Like most electronics makers, Apple tends to nudge individuals in the direction of its newest, best, and costliest merchandise. For the time being nonetheless you’re liable to be confused for those who’re looking for Beats earbuds, because the older Powerbeats Professional can doubtlessly be dearer than the newer Match Professional, relying on the place you’re procuring. So weighing the Match Professional vs the Powerbeats Professional, what’s the distinction, and which one do you have to truly purchase?

The very first thing you’ll discover is that the whole lot in regards to the Powerbeats Professional (above) is gigantic. Whereas the Match Professional‘s sizing is pretty normal, the Powerbeats case is so enormous that some individuals have a tough time sliding it right into a pocket. The buds themselves, in the meantime, are no less than twice as massive as most rivals. Some individuals could even really feel overly conspicuous sporting them, however they’re well-liked sufficient now that most individuals shouldn’t bat an eye fixed, particularly not within the context they’re meant for.

Talking of which, that context is health. Each the Match Professional and Powerbeats Professional are meant for working and weightlifting, as evidenced by the fins on the Match Professional, and the earhooks on the Powerbeats. These hooks give the Powerbeats essentially the most safe grip out there wherever — they completely won’t fall off, regardless of how a lot you shake your head. There’s a slight danger of this with the Match Professional (under), however its fins are surprisingly able to locking the buds in place, particularly for those who select the tightest out there tip dimension. It’s a safer match than the AirPods Professional.

It’s price cautioning that each merchandise solely have an IPX4 water resistance score. That must be positive for most individuals, however for those who frequently interact in hour-plus exercises or sweat profusely, it’s best to most likely search for one thing with a better IP score, similar to Jabra’s Elite 8 Energetic. Any form of water resistance will degrade over time, and we’ve had each Match Professional and Powerbeats Professional models break prematurely, albeit after many months of grueling weightlifting applications.

Each merchandise are stable and even wonderful for non-fitness actions. Notice that whereas they assist Android, Home windows, and different platforms, you’ll solely get essentially the most out of them for those who pair with an iPhone or iPad. That’s due to Apple’s H1 chip, which allows issues like speedy pairing, Discover My assist, button-free Siri entry, and automated switching between gadgets signed into the identical Apple ID, together with Macs and Apple Watches. Neither mannequin helps multipoint Bluetooth, so for those who’re not utilizing Apple gear, you’re restricted to pairing with one system at a time.

The Match Professional wins by way of audio tech. Whereas each it and the Powerbeats Professional sound good — assuming you want Beats’ signature bass-heavy tuning — solely the Match Professional has assist for ANC (lively noise cancellation) and spatial audio, specifically Dolby Atmos. ANC right here incorporates a Transparency mode, and for those who’ve bought an iPhone or iPad, spatial audio contains optionally available head monitoring that makes it sound like sources are locked in place, regardless of which manner you flip. That’s greatest with motion pictures and TV reveals, so it’s best to most likely depart head monitoring off in any other case.

ANC can doubtlessly make an enormous distinction. Whereas the Powerbeats holds its personal in quiet or reasonably noisy environments, it’s lower than perfect in conditions like air journey or (satirically) loud gyms, particularly gyms with rap or metallic soundtracks and lots of people dropping heavy barbells and dumbbells. With ANC lively, the Match Professional could make music, podcasts, and different media far clearer, even for those who’ll nonetheless hear traces of ambient noise.

By way of battery life, the merchandise are nearer than they initially appear. Whereas the Powerbeats Professional buds ought to last more, as much as 9 hours, that’s largely as a result of they don’t have ANC. On the Match Professional, for those who swap off ANC and spatial audio, its buds can attain no less than 7 hours and presumably extra. You must get round 6 hours with ANC lively.

The Match Professional inches forward in a few respects. Its case provides an additional 18 hours (assuming ANC is on), whereas the Powerbeats case faucets out at 15, regardless of its monumental dimension and lacking noise cancellation. The Match Professional case additionally depends on USB-C charging versus the Powerbeats’ Lightning. The previous is extra handy given the ubiquity of USB-C, and the truth that even iPhones at the moment are transitioning away from Lightning. A number of years into the longer term, it may very well be tougher to trace down a Lightning cable for those who’ve misplaced your authentic or need a backup.

Fortunately, each fashions assist Beats’ 5-minute Quick Gasoline expertise. That’s sufficient to get 1 hour of playback from the Match Professional, and 1.5 hours from the Powerbeats.

As we’ve talked about, it’s a bit mysterious to us why the Powerbeats Professional is usually promoting for greater than the Match Professional, even from third-party distributors, which usually tend to provide reductions than Apple. The Powerbeats is a 2019 product, whereas the Match Professional is a 2021 mannequin with vital developments. Rarity doesn’t seem to have something to do with it, on condition that Apple remains to be promoting the Powerbeats as new.

Both manner, keep away from shopping for from an Apple Retailer. Elsewhere you will discover a refurbished Match Professional for as little as $100, which is a steal.

The Match Professional is offered in seven colours — black, white, pink, yellow, blue, purple, or grey — whereas the Powerbeats Professional is just in black, blue, or ivory (someplace between white and beige). We’re ignoring discontinued colours and particular editions.

For 95% of individuals, if not 99%, the reply must be the Match Professional. It’s each cheaper and extra technically superior. Its lively noise cancellation can have a dramatic influence, and in most circumstances, we don’t know why somebody would spend extra on in any other case related earbuds with out it.

There are solely two legitimate causes to purchase the Powerbeats Professional at this level, the primary being its earhooks. They’re so efficient at protecting the buds in place that it’s best to be capable of handle issues like upside-down hanging crunches with out worry. If that degree of grip is obligatory for you — whether or not since you’re that athletic, otherwise you’re anxious about dropping costly earbuds — the Powerbeats is nearly as good because it will get.

The opposite motive is runtime, since with 9-hour batteries, the Powerbeats can final a whole workday or cross-country flight with no recharge. The Match Professional could make it many of the manner, however you’ll need to use its charging case for no less than 10 to fifteen minutes.

That stated, we nonetheless reasonably get the Match Professional for work, journey, or most workout routines. ANC shuts out so many distractions that it’s onerous to think about abandoning the function.