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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
For immersive music and lower latency for gaming and TV, the Sennheiser 450BT are the better choice, plus they have better microphone quality and are great for noise isolation, especially during air travel. However, the Apple AirPods (2nd generation) are more portable, better optimized for use with Apple devices, and provide easier controls for on-the-go adjustments. If you exercise often or want a lighter device, the AirPods are more suitable, but for long listening sessions, the over-ear Sennheisers offer better comfort and a more robust build. Both are similarly priced and support wireless charging, but your decision should consider your primary use case and whether you value comfort and sound isolation over portability and device integration. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Airpods (2nd generation)
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sennheiser 450BT
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Gaming
4.8
8.8
The Sennheiser 450BT is very good for gaming, while the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) is poor.
TV and Video
5.4
8.1
The Sennheiser 450BT is very good for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
9.1
The Sennheiser 450BT is excellent for noise reduction, while the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) is poor.
Battery
4.0 Hours
27.5 Hours
The Apple Airpods (2nd generation) has 4 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser 450BT has 27.5 hours of battery life.
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Key similarities
Music
5.8
6.2
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sennheiser 450BT to be only fair for music, while the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) is poor.
Phone Calls
6.9
6.9
The Sennheiser 450BT and Apple Airpods (2nd generation) are both only fair for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.1
7.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple Airpods (2nd generation) to be very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser 450BT is good.
Cost
$89
$90
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
The Apple Airpods (2nd generation) has a price of $89 and the Sennheiser 450BT costs $90.
Build Quality
7.6
8.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sennheiser 450BT to have very good build quality, while the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) has good build quality.
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How the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) and the Sennheiser 450BT compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple Airpods (2nd generation) | Sennheiser 450BT |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$89 | $90 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2019 | February 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.9/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 4.9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.5/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 5.8/10 | 6.1/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 4 Hours | 27.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 0.5 Hours | 2.3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 24 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | No | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | No | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 7.6/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4 Grams | 240.4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Apple Airpods (2nd generation)
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Sennheiser 450BT
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Sound Guys
Lily Katz | March 2022
"The Sennheiser HD 450BT is a very good pair of headphones for the price, noise canceling is good and sound quality is great—quite rare at this price point. Like any product, this headset isn’t without its faults."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) or the Sennheiser 450BT
About Apple
Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.
About Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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