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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize noise cancellation, portability, and a seamless experience with Apple devices, including lower latency for activities like gaming, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are the better choice, but they come at a premium price. Alternatively, the Skullcandy Hesh ANC headphones are more affordable and may provide a more comfortable fit for longer listening sessions due to their over-ear design, coupled with decent noise cancellation. However, they have a higher latency which may not be ideal for gaming or watching videos. Additionally, the AirPods Pro offer features like spatial audio and are more compact, making them a good fit if you're often on the move. 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 music
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Skullcandy Hesh ANC
- Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Gaming
8.4
5.6
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is very good for gaming, while the Skullcandy Hesh ANC is poor.
Phone Calls
7.8
5.3
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good for phone calls, while the Skullcandy Hesh ANC is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.8
6.0
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Skullcandy Hesh ANC is only fair.
TV and Video
7.8
5.8
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good for TV and video, while the Skullcandy Hesh ANC is poor.
Battery
6.0 Hours
23.0 Hours
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Skullcandy Hesh ANC has 23 hours of battery life.
Cost
$199
$135
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has a price of $199 and the Skullcandy Hesh ANC costs $135.
Build Quality
9.0
7.0
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has excellent build quality, while the Skullcandy Hesh ANC has good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
7.0
6.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple Airpods Pro 2 to be good for music, while the Skullcandy Hesh ANC is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
8.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple Airpods Pro 2 to be excellent for noise reduction, while the Skullcandy Hesh ANC is very good.
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How the Apple Airpods Pro 2 and the Skullcandy Hesh ANC compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple Airpods Pro 2 | Skullcandy Hesh ANC |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $135 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Skullcandy | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | December 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.1/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.8/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.4/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.8/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6 Hours | 23 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 0.5 Hours | 1.6 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 24 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | No | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 7/10 | |
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 | 226.7 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."
Skullcandy Hesh ANC
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonecheck
Maike Paeßens | 2021
"Skullcandy’s Hesh ANC are compact, wireless over-ears for everyday use that are tuned for bass and designed to suppress or amplify ambient noise as required. In addition to Bluetooth 5.0, optional tracking via the Tile app is supported so that these headphones can be found if they get lost."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Pro 2 or the Skullcandy Hesh ANC
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 Skullcandy
Skullcandy is an American, consumer-oriented, earbuds and headphones manufacturer with 20 years of market experience. They sell a wide variety of, budget-friendly and unique, wired and wireless products that are sure to please the vast majority of users. Among their most popular offerings, the Crusher headphones, includes a pair of actual subwoofers inside the cups which makes the bass extra prominent for a unique and extra fun sound.
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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
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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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