Apple AirPods (1st generation) vs Beats Powerbeats2 Wireless

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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AirPods (1st generation) compared with Powerbeats2 Wireless

	AppleAirPods (1st generation)	BeatsPowerbeats2 Wireless
Overview
Released
Released	December 2016	June 2014
Sound
Type
Type	Open-ear	In-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	No	No
Drivers
Drivers	–	Maker describes two dynamic drivers in each earpiece without publishing their dimensions
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	No	–
Spatial audio with head tracking
Spatial audio with head tracking	No	–
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	AAC	–
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	No	–
Chip
Chip	W1	–
Audio features
Audio features	Automatic playback and pausing using dual optical sensors and a motion accelerometer; one or both earbuds can be used; AAC Bluetooth audio	Designed to admit ambient sound (SoundGuys); no active noise cancellation (RTINGS)
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 5 hours	Up to 6 hours
Wireless charging
Wireless charging	No	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	More than 24 hours of listening including case recharges, according to Apple	Up to six hours of listening; maker describes worldwide sale from late June 2014, followed by Japan in September
Charging case
Charging case	Lightning connector; original charging case measures 44.3 x 21.3 x 53.5 mm; a compatible Wireless Charging Case was sold separately from March 2019	–
Fast charging
Fast charging	15 minutes in the case provides up to 3 hours of listening	Micro-USB charging; a 15-minute charge gives about one hour of playback
Design
Water and sweat resistance
Water and sweat resistance	–	IPX4
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	–	4.0
Weight (each earbud)
Weight (each earbud)	4 g	–
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	No	–
Controls
Controls	Double-tap for Siri at launch; automatic pause when an earbud is removed	RemoteTalk playback, track, call, voice-command and volume controls; power and pairing button on the left earpiece; functionality varies by device
Microphones
Microphones	Dual beamforming microphones and speech-detecting accelerometer in each earbud	–
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Fixed open-ear shape without interchangeable tips; each earbud measures 16.5 x 18.0 x 40.5 mm	Flexible ear hooks, interchangeable ear tips and a flat joining cable with a removable adjustment clip
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	–	IPX4 sweat and splash resistance for the earpieces and cable; not waterproof
Case weight
Case weight	38 g	–
Works with
Works with	Apple integration requires iOS 10, watchOS 3 or macOS Sierra and an iCloud account; other Bluetooth devices support standard audio with fewer features; Live Listen added with iOS 12	Bluetooth 4.0 (RTINGS); maker states a range of about 10 metres
Colours
Colours	White	Black, Blue, Red, White and Pink/Grey listed in the maker's December 2014 announcement
In the box
In the box	AirPods, Charging Case, Lightning to USB cable and documentation	Earphones, interchangeable ear tips, Micro-USB charging cable, carrying case and manual (SoundGuys and TechRadar)