Should you buy Beats Fit Pro or Powerbeats Pro?

Beats Fit Pro

Minimal workout buds

$200 at Amazon

Pros

• Superb sound
• Sweat/water resistant
• ANC
• Secure fit
• On-ear controls
• Spatial audio
• Charging case

Cons

• No wireless charging
• Uncomfortable after long periods

The all-new Beats Fit Pro have an earbud-like design with secure-fit wingtips to keep them in place while you're on the move. With active noise canceling (ANC) and spatial audio, they sound as good as they look.

Powerbeats Pro

Affordable sound

$150 at Amazon

Pros

• Excellent audio
• Sweat/water resistant
• On-ear controls
• Comfortable fit
• Charging case

Cons

• Lacks wireless charging
• No ANC

The Powerbeats Pro have terrific audio, on-ear controls on both ears, and an over-the-ear design that's comfortable enough to wear all day. They lack ANC but will save you a little money at the register.

The Beats Fit Pro and the Powerbeats Pro share many of the same features but not necessarily the same technology. And they're very different in design. Which is right for you? Let's take a deep dive and find out.

Beats Fit Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: The details

Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro are wireless, come with a charging case, and have on-ear controls. So, should you spend a bit extra on the Beats Fit Pro to get the latest sound technology or worry more about your budget?

	Beats Fit Pro	Powerbeats Pro
Release date	2021	2020
Chip	H1	H1
Design	earbuds	over-ear hooks
Transparency mode	Yes	No
Fast Fuel	Yes	Yes
On-ear controls	Yes	Yes
Spatial audio	Yes	No
ANC	Yes	No
IPX4 water-resistant	Yes	Yes
Wireless charging	No	No
Charging case	Yes	Yes
Continuous battery life	6 hours	9 hours

Both the Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro are excellent headphones that are purpose-built for working out. The sound is near-identical, but for the inclusion of spatial audio and ANC in the Beats Fit Pro. If you want the latest tech, Beats Fit Pro is where you want to throw your money. If you want to save some cash and still get rock-solid headphones, the Powerbeats Pro are still worth a look and listen.

Beats Fit Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: The design

No matter how impressive the sound, headphones aren't worth anything if they don't feel good on and in your ears. Not every pair of headphones are right for every person. This is why the best headphones for iPhone come in so many different styles. Really, it's all down to the shape of your ear and preference.

The one thing both headphones get right is that they stay in place and never slip and slide during exercise or movement.

Beats Fit Pro have an earbud-like design with flexible wingtips at the top to hold them in place. The in-ear design combined with the wingtips gives the Beats Fit Pro a secure fit during exercise, but one can irritate your ear during long listening sessions. Unlike more traditional buds, the addition of wingtips can dig and pull at your ear over the long haul. Since these headphones are designed specifically for working out, that's not really an issue unless you're running a marathon or taking up Iditarod sled dog racing. As a workout accessory, Beats Fit Pro live up to the hype and feel comfortable in the ear while you're running through your neighborhood or lifting in the gym.

Beats Fit Pro doesn't have touch controls like the AirPods Pro but instead uses clickable buttons on each bud. Pressing these buttons allows you to play and pause music, as well as skip tracks. You can also take calls and switch between transparency mode and noise cancelation mode with a simple click. And if you don't like the preset press-and-hold gestures, you can customize them to your liking.

On the Powerbeats Pro side, you'll get an over-the-ear hook design. Each headphone hooks over the top of your ear and remains snugly in place in your ear canal while you're moving around. The ear hooks are pliable and don't weigh you down, as some can.

Controls are located on both earphones. Like the Beats Fit Pro, you'll need to physically press buttons to make volume adjustments and play or pause tracks. You cannot customize the buttons on the Powerbeats Pro as you can with Beats Fit Pro. There's no "right" or "wrong" design with headphones. You know what works for you. The one thing both headphones get right is that they stay in place and never slip and slide during exercise or movement.

