Wireless headphones are a useful device for not only music lovers but those that are on-the-go a lot. They are convenient. Let you listen to music, talk on the phone, and more, without the hassle of a wire. While it seemed like just a short while ago, wired headphones were the rage, the wireless headphone market has grown significantly in popularity for a good reason.
|
Specifications |
Urbanista Stockholm Plus |
Apple Airpods |
|---|---|---|
|
Working Range |
~30 feet |
30-100 ft |
|
Microphones |
2 |
4 |
|
Battery Life |
20 hours |
24 hours |
|
Water-Resistant |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Driver Size |
12mm |
9mm |
|
Price |
$$ |
$$$ |
|
Rating |
||
| Cell |
You can connect quickly with Bluetooth and blast your music without anyone hearing. With the wireless headphone market growing in popularity, there is a wide variety of different products available. Today, wireless headphones come in all shapes and sizes, have different sound qualities, and include a large array of different features.
While many of these similar features can make it hard for you to choose the best fit for you, we have created an in-depth comparison of two of the top wireless earphones on the market: the Urbanista Stockholm Plus vs. Apple Airpods.
A Quick Look at The Contenders
Urbanista- Urbanista began in 2010 and aims to bring quality products that are inspired by an urban lifestyle. For urban people, city life is their home, and Urbanista features products that are suitable for a mobile lifestyle. Their products are rooted in the Scandinavian tradition, aiming to bring high-quality products at an affordable price. The brand offers a wide range of audio products that are perfect for life on-the-go.
Apple- Apple is one of the world’s most well-known technology companies for a good reason. Their innovative products have changed the technology game and continue to push the boundaries of modern technology. The brand aims to bring the best technology devices to support all users, including students, scientists, engineers, and businesses worldwide.
Urbanista Stockholm Plus Wireless Ear Buds
The Urbanista Stockholm Plus Wireless Earbuds are one of the top products on the market for many reasons. Since the beginning of their launch, Urbanista has improved its technology to fit an urban lifestyle better.
The Urbanista Wireless Earbuds feature a sleek design that brings an immersive music experience that you can take with you wherever you go. Not only can you listen to music, but these earbuds are also equipped with complete headset functions that allow you to perform different functions.
Specifications:
- 20+ hours playtime
- 1.5 hr charge time
- IPX4 Water Resistant Rating
- 12 mm drivers
- 6.35 oz
- 10 m working range
- Bluetooth Version 5.0
Pros:
- Water-resistant for greater durability
- Affordable price
- Touch controls on earbuds
Cons:
- Fewer microphones
- Shorter working range
Apple Airpods
The Apple Airpods are one of the most popular items on the market, and truly live up to its name. It is convenient, simple to use, and does not lack sound quality. The Apple Airpods have revolutionized the sleek design and shape of wireless earbuds that many people prefer today. The universal fitting earpods connect easily to any device and have the benefits of being voice connected to Siri. The Apple Airpods are a great choice for wireless earbuds that will not disappoint.
Specifications:
- 24+ hours of playtime
- 1 hr charge time
- 2.4 Oz
- 33 ft working range
- Bluetooth Version 4.0
- Dual beam forming microphones
- W1 headphone chip
- IPX4 sweat and splash-proof
Pros:
- Voice-activated for multiple uses
- Long working range
- Consistent audio and microphone quality
Cons:
- No volume control
- Slightly higher price
Section 3: Urbanista Stockholm Plus vs. Apple Airpods: Features Face-to-Face
Working Range
This refers to the distance that the wireless earbuds work away from the source. Since wireless earbuds are meant to work without the restaurants of a wire, the operating range of the audio device is an important factor. Having a longer working range adds to the convenience and functionality of the product.
Especially if you are on the go a lot, you may need to walk away from the source. It is a hassle to get disconnected due to a short working range. Ideally a longer working range is better to ensure that the connection. The last thing you need is to on an important phone call, just to cut out due to the operating range.
Urbanista Stockholm Plus
This option has an operating range of 10 meters, which means you can walk within 10 meters of the source and stay connected. Urbanista also claims that the earbuds have a strong 5.0 Bluetooth connection, which means that the connection stays clear within that distance.
Apple Airpods
The Apple Airpods have a Bluetooth 4.0 series. However, it also uses a W1 chip that extends its range. The W1 chip also has a number of different benefits, including increased battery life and optimized syncing. The working range on these earbuds ranges anywhere from 30-100 feet, which is incredible for the size and Bluetooth version.
Winner: The clear winner when it comes to working range is the Apple Airpods due to the addition of the W1 chip. This adds over 70 feet of operating range over the Urbanista Stockholm Plus. With these AirPods, you can conveniently walk away from the source while keeping a strong connection to whatever you are doing.
More: Sennheiser Momentum 3 vs Sony WH-1000XM3: Which One Should You Pick
Driver Unit
The drivers on the earphones are essentially what allows you to hear the audio. Depending on the type of driver, the driver moves the sound waves which allow you to listen to sounds. A driver can affect the audio quality since it converts electrical signals into sounds. Although bigger is not always better, a bigger driver usually means that it is able to pick up a wider frequency. For earbuds of this size, the drivers are usually quite small, but the quality and type of driver also affect the audio quality.
