When doing sports like running, it’s important to stay aware of your surroundings, which can be difficult when listening to music or podcasts. However, products like the AirPods Pro with their Transparency Mode and Shokz with their bone conduction technology, let the outside world in while also pumping through tunes or voices. But which one is the best for sports?
Is AirPods Pro Transparency Mode better than bone conduction earphones?
After testing both products, I can confirm that bone conduction headphones like the Shokz OpenRun or Philips TAA6606BK are better than the AirPods Pro (1st and 2nd generations) when it comes to hearing the outside world.
While the AirPods Pro do allow some noise through, in my experience it’s not nearly enough to keep me fully aware of everything happening around me. Should you want to push music volume past around 40% external sounds become very difficult to hear.
On the other hand, bone conduction headphones like those from Shokz and Philips keep the ear completely open, allowing for much more of the outside world to be heard. However, bone conduction audio quality still has a long way to go before it can compete with in-ears.
For those putting safety first, bone conduction headphones are best.
Looking for more Apple product guides? Here’s a breakdown of the Apple Watch Ultra vs the Series 8 Stainless Steel version. Also, if that pesky iPhone “Undo typing” message keeps popping up, here’s how to disable it.
