For their 2026 rollouts, Noble Audio seems to be working in pairs. Alongside the dual-release of the Iris and Vanguard IEMs, Noble added two new wireless headphones to their FoKus line. First came a revision to the Apollo, simply called the Apollo Pro, refining the original’s comfort and hybrid dual-driver tuning. More recently, Noble released the Artemis flagship to establish themselves within the luxury market. Can the Apollo Pro stand uniquely alongside its higher-end counterpart? In other words, is the Artemis worth its higher price?
Package Contains
| FoKus Artemis | FoKus Apollo Pro |
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Build Design
Wearing them back to back displayed immediate strengths for each. Visually, the Artemis might be my favorite wireless headphone period. Noble keeps its profile slim and patterned accents subtle to make the Artemis sleek and stylish. The warbly metallic finish of the faceplate almost resembles melted metal, a perfect compromise of the industrial and artistic designs common for in-ear monitors. While lacking the additional flair of the Artemis, the Apollo Pro pairs similar textured fabrics with more pronounced color to be outwardly flashy.
Contrasting visuals, comfort and fit were definite wins for the Apollo Pro. Seeing as these qualities were specifically outlined goals for the product, this should make sense. Much of this feel comes from their new velvet pads, keeping the headphones comfortable for particularly long listens. Even with a larger, heavier frame, the Apollo Pro had a far snugger fit on my head. I should disclaim that my head is quite large, resulting in the slimmer band of the Artemis complicating a strong seal. Regardless, the Artemis’s pads felt pretty generic, and I was not huge on the smaller cups.
As for build quality, the Artemis was a sure step-up, especially regarding its hinges. Adjusting the headband is a smooth slider that holds in well. The Apollo Pro uses notches, which feel a bit more rigid, but might be more reliable long term. Both use button controls for their respective features, which I personally appreciate.
Audio Design
As a pseudo development on the Apollo Pro, the Artemis alters its hybrid dual-driver setup with an additional balanced armature driver. Splitting the ranges amongst three different drivers enables more direct attention to specific frequencies for better precision. The Artemis balances one at all three: a dynamic driver for the low end, a planar magnetic for the mids, and a balanced armature tweeter for the higher range.
One less driver on the Apollo Pro does not imply less quality. Absent the armature tweeter, the headphones draw more from the dual power-precision attack of a hybrid dynamic planar setup. Being the first of its kind in a wireless headphone upon the initial Apollo’s release, the Apollo Pro builds on the foundation with an updated tuning that better actualizes Noble’s original vision.
Noble’s official releases only provide technical information for the Apollo Pro’s dynamic and planar drivers, which are 40mm and 14.5mm respectively. Even if Noble claims the Artemis to be a development of the Apollo Pro, I do not want to specify anything regarding its drivers while specifics are unavailable. This article will be updated given the official information available changes.
For raw audio performance, I found both to reach comfortable listening volumes at around the middle of my iPhone 11’s volume bar. The Artemis did demand a bit more, pushing to around 60-70% compared to the Apollo Pro’s 50-55%.
Additional Features
Both headphones share modern wireless staples alongside their own interesting additions. Active Noise Cancelling is very strong in both, with a minuscule edge for the Artemis’s seven microphone design. Even if not by much, the Apollo Pro’s cVc 8.0 technology lets in slightly more noise. The Artemis’s design also empowers its transparency mode, giving better surrounding information for outdoor use.
Both also receive smartphone integration through the Noble FoKus application. In individual Noble reviews, including my individual coverage of the Apollo Pro, I noted the app as functional with a standard UI. Alongside standards like EQ customization, firmware updates, and external headphone controls, the FoKus app has a frequency exam to tune your sound to hearing ability. For the Artemis, listeners also get access to spatial audio to better expand and detail their sound.
Battery
Battery life initially appears to be a shoe-in for the Apollo Pro, but the Artemis has an extra trick up its sleeve that keeps it competitive. In pure numbers, the Apollo Pro comedically dwarfs the Artemis’s standard 55 hours with an 80 hour battery life. Both might lose 20 of those hours with ANC, but 60 hours is still far more than the Artemis regardless of noise cancelling. The big equalizer comes in the form of the Artemis’s replaceable battery, providing much farther longevity to the headphone. Unless you are using your headphones somewhere without electricity, the difference in battery life is not a particularly crucial detail. Those charging responsibly likely will never face an issue of running out of power.