Urbanista Stockholm Plus
These earbuds have two 12mm drivers, which have a wide frequency range that allow you to hear a fuller sound. For earbuds of this size, Urbanist has taken special considerations to use a slightly larger driver size to allow a wider frequency range.
Apple Airpods
The Apple Airpods are accompanied with two 9mm drivers that still pick up an adequate range of frequencies. It most likely has a small driver size due to the size of the earpods. The small size does not directly affect the quality of sound, rather the quality of drivers does.
Winner: Since the Urbanista Stockholm Plus has a larger driver size, it is the winner in this category. Although it may not produce a better sound quality necessarily, it is made to pick up and produce sounds of a wider frequency. Although marginally larger, this slight difference can be great for avid music lovers that want to hear a full range of frequencies. It is also important to note the quality of the two drivers, which is important in determining the better sound quality.
More: Sennheiser Momentum 3 vs Sony WH-1000XM4: Which One Should You Buy?
Battery Life
Battery life is especially important since these earbuds are made for those living a mobile lifestyle. Although you may not use your earbuds for the maximum time every single day, it is convenient not to have to worry about charging your device every day to get adequate use. A longer battery life allows you to charge less and get a longer playtime without having to worry.
Urbanista Stockholm Plus
This model features a 20-hour playtime with its upgrades, which is more than enough for most users. Even with its microphone functions, the tiny earpods can last you through the entire day and more without a charge.
Apple Airpods
The Apple Airpods feature an incredible battery life of over 24 hours. With this option, you do not have to worry about charging it everyday, which adds to the convenience. Even though the battery on the AirPods is pretty standard, the special W1 chip helps to extend the battery life of the device.
Winner: The clear winner in this category is the Apple Airpods since it has a playtime of over 4 hours over the Urbanista Earbuds. You do not need to constantly worry about charging your Airpods, even if you do get a lot of use out of them, making it perfect for a mobile lifestyle.
More: Bose Soundlink 3 vs. JBL Charge 4: Which One You Should Buy?
Number of Microphones
The number of microphones is an important factor, especially for those that are looking to use their wireless earbuds for more than listening to music. The microphone addition assists with many different functions that are compatible with voice activated devices.
You are able to complete a wide variety of tasks hands-free. Since the earbuds have no wire and sit comfortably in your ear, the microphone is an important factor to receive voice commands and for the receiving end to hear you. A quality microphone can help ensure a clear connection and a great sound quality even for those on the receiving end.
Urbanista Stockholm Plus
These earbuds have two microphones on each earbud that allow you to talk on the phone and also activate voice functions.
Apple Airpods
The Apple earbuds are equipped with four microphones, two on each earbud, to assist with improved voice functions.
Winner: Since the Apple Airpods have two additional microphones, it is the clear winner in the microphone category. The two additional microphones result in better sound quality for the receiving end and also helps the small device filter out background noises while you are speaking.
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Stand Out Features
Control Panel: The control panel can help you easily access functions without having to reach for the source, such as the phone or laptop.
- The Urbanista earbuds have a quick and easy-to-access control panel on the case that allows you to easily adjust the volume and other controls.
- This allows you to make easy changes even while distanced from the source.
- While the Apple Airpods can control certain functions from the earbuds themselves, it is a bit more complicated than a full control panel.
Battery Level Indicator: This can help you easily know when you need to charge your device.
- The Urbanista earbuds allow you to easily see the battery level on the case.
- This makes it foolproof, and you won’t be surprised when your battery runs out.
- On the Apple Airpods, this function is not available and instead the battery level is indicated on the source itself.
- Has a battery level indicator on the device can add to the convenience of the product.
Beamforming Microphones: This is an additional feature that sets the Apple Airpods apart from other earpods on the market.
- Beamforming is a complicated process that improves the signal source of the sound, even while the person is moving around.
- This is a great added feature to wireless earpods, since they are made for mobile lifestyles.
- You can practically use the earpods anywhere, without worrying about not being heard or interrupted.
- Even though the microphone is not directly in front of your mouth, the beamforming microphones picks up your voice, even from the earpieces.
- This allows for easy receiving even in louder, more crowded areas.
Conclusion
With all the wireless earbuds hitting the market, it can be difficult to determine which ones are better for you. Ultimately you want your wireless earbuds to be convenient, easy-to-use, and affordable while still providing excellent audio quality.
Since the features of the wireless earbuds are so similar, we provided this in-depth breakdown of the top two products on the market. Depending on your lifestyle and use, there will be one that works better for you.
Use the Urbanista Stockholm Plus if:
- You are price conscious and want to get something more budget-friendly
- You want a wider range of sounds for your listening experience
- You want your earbuds to have more functionality, like the easy-to-access control panel
Use the Apple Airpods if:
- You want earbuds that have a solid mic functionality
- You want a modern design that is also convenient, like wireless charging
- You want something easily replaceable and accessible, if something goes wrong
