Apple AirPods (1st generation) vs Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless

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

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AirPods (1st generation) compared with Powerbeats3 Wireless

	AppleAirPods (1st generation)	BeatsPowerbeats3 Wireless
Overview
Released
Released	December 2016	November 2016
Sound
Type
Type	Open-ear	In-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	No	No
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	No	–
Spatial audio with head tracking
Spatial audio with head tracking	No	–
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	AAC	SBC and AAC
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	No	–
Chip
Chip	W1	Apple 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	SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs; no active noise cancellation (SoundGuys model comparison)
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 5 hours	Up to 12 hours
Wireless charging
Wireless charging	No	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	More than 24 hours of listening including case recharges, according to Apple	Maker claims up to 12 hours. November 2016 retail month follows contemporaneous Apple delivery estimates reported by MacRumors and November AppleInsider retail checks; 25 October was the order-opening date, not an established first delivery day
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 Fast Fuel charging; up to one hour of playback from a five-minute charge
Design
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 inline playback, call, volume and voice-assistant controls; power and pairing button on the left earpiece
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 an adjustment slider
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	–	Maker describes sweat and splash resistance without publishing an IP code
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	Apple W1 and Class 1 Bluetooth; one-step pairing and switching between compatible devices signed into the same iCloud account
Colours
Colours	White	White, Black, Siren Red, Shock Yellow and Flash Blue at launch
In the box
In the box	AirPods, Charging Case, Lightning to USB cable and documentation	Earphones, interchangeable ear tips and Micro-USB charging cable