beats tour 3 wireless earbuds review

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Beats by Dre Wireless Earbuds Reviews and Prices

Table of Contents

What Is Beats by Dre?

• Earbuds Reviewed

Beats Fit Pro Review

Beats by Dr. Dre, also known as Beats, was founded in 2006 by musician Dr. Dre and entrepreneur and record executive Jimmy Iovine. It specializes in premium consumer headphones, earphones, and speakers. In 2014, Beats was acquired by Apple and began using some Apple technology (such as audio drivers) in its products. At one point, Beats offered a subscription streaming music service called Beats Music, which was phased out after Apple acquired Beats. Warranties and repairs are also handled by Apple, and Apple Care+ is available for Beats products.

Beats by Dre Wireless Earbuds Reviewed

• Beats Fit Pro

Wireless Earbuds Available From Beats by Dre

Beats fit pro ».

Easy connectivity to other Apple-owned products

Bluetooth range up to 300 feet

No wireless charging

Relatively high price

#4 in Best Wireless Earbuds of 2024 (tie) #3 in Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds of 2024

Wing tips provide secure fit

Up to 300 feet in Bluetooth range

High-quality sound

Charging case requires a cable

Android app doesn’t offer same level of control as Apple Settings

Spatial audio and noise canceling can't be adjusted manually

The Beats Fit Pro place at No. 3 in our Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds of 2024 rating and tie for No. 4 in our Best Wireless Earbuds of 2024 rating. Professional reviewers agree that the sound quality of these earbuds is good, particularly the bass. They recommend the Beats Fit Pro for active users, as the wingtip design provides a secure fit. Users can choose from seven different colors for their earbuds, including three that are special-edition Kim Kardashian colors (Moon, Dune, and Earth). The charging case comes in a matching color, and each set of earbuds includes three different sizes of eartips to help customize the fit.

As an Apple subsidiary, Beats uses some Apple technology in its products. The Beats Fit Pro feature Apple’s H1 audio chip, and they are compatible with all Apple devices: iPhone , iPad , and MacBook . Professional reviewers note that although there is an Android app to help manage and control the Beats Fit Pro, it does not offer as many features as the Apple Settings provides to users.

The Beats Fit Pro has one of the largest Bluetooth ranges out of the earbuds in our ratings at 300 feet, compared to 20 to 50 feet for the Apple AirPods Pro, 1st Gen. The earbuds are true wireless , meaning they can be charged wirelessly, but the charging case must be connected to a cable to charge. At $199.99, they are priced right around the middle of the price range seen in our ratings.

Popular Wireless Earbuds

Sony WF-1000XM4 »

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 »

Apple AirPods Pro (1st Gen) »

Beats Fit Pro: Specs

Beats fit pro: price.

The retail price for Beats Fit Pro is $199.99 – not as low as the $99.00 Google Pixel Buds A-Series but not as expensive as the $279.00 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds.

Beats Fit Pro: What’s Included in the Box

When opening the box, buyers will find the earbuds themselves and three sets of eartips: small, medium (pre-installed on the earbuds) and large. A charging case that matches the earbud color selected as well as a USB-C to USB-C charging cable are included. Users will need to provide their own wall charging adapters. Inside the box, buyers will also see a paper Quick Start Guide and a warranty card.

Beats Fit Pro: Design

At 5.6 grams and approximately one inch in length, one inch in width, and three-quarters of an inch high, the Beats Fit Pro earbuds are similar in size and weight to other earbuds that made our ratings. The earbuds come in seven different colors (Beats Black, Beats White, Sage Gray, Stone Purple, Moon, Dune, and Earth), with a Beats logo visible in either a contrasting or similar color, depending on the model chosen. A flexible wingtip wraps around the ear to help secure the earbud. Each earbud contains a multi-function button, plus optical sensors and motion accelerometers for the automatic play/pause function.

Beats Fit Pro: Audio Quality

The Beats Fit Pro feature the Apple H1 audio chip. Professional reviewers say that the sound quality from these headphones is good, particularly the bass. These earbuds have spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, providing a somewhat theater-like listening experience as the earbuds sense the position of the user’s head and direct the audio to create an immersive sensation.

