The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you often use your earbuds in noisy environments, the Apple Airpods Pro offers excellent noise isolation with active noise cancelling that could be a better fit for air travel and listening to music without outside interruptions. They're also slightly lighter and have a higher overall mic quality, which is beneficial for calls and meetings. However, if sound quality is your priority and you're willing to invest a bit more, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX boasts superior overall and gaming audio quality. While both are sweatproof, the Beoplay EX also offers dustproof certification and slightly longer earbud battery life, making it a robust choice for active users. Choose the Airpods Pro if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option with strong ancillary features, or the Beoplay EX for top-notch sound quality and durability. 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 Pro
Good for phone calls
Excellent for air travel
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX
Good for music
Excellent for gaming
Very good for TV and video
Very good for exercise
Key differences
Music
6.8/10
7.9/10
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is good for music, while the Apple Airpods Pro is only fair.
Gaming
5.1/10
9.3/10
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is excellent for gaming, while the Apple Airpods Pro is poor.
Phone Calls
7.4/10
5.3/10
The Apple Airpods Pro is good for phone calls, while the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.3/10
6.1/10
The Apple Airpods Pro is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is only fair.
TV and Video
5.7/10
8.9/10
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is very good for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods Pro is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1/10
8.3/10
The Apple Airpods Pro is excellent for noise reduction, while the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is very good.
Battery
5.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple Airpods Pro has 5 hours of battery life. The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has 6.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$260
$399
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Apple Airpods Pro has a price of $260 and the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX costs $399.
Build Quality
9.0/10
10.0/10
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has best in class build quality, while the Apple Airpods Pro has excellent build quality.
"For just $50 USD more than the original model with the wireless charging case, this is definitely the pair of buds to get. The AirPods Pro (1st generation) sounds better than the originals and has a way better fit and active noise canceling to boot. If you have an iOS device, just get this."
"If you’ve wanted truly wireless headphones, but couldn’t pick them up because they sound terrible, these will be the headphones that win you over. If you’re the kind of person who would consider spending $400 on headphones, these are the right truly wireless headphones for you."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Pro or the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX
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 Bang and Olufsen
Bang and Olufsen is an almost century-old electronic goods manufacturer based in Denmark with a very special focus on design. Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen created the first AC radio in 1925 and went on to develop televisions, telephones and, of course, headphones and loudspeakers. Today, they are partnered with several companies, like Audi, BMW and Aston Martin, to provide very high-quality audio solutions.
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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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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.