Apple AirPods (2nd generation) vs Beats BeatsX

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

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AirPods (2nd generation) compared with BeatsX

	AppleAirPods (2nd generation)	BeatsBeatsX
Overview
Released
Released	March 2019	February 2017
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	SBC and AAC	SBC and AAC
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	No	–
Chip
Chip	H1	Apple W1
Audio features
Audio features	Automatic ear detection with dual optical sensors and a motion accelerometer; AAC Bluetooth audio; SBC support listed by What Hi-Fi?	SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs; passive isolation without active noise cancellation (Les Numériques)
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 5 hours	Up to 8 hours
Wireless charging
Wireless charging	Yes	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	More than 24 hours of listening including case recharges, according to Apple; launch announcement claims up to 50% more talk time than first-generation AirPods	–
Charging case
Charging case	Lightning Charging Case charges by cable; Wireless Charging Case supports Qi-certified chargers and Lightning, with a front status LED; both measure 53.5 x 44.3 x 21.3 mm	–
Fast charging
Fast charging	15 minutes in the case provides up to 3 hours of listening	A 5-minute Lightning Fast Fuel charge gives up to 2 hours of playback; 45 minutes gives up to 8 hours
Design
Weight (each earbud)
Weight (each earbud)	4 g	–
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	5.0	–
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	No	–
Controls
Controls	Double-tap to play, skip forwards or answer a call; hands-free Hey Siri; double-tap actions can be assigned separately to each earbud	RemoteTalk buttons for calls, music playback and Siri
Microphones
Microphones	Dual beamforming microphones and speech-detecting accelerometer	–
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Fixed open-ear shape without interchangeable tips; each earbud measures 40.5 x 16.5 x 18.0 mm	Flex-Form neck cable, ear tips and removable wingtips; magnetic earpieces join together when not in use
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	–	No published IP rating (SoundGuys)
Case weight
Case weight	38.2 g for either case, according to Apple's specifications	–
Works with
Works with	Full Apple features with compatible iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, Mac and Apple TV software; standard Bluetooth audio with fewer features on non-Apple devices; Live Listen, headphone levels and Headphone Accommodations	iOS and Android with Class 1 Bluetooth; W1 pairing and switching between devices registered to the same iCloud account
Colours
Colours	White	Originally White and Black, with Gray and Blue announced for later availability
In the box
In the box	AirPods, chosen charging case, Lightning to USB-A cable and documentation	Earphones, ear tips, removable wingtips, carrying pouch and Lightning charging cable