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Updated January 10, 2024·
If price is a major concern, the Apple Earpods would be a more budget-friendly option. However, for an enhanced audio experience with better noise cancellation and richer sound quality, the Sennheiser 450BT would be the better choice, though they come at a higher cost. The Sennheiser 450BT could also offer more comfort during extended use due to their over-ear design and are typically more suitable for critical listening. Meanwhile, the Earpods, being more compact, are convenient for on-the-go use. Keep in mind, if you're embedded in the Apple ecosystem, Earpods would seamlessly integrate with your devices. 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 Earpods
Good for music
Very good for phone calls
Advantages of the Sennheiser 450BT
Very good for TV and video
Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Music
7.8/10
6.2/10
The Apple Earpods is good for music, while the Sennheiser 450BT is only fair.
Phone Calls
8.0/10
6.9/10
The Apple Earpods is very good for phone calls, while the Sennheiser 450BT is only fair.
TV and Video
7.4/10
8.1/10
The Sennheiser 450BT is very good for TV and video, while the Apple Earpods is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5/10
9.1/10
The Sennheiser 450BT is excellent for noise reduction, while the Apple Earpods is poor.
Battery
N/A
27.5 Hours
The Apple Earpods does not have a battery. The Sennheiser 450BT has 27.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$20
$139
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Apple Earpods has a price of $20 and the Sennheiser 450BT costs $139.
The Sennheiser 450BT and Apple Earpods are both very good for gaming.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.4/10
7.9/10
The Sennheiser 450BT and Apple Earpods are both good for podcasts and audiobooks.
Build Quality
7.6/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sennheiser 450BT to have very good build quality, while the Apple Earpods has good build quality.
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How the Apple Earpods and the Sennheiser 450BT compare to other earbuds and headphones
"Apple’s wired buds sound just fine for the price, and their handy inline controls and clear microphone give them an edge on wireless earbuds that are much more expensive. Plus, you never have to worry about running out of battery — or worse, a stray earbud going missing."
"The Sennheiser HD 450BT is a very good pair of headphones for the price, noise canceling is good and sound quality is great—quite rare at this price point. Like any product, this headset isn’t without its faults."
Get a great deal on the Apple Earpods or the Sennheiser 450BT
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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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.