Beats Fit Pro: Noise Cancellation

Many of our top-rated earbuds offer active noise cancelling (ANC) technology, which include microphones that face the user’s environment and cancel out noise from the environment. The Beats Fit Pro offer both ANC and “transparency” mode, which allows some, but not all, outside noise to filter through. Users can also elect to turn off both ANC and transparency modes.

Beats Fit Pro: Charging Speed and Battery Life

The Beats Fit Pro earbuds offer up to six hours of battery life on a full battery charge with ANC activated, and up to seven hours when ANC (which includes both full noise cancellation and “transparency mode”) is turned off. This is similar to many of the earbuds on our top list. The charging case provides up to 18 hours of listening time when fully charged. Five minutes of charging time will generate one hour of listening time. It takes an hour and a half to charge the earbuds to full capacity.

Beats Fit Pro: Connectivity and Bluetooth

The Beats Fit Pro pair easily to both Apple and Android devices. They provide one-touch pairing for both Apple and Android phones, and there is an Android app that allows users to tailor the sound to their liking with a customized acoustic platform. You can also use the app to see the battery level and adjust other controls. The Beats Fit Pro have a Bluetooth range at the higher end of the earbuds on our top list: up to 300 feet, compared to 20-to-50 feet for Apple AirPods Pro (1st Gen). They can be activated with Apple’s FindMy app if they are misplaced.

Beats Fit Pro: Water-Resistance 

There are different levels of water-resistance rating depending on how well a device can tolerate moisture and water intrusion. The Beats Fit Pro, like most of the other earbuds on our top list, are rated IPX4 water-resistant, which means they are resistant to sweat and splashing water. However, keep in mind that they should not be submerged in water, and both the earbuds themselves and the earbuds charging case should be thoroughly dried after any contact with water before users attempt to charge the devices. Professional reviewers note the secure-fit wingtips keep the earbuds in place, making these a decent earbud option for workouts.

Beats Fit Pro: Mobile App

The Beats Fit Pro earbuds can be managed and controlled in different ways depending on whether the user owns Apple or Android devices. Apple users can open Settings after pairing the earbuds to manage ANC or transparency modes, change sound settings, test the fit of their eartips, and more. Android users of the Beats Fit Pro can download a mobile app that helps control firmware updates, one-touch pairing, battery levels, customized noise adjustments, and battery levels. Compared to the settings on an Apple device, Android app doesn’t provide quite as much control over the devices, according to professional reviewers.

Beats Fit Pro vs. the Competition

Sony wf-c500 ».

Lower price than most in rating

Long battery life

Good sound quality

No noise cancellation

Shorter Bluetooth range

Beats Fit Pro vs. Sony WF-C500 

The Beats Fit Pro is near the middle of the price range of our top earbuds of 2024 at $199.99, while the Sony WF-C500 costs a little bit less than half the price at $99.99. The Beats Fit Pro has a much larger Bluetooth range than the Sony WF-C500, at up to 300 feet compared to up to 30 feet. Users can also choose from seven colors for the Beats Fit Pro, while the Sony WF-C500 earbuds come in one color, black. Both types of earbuds have a similar water-resistance rating (IPX4).

The Sony WF-C500 provide more listening time than the Beats Fit Pro, with up to 10 hours of listening time on a full charge, compared to 6 hours for the Beats Fit Pro. However, the Sony WF-C500 earbuds do not offer active noise cancellation (ANC) modes, while the Beats Fit Pro allow users to use ANC or transparency mode, or to turn ANC off altogether. Turning noise cancellation off will give your Beats Fit Pro up to seven hours of listening time.

Learn more in our Sony WF-C500 review.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 »

Effective ANC

Clear and balanced audio

Support for Bluetooth 5.2 and aptX

Limited EQ settings

Potentially difficult fit for some

Beats Fit Pro vs. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 and the Beats Fit Pro have similar battery life: up to seven hours of listening time on a full charge for the Sennheiser Momentum earbuds and up to six hours of listening time on a full charge for the Beats Fit Pro (seven with ANC turned off). The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds and charging case can be charged wirelessly. By contrast, users must use a cable to charge the Beats Fit Pro charging case.

