Beats X, AirPods, or PowerBeats 3: Which in-ear wireless headphones should you buy?

Updated February 2017: Updated with a full writeup comparison of the three in-ear W1 headphones, including the Beats X.

Apple has now updated its entire wireless headphone line to take advantage of the company's new W1 chip: It simplifies the pairing process between your iPhone, Mac, and your headphones, automatically connecting to your devices when powered up.

As a longtime Bluetooth headphones user, I love the simplicity of the W1-chip headphones. Pairing is a snap once you initially connect the headphones to your iPhone, thanks to the iCloud sync technology, and lag is almost always nonexistent. Now that Apple has several in-ear options on the market, however, it's time to pick which one makes the most sense for me (and you). Which one is best for your needs and wallet? Read on.

Apple's three headphone offerings — its AirPods along with the Beats-branded Beats X and PowerBeats 3 — are separated by a maximum of just $50, but each headphone's feature set ranges depending on your needs.

Why the AirPods are the best overall W1 in-ear headphones pick

Apple's AirPods are as popular as they are controversial: If you want a set of these buds, be prepared to wait up to six weeks for them to ship — or you can try to snipe one at an Apple Store after a restock. But because of their limited availability to try out, there have been major concerns about the AirPods's fit: Unlike the Beats X and PowerBeats, the AirPods ship only with their default earbud configuration — there are no silicone sleeves or earwings you can use to augment their fit. They also only currently ship in white — sadly, you can't get black AirPods to go along with your black iPhone.

The good news: Even for people whose ears have never loved the EarPods fit (hi), the AirPods are surprisingly snug. They don't always feel that way because of the way they hang in the ear — the first two weeks I owned the AirPods, I was constantly in fear that they'd fly out while I was doing yardwork or exercising — but I have yet to shake one loose in my adventures. (That includes skating at high speeds.)

I imagine the big fear over "losing" an AirPod comes from their design: The diminutive wireless buds kill wired connections in favor of two tiny earpieces. No strings hold these sound machines down — and while it may make some fear that they'll be prone to loss, in reality the lack of wires keep the AirPods from being accidentally tugged from their perch after an awkward twist of the head. (Or, in my case, ball slam burpees.)

Their wireless nature also makes for a great charging and interactive experience: Each bud sports a 5 hour battery life, but as you get toward the end of that charge, you can pop a single bud back into the rechargeable case to get three more hours in just 15 minutes — all while continuing to groove out to your music in the other bud. When you're finished charging the one bud, just swap them out in the charger. The case supports up to 24 hours of extra charge on top of the initial five hours — enough to get through any lengthy flight, conference, or other activity.

I also love the freedom of offering a friend an earbud if you want to invite them into your music or movie party (though I might use an antibacterial wipe first).

Unlike the PowerBeats 3, the AirPods aren't water- and sweat-resistant. But unless you find yourself regularly shorting out regular headphones while you work out, you shouldn't have anything to worry about when exercising with the AirPods: I've taken them skating and weight lifting, subjected them to rainy runs and high-intensity burpees, and walked through a snowstorm — all with no adverse effects.

This is all personal experience, of course; your mileage may vary depending on your exercise routine, and there's a reason why Apple doesn't advertise the AirPods as water-resistant. But for most everyday workouts and activities, you should be fine.

The other big win for the AirPods is their Apple-specific features. Every Beats and Apple wireless headphone now has the W1 chip, making pairing easier, but only the AirPods offer Auto Pause when you remove an earbud, and that same accelerometer technology lets the AirPods automatically connect when you remove them from their case — both the Beats X and PowerBeats 3 require you to press a button before they'll connect.

Apple's option is also the only one to offer tap-to-call-Siri and beam-forming microphones, which dramatically improve both the Siri experience and phone calls. (I do wish there was some way to change volume without relying on the companion device or telling Siri to lower the volume, however.)

The AirPods aren't perfect: They are dramatically less effective at sealing you inside a music bubble and drowning out surrounding noise than both the Beats X and PowerBeats because of their fit. Depending on your ear shape, this may be a minor problem or a major one, but either way, I wouldn't recommend the AirPods as an airplane companion.

I'd also love some sort of fit adjustment in future models. Because you're limited to one earbud shape, the AirPods can never be the perfect headphone for everyone — and though I've seen them fall out of very few ears, giving their user a perfect sound experience is a harder bar to clear.

But if your ears work with the AirPods, they're the best everyday carry wireless headphones on the market right now — if you can actually snag a pair.

Why the Beats X are the best W1 headphones for noise cancellation

Though none of Apple's W1 headphone options have official noise-cancellation technology, the Beats X come closest to making noise cancellation a reality: Their super-customized silicone earbuds offer a variety of fits for small and big ears alike, and additional wingtip customization makes for a snug experience no matter your ear shape.

Both the Beats X and the PowerBeats have a more concentrated sound than the AirPods because of this fit: You'll hear a stronger (but not overpowering) bass line, while the highs and mids have a more tinny, direct push. Podcasts and voices in videos come across clearly and crisply, with no major distortion.

The downsides to the Beats X are mostly individual preference: The Beats X have a rather lengthy neck cord and two "weights" (which — spoiler — probably have tiny lithium-ion batteries in them), which sport the On/Off button and Lightning port, respectively.

In daily use, this cord is fairly comfortable and not too distracting to wear, but exercising can be far less enjoyable due to the cord's microphonics: If you bump the cable against your shirt or other object, you can get an annoying rustle that can distract from your music, podcasts, or other daily activity. You also have to be careful about how you put on the headphones: If the cord gets twisted, the Beats X can easily pop out of your ears as you move your head or body.

The cord's built-in remote and mic provide for easy volume controls, but the Siri and phone call experience isn't quite as good as the AirPods — Siri would frequently mishear words during dictation, and my callers told me the conversation wasn't as crisp as prior (AirPods-equipped) conversations.

Why the PowerBeats 3 are the best W1 headphones for exercise

I use my AirPods almost every day when I exercise, but if I was heading out for a marathon or a sweat-inducing workout, I'd take the PowerBeats 3: These Beats-themed headphones are primarily marketed for heavy-duty exercise users, and they hold up. I've taken the PowerBeats 3 through power yoga sessions and cardio murder hours and they've held up like champs, streaming music and keeping my head in the game — even if my body is steaming like a sauna.

The PowerBeats 3 feature an adjustable neck cord to keep the microphonics (rustling cord) effect from bothering you during exercise, and ear hooks to lock your earbuds in place during the fiercest of workouts. Both of these features work as advertised, though I personally hate ear hooks — I find them more distracting (due to how they push on the back of my ears) than helpful when I work out.

The PowerBeats feel bulky in the hand, but the headphones' large size does somewhat disappear as you fall into the exercise groove. They might look a little silly to outside users, but they do their job. I do personally have a problem with using them while I skate, as they won't fit under my helmet — if I'm doing skating warmups, I'll take my AirPods any day.

Conclusion

Though the Beats X and PowerBeats are great headphone picks for specific uses, the AirPods remain the top overall in-ear W1 headphones for me and, I'd wager, most people. They sound great for their minuscule package, get fantastic battery life, and work in just about any situation outside of an airplane or heavy-duty exercise session.