AirPods are a cultural icon, and for good reason. More than two years ago, Apple released a set of true wireless earbuds that solved many of the problems that made us hate Bluetooth headphones, making them as convenient and reliable as we’ve always dreamed. And now Apple has newer AirPods with a custom H1 chip that makes them even better.
But the second-generation AirPods aren’t the best true wireless earbuds Apple makes. Not anymore. That honor now belongs to the company’s Beats by Dre subsidiary and its new Powerbeats Pro earbuds.
The first true wireless earbuds by Beats, the Powerbeats Pro, are better than AirPods. You pay a premium for this quality—$249, compared to $159 for AirPods—and you won’t find the Powerbeats Pro quite as portable as AirPods. But if you want true wireless earbuds that work with your iPhone as effortlessly as AirPods and sound better and last longer, they’re well worth the premium price.