Beats Fit Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: The sound

Audio quality is undoubtedly the number one consideration when picking out new headphones. How do our two Beats models stack up? The Beat Fits Pro and Powerbeats Pro share the same Apple H1 chip found in AirPods. Thanks to Apple's new chip, things like pairing and connecting your iPhone or iPad happen automatically and don't require you fiddle around in settings. The H1 chip also lets you use the right or left earbud independently when taking calls or playing music.

Beats has a reputation for being heavy on the bass. The Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro are well-balanced, though, with neither swinging too far in the treble or bass direction, and you can really crank it up. Both headphones push out the sound without distortion. And that's mostly where the similarities end.

The Powerbeats Pro do not have active noise cancelation like the Beats Fit Pro. Instead, they rely on noise isolating. What does that mean? In layman's terms, the Beats Fit Pro uses hardware to stifle outside noise, while the Powerbeats Pro noise isolation relies on the design and shape of the earphones to muffle the sounds around you. In other words, you'll have to turn the Powerbeats Pro volume up a few notches to listen in noisy environments.

The Beats Fit Pro also benefits from the inclusion of spatial audio. Much like Dolby Atmos, spatial audio gives you a surround sound-like listening experience when watching videos or movies. When the tunes are on, spatial audio and Dolby Atomos work together to make you feel like you're sitting in the middle of a recording studio. If you want to get lost in the moment, you can only do that with spatial audio and the Beats Fit Pro.

All that said, both sets of headphones sound amazing. The highs, lows, and mids are all present, and even though the bass is toned down in both compared to other Beats headphones, it's still present in a more realistic way.

Beats Fit Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: Which should you buy?

Deciding between the Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro comes down to your wallet and what features are important to you. If you have a little extra cash, the Beats Fit Pro gives you spatial audio, true active noise cancellation, and a fit that holds secure while you toil away in the gym or take a call in the office. For those reasons, the Beats Fit Pro are the winner in my book.

If you're watching your pennies, the Powerbeats Pro are still phenomenal headphones. The fit is comfortable, the on-ear controls work well, and the audio is incredible even though they lack some of the higher-end features found in the Beats Fit Pro.

Beats Fit Pro

Pro sound and fit

$200 at Amazon $200 at Apple $200 at Best Buy

Our top pick

Beats Fit Pro comes with a charging case, and the battery life is up to 18 hours. The simple buds offer up a secure fit, superb sound, and controls on both earbuds.

Powerbeats Pro

Good value

Runner up

$150 at Amazon $200 at Apple $150 at Best Buy

The wireless Powerbeats Pro comes with a charging case, and the battery holds out for up to 24 hours. The controls are on-ear on both ears, and they offer an adjustable, secure fit via ear hooks.

Read More

Elon Musk: Apple cloth is a waste of money, buy $50 Tesla whistle instead

Unfortunately, it's sold out so you can't.

What you need to know

• Tesla has announced a new 'Cyberwhistle'.
• It's a stainless steel whistle that costs $50.
• Musk mocked Apple customers on Twitter, saying they should ignore the Apple Cloth and buy this instead.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has mocked Apple's $19 cleaning cloth and told his Twitter followers to buy Tesla's $50 Cyberwhistle instead.

Blow the whistle on Tesla!https://t.co/c86hLA0iQK

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 1, 2021

Musk followed up and said, "Don't waste your money on that silly Apple Cloth, buy our whistle instead!"

This isn't the first time Elon Musk has trolled Apple over its cleaning cloth. From October:

Tesla CEO and Founder Elon Musk has mercilessly trolled Tim Cook on Twiter over Apple's new $19 cleaning cloth.

Cook posted on Friday in celebration of Apple's new store in Istanbul stating:

Introducing Apple Bağdat Caddesi, our beautiful new store in Istanbul. We're glad to be a part of this vibrant community and we can't wait to welcome customers to this spectacular new space.

Musk replied to the tweet stating "Come see the Apple Cloth TM" much to the joy of the internet.

Apple announced its new cloth alongside the new MacBook Pro (2021) and AirPods 3, costing $19 and listed as compatible with any Apple product that has a screen.

