Apple's new BeatsX headphones are a better buy than AirPods - here's why

Apple made it a point to push the world toward wireless audio with the iPhone 7, but it has yet to launch a pair of headphones with genuine mass appeal.

The Beats Solo 3 Wireless are perfectly solid, but cost a hefty $300.

The Powerbeats 3 Wireless are strictly aimed at the gym.

And the fully wireless AirPods, the "cultural phenomenon" Apple most wants you to buy, feel like a dry run for a still-distant future.

The BeatsX, the latest wireless earphones from Apple's juggernaut subsidiary, aren't a no-brainer either. But they do get closer to that status than the rest. For $150, they lap the AirPods in every area that counts, while using the same fancy wireless tech that's become those earbuds' biggest selling point. They also cost $10 less than AirPods.

Right now, all of this makes them the best buy among Apple-made headphones. Here's a closer look.