At $249.95, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 cost more than the Beats Fit Pro, which retail for $199.99. Both versions of earbuds have a Bluetooth range of up to 300 feet. Professional reviewers recommend the Beats Fit Pro for active use due to the high sound quality and secure fit with the wingtip design.

Learn more in our Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 review.

Beats by Dre FAQ

Professional reviewers say that the Beats Fit Pro earbuds are a good choice for active users who seek both quality sound, particularly the bass, and a secure fit in the ear due to the wingtip design. Professional reviewers also say that Android users will not have the full range of experience as Apple iPhone, iPad or MacBook users because the Android app does not offer the same functionality. They offer ANC, come in seven color options, and provide up to six hours of listening time on a full charge. It takes about one-and-a-half hours to fully charge the earbuds. The Beats Fit Pro provide a wide Bluetooth range of up to 300 feet.

You can buy a pair of Beats Fit Pro earbuds directly from the company at the Apple Online Store, at a brick-and-mortar Apple retail store, or at a number of authorized retailers, including phone carriers (i.e., AT&T or Verizon), chain stores with electronics departments (i.e., Target, Walmart or Costco), office supply stores (i.e., Office Depot or Staples), department stores (i.e., Kohls), and electronics stores (i.e., Best Buy), both online and in person. Buyers can also purchase the extra Apple Care+ coverage through some retailers other than Apple, such as Amazon.

Apple acquired Beats in 2014, and like other Apple products, hardware service and parts can be obtained for Beats products up to seven years after the product was last distributed for sale. Apple does at that point discontinue support service for certain products that it considers “technologically obsolete.” Some products that were released after Apple’s acquisition of Beats, such as the Powerbeats Wireless 2 headphones (released in 2014), are now considered “vintage” in the U.S. and obsolete in other countries. Users can visit Apple Support’s website to make a repair request for presently covered products.

To clean your Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds, Apple suggests using a cotton swab for the charging contacts on the earbuds. If needed, the swab can be dampened very slightly with warm water or 70 percent isopropyl alcohol. A clean, lint-free cloth should be used to clean the charging pins on the case. It can also be dampened slightly with either water or cleaning alcohol if needed. Use a dry, clean, lint-free cloth to clean all other areas of the earbuds or charging case. To clean the eartips, remove them from the earbuds, then use a damp cloth with warm water and mild soap to remove any dirt or residue.

Beats Fit Pro are covered by the same limited warranty that Apple provides for its products: If there are any manufacturing defects discovered within one year of buying the earbuds, Apple will repair or replace them free of charge. Users can also purchase Apple Care+ for Beats Fit Pro earbuds, the extended Apple warranty that will cover the earbuds for any battery service needs and accidental damage from handling as well as manufacturing issues. You can request a service or repair on Apple Support’s website, which will also provide a cost estimate.

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• Best Wireless Earbuds of 2024
• Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)
• Apple AirPods Pro (1st Gen)
• Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
• Bose SoundSport Wireless
• Google Pixel Buds A-Series
• Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
• Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
• Sony WF-1000XM4
• Sony WF-C500
• Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds of 2024
• Best Apple AirPods of 2024
• AirPods vs. AirPods Pro
• Best Wireless Earbuds of 2023
• Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds of 2023
• Best Apple AirPods of 2023
• Apple Wireless Earbuds Review and Prices
• Beats Wireless Earbuds Review and Prices
• Bose Wireless Earbuds Review and Prices
• Google Wireless Earbuds Review and Prices
• Samsung Wireless Earbuds Review and Prices
• Sennheiser Wireless Earbuds Review and Prices
• Sony Wireless Earbuds Review and Prices

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Why You Can Trust Us: 65 Earbuds Researched

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• Studio3 Wireless

Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones Review

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are over-ear headphones that come in various colorways. They have the same stylish and polished design as the previous Beats Studio Wireless but with an improved noise cancellation (ANC) system that automatically adapts to you and your environment. They also have a W1 chip for seamless pairing with your Apple devices.

