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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize wireless convenience and integration with Apple devices, choose Apple Airpods (3rd generation), which also have features like spatial audio, a good battery life, and wireless charging. However, if you're looking for the highest sound quality for music and have a higher budget, the Sennheiser IE600 may be for you, providing excellent build and sound quality, albeit without wireless capabilities. The Airpods are more suited for an active lifestyle with sweat resistance, and they're optimal for use during exercise and air travel. Conversely, the IE600’s strong build quality and detachable cable make them potentially more durable over time. For frequent calls and meetings, the Airpods' better integrated microphone would be beneficial compared to the poor mic of IE600. If you watch a lot of TV or videos, be aware of the Airpods' poor low latency performance, which might cause syncing issues. 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 (3rd generation)
- Good for phone calls
- Good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sennheiser IE600
- Very good for music
- Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.1
8.3
The Sennheiser IE600 is very good for music, while the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) is good.
Gaming
5.4
6.7
The Sennheiser IE600 is only fair for gaming, while the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) is poor.
Phone Calls
7.6
3.5
The Apple Airpods (3rd generation) is good for phone calls, while the Sennheiser IE600 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.6
5.4
The Apple Airpods (3rd generation) is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser IE600 is poor.
TV and Video
5.5
9.3
The Sennheiser IE600 is excellent for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
7.0
The Sennheiser IE600 is good for noise reduction, while the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) is poor.
Battery
6.0 Hours
N/A
The Apple Airpods (3rd generation) has 6 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser IE600 does not have a battery.
Cost
$178
$600
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Apple Airpods (3rd generation) has a price of $178 and the Sennheiser IE600 costs $600.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Apple Airpods (3rd generation) and Sennheiser IE600 both have excellent build quality.
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How the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) and the Sennheiser IE600 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple Airpods (3rd generation) | Sennheiser IE600 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$178 | $600 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | June 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.2/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.6/10 | 3.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.2/10 | 4.6/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 30 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | No | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 2.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4.3 Grams | 6 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Apple Airpods (3rd generation)
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz, Christian Thomas | February 2023
"The Apple AirPods improves upon the 2019 model with its more ergonomic, yet unsealed, fit, water-resistant build, MagSafe charging case, and advanced software features. You can enjoy a wholly immersive movie experience with the new AirPods' spatial audio with head tracking, and enjoy HD audio during FaceTime calls. Of course, most of these features are limited to Apple hardware."
Sennheiser IE600
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Jasper Lastoria | August 2023
"If you've got the bucks, the Sennheiser IE 600 is a nice, upscale set of in-ear monitors made of a lightweight metal with an unusual texture. It comes with a suite of extras, and performs well at virtually every task."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) or the Sennheiser IE600
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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Why trust us
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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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