The Cloth is very hard to get your hands on, with shipping pushed back into January. The Cyberwhistle is totally sold out on the other hand, except on eBay at 7 or 8 times its $50 price tag. Apple's cloth is made with "soft, non-abrasive material" and even got the teardown treatment from iFixit as people bought into the joke.

Read More

Review: Apple could learn a thing or two from Nothing's ear (1) buds

Nothing's ear (1) buds are a triumph for all but the harshest of audio critics ...

Nothing's ear (1) buds were announced to much fanfare and excitement earlier this year. Now the company is back with its inaugural audio product, sporting a shiny new Black Edition. So with over 220,000 pairs shipped to date, what's with all the fuss?

There is no denying that Nothing's ear (1) buds are a unique and exciting offering when it comes to headphones, and the low price tag means that they could be considered as a possible cheap alternative to AirPods Pro. In fact, there are a couple of features that I wish would debut in Apple's own AirPods, including great touch controls and cheap noise-canceling.

Nothing's ear (1) buds are everything you'd expect from a new company's first outing. The bold and daring design and competitive price tag make them stand out, but some connection quirks and slightly disappointing high-end sound bring them down a peg or two. Truthfully though, I believe they stand alone in terms of pricing, performance, and features in today's packed best true wireless earbuds market. Here's what we thought.

Nothing ear (1) review:

• Price and availability
• What we like
• What we don't like
• The competition
• Should you buy?

Nothing ear (1)

Bottom line: Nothing's ear (1) buds offer a distinctive yet affordable way to enjoy noise cancelation.

The Good

• Very distinctive design
• Incredible touch controls
• Comfortable and easy to use
• Great sound

The Bad

• Slightly lacking top end
• Buggy/connection quirks on iPhone

$99 at Nothing £99 at Amazon UK

Nothing ear (1): Price and availability

Nothing's ear (1) buds cost £99 or $99. You can find them on Amazon in the UK but not in the US, where your best bet is through the Nothing website, which also sells to a large host of nations in Europe and Asia. Only a few months old, we've yet to see any significant savings or discounts on ear (1). However, there are some exciting developments incoming. First, from December 13, you'll be able to pick up Nothing's spicy new Black Edition (for the same price). Second, you'll also be able to pay using cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD Coin, and Dogecoin in the UK, U.S., Canada, Japan, and a swathe of EU countries.

Nothing ear (1): What we like

As noted, Nothing's ear (1) design is something to behold. Of course, design is a very subjective matter. But for me, it's nice to see a pair of earbuds that don't look like every other set of earbuds on the market. They do retain the fairly regular bud and stem shape of something like the AirPods, but the transparent design (on both the buds and the casing) adds a unique streak to them. I should say the transparency is done quite tastefully and doesn't remind you of the cheap transparency you sometimes see in tech. (Think those awful transparent Xbox controllers)

The Nothing ear (1)'s party piece, for me, is its incredible touch controls. You can use the touch-sensitive buds to play and pause tracks, skip tracks (forward or backward), adjust the noise cancelation, and my personal favorite, volume by swiping up and down on the stem of your buds. These can be customized in Nothing's app, so you can set triple tap and tap & hold to whatever function you like. Touch controls on buds can sometimes be gimmicky or useless, but I was blown away by how responsive and intuitive they were here a huge plus. As noted at the outset, I hope that one day Apple can apply something similar to its lineup of AirPods, as moving back to those after weeks using Nothing's touch controls felt like a big step back.

Nothing's ear (1) buds are incredibly comfortable to wear. They come with three sizes of silicon bud, but I didn't even need to switch out the ones that come fitted. Over periods of extended use, they didn't give me any fatigue, and they were very light in-ear too. So if you've used earbuds before, particularly silicon ones, and have found them lacking for comfort over long periods, you should think about ear 1.

Nothing's ear (1) buds also come with an IPX4 rating for sweat and water splash resistance, and they also have Clear Voice Technology that makes calling on them very clear. Battery life is good for almost six hours and 34 hours when you include the case, which can charge them in just 10 minutes for eight hours of use. Battery life has never been an issue with Nothing's ear (1).