Our Verdict

The Beats Studio3 are okay for neutral sound. Their warm sound profile delivers extra warmth and boom to mixes. However, the extra bass muddies tracks and the recessed treble hurts the detail of vocals and instruments. They're also prone to inconsistencies in bass delivery depending on their seal on your head and lack sound customization features to help you adjust their sound to suit your tastes, too.

• Comfortable and stable fit.
• Bass delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.

The Beats Studio3 are decent for commuting. These headphones are comfortable enough for long listening sessions, well-built, and come with a carrying case to help protect them when you're on the go. They also have noise cancelling but do a better job blocking out passenger chatter than the rumble of bus engines. On the upside, they last 23 hours continuously, making them a solid choice for long trips.

• ANC has some trouble blocking out bass-range noise.

The Beats Studio3 are decent for sports. They're comfortable and stable enough to exercise with. They're also wireless with a great range, so you can leave your phone on a bench while you run or have a fixed Bluetooth source. However, they can make your ears a bit warm and sweaty throughout your workout. They also lack an IP rating for water resistance, though this is to be expected for over-ear headphones.

The Beats Studio3 are satisfactory for office use. These comfortable over-ears are equipped with an ANC system to help cut down chatty coworkers and the high-pitched hum of AC units. With their ANC on, they also last around 23 hours continuously, so you don't need to recharge them often. Thanks to their low audio leakage, you can crank up your audio to high volumes without others around you hearing it. However, if you need to make calls, their integrated mic offers a sub-par performance, and it can be hard to hear you clearly if your office is noisy.

• ANC can cut down mid to treble-range noise well.
• Sub-par overall mic performance.

The Beats Studio3 only connects wirelessly via Bluetooth and therefore aren't compatible with PlayStation or Xbox consoles. They're compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs, but their latency is a bit too high for gaming. That said, their latency is lower on iOS and Android devices, which is handy for mobile gaming.

The Beats Studio3 are satisfactory for wired gaming. They're comfortable for long gaming sessions thanks to their lightweight frame and padded ear cups. The sound profile also leans towards more bass, making effects like footsteps in FPS games easier to hear. However, their microphone offers a sub-par overall performance and only works on PC and PlayStation consoles. Xbox users can only receive audio, which is a little disappointing.

• Mic doesn't work on Xbox consoles.

The Beats Studio3 are passable for phone calls. Their integrated mic has a just okay recording quality, so your voice sounds thin and lacks detail. Unfortunately, if you're taking calls in even moderately noisy environments like an office, the person on the other line may have difficulties hearing you too. On the upside, these headphones have an ANC system that can help block out some noise while on a call.

• Low audio leakage.
• 6.8 Neutral Sound
• 7.4 Commute/Travel
• 7.2 Sports/Fitness
• 5.5 Wireless Gaming
• 7.1 Wired Gaming
• 6.2 Phone Calls
• Updated Aug 30, 2023: Added a note that the Beats Studio Pro Wireless offer the same app support for both iOS and Android.
• Updated Jun 14, 2023: We've updated the text of this review to maintain its accuracy. There hasn't been a change in our results, though.
• Updated May 11, 2022: Some users have experienced a clicking noise in the left ear cup after updating the headphones to firmware update 2.4.4. However, we didn't experience this issue with our unit, and the scoring of 'Noise Isolation' hasn't changed.
• Updated Oct 29, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
• Updated Jun 29, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5 .
• Updated Nov 16, 2020: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
• Updated Feb 05, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4 .
• Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1 .
• Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3 .
• Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2 .
• Updated Nov 02, 2017: Review published.
• Updated Oct 31, 2017: Our testers have started testing this product.
• Updated Oct 29, 2017: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
• Updated Oct 22, 2017: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Beats Studio3 come in four color variants: 'Matte Black', 'Blue', 'Red', and 'White'. They also come in a few special edition colors: 'A-COLD-WALL* Cement', 'Defiant Black-Red', 'Midnight Black', which have a tan inner headband with gold accents, and 'Shadow Grey', which have a beige inner headband and gold accents. Since these differences are only in color, we expect each to perform similarly to our unit. If you come across a pair that are different from ours, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Headphones

The Beats Studio3 are the updated version of the Beats Studio Wireless ' design and are the manufacturer's only over-ear model. These premium cans have better isolation than their predecessor, thanks to their adaptive noise cancelling, and have a comfortable fit. However, their dynamic audio reproduction tends to sound inconsistent, and their noise isolation falls short compared to their competitors, like the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless .

