Being an Apple-owned company, the Powerbeats Pro come with all of the hallmark features found on the AirPods.
Like the AirPods, you can summon Siri hands-free with the Powerbeats Pro and take phone calls. Both pairs of wireless earbuds also have sensors that can detect when they're in your ears, meaning they can automatically play and pause music when you take them out. And of course, both headphones come with charging cases that can automatically pair with your iPhone when the lid is opened.
But the Powerbeats Pro and AirPods also have specific features that differentiate them from one another. The Powerbeats Pro, for the most part, offer more customization — they come with multiple ear tips to accommodate different sizes, unlike the AirPods, and Beats will be launching them in different colors later this summer. Right now, you can purchase them in black, but they'll be available in olive green, navy blue, and white as well. AirPods, meanwhile, are only sold in white and do not come with multiple ear tips.
Each Powerbeats Pro earbud is also outfitted with physical buttons for skipping tracks and controlling the volume, whereas the AirPods can play or pause music, skip tracks, and launch Siri when the buds are double-tapped. However, you can customize what this double-tap gesture does on the AirPods, while the buttons on the Powerbeats Pro are not programmable.
The Powerbeats Pro do have dedicated volume keys, unlike the AirPods, which can be convenient for adjusting sound levels without reaching for your phone.
Unlike the second-generation AirPods, the Powerbeats Pro headphones do not have an optional wireless charging case, so you'll have to plug them in with a Lightning cable to power them up.
But unless you already own a wireless charger, it's probably not worth the extra money unless being able to rest your headphones down on a surface instead of plugging them in is a game-changer. Apple charges an additional $40 for its second-generation AirPods with the wireless charging case, and wireless charging mats can cost between $30- $60.
Overall, the Powerbeats Pro should offer longer battery life; Apple says the AirPods offer up to five hours of listening time, while the Powerbeats Pro are said to last for nine hours.