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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize portability, wireless convenience, and features such as active noise cancelling and a microphone for calls, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are better suited for you, especially since their price is somewhat lower. They also have good water resistance and a compact form, ideal for exercise or travel, with an accompanying app that offers customization. However, if you prefer the highest sound quality with an excellent soundstage for critical listening, and don't mind the open-back design which leaks sound and offers little noise isolation, the HifiMan Edition XS might be more appealing, albeit they are wired and less versatile for outdoor or portable use. 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 2
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the HifiMan Edition XS
- Very good for music
- Best in class for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.0
8.8
The HifiMan Edition XS is very good for music, while the Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good.
Gaming
8.4
7.4
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is very good for gaming, while the HifiMan Edition XS is good.
Phone Calls
7.8
5.0
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good for phone calls, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.8
7.9
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the HifiMan Edition XS is good.
TV and Video
7.8
9.5
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good.
Noise Reduction
9.1
2.5
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is excellent for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
Battery
6.0 Hours
N/A
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has 6 hours of battery life. The HifiMan Edition XS does not have a battery.
Cost
$199
$269
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has a price of $199 and the HifiMan Edition XS costs $269.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has excellent build quality, while the HifiMan Edition XS has very good build quality.
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How the Apple Airpods Pro 2 and the HifiMan Edition XS compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple Airpods Pro 2 | HifiMan Edition XS |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $269 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | HifiMan | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | December 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.1/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.8/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.4/10 | 7.5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.8/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 4.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 0.5 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 24 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 2.5/10 | |
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 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5.3 Grams | 421 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Apple Airpods Pro 2
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz | May 2023
"Apple's upgraded H2 chip begets better active noise canceling (ANC) and battery life, while the case's U1 chip and integrated speaker lets you precisely locate it from the Find My app. If you own an iPhone, the new AirPods Pro is an obvious choice."
HifiMan Edition XS
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Headphonesty
Eric D Hieger | January 2023
"The Edition XS easily compete with headphones in their price range with a very high price-to-performance ratio. The XS are an amazing value and offer performance not far off from headphones more than twice their cost. These will be a mind-blowing revelation for enthusiasts and music lovers who have only heard standard big-brand mainstream headphones."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Pro 2 or the HifiMan Edition XS
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 HifiMan
HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.
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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.
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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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