Beats Fit Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro

The Beats Fit Pro and the Powerbeats Pro share many of the same features but not necessarily the same technology. And they're very different in design. Which is right for you? Let's take a deep dive and find out.

Beats Fit Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: The details

Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro are wireless, come with a charging case, and have on-ear controls. So, should you spend a bit extra on the Beats Fit Pro to get the latest sound technology or worry more about your budget?

Both the Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro are excellent headphones that are purpose-built for working out. The sound is near-identical, but for the inclusion of spatial audio and ANC in the Beats Fit Pro. If you want the latest tech, Beats Fit Pro is where you want to throw your money. If you want to save some cash and still get rock-solid headphones, the Powerbeats Pro are still worth a look and listen.

Beats Fit Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: The design

No matter how impressive the sound, headphones aren't worth anything if they don't feel good on and in your ears. Not every pair of headphones are right for every person. This is why the best headphones for iPhone come in so many different styles. Really, it's all down to the shape of your ear and preference.

Beats Fit Pro have an earbud-like design with flexible wingtips at the top to hold them in place. The in-ear design combined with the wingtips gives the Beats Fit Pro a secure fit during exercise, but one can irritate your ear during long listening sessions. Unlike more traditional buds, the addition of wingtips can dig and pull at your ear over the long haul. Since these headphones are designed specifically for working out, that's not really an issue unless you're running a marathon or taking up Iditarod sled dog racing. As a workout accessory, Beats Fit Pro live up to the hype and feel comfortable in the ear while you're running through your neighborhood or lifting in the gym.

Beats Fit Pro doesn't have touch controls like the AirPods Pro but instead uses clickable buttons on each bud. Pressing these buttons allows you to play and pause music, as well as skip tracks. You can also take calls and switch between transparency mode and noise cancelation mode with a simple click. And if you don't like the preset press-and-hold gestures, you can customize them to your liking.

On the Powerbeats Pro side, you'll get an over-the-ear hook design. Each headphone hooks over the top of your ear and remains snugly in place in your ear canal while you're moving around. The ear hooks are pliable and don't weigh you down, as some can.

Controls are located on both earphones. Like the Beats Fit Pro, you'll need to physically press buttons to make volume adjustments and play or pause tracks. You cannot customize the buttons on the Powerbeats Pro as you can with Beats Fit Pro. There's no "right" or "wrong" design with headphones. You know what works for you. The one thing both headphones get right is that they stay in place and never slip and slide during exercise or movement.

Beats Fit Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: The sound

Audio quality is undoubtedly the number one consideration when picking out new headphones. How do our two Beats models stack up? The Beat Fits Pro and Powerbeats Pro share the same Apple H1 chip found in AirPods. Thanks to Apple's new chip, things like pairing and connecting your iPhone or iPad happen automatically and don't require you fiddle around in settings. The H1 chip also lets you use the right or left earbud independently when taking calls or playing music.

Beats has a reputation for being heavy on the bass. The Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro are well-balanced, though, with neither swinging too far in the treble or bass direction, and you can really crank it up. Both headphones push out the sound without distortion. And that's mostly where the similarities end.

The Powerbeats Pro do not have active noise cancelation like the Beats Fit Pro. Instead, they rely on noise isolating. What does that mean? In layman's terms, the Beats Fit Pro uses hardware to stifle outside noise, while the Powerbeats Pro noise isolation relies on the design and shape of the earphones to muffle the sounds around you. In other words, you'll have to turn the Powerbeats Pro volume up a few notches to listen in noisy environments.

The Beats Fit Pro also benefits from the inclusion of spatial audio. Much like Dolby Atmos, spatial audio gives you a surround sound-like listening experience when watching videos or movies. When the tunes are on, spatial audio and Dolby Atomos work together to make you feel like you're sitting in the middle of a recording studio. If you want to get lost in the moment, you can only do that with spatial audio and the Beats Fit Pro.

All that said, both sets of headphones sound amazing. The highs, lows, and mids are all present, and even though the bass is toned down in both compared to other Beats headphones, it's still present in a more realistic way.

Beats Fit Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: Which should you buy?

Deciding between the Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro comes down to your wallet and what features are important to you. If you have a little extra cash, the Beats Fit Pro gives you spatial audio, true active noise cancellation, and a fit that holds secure while you toil away in the gym or take a call in the office. For those reasons, the Beats Fit Pro are the winner in my book.

If you're watching your pennies, the Powerbeats Pro are still phenomenal headphones. The fit is comfortable, the on-ear controls work well, and the audio is incredible even though they lack some of the higher-end features found in the Beats Fit Pro.