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Updated April 10, 2024·
If you prioritize advanced features like active noise cancelling, wireless connectivity, sweatproof certification, and an H1 chip for Apple device integration, including spatial audio with lower latency, then the Beats Fit Pro would be the better choice, albeit at a higher price point. They're well-suited for exercise and travel, with better portability, though the sound may not excel for gaming or TV. On the other hand, if you're looking for a budget-friendly option with a wired connection ensuring no latency issues, and you mostly intend to use them for calls and listening to music with excellent sound quality, the Sony MDREX15AP could be more appropriate, but they lack modern features like wireless charging, app integration and are not sweatproof nor do they have active noise cancelling. 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 Beats Fit Pro
Good for exercise
Very good for air travel
Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony MDREX15AP
Very good for music
Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
Music
6.9/10
8.3/10
The Sony MDREX15AP is very good for music, while the Beats Fit Pro is only fair.
Gaming
4.9/10
6.7/10
The Sony MDREX15AP is only fair for gaming, while the Beats Fit Pro is poor.
Phone Calls
6.3/10
3.5/10
The Beats Fit Pro is only fair for phone calls, while the Sony MDREX15AP is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.6/10
5.4/10
The Beats Fit Pro is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDREX15AP is poor.
TV and Video
5.6/10
9.3/10
The Sony MDREX15AP is excellent for TV and video, while the Beats Fit Pro is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3/10
7.0/10
The Beats Fit Pro is very good for noise reduction, while the Sony MDREX15AP is good.
Battery
5.2 Hours
N/A
The Beats Fit Pro has 5.2 hours of battery life. The Sony MDREX15AP does not have a battery.
Cost
$179
$20
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
The Beats Fit Pro has a price of $179 and the Sony MDREX15AP costs $20.
"The Beats Fit Pro is just as easy to use with an Android device as it is with an iPhone. It seems Apple-owned Beats is trying to appeal to a wider market, and it works. The Fit Pro fits like a pro with the ear tip fit test and multiple ear tips. Sound quality is sure to please most athletes, but the Fit Pro is just at home in the office as it is in the gym. The main factor holding the Beats Fit Pro back from gold is the price."
"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 Beats Fit Pro or the Sony MDREX15AP
About Beats
Beats is an American, consumer-focused, audio products manufacturer. Founded originally by American rapper and producer Dr Dre, the company is now a subsidiary of Apple. Beats sells a wide range of audio products, including several models of headphones, earbuds and speakers as well as full car audio systems.
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.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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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.