On the other hand, the AirPods Max offer a better noise-canceling experience by virtue of that form factor. Both products offer a transparency mode for hearing environmental noise and noise canceling to focus on the audio itself, but the AirPods Max handle the latter better because they cover your entire ear.

Each bud has full volume and track controls, so you don’t need to fumble with your smartphone to make adjustments. And that smartphone can be an iPhone or Android device — the Powerbeats Pro are compatible with both. They also have Audio Sharing so you can pair two sets of Powerbeats Pro with the same device so you can listen with a friend.

The Beats Fit Pro and second-gen AirPods are both a few years old, but that doesn't mean they're long in the tooth — here's how each pair performed

These under-$200 AirPods Pro 2 have a USB-C charger, they’re mag-safe, and you’ll get about six hours of battery life from the earbuds and 30 from the case. Best of all, the case has Apple’s U1 chip, so you can track it like an AirTag.

As of Jan. 16, get AirPods Max (USB-C) for $449.99 at Best Buy, saving $100 off the original price of $549.99. Apple's AirPods Max are the ultimate over-ear headphones, and they just got even better — and cheaper.