Overall, I have come to like the sound of Nothing's ear (1) buds. I wasn't sure at the start, but it has steadily grown on me to the point that I now really enjoy listening through them. As you'll see in the next section, I'm not sold on the high end, but the vast majority of the audio spectrum sounds good through these buds. They are powerful, but tracks come through clearly, without distortion, and feel amply spacious. They also have plenty of volume and a nice punchy feel across the lower and mid-ranges. I don't think these are headphones for audiophiles, and you get a more polished and rounded audio experience from AirPods. However, I still think the ear (1) buds punch well above their $99 price tag when it comes to audio, especially when you consider the excellent ANC, comfort, and touch controls.

They also have plenty of volume and a nice punchy feel across the lower and mid-ranges.

Nothing ear (1): What we don't like

My only gripe with the audio was at the higher end, which sounds a little thinner, and slightly more prone to some hiss when pushed to the limit. They feel a bit lacking at the top end, and overall, this is certainly not a "premium" audio experience that you might expect from Bose, Master & Dynamic, or even the AirPods Pro, but then again, these cost less than $100.

I've had a fairly ropey experience with Nothing's ear (1) in terms of reliability and connection. The buds pack tremendous punch and comfort when they work, but I found that pairing them with iPhones was highly laborious. Android users benefit from quick pair akin to using AirPods with an iPhone. However, on iPhone, you'll have to pair them using Bluetooth in the Settings manually. Once that's done, they need to be paired inside the Nothing ear app. The app is extremely helpful for managing the touch controls, but it struggled to recognize my buds. For the most part, I found that it took multiple attempts to pair both buds at once, even on the latest firmware. Usually, I could only get one to pair, and forgetting the device and re-pairing them usually meant the other bud connected while the first disconnected.

The buds benefit from pretty snappy in-ear detection. And yet, I found this a bit overzealous at times, stopping the music during workouts or while walking because of my movement. This could be my funny-shaped ears and can be alleviated somewhat by ensuring you have the right tips in your ear. I found a firmware update during testing that improved the situation and have not noticed this problem since, but I can't say for sure that it's not a problem.

Nothing ear (1): Competition

Nothing's ear (1) buds compete with a host of the best true wireless earbuds available but are somewhat unique given their price point and features. Indeed, these sound almost as good as Apple's entry-level AirPods, which dipped to $100 in the Black Friday sales, yet Nothing beats these with better controls and ANC. Of course, AirPods Pro headphones are definitely in the conversation. However, these are much more expensive than Nothing's ear (1). While you might get a more seamless connection experience and slightly more refined audio, they are not $150 better, and I honestly couldn't recommend them over the ear (1), even at their reduced price thanks to the best AirPods Pro deals. One contender is the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds, which cost $130. Like Nothing's ear(1), they don't have fast-pairing on iOS, but unlike Nothing's ear (1) lack wireless charging and in-ear detection. Another close contender is Apple's Beats Studio Buds, which can be found at a similar price to Nothing's buds and offer Beats styling as well as fast-pairing with your iPhone. That's probably the alternative I'd choose if I had to.

Of course, some people struggle with silicon tips in earbuds, which might make Apple's regular AirPods an easy choice. However, if you don't mind silicon, there are even cheaper options from Belkin, TRANYA, Anker, Urbanears, and more. At the other end of the spectrum, you could spend even more than AirPods Pro and get something like the M&D MW08. I firmly believe that Nothing's ear (1) buds stand alone in terms of price, performance, and features in the market.

Nothing ear (1): Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

• You're on a budget
• You want cheap noise-canceling
• You want punchy but not perfect sound
• You're working with both iOS and Android devices

You shouldn't buy this if...

• You can't listen using silicon-tipped buds
• You want seamless audio integration with Apple
• You must have audio perfection
• Money is no object

If money is no object, you can get a bit more sound and compatibility with Apple's ecosystem for a lot more money. However, the Nothing ear (1) buds are in a class of their own for the budget-conscious.

4 out of 5

The Nothing ear (1) buds have steadily grown on me since I started using them. The audio quality is commendable for buds at this price point, especially buds that pack in ANC, touch controls, and strong battery life.

