Pro wireless headphones are everywhere right now — and two of the most interesting options are the Beats Fit Pro and Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro. Among all the trends in the consumer tech space, the push to market certain gadgets as 'pro' is one of the most prevalent. If a device has more features and better specs than its siblings, it usually gets the 'pro' moniker slapped somewhere in its name.
Want the best AirPods Apple has to offer? Get the AirPods Pro. Looking for the flagship wireless earbuds from OnePlus? You need the OnePlus Buds Pro. This is also true of earbuds from Beats and Samsung. The Beats Fit Pro debuted in November 2021 as the new high-end option from Beats. Samsung did the same in January when it released the Galaxy Buds Pro. Both earbuds have pro branding and cost $200, but which pair is ultimately worth buying? Let's take a closer look.
When it comes to design, this is an area where Beats has a solid lead. The Fit Pro form a tight in-ear seal and come with multiple gel ear tips to create a fit that's just right. The best part, however, is the 'secure-fit wingtip' on either earbud. It's super flexible and easily tucks underneath the top part of the wearer's ear. It doesn't look like much on the surface, but it makes the Fit Pro incredibly secure. No matter how hard or fast someone's moving, the Beats Fit Pro remain in the ear without so much as budging. The Fit Pro also use physical playback buttons, offering a tactile response that's easily pressed without shoving the earbuds too far in your ear. Then there are the Galaxy Buds Pro. The design of Samsung's earbuds is a bit more controversial. Some people say they're comfortable and fit well. Others claim the earbuds are bulky and don't feel good to wear at all. Earbud comfort varies for virtually every model out there, but the response to the Beats Fit Pro appears much more positive compared to the mixed response to the Galaxy Buds Pro. Samsung's earbuds also draw the short straw with their playback controls — using capacitive touchpads often criticized for being unreliable.
Beats Fit Pro Vs. Galaxy Buds Pro Specs & Features
Thankfully for Samsung's earbuds, things even out considerably when it comes to specs and features. Both the Beats Fit Pro and Galaxy Buds Pro have proven to have excellent audio quality. Whether someone's listening to a wide variety of music, podcasts, etc., the Fit Pro and Galaxy Buds Pro make everything sound incredible. Both earbuds also support immersive audio features. Using the Beats Fit Pro with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the earbuds support Spatial Audio in Apple Music and select video apps. The Galaxy Buds Pro try doing something similar with 360 Audio, though it only works with video applications on Samsung phones and tablets (no 3D music here).
Also important for flagship earbuds are active noise cancellation and transparency mode — two features present on the Beats Fit Pro and Galaxy Buds Pro. Enabling either mode is as simple as tapping a button, though Samsung goes an extra step by offering multiple transparency levels to adjust exactly how much sound is let in. That said, Beats quickly gains ground in the battery department. With ANC turned on, the Fit Pro are rated for up to 6 hours of continuous playback and 24 hours of total endurance. By comparison, the Galaxy Buds Pro get just 4.5 hours of continuous listening and 16 hours of total battery.
Last but not least, there's the OS compatibility for the earbuds. The Beats Fit Pro have Apple's custom H1 chip that enables seamless connectivity across iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and Apple TVs. The Fit Pro also work well on Android thanks to the free Beats companion app. The Galaxy Buds Pro connect easily with Samsung phones/tablets and have a companion app for other Android devices. However, there is no companion app for the iPhone. Adding all of this together, the conclusion is pretty simple. If someone has a Galaxy smartphone and wants to remain in the Samsung ecosystem, the Galaxy Buds Pro are a solid recommendation. They sound great, have noise-canceling, and work flawlessly with other Galaxy products. For everyone else, however, the Beats Fit Pro stand out as the better purchase. Between a better in-ear fit, longer battery, and good support for iOS and Android alike, there's not much to criticize with Beats' flagship buds.
Source: Beats