I’ve been switching between Apple’s standard AirPods and the AirPods Pro, and there’s only one reason you should consider buying the more expensive version

Design and comfort

Crystal Cox/Business Insider

You don’t have to actually wear the AirPods Pro to understand why they’re different from the standard pair. Even just by looking at them, you can tell that Apple has taken a distinct design approach with the Pro model.

Unlike the standard AirPods, the Pro have an in-ear design with silicone tips in three sizes to provide a more customizable and all-encompassing fit. The stems that protrude from the bottom of the buds are also significantly shorter when compared with the regular AirPods, which aren’t designed to plug your ear the way the Pro earbuds can.

Which one you find more comfortable will depend on your preferences. If you already dislike in-ear headphones, the AirPods Pro probably aren’t going to change your mind. But if you’re a fan of them, you’ll probably find Apple’s AirPods Pro to be comfortable.

Like the original AirPods, I’ve found that the Pros are much easier to situate in the ears compared with some wireless earbuds I’ve tried from other companies like Amazon and Samsung, which usually take more adjusting before I can find an enjoyable fit.

One advantage the standard AirPods have over the Pros, however, is that they’re slightly lighter, which makes them feel all the more discrete when wearing them. An individual AirPod weighs 0.14 ounces, while each AirPod Pro weighs 0.19 ounces.