The only reason you wouldn't buy these is that you had spare cash to throw away or because you absolutely have to have the best audio quality or seamless iOS integration.

Nothing ear (1)

Bottom line: A truly remarkable little pair of buds.

$99 at Nothing £99 at Amazon UK

Read More

Nothing announces ear (1) black edition, now carbon neutral

The company has shifted 220,000 units of its Nothing ear (1) buds.

What you need to know

• Carl Pei's Nothing is back with a black version of its ear (1) buds.
• The company says it has sold 220,000 units to date.
• It also says it is now accepting cryptocurrency payments.

Carl Pei's Nothing has today announced that there is a brand new black edition of its Nothing ear (1) buds and that the company's earbuds are now carbon neutral.

Nothing's distinctive design and the transparent case now has an all-new dark finish with matte black silicone earbuds and internal casing. Nothing's ear (1) buds come with 34 hours of battery life and cost just £99, with the new black option offering the same features as the current version.

Nothing says it has shipped 220,000 units of its ear (1) buds since launch, and that the buds are now carbon neutral. It has assessed and neutralized the carbon footprint of each pair of buds (1.78kg of carbon to be exact), and that information will be added to a new packaging label.

CEO and co-founder Carl Pei said "Nothing is here to make a positive difference. Our newly carbon neutral ear (1) is the first step in our journey to sustainability. With ear (1) we've proven that new ideas, from design to distribution, can resonate with users and bring back the sense of excitement that's been lacking in our industry. We hope this black edition raises a few more eyebrows in the months to come and that more tech brands add carbon transparency labeling to their products."

Interestingly, Nothing has also announced that it is going to start accepting cryptocurrency payments, specifically Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD Coin, and Dogecoin in select countries.

The first 100 units of the ear (1) black edition will be individually engraved from 1 to 100 and will be made available for sale at an exclusive kiosk in Seven Dials, Covent Garden in London, starting at 11 am GMT on December 4. Open sales will begin on December 13 at 11 am GMT (6 am ET).

You can read our full review of Nothing's ear (1) buds, including the new Black edition here.

Read More

Apple highlights caregivers in Ghana supported by (PRODUCT)RED

"This year, Apple is marking 15 years of partnership and nearly $270 million raised through its (PRODUCT)RED campaign to support the Global Fund's efforts to stop the spread of AIDS across sub-Saharan Africa"

What you need to know

• Apple has highlighted the work of caregivers in Ghana.
• It comes as Apple marks $270 million raised by its (PRODUCT)RED campaign.

Apple has today highlighted the work of caregivers in Ghana operating with support from funds raised through its (PRODUCT)RED campaign.

The company shared:

At St. Martin de Porres Hospital on the outskirts of Accra in Ghana, Joseph is beginning a very important journey. The 27-year-old is picking up a two-months' supply of lifesaving antiretroviral therapy medication (ART), but the drugs are not for him, even though he has taken them daily since he was diagnosed with HIV at age 11. Joseph is part of a program called Model of Hope, which is run by the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), and enlists the help of people living with HIV to assist others who have tested positive for the virus. CHAG is one of the many community-based organizations and healthcare providers in Ghana supported by the Global Fund.

Apple is celebrating 15 years of partnership with RED and nearly $270 million raised to support Global Fund as it fights to stop the spread of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, and more recently COVID-19. Speaking to Apple's contribution, (RED)'s Chief Impact Officer Luisa Engel said "Had the groundwork not been laid for fighting HIV over the last two decades by the Global Fund and contributing partners like Apple, so much of what we're doing today to address larger healthcare issues, including COVID-19, would not be possible."

It comes as Apple announced customer support of (PRODUCT) RED has helped provide support and care to over 11 million people and giving 13.8 million people access to antiretroviral treatments. The company today announced that a $1 donation would be made from every Apple Pay purchase made at Apple.com, in the Apple Store app, and in Apple Stores around the world through December 6.