See our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth headphones , the best over-ear headphones for working out , and the best closed-back headphones .

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are better headphones than the Beats Solo3 2019 Wireless . The Studio3 are over-ear headphones that are more comfortable and have a good-performing ANC feature. However, the Solo3 2019 deliver audio more consistently and have a better battery performance. Some users may also prefer their bass-heavy sound profile.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are better over-ear headphones than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable, the Sony are better built and have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their ANC does a significantly better job of cutting down ambient noise around you. They also have a longer-lasting continuous battery life, and their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help adjust their sound to your liking. However, the Beats have a W1 chip, so you can seamlessly pair them with other Apple devices.

The Beats Solo Pro Wireless are slightly better than the Beats Studio3 Wireless if you don’t mind the on-ear design. The Solo Pro Wireless have a slightly better noise cancellation feature, and their sound profile is better balanced than the Studio3. On the other hand, the Studio3 are more comfortable thanks to their over-ear design and come with an audio cable to use when wired, which you need to buy separately for the Solo Pro.

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are somewhat better headphones than the Beats Studio Wireless . They have the same stylish and polished design, but the Studio3 have a better control scheme and improved noise cancellation. They sound quite similar, but the Studio3 sound slightly better overall. The Studio3 also have a much better battery than the Studio Wireless and feature the W1 chip for improved ease of use with Apple devices. The Studio have better latency and microphone noise handling performance. They’re both decent headphones for most uses, but the more intuitive pairing process and control scheme of the Studio3 gives them an edge.

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are better headphones than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Bose are very comfortable, and their sound profile is well-balanced. Their ANC feature noticeably blocks more background noise than the Beats. On the other hand, the Beats will be slightly better suited for bass-heavy genres, and they leak less than the Bose. They also have an in-line microphone for calls, which the Bose are lacking. The battery life of the Beats is about three hours longer than the Bose, but they don't have a power-saving feature.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Anker have a significantly better noise isolation performance, a longer continuous battery life, and their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets so that you can adjust their sound to your liking. However, the Beats would be more comfortable, and they have a W1 chip, so you can seamlessly pair them with your Apple devices.

The Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless are better headphones than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Sony feel slightly more premium and sound more neutral but with a small excess in thump and rumble. Additionally, you can easily customize their sound to your liking inside the Sony app, which Beats lacks. The ANC of the Sony is also noticeably better and will block out more ambient noise. On the other hand, the Beats have an audio cable with an in-line mic. They also have physical buttons, which can be easier for some.

The Beats Studio3 Wireless and the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless are similarly performing headphones. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Beats have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, their fit is more stable, and they support a W1 chip for seamless pairing with your iOS devices. However, the Sony headphones have a better noise isolation performance, their sound profile is customizable using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets, and they support multi-device pairing.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Sony feel better built, their ANC can block out a lot more ambient noise around you, and they have a better battery performance. You can adjust their sound using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. However, the Beats are more comfortable and have a more bass-heavy sound profile, which some users may prefer.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are better headphones for neutral sound than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. Although they're both closed-back, over-ear headphones, the Audio-Technica have a more neutral sound and a slightly better passive soundstage. However, unlike the Audio-Technica, the Beats are wireless, and they have controls, a microphone, and active noise cancelling, making them more versatile headphones overall. They're also slightly more comfortable, and their battery lasts up to 23 hours.

The Sony WH-H900N/h.ear on 2 Wireless have similar performance to the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Sony have a better-balanced default sound profile and more customization options, thanks to their companion app. The Sony also have a sleeker-looking build quality that feels a bit more high-end than the Beats. The Beats, on the other hand, have a slightly stronger noise isolation performance and lower leakage. They also charge much faster and have a greater wireless range than the Sony. They're more stable for the gym and more comfortable for most users.

