We have new Apple AirPods! And it’s called AirPods Pro.
But just like every Apple device in the market, even the AirPods Pro have serious competition which promises almost similar specifications within a reasonable price range.
The Apple AirPods Pro has been priced at Rs 24,900. It comes with water resistance, but no IP rating. They have 4-5 hours of playtime, support wireless charging and noise cancellation. At a similar price range, you can easily buy Bose, Sennheiser and even Jabra wireless earbuds.
So, what’s the competition like and what features do they offer that an AirPod Pro can match. Let’s take a look.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless
Sennheiser has been into premium audio devices for a long time and it brings that same expertise to its compact audio portfolio with the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless earbuds.
The earbuds are snug and fit well in the ear and the shiny metal finish on it gives it a premium look. It comes with a touch-sensitive control panel that lets you toggle music and also activate the Transparency Mode which channels in ambient sound through the mic.
It offers IPX4 water resistance and charges via a Type-C port. In terms of battery life, the earbuds alone offer up to 4 hours of playback time while the charging box provides an additional 8 hours of charge.
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless earbuds can be bought for Rs 24,990.
Bose SoundSport Free
The Bose SoundSport Free is tailor-made for sports and fitness enthusiasts. It’s mostly plastic, which makes it light although overall real estate carries a lot of bulk.
It offers IPX4 water resistance with added sweatproof capabilities. Bose didn’t really make this a future proof device and the micro USB charging port is a testament to that. Also what sets it back among the competition is that it doesn’t come with any touch-sensitive controls. But again, that's a personal choice.
What really works in its favour is its stellar battery performance. Bose promises 5 hours of playtime from the earbuds while the charging box provides an additional 10 hours.
It also comes with a dedicated app that can be used to find a missing bud via the “Find my Buds” option.
The Bose SoundSport Free costs Rs 18,990.
Jabra Elite 65T
The Jabra Elite 65T exudes a design philosophy that fitness enthusiasts and runners would like. These are fitness-centric earbuds that not only offer good sound but also bring in the benefits of Alexa voice assistant.
It sports a simple form factor but it is still quite bulky in the ear. The all-plastic design adds ruggedness to the package. Instead of a touch panel, the 65T comes with physical touch buttons lending more accurate feedback to users.
It comes with IP55 water resistance which will protect it against water spray and sweat. It’s snug and doesn’t fall out easily. Bluetooth range is effective up to 88 feet from the source and it claims a battery life of at least 5 hours.
The case which houses the buds adds another 10 hours of battery juice to the device. It comes with four microphones that guarantee good voice quality while talking on the phone.
The Jabra Elite 65T costs Rs 15,499 online.
Samsung Galaxy Buds
This is the most inexpensive offering in this lineup and yet manages to hold its own in terms of design. The Samsung Galaxy Buds aren’t the best when it comes to sound quality but do offer a compact and elegant design.
The buds sit comfortably in the ear and the shark fin rubber tip helps keep the buds intact. It comes with a touch panel which helps you control volume level and even shuffle songs.
What makes this gizmo future proof is that it supports type-C charging bundled with wireless charging capabilities. The Galaxy Buds offer 6-hours of music listening with the extra 7 hours you get with the charging dock.
Like we said earlier, sound quality is average and it delivers a flat output with little base. Mic quality also isn’t impressive but it isn’t a dealbreaker for people who make a lot of phone conversations via earphones.
What works in Samsung’s favour is the price of the Buds which comes in at Rs 9,990.
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