Read More

Apple says customers have raised $270 million for AIDS fight with RED

"Since 2006, Apple customers have helped raise nearly $270 million to fund prevention, testing, and counseling services for people impacted by HIV/AIDS"

What you need to know

• Appel customers have raised $270 million since 2006 in the fight to end AIDS/HIV.
• Apple says its RED product line has helped enable care and support for over 11 million people, providing 192 million HIV tests.
• Apple is donating $1 from every Apple Pay purchase made on apple.com through December 6.

Apple has today marked World AIDS Day, revealing its customers have helped raise some $270 million in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

In a press release the company stated:

Over the past 15 years, Apple customers have played a critical role in (RED)'s fight to end AIDS through support to the Global Fund, which provides critical access to healthcare services in communities most in need in sub-Saharan Africa. As COVID-19 continues to impact communities around the world, including those living with HIV, the fight to end global pandemics is more urgent than ever.

Apple says customers since 2006 have helped raise nearly $270 million dollars, enabling care and support over 11 million people, providing more than 192 million HIV tests, and giving 13.8 million access to antiretroviral treatments. Apple says that last year alone Apple's support for (RED) helped prevent 145,000 HIV-positive mothers from passing on the virus to their children.

Apple also highlighted how it had helped fight against the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities, redirecting some donations to Global Fund and its COVId-10 response:

Apple customers were able to help fund programs that mitigated the impact of COVID-19 on existing HIV/AIDS programs. In Zambia, local clinics were able to purchase motorbikes that were used to deliver lifesaving HIV treatment to local communities when in-person visits declined due to COVID-19. This year, support from Apple and its customers helped fund programs in Ghana that gave medical providers the resources to procure bulk supplies so they could make multi-month deliveries to those most at risk, reducing their potential exposure to viral infection.

Apple offers (PRODUCT)RED versions of iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 7, and plenty of accessories too. Apple says that through December 6, it will donate $1 to the Global Fund from every purchase made with Apple Pay on apple.com, the Apple Store app, or in an Apple Store. Apple is also marking World AIDS Day with its customary red store logos and window displays at some locations. Apple Books will feature new collections about the global fight against HIV/AIDS, as will Apple TV and Apple Music.

Read More

Google CEO Sundar Pichai likes 'Ted Lasso' more than 'Squid Game'

What you need to know

• Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai sat down for an interview with Bloomberg.
• The CEO chose the Apple TV+ series "Ted Lasso" over the Netflix series "Squid Game."
• The first two seasons of "Ted Lasso" are streaming now on Apple TV+.

"Ted Lasso" wins the heart of everyone.

Ted Lasso will win over anyone, including Alphabet/Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

The CEO recently sat down for a wide-ranging interview with Bloomberg. During the interview, Pichai was asked to choose between the Apple TV+ series "Ted Lasso" or the Netflix series "Squid Game."

While Picahi says he enjoys both shows, he said that "Ted Lasso" was the easy winner.

Squid Game or Ted Lasso? Cricket or Football? @emilychangtv asks Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai to pick his favorites https://t.co/lYs4qHq0fc pic.twitter.com/EvStKcdzfu

— Bloomberg Technology (@technology) November 30, 2021

The second season of "Ted Lasso" is streaming now on Apple TV+. Season two of the beloved comedy series continues to tell the story of Lasso, Coach Beard, and the AFC Richmond football team.

Since its debut in August 2020, the beloved comedy has continued to be recognized with a multitude of awards and nominations, recently earning Jason Sudeikis a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series and a Golden Globe Award in the Best Comedy Actor category. The series also landed two Writers Guild Awards for Best New Series and Best Comedy Series, nominations from the Producers Guild of America for Comedy Series, as well as honors from many other guild and critics groups. "Ted Lasso" was also the only comedy series honored as an AFI Program of the Year and has regularly appeared on television critics' "Best of 2020" lists.

The first two seasons of "Ted Lasso" is streaming now on Apple TV+. If you want to enjoy the new season in the best quality possible, check out our list of the Best TVs for Apple TV 2021.

Exclusive content

Apple TV+

$5 per month at Apple

100% exclusive content for the price of a cup of coffee.

With TV+, you can watch well-produced, big-budget TV shows from famed directors, and starring award-winning actors and actresses across all your Apple devices and with up to six members of your Family Sharing group.

Read More