True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)
84Great
$125
Full review dataApple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) vs Creative Outlier Air and Gold: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) - Great overall at around $125.
True Wireless
Creative Outlier Air and Gold
72Good
$80
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery7.5
Calls8.0
Value7.5
Creative Outlier Air and Gold
Sound7.0
Battery8.5
Calls7.0
Value7.5
Specifications
| Spec | Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) | Creative Outlier Air and Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $125 | $80 |
| HearWiki score | 84 / 100 · Great | 72 / 100 · Good |
| Released | 2022 | 2019 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | 5.6mm graphene |
| Driver size | 11 mm | 5.6 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Impedance | 16 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, aptX |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes |
| Wireless range | - | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 10 h |
| Battery incl. case | 30 h | 30 h |
| Wireless charging | Yes | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | No |
| ANC type | adaptive | none |
| Transparency mode | Yes | No |
| Companion app | Yes | No |
| Custom EQ | No | No |
| Wear detection | Yes | No |
| Controls | both | touch |
| Voice assistant | Siri | Siri, Google Assistant |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 10.6 g | 10 g |
| Case weight | 50.8 g | 54 g |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IPX5 |
| Foldable | No | - |
| Detachable cable | No | - |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 2 |
| Call noise reduction | - | cVc 8.0 |
What reviewers said
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)
These wireless earbuds deliver strong active noise cancellation and a natural-sounding transparency mode, making them a solid pick for Apple users. With around 6 hours of playback per charge and a case that boosts total listening time to 30 hours, they offer dependable daily use. The IP54 rating adds some protection against sweat and splashes, while Bluetooth 5.3 ensures a stable connection for most devices.
- Pro:Excellent active noise cancellation
- Pro:Natural transparency mode for ambient awareness
- Pro:Decent battery life with case
- Con:No multipoint connection
- Con:Limited to AAC codec
- Con:No custom EQ in app
Creative Outlier Air and Gold
The Creative Outlier Air and Gold are true wireless earbuds that stand out for their impressive battery life, offering up to 14 hours on a single charge in the Gold model. They deliver a balanced, versatile sound with strong codec support including aptX and AAC, plus IPX5 water resistance for workouts. However, their touch controls can feel awkward, and the Bluetooth connection may drop or stutter during walks, which holds them back from being top-tier options.
- Pro:Exceptional battery life, especially the Gold's 14-hour single charge
- Pro:Balanced and versatile sound signature
- Pro:Good codec support with aptX, AAC, and SBC
- Con:Touch controls can be uncomfortable or finicky
- Con:Bluetooth connection can be unstable when walking
- Con:No active noise cancellation or transparency mode
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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