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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize portability and the ability to use earbuds wirelessly, the Apple Airpods Pro 2 would be the better option, with added benefits such as active noise cancelling and a secure fit during exercise. However, if you seek comfort for extended listening sessions and superior microphone quality, consider the Sennheiser HD 400S, which are over-ear headphones with a higher comfort score and perform better during calls and meetings. The Sennheisers will also deliver a slightly better gaming experience. Keep in mind that the Airpods are pricier, so if budget is a key factor, the Sennheisers offer good quality at a lower cost. 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
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD 400S
- Very good for phone calls
Key differences
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.8
7.6
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is good.
Noise Reduction
9.1
5.3
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is poor.
Battery
6.0 Hours
N/A
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser HD 400S does not have a battery.
Cost
$199
$50
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has a price of $199 and the Sennheiser HD 400S costs $50.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has excellent build quality, while the Sennheiser HD 400S has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
7.0
7.1
The Sennheiser HD 400S and Apple Airpods Pro 2 are both good for music.
Gaming
8.4
8.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S and Apple Airpods Pro 2 are both very good for gaming.
Phone Calls
7.8
8.2
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sennheiser HD 400S to be very good for phone calls, while the Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good.
TV and Video
7.8
7.6
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 and Sennheiser HD 400S are both good for TV and video.
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How the Apple Airpods Pro 2 and the Sennheiser HD 400S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple Airpods Pro 2 | Sennheiser HD 400S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | January 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.1/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.8/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 4.2/10 | |
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 | 5.3/10 | |
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 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5.3 Grams | 213 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
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."
Sennheiser HD 400S
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Dungeon
Jim | August 2022
"Sennheiser has done it again. The HD 400S performs well beyond its price range and is one of the better budget model headphones I’ve tried. It has very few bells and whistles and offers a simple means of listening that still delivers amazing clarity and quality. If you need a good first pair of headphones or need something that you can take out of the house, then the HD 400S is definitely for you."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Pro 2 or the Sennheiser HD 400S
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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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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