If you are on the hunt for a new set of wireless in-ear headphones, then you’ve come to the right place. Today we’ll look at two amazing pairs of in-ear headphones and do a little review on both. We’ve put them in a head-to-head comparison where we’ll be having a closer look at their specs, features, good sides and bad sides. Bose Soundsport vs Powerbeats 3.
Both of these sets are amazing and very convenient if you are someone who like listening to music while working out, hitting the gym, running or maybe just a casual listener. They are in the same price range and both brands offer good quality and value for money.
If wireless earphones are not your “thing” and you prefer to have a physical connection to your phone or media player, then our article with the best in-ear monitors under 200 could be of interest.
Ok, so let’s have a closer look at their strengths and weaknesses.
1. Bose Soundsport
The Bose Soundsport includes a soft carrying case that might come in handy. The play/pause and volume controls work pretty well, they are located on the right earbud. Furthermore, they are labeled with a plus and minus symbol to make things easier. Another cool feature is that they are waterproof, which is a great feature, considering that they are designed for active people.
Comfort
This seems like a good place to start. At first glance they might seem a bit chunky but they fit perfectly in your ear and feel very light. Once you get the hang of it you won’t even notice that they are there. This pair of earbuds are connected with a wire that goes behind your neck. There is a clip on the wire which you can use to clip it to your shirt, to stop them from falling off. However, the length of the cable is not adjustable. Overall these headphones will feel light and won’t get in your way.
Sound Quality
Bose has a reputation of providing quality sound and it is the same with this product. They are designed to perform with any music genre, providing full and rich sound. After all, they are designed for entertainment and exercise. The idea was that you could enjoy your favorite music while you are on the go and Bose delivered. However a slight weakness might be that they are just not loud enough when cranked at max volume.
Battery Life
Another important feature when buying wireless headphones is the battery life. The Bose Soundsport can last for 6 hours on one charge. Some might argue that this is not enough, since the average is considered to be 8 hours. Charging time from flat battery is around an hour and a half, so that is approximately around 15 minutes of charging for one hour of playing.
Pros
- Feel comfortable
- Clear sound
- Waterproof
- Battery last only 6 hours
2. Powebeats 3
They come in packed a soft rubber case. They also come with a inline remote that includes a play/pause and volume control. It works pretty good, but it’s not as user-friendly as the Bose Soundsport. The manufacturer claims that these are waterproof too, however there have been reports of users complaining about this.
Comfort
The Powerbeats 3 fit and feel pretty comfortable, but to be fair the Bose is a bit more ergonomic. The Powerbeats 3 use a different mechanism to keep the earbuds locked in place, a big rubber hook, wrapping them around your ear. Once you put them, they are there to stay. They are more stable, however you can feel them a bit more when you work out. They are also connected with a wire, but they lack the clip. However, they do have option to adjust the length.
Sound Quality
As far as sound quality goes, the Beats headphones do have a reputation of being a little more “boomy”. Giving more attention to the bass and sacrificing some of the clarity of the sound. So if you’re a hip-hop fan, you’ll love these. Don’t get the wrong idea, they still sound amazing. It is also worth mentioning that they can pack a punch. The Powerbeats 3 have an amazing performance at max volume, they sound loud and have no distortion. This is very important if you want to crank up the volume and motivate yourself while you exercise.
Battery Life
When it comes to battery life, the Powerbeats offer an amazing 12 hours worth of playing time. Another amazing thing is that they come with a “5-minute Fast Fuel”. This feature offers you one hour of play time for a 5 minute charge. Which is more than enough to finish your workout.
- Adjustable wire length
- Powerful bass
- Great battery life, includes “5-minute Fast Fuel” feature
- Questionable waterproof design
Conclusion
There you have it folks, the “battle is over and it’s time to come to a conclusion. After having a closer look at both products we can see a difference. If you are someone who does not mind a shorter battery length, but good audio quality is important then the Bose Soundsport is the choice for you. If you want a powerful bass and battery length is important to you, then you should probably go for the Powerbeats 3.
