On-Ear
AKG K490NC
72Good
$300
Full review dataAKG K490NC vs Apple Beats Solo Pro: which should you buy?
Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the AKG K490NC vs Apple Beats Solo Pro, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
AKG K490NC
Sound7.0
Noise cancelling6.5
Battery8.0
Value7.5
Apple Beats Solo Pro
No sub-scores yet - not enough rated reviews.
Specifications
| Spec | AKG K490NC | Apple Beats Solo Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Type | On-Ear | On-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $300 | $300 |
| HearWiki score | 72 / 100 · Good | Not scored |
| Released | 2018 | 2019 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | 40mm |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 40 mm |
| Drivers per side | - | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-20kHz | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | - |
| Sensitivity | 117 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | - | 5.0 |
| Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
| Multipoint pairing | - | No |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 40 h | 22 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 22 h |
| Quick charge | - | 10 min = 3 h |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | - |
| ANC type | - | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | - | Yes |
| Voice assistant | - | Siri |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 150 g | 267 g |
| Water resistance | - | none |
| Foldable | Yes | Yes |
| Detachable cable | Yes | No |
| USB-C | No | No |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 2 |
| Call noise reduction | - | beam-forming microphones |
What reviewers said
AKG K490NC
The AKG K490NC is a compact, foldable on-ear headphone that pairs active noise cancellation with a long-lasting 40-hour battery for everyday travel use. Its sound is balanced and serviceable, though not class-leading, and the ANC is solid but not exceptional, making it a better fit for casual listening than critical or immersive sessions. While it performs well for its price tier, some aspects like soundstage and high-mid clarity leave room for improvement.
- Pro:Long 40-hour battery life
- Pro:Foldable and lightweight design for portability
- Pro:Balanced overall sound with decent detail
- Con:Soundstage and ANC are only middling
- Con:High mids and sub-bass decay could be better
- Con:Recharge via non-standard USB-to-2.5mm cable
Apple Beats Solo Pro
The Beats Solo Pro are compact on-ear wireless headphones that pack adaptive noise cancellation and a foldable build for easy travel. They run for about 22 hours per charge with ANC active and lean on Apple's H1 chip for smooth pairing, though they lack some modern conveniences like multipoint and USB-C. Overall, they're a solid pick for iOS users who want a portable, noise-isolating option.
- Pro:Effective adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Long 22-hour battery life with ANC on
- Pro:Foldable and travel-friendly design
- Con:No multipoint Bluetooth connection
- Con:Uses Lightning instead of USB-C
- Con:No water resistance rating
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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