The Beats Studio Pro Wireless are better than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Pro's ANC feature blocks out more noise. They have a somewhat longer battery life and a more neutral default sound profile, which some may prefer. They have a few EQ presets for sound customization when connected via USB-C. They also support virtual surround sound and NFC pairing. However, the Studio3 have a much more comfortable fit for most people. They also have a more protective case and a W1 chip that allows faster pairing with iOS devices.

The  Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016  are a better headset overall than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Bose have a more comfortable over-ear fit and stronger noise cancellation that will isolate better in noisy environments. On the upside, the Beats have a better wireless range and a faster-charging battery life than the Bose. The Beats are also more stable for sports, and some will prefer their sleek and stylized over-ear design over the Bose's somewhat bland but more professional look.

The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are better for most uses than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable, the Bose are better built, have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their ANC can significantly block out more noise around you. Their integrated mic also offers better overall performance, they can be used passively with their 1/8" TRS cable, and their companion app offers a graphic EQ to help adjust their sound to your liking.

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are slightly better headset than the Beats Solo3 Wireless , thanks to noise cancellation. The Studio3 isolate a bit better in noisy conditions, which makes them a better option for commuting and travel than the Solo3. They also have a more comfortable over-ear design that most may prefer over the on-ear fit of the Solo3. The Solo3, on the other hand, are a bit more compact and have a much better battery life than the Studio variant. They also have a greater wireless range and better latency performance.

The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Wireless 2016 are a better wireless over-ear than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Beats have a slightly better-balanced default sound than the Plantronics. They're also more comfortable and portable and have a sleeker design that's stable enough for the gym and sports. On the other hand, the Plantronics have a better wireless range and battery life than the Beats. They also have easier-to-use controls with more functionality, and they sound a bit more exciting thanks to their deep and powerful bass range.

The Sony WH-1000XM2 Wireless are a better wireless over-ear than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Sony have a better noise cancellation performance, making them more suitable for commuting and travel than the Beats. They have a slightly more polished design that looks and feels more high-end than the Beats. The Beats have a more stylish-looking build quality that some will prefer over that of the Sony. They also have a faster charge time, a longer wireless range, and slightly better latency performance, especially on iOS devices. The Beats are also a bit more lightweight, comfortable, and stable for the gym.

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are better headphones than the Skullcandy Venue Wireless . The Beats have a more neutral sound profile as they pack a little less bass than the Skullcandy, and their treble is more mellow than harsh. They're better built and are more comfortable. Their ANC feature blocks more noise than the Skullcandy's, and the provided case is better. On the other hand, the Skullcandy can connect to two devices, and their bass isn’t as prone to inconsistencies as the Beats.

The Microsoft Surface Wireless Headphones are better for bass fans, while the Beats Studio3 Wireless have a more neutral sound quality with a not-so-veiled treble range. The Microsoft have a better and more complete control scheme that is satisfying to use. However, the feedback is better on the physical buttons of the Beats, but you get limited controls. Also, the Microsoft have better noise isolation performance and have about half of the Beats' battery life.

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are better mixed-use headphones than the Nura Nuraphone Wireless . The Beats are more comfortable, and they also come with an audio cable and an in-line microphone, which the Nura lacks inside the box. On the other hand, the personalization feature of the Nura is a unique experience you can’t get on the Beats headphones. The Nura also offer a longer battery life than the Beats.

The  Bowers & Wilkins PX Wireless have a fairly similar performance to the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Bowers & Wilkins isolate a lot better in noisy environments than the Beats, so they'll be more suitable for traveling and commuting. They also have a better more premium-looking build quality. Despite their adaptive audio reproduction, the Beats have more consistent audio delivery than the Bowers & Wilkins. They also have a sleeker over-ear fit that's more comfortable and more suitable for physical activities. The Beats also have longer battery life and charge a lot faster.

