Spatial audio isn't great for music, but I use this tech a lot when watching Netflix on my phone, where it brings a more immersive surround-sound experience on the go.Īfter quickly pairing with Android or iOS, the first thing you'll notice when you pop the buds in your ears is how well they silence the world. That means instant pairing with iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks, and the same spatial audio head tracking that those buds boast. In addition to all of this, you get all of the benefits of Apple's H1 chip, which also powers the latest AirPods and AirPods Pro. Underneath the headphones, you find sensors that tell the buds when you’ve taken them out. The outside of each earbud hides a simple, clicky button below the Beats logo-no annoying touch controls here. The in-ears have soft silicone tips and squishy fins to improve stability and make them fit better in a wide array of ears. In particular, the Fits Pro are among the most elegantly designed of any modern Apple product. They feel like the brand’s original products went to college, got a degree in mechanical engineering, and ditched track sweats for chinos and a job inside Apple's mothership. Beats are now made of robust materials and have less bass-heavy tuning.
The plastic, bassy headphones I’d heard from Beats in the past looked flashy but mostly sounded and functioned like they had a trip to the landfill in the near future.Ī lot has changed in the Apple era. Dre and associates for the Beats brand in 2014, I thought the folks in Cupertino had lost their minds ( unlike my esteemed colleague at the time).