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Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're prioritizing high-quality audio for various uses including music, calls, and gaming, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are the better choice with features like active noise cancelling, wireless functionality, and an integrated microphone. They also have a higher build quality and are optimized for exercise, with a sweatproof certification, and suited for air travel thanks to excellent noise isolation. However, for a budget-friendly option with a wired connection that has very good sound quality for music and is highly portable, the Sony MDREX15AP would be a suitable choice, albeit with lower overall performance, and lacking features like noise cancelling and wireless connectivity. The decision largely depends on your budget and desired features such as wireless convenience and noise cancellation for the AirPods Pro 2 versus affordability and a simple, wired design for the Sony earbuds. 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 Sony MDREX15AP
Very good for music
Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.0/10
8.3/10
The Sony MDREX15AP is very good for music, while the Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good.
Gaming
8.4/10
6.7/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is very good for gaming, while the Sony MDREX15AP is only fair.
Phone Calls
7.8/10
3.5/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good for phone calls, while the Sony MDREX15AP is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.8/10
5.4/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDREX15AP is poor.
TV and Video
7.8/10
9.3/10
The Sony MDREX15AP is excellent for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good.
Noise Reduction
9.1/10
7.0/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sony MDREX15AP is good.
Battery
6.0 Hours
N/A
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Sony MDREX15AP does not have a battery.
Cost
$199
$20
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has a price of $199 and the Sony MDREX15AP costs $20.
Build Quality
9.0/10
8.0/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has excellent build quality, while the Sony MDREX15AP has very good build quality.
"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."
"At the ultra budget $10 price-point (and we’ve seen the no-mic version go for as cheap as $7), I’d say these are a decent option if you’re looking for a passable pair of earbuds for basic use that’s as cheap as possible. I wouldn’t say they feel or sound as good as some of the ultra-budget alternatives out there – of which there are a few at this point – but some might disagree. I will say though that the cable is a little bit nicer than those of that same competition."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Pro 2 or the Sony MDREX15AP
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 Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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.