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC . The Beats are noticeably more comfortable, slightly better built, and have a more premium feel than the Sennheiser. They also have a better-balanced sound profile, but our unit had significant phase mismatch and performed differently on various users. The ANC feature of the Beats is quite good, but the self-noise is pretty high and can be heard when no audio is being played through the headphones. The Sennheiser can connect to two devices simultaneously, and you can use them passively, which you can't do with the Beats.

The Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless are marginally better than the Beats Studio3 Wireless if the most important thing for you is an accurate and neutral sound. The Beats are slightly more comfortable and have a noticeably better ANC feature, but when it comes to sound, the Sennheiser are more accurate. You can also customize the sound of the Sennheiser to your liking with their dedicated app, which the Beats don't have. They can also connect simultaneously to two devices, and you can use them wired when the battery is dead, which the Beats can't do.

Test Results

The Beats Studio3, like many other headphones from Beats' lineup, including the Beats Solo3 2019 Wireless , have a sleek and rounded look. The manufacturer's logo is on each ear cup. They're available in several understated or flashy colors to suit your preferences, which is great if you want something that matches your style.

These over-ears are very comfortable. The ear cups are well-padded, and the pressure is distributed well around your ears. While the headband isn't as cushioned as the ear cups and can feel rigid, it isn't too much of an issue. You can wear them for long listening sessions without feeling too much fatigue.

The Beats Studio3 have decent controls that are better than their predecessor, the Beats Studio Wireless . The controls are efficient and easy to use. The buttons also provide good tactile feedback, but they're completely flat, so it may be a bit tricky to distinguish when you're first using them.

The 'b button':

• One press: Plays and pauses audio. Also answers and ends calls. You can answer a second incoming call when you're on a call. This command also lets you switch between calls.
• One press and hold: Activates voice assistant. Rejects an incoming call.
• Double press: Skips to the next track.
• Double press and hold on the second press: Scan forward through your track.
• Triple press: Skips to the previous track.
• Triple press and hold on the third press: Scan backward through your track.

The ring surrounding the 'b button':

• One press above the 'b button': Raises the volume.
• One press below the 'b button': Lowers the volume.

The power button:

• Press and hold for one second: Turns the headphones on and off.
• Double press (while connected to a device): Turns the ANC on and off.

These headphones have a somewhat breathable design, but they're closed-back over-ears with a decent seal, so they trap a lot of heat. While it's not so noticeable if you're only listening to audio at your desk, trapped heat can make you sweat while using the headphones during a long walk.

These headphones are somewhat portable. They fold into a more compact format that's easier to transport with the provided hard case. While they won't fit in a pocket, you can place them in most small bags. However, they're still bulky, so they take up room however you want to store them.

These headphones come with a sturdy and compact hard case that can protect them against scratches, mild water damage, and falls.

The Beats Studio3 are well-built headphones. Their ear cups are made from dense plastic that feels sturdy, while their headband has a tough yet flexible metal frame. They're a bit thinner and less robust than the wired Beats Executive , and the plastic coating on the headband is prone to scratches and scuffs, but their overall build quality feels high-end and well-made.

These headphones have a stable fit. They don't move much when running, and since they're wireless, they won't accidentally fall off your head because the audio cable got hooked on something. However, they're still big over-ears and can slide a bit depending on the intensity of your workout routine.

• Beats Studio3 headphones
• Carrying case
• 1/8" TRRS cable
• USB-A to Micro-USB cable

These cans have a warm sound profile. The bass is slightly boomy, good for bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. However, the added bass muddies the rest of the mix while the treble response is somewhat weak, resulting in veiled vocals and instruments and weak sibilants like cymbals. They're also prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery and lack an EQ or presets to help you customize their sound to your liking.

These over-ears have mediocre frequency response consistency. Despite their noise cancelling and self-calibrating systems, they perform less consistently than other noise cancelling headphones, like the Sony MDR-1000X Wireless and the Sony WH-1000XM2 Wireless . Their bass and treble delivery vary based on fit, seal, and positioning. It can also be difficult to achieve a consistent listening experience, especially if you have thick hair or wear glasses, as these features can disrupt the headphones' seal on your head.

