Beat the Beats: 4 Better Alternatives to the Beats Fit Pro

Beat the Beats: 4 Better Alternatives to the Beats Fit Pro

They’re everywhere. The little lowercase “b” on the side of headphones when I ride the train, when I’m at the gym, or just walking to a friends house. Now as I visit the company site homepage and am solicited to buy Kim Kardashian special edition Beats Fit Pro, I need to help put an end to this madness. Anyone worth their salt in the headphone world knows that Beats are overpriced as they rely more on their brand and celebrity appeal rather than their actual quality. Here are just a few wireless Bluetooth bud alternatives that are a better balance of quality and price than the Beats Fit Pro.

Beyerdynamic Free BYRD ($249)

For just $50 more than the Beats Fit Pro, Beyerdynamic’s Free BYRD comes with far more premium features. Let’s start with the obvious one: battery life. While the Beats Fit Pro has 6 hours in active-use life and a total of 24 hours when including its case, the Free BYRD has a whopping 11 hours of use and a total of 30 hours when including the case. It also comes with an easy app the includes 7 EQ presets and a fast, highly effective listening test that provides a custom EQ adjustment specialized just for your ears. Being Beyerdynamic, the sound quality is fantastic, as is the microphone which utilizes a Qualcomm cVc chip that brings a pristine clarity to your voice. Where the Beat Fit Pro only includes AAC and SBC codecs, the Free BYRD is compatible with AAC, SBC, and aptX adaptive, giving listeners with android devices the opportunity to listen wirelessly at a higher quality. Also in the wireless tech department: The Beat Fit Pro is still using Bluetooth 5.0, while the Free BYRD uses Bluetooth 5.2, a more reliable technology for more secure wireless connections.

ANC mode is featured along with transparency mode, as are several easy to use smart controls. Lastly, for anyone looking to use these to workout, the Free BYRD is sweat resistant and also comes with foam eartips that add extra grip.

What’s better about it? Much longer battery life, more up-to-date Bluetooth, more diverse and higher quality codecs, excellent Beyerdynamic sound quality, excellent microphone, custom equalization in the app that tunes to your ears.

The Beyerdynamic Free Byrd is available at Audio46.

Final Audio ze3000 ($149)

This pair of wireless ANC buds were designed with audiophiles in mind, and contain some very high end acoustic tech. The driver in the ze3000 utilizes f-Core for wireless to provide exceptionally low distortion, and and f-link dampening system to emulate a natural sound similar to wired headphones. It uses Bluetooth 5.2 for its wireless connection and is compatible with AAC, SBC, and aptX adaptive codecs – once again, The Beats Fit Pro fall short of these features. Also superior to the Beats Fit Pro is its active use battery life, which is 7 hours with another 28 stored in the case for a cumulative total of 35 hours. For the healthy ones reading this, the ze3000 is ergonomically shaped for the ear, giving it a solid fit and grip, and is also IPX4 water and sweat resistant. Though it doesn’t have a microphone, transparency mode, or app, lots of people are likely buying the Beats Fit Pro without any intention of using those features. If that describes you, Final Audio’s ze3000 might be better suited for you with the superior sound quality, battery life, and super chic look it has to offer (check out the premium shibo finish on these bad boys).

What’s better about it? Much longer battery life, more up-to-date Bluetooth, more diverse and higher quality codecs, audiophile sound design and quality, beautiful design, less expensive.

Final Audio ze3000 is available at Audio46.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 (249.95)

It’s becoming clear the Beats Fit Pro aren’t winning in terms of battery life. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 (MTW3) beats it again with 7 hours of active use, and another 28 hours in the case. The Beats Fit Pro loses once again when we take a look Bluetooth tech and codec compatibility, as the MTW3 has Bluetooth 5.2 and is SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX adaptive compatible. Like the Beyerdynamic Free BYRD, the MTW3 comes equipped with an app that features integrated EQ, EQ presets, and a guided listening test. Like the Beats Fit Pro, the MTW3 comes with detachable “fins” that make for extra secure and sporty fit. In the the same athletic vein, these headphones are IPX4 water and sweat resistant. They also boast an impressive frequency response for in-ear headphones, clocking it at 5Hz – 21kHz. Also unique to these buds are their unusually wide sound stage that provides an engaging and immersive listening experience that is further enhanced by their clear and natural balance. Easy touch controls and transparency mode are also featured, as well as multiple ANC options.

What’s better about it? Much longer battery life, more up-to-date Bluetooth, more diverse and higher quality codecs, multiple ANC options, hearing test included in app, reliably clear Sennheiser sound quality with a wide sound stage, comes with the same ergonomic fins for an athletic fit.

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 is available at Audio46.

FiiO UTWS5 Bluetooth Adapter ($139.99)

Okay I’m cheating a little with this one but hear me out. If you already have a pair of buds that you love that you want to turn wireless, the FiiO UTWS5 Bluetooth Adapter is the way to do it. With both a two-pin and four-pin connector version available, the UTWS5 is compatible with a great number of buds and IEMs. A single charge will grant 8 hours of battery life, and another 30 hours of battery life are in the case, making these the most battery efficient unit on this list. At this point you may have noticed the Beats Fit Pro is seriously lacking in its codec and Bluetooth tech: the UTWS5 wipes the floor with it with Bluetooth 5.2 and codecs that include AAC and SBC as well as aptX and even aptX adaptive. The durable hook design adds an athletic structural support to any IEM it attaches to, and is made from meal and rubber which makes it sturdy and trauma resistant. Long story short, the UTWS5 can turn any of your favorite buds into your new workout pair with absolute ease.

What’s better about it? Much longer battery life, more up-to-date Bluetooth, more diverse and higher quality codecs, can turn most buds wireless, athletic fit, significantly less expensive.

The FiiO UTWS5 Bluetooth Adapter is available at Audio46.

Even more wireless earbuds that beat the Beats Fit Pro available at Audio46.