Beats Pro is aimed at the professional market, which is not meant to imply that AirPods Max would not be up to the task. When choosing between Apple’s AirPods Max and Beats Pro over-ear headphones, the shopper should consider whether they will be used for personal listening when at home and traveling, or if the need is for studio and club use. This is really a choice between old-school bass-heavy, club headphones and high-tech noise-canceling, smart headphones. AirPods Max is a wireless solution, using Bluetooth 5.0, while the Beats headphones have the more traditional 2-meter audio cable with 3.5-millimeter connector and gold-plated quarter-inch adapter. In contrast, Beats Pro is said to be ready for “ relentless, heavy-duty use” in the studio and able to withstand the rigors of club use. Apple is not selling the AirPods Max as a studio solution, rather describing them as offering a top-quality personal listening experience. AirPods Max and Beats Pro are both over-ear headphones, but the similarities stop there with these two very different products. Pro: Apple’s Over-Ear & In-Ear Headphones ComparedĪt $549, AirPods Max are a high-end set of headphones and Beats Pro’s $399 price brings it into a similar category. Beats products remain on Apple’s website and new headphones and earbuds have been added to the Beats brand over the years. Beats offered more than just audio products, including the popular subscriber-based Beats Music service which was absorbed into Apple Music in 2015. The company's products were focused on optimizing sound with an emphasis on stronger bass than many competing headphones. As a result, it's a good time to compare AirPods Max with the Beats Pro, the other top-end option for over-ear headphones from Apple.Īpple bought Beats by Dr. It’s interesting to see Apple branding on this product, since the tech giant usually places headphones under the Beats by Dr. Apple’s recently announced AirPods Max are an exciting new offering for over-ear headphone buyers.