Beats Fit Pro Wireless Earbuds

Has Apple usurped it’s own flagship AirPods?

The all–new Beats Fit Pro might be Apple’s best True Wireless headphones. Apart from some minor details, these noise–cancelling buds are on–par with, and in some cases better, Apple’s own AirPods Pro. The Beats Fit Pro are $49 cheaper, too — making them an attractive alternative.

They’re a classic design as far as True Wireless headphones go, eschewing stalks for a more conventional “in–ear” design, with most of the internals placed in, and slightly out of, your ear. They come in Beats Black, Beats White, Sage Gray, or Stone Purple. Their standout feature is the integrated wingtips. Just place the buds in your ear canal, and twist them until the wingtip is nestled securely in your lobe. It makes for an easy, comfortable fit. Unlike the AirPods Pro, which can be a little loose, unless the earbud size is perfect, the Beats Fit Pro are secure, even with only three ear tip sizes included.

Audio controls are button activated with a firm press on either Beats logo, with pause/play, and skip back and forth, while you can change the audio profile by holding down. It takes time to get used to button presses, as your fingers tend to naturally gravitate towards the middle of your ears, rather than the actual location further along.

The charging case isn’t as aesthetically–appealing as the AirPods Pro’s, nor is it as compact, but it’s lightweight. It’s worth noting that although the headphones are IPX4 rated for sweat and water resistance, the case doesn’t offer any such protection. Getting the buds to sit correctly inside the case can be tricky, too, at least to start with.

The big deal about the Beats Fit Pro is the integration of Apple’s H1 chip, giving them access to neat features like easy installation, Adaptive EQ, Automatic Switching between devices, FindMy integration, and Spatial Audio. You also gain Siri control, with dual beam–forming mics for voice recognition.

The area in which the Beats Fit Pro really shine is audio quality. Beats says there’s a “custom properietory transducer” and that, along with the 9.5mm drivers, really delivers the goods. No matter the track, whether it’s rock, classical, or jazz, the headphones lap it up, encouraging you to explore your eclectic side. The audio is exceptional, easily besting the AirPods Pro — not an easy feat. Their audio signature is more towards the balanced side, but there’s lots of pleasing, tightly–controlled oomph at the lower end, and plenty of detail at the upper end too, which makes for fascinating listening. The soundstage is also on another level; fire up You and Your Friend by Dire Straits, and you’ll see what we mean. It’s like you’re there.

The Beats Fit Pro also feature Active Noise Cancelling, as well as Transparency mode. Both work nicely, with the excellent fit complimenting the hardware sound reduction, though Transparency isn’t quite as effective as with the AirPods Pro. Few headphones are.

Battery life is a strong point too — Beats claims they offer 6 hours of listening time with ANC turned on, and an additional 18 hours thanks to the charging case’s battery. That tallied with our testing, which also uncovered that charging from flat to about 75 per cent takes just 40 minutes. Fast Fuel gives you an hour of listening time in just 5 minutes, if you need it.

The only thing lacking in the Beats Fit Pro repetoire is wireless charging — something we’ve come to expect from other premium brands, including AirPods. Instead, charging is via the included USB–C cable.