Connection Capabilities
Being both a newer and higher-end product, the Artemis has a leg up in wireless technology and wired variety. Alongside both 3.5mm and USB-C listening, the flagship supports Bluetooth 6.0 with a Qualcomm QCC3095 chipset. The Apollo, by contrast, uses Bluetooth 5.3, a Qualcomm QCC3084 chipset, and only 3.5mm listening. As for codecs, both use LDAC, as well as their own unique options. The Artemis also has aptX adaptive and aptX Lossless, and the Apollo Pro also uses aptX HD, aptX, AAC, and SBC. Additionally, both allow for multipoint connectivity to seamlessly play through different devices.
Soundstage
Space is the biggest point of contingency in their respective sounds. Next to the Apollo Pro, the Artemis’s scope feels colossal. Instruments flow impressively outward to give a distinctly large stage with pinpoint accuracy. Everything is layered neatly, giving everything a satisfying blend. Though unfortunately, this feat of closed-back staging is almost too substantial. In uniformly pushing everything away, the listener almost feels separate to the sound. This paired with its articulate detailing still crafts the image of a live experience, just from nosebleed seats. Although, the significant room you get better justifies the EQ, providing bandwidth to push ranges to the user’s preferences.
The Apollo Pro’s soundstage feels far closer by comparison. It has some width and dimensional depth, but is definitely more narrow than the Artemis. If anything, it better compliments more intimate genres. Vocals feel up close and personal, and instruments are nicely layered, if a bit foggier than the Artemis.
Low End
Noble’s new headphones carry opposing bass profiles. The Artemis’s low end is buttery smooth, allowing bass guitars and synths to slither through tracks with a comfortable volume. As musical as it is, the Artemis does not compromise clarity, giving the range a rounded warmth. Those desiring punchy bass might not find the stock sound satisfying, but its dedicated precision should allow for a stronger lean on EQ.
Opting for increased physicality, the Apollo Pro gives a bit more force to its bass. The headphones place emphasis in rumblier ranges whilst keeping enough musicality to not feel barbaric. In its stock state, the Apollo Pro is more energetic than the Artemis, though EQ might be less substantial in adjusting the Pro’s weaker texture.
Mids
The midrange is an unfortunate exposure to the drawbacks of the Artemis stage. While noticeably more precise, they feel distant and flat. As was true with the bass, you are fortunately given lots of room to adjust with EQ. However, those unfamiliar or uninterested in EQ might be disappointed by the Artemis mid frequency.
Mids are the only range where I believe the Apollo Pro clearly wins. Instruments are their best at the polar ends, giving equally gratifying grit and lushness. Vocals sit slightly forward and separate for a compelling blend. Johnny Craig’s vocals throughout Dance Gavin Dance’s “Downtown Battle Mountain” soar amongst the album’s sporadic post-hardcore noodling. While not particularly a huge force in the individual signature, the mids are certainly the highlight when compared to the Artemis.
Highs
The Artemis fully solidifies itself as a clarity machine with its crispy, fast treble. As was true in its bass range, power and spectacle take a backseat to polish. Technical tracks reap plenty of reward from the Artemis’s highs, providing cymbals and higher instrumentals a tight resolution. Though the farthest ends do not sparkle, the treble is still an incredibly strong showing.
Further pursuing the opposite path, the Apollo Pro shimmers outward with a more substantial brightness. Finalizing its “V-shaped” signature, the highs trade a grounded articulacy for wider excitement. Pairing these headphones with high-energy genres allows for an immediately exciting experience, though clarity will definitely be a bit weaker.
Final Verdict
Noble Audio’s double FoKus release might appear redundant on the surface, but each makes its own stance in the higher ends of wireless audio. The Artemis throws Noble into the flagship headphone fight, providing impressive stage and clarity with the space to tune to any audio preference. Revising an industry-first, the Apollo Pro justifies itself with high end comfort and an immediately rewarding sound.
Deciding between them is not as simple as a direct upgrade. The Artemis is more geared to those with more specific taste in their sound. Its out-of-the-box signature is not immediately satisfying, but its spectacular imaging and space allow for EQ to form the headphones to your taste. If you place more stock in unhampered excitement and enduring feel, the Apollo Pro is still worth considering even if the Artemis is within budget.
The Noble Audio FoKus Artemis and FoKus Apollo Pro are both available at Audio46.
