Beats X are better than AirPods in almost every way [Reviews] (2024)

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I’ve never been a fan of Beats headphones.Whenever I’ve given them a go, I’ve found the sound quality to be less than stellar, with far too much bass. So when Apple unveiled Beats X wireless headphones alongside the AirPods last fall, the weird-looking white ones grabbed my attention.

Now that I’ve had a chance to try them both, it’s clear I got that backward. I give you all the details on Beats X versus AirPods in my Beats X review below.

Beats X boasts understated design

In terms of design, the Beats X will be familiar to anyone who’s tried out PowerBeats 3 or JayBird wireless earphones. Thankfully, they’re a lot more conventional than Apple’s truly wireless AirPods, which I still think look a little odd to wear when out and about.

All the commercials for Beats X focus on the phrase “Got no strings,” but that’s not strictly true. While no wires connect them to whatever device is feeding your audio, a slender Flex-Form cable connects the earbuds, letting you blend right into the crowd. It sits neatly behind your head on your neck and is flexible enough to fold up into the awkward silicone case it comes with.

Below the left Beats X earbud, you’ll find a set of in-line controls with a built-in microphone for phone calls. The controls allow you to play and pause music or to answer and end calls with a single press. A double press skips to the next song; a long press activates Siri. On either side of the center button, up and down buttons let you adjust the volume of whatever you’re listening to.

One size doesn’t fit all, Apple

The Beats X headphones go the opposite route of Apple’s one-size-fits-all AirPods. Each set of Beats X ships with four different-size earbuds, which pop on and off. This means everyone should be able to find a size comfortable for them. Luckily enough for me, the size that came installed on the Beats X fit snuggly into my ears, giving the earbuds a tight fit to block out noise and sit firmly in my ears without falling out.

If you’re doing anything more strenuous than sitting around, the included Beats X wingtips will come in handy. These handy accessories, which come in two sizes, hook into your ears for extra security — something you’ll probably want if you go jogging or work out in the gym.

The Flex-Form cable is comfortable in most situations. However, when wearing it with a jacket with a collar, the cable can get in the way. A bit of adjustment takes care of that problem, though.

In my Beats X unboxing video, I incorrectly stated that the headphones don’t have any indicators to show which earbud is for the left ear and which is for the right. I’ve since been corrected by YouTube commenters, who pointed out that there are subtle “L” and “R” indicators on the cables just underneath the earbuds.

Apple’s W1 chip chips away at the competition

Just as with the AirPods and PowerBeats wireless headphones, Beats X contains Apple’s W1 chip, which powers the smoothest and best Bluetooth setup ever. Simply turn on the earphones near your iPhone, and a prompt will automatically pop up asking if you’d like to connect. Tap on connect and that’s it! And checking the battery of the earphones is as easy as swiping up on my iPhone.

If you’re an Android user, the Beats X will still connect, no problem, only you’ll need to do it the old-fashioned way by going through your Bluetooth settings.

Speaking of the battery, Apple claims the Beats X deliver a battery life of up to eight hours at a moderate volume, which is actually pretty spot on. I was able to use them on and off for the best part of a day and still have around 25 percent left come 9 p.m.

The best part about the battery is Beats’ Fast Fuel charging, which basically means you can get two hours battery life from a five-minute top-off. I drained them right down and put them on charge for exactly five minutes and got back 25 percent battery. Again, pretty damn impressive.

Beats X bring the bass (in a good way)

The Beats X are definitely bass-rich, as Beats headphones always are, but not to the point where the low frequencies overtake the actual music and become distracting. They sound a lot more balanced than Beats headphones normally do. Also, the volume is fantastic: Beats X get loud enough for when I want to blast my favorite tunes, but not to the point where it’s uncomfortable.

The great fit of the earphones cancels out a ton of background noise, which is great for when I need to drown out the world for a while.

The only downside I found is when it comes to using the Beats X for phone calls. While I can hear callers no problem, the person on the other end of the line complains that I’m hard to hear — especially if it’s windy.

Also, unlike the AirPods, Beats X earbuds don’t stop playing music when you remove them from your ears. That would have been a nice addition, but it’s not the end of the world thanks to the in-line controls.

Beats X review: Final thoughts

Priced at $149, the Beats X run slightly less than the AirPods at $159. But in my opinion, they sound better and will definitely be a better fit for most people, thanks to the interchangeable buds and wingtips.

This marks the first time I’ve been impressed by Beats products. And, unlike the AirPods, I think I’ll actually be keeping the Beats X.

Buy from:Apple