, the earphones consumed 30% of the battery. In a third hour they then lost 14%. The result is excellent if you consider that the figure is equal to that of AirPods 3 which do not have active noise suppression. AirPods Pro with active noise suppression barely reach five hours. We emphasize that the Beats Fit Pro also have the Fast Fuel function which allows with five minutes of charging in the case to have an additional hour of autonomy . From the point of view of the battery we remain very far from the PowerBeat Pro (ten hours abundant) but we are still in the very high range of this kind of earphones.
The Fit Pros in their charging case
Charging
In this chapter we have to add three notes on the charging system . The first of merit, the second of demerit, the third to leave pending in the judgment.
The hooking system inside the case is practically perfect : not once has it failed to activate the battery reset. It is not a relative aspect if we consider the problems that, instead, in this sense give the PowerBeats Pro which in 50% of cases must be carefully arranged and checked to avoid finding yourself unexpectedly without recharged earphones.
Less positively we must instead judge the fact that there is no wireless charging . We are not absolute fans of this battery recovery system but given that Apple has now put it everywhere, also investing in a technology like MagSafe, the justification of Beats that explains us not to have introduced it for reasons of case size and costs. , it is not particularly solid.
Finally, there is the question concerning the charging socket, a USB-C. It is a hand extended to the Android world but a disadvantage for users of Apple products forced to resort to a second and different cable to recharge the Beats Fit Pro. Personally we find this choice inconvenient but in certain contexts that perhaps in the future could become more numerous it is an advantage.
Rubber pads and the USB-C charging cable
In conclusion
Everything we wrote could be summarized by repeating what we said at the beginning: Apple has released an improved version of the AirPods. The Beats Fit Pro not only do practically everything they are. capable competitors from Apple, from spatial audio to the perfect activation and deactivation system with skin detection, but they are much more comfortable and much more stable, have a less boring design, use a control system that also allows you to manage the volume, they sound slightly better and longer. They can be used reliably in the gym, jogging and cycling as well as on a train or plane ride. The only downside to Apple-branded earphones is the lack of a wireless charging system which may not matter to everyone.
Beats Fit Pro vs AirPods Pro; the winner is… Ultimately there is no doubt that at the moment rationally (emotionally things could be different) nobody should buy the AirPods 3 which cost 30 euros less but they lose the comparison on all fronts in particular they lack noise suppression and are much more unstable and uncomfortable. But even those who were thinking of buying AirPods Pro should think about it. The top model of the Airpods They don't lose comparison to the Fit Pro as dramatically as they do to the AirPods 3, but they are a notch below just about everywhere. Only bought at a price significantly lower than 239.95 euros (official cost of the Fit Pro) as happened on some occasions can they be considered competitive with the Beats earphones.
Pro
Cons
Price and availability
The Beats Fit Pro are available from January 28, 2022 also on Amazon. You can choose from 4 colors: Beats Black, Beats White, Sage Gray and Amethyst Purple. They have a recommended price of € 229.95. 6 months of Apple Music as a gift.