The bass accuracy is great. Although they lack a thumpy low-bass, the rest of the response is over-emphasized, which adds extra kick, warmth, and boom to your mixes. However, the extra high-bass makes mixes sound muddy. In songs like Satisfaction by Benny Benassi, the bassline has solid punch, which can sound energizing. However, it also bloats the rest of the mix.

Unfortunately, their bass delivery can vary noticeably across users: the quality of the fit, seal, and whether you wear glasses all affect how the bass sounds to you. Our response represents the average bass response, and your experience may vary.

These cans have very good mid accuracy. The low-mid is pretty overemphasized, which muddies and clutters the mix. However, the rest of the range is well-balanced. The mid-mid is fairly neutral, so vocals and lead instruments are present, but a small dip in the high-mid slightly weakens their detail and clarity.

The treble accuracy is okay. The response is underemphasized, resulting in veiled vocals and lead instruments. Sibilants like cymbals are also dull and lispy.

These headphones are prone to inconsistencies in treble delivery and are sensitive to fit and positioning. Our results represent the average response, and your experience may vary.

These headphones have a good peak and dips performance. There are a few deviations, but the headphones can follow their sound profile well overall. The peaks in the low to mid-bass and high bass to low-mid give a bit more kick and boom to your audio but also muddies the mix. A dip in the mid-mid nudges vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix. The low-treble is also uneven, so the upper harmonics of vocals and lead instruments are alternatingly harsh and veiled. Sibilants like S and T sounds also sound a bit piercing.

The Beats Studio3's stereo imaging is disappointing. Beats usually ensure good quality control and ergonomics. However, since imaging varies across units, it's possible to encounter a product with mismatched drivers. Our unit's L/R drivers have a few spikes in the group delay's bass range, which indicates a loose bass. The rest of the response falls below the audibility threshold, resulting in more transparent imaging. While the drivers are matched regarding amplitude, they're very mismatched in frequency and phase response. The right driver is louder in the bass range than the left and is noticeable in bass-heavy songs.

The passive soundstage performance is poor. Even though these are over-ear headphones, they don't activate the outer ear with resonances, resulting in a small soundstage that seems to be coming from inside your head. Their closed-back design makes their soundstage seem less spacious, especially compared to open-back models.

These headphones support Apple's Spatial Audio, a feature that creates a more immersive audio experience. However, unlike the Apple AirPods (1st generation) Truly Wireless , you can't access this feature directly through your phone's volume settings. Spatial Audio is only available in supported apps with compatible content, like Apple Music, and using many of these services requires a subscription or additional fee.

The weighted harmonic distortion performance is decent. The response generally falls within good limits at moderate listening volumes, resulting in clear and pure audio reproduction. However, there's a peak in the low to mid-treble at higher volumes. It's hard to hear with real-life content, though.

These are the settings used to test the Beats Studio3. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.

The Beats Studio3 have a decent noise isolation performance. However, they don't perform as well as competing models like the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless , Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 , or the Microsoft Surface Wireless Headphones . While they barely reduce bass-range noise like bus or plane engines in the bass range, they do a better job of cutting down mid-range sounds like ambient chatter. They also do an outstanding job at blocking high-pitched noise like the hum of an AC unit. However, they produce a lot of self-noise with the ANC on, which can be distracting if there's no audio playing.

There have been a few user reports that after updating the headphones to firmware update 2.4.4, the headphones make a clicking noise in the left ear cup while in idle mode (power on and ANC on, but no audio playing). After updating our headphones to this firmware, we didn't hear any clicking sounds, regardless of whether audio was playing. However, if you've experienced this issue, please let us know in the discussions.

The leakage performance is great. Most leakage is found in the high-mid to mid-treble range, which sounds thin. In a noisy environment, people won't hear your audio if you have it cranked to a high volume.

These headphones have an integrated microphone. If you prefer to use these headphones wired, the cable also has an in-line microphone.

The integrated mic has a just okay recording quality. Your voice sounds slightly thin and lacking in detail and presence. There's also a bit of distortion present.

The microphone has disappointing noise handling. It struggles to separate your voice from ambient noise, even in moderately loud environments. As a result, if you're taking a call from a busy street, your voice will be drowned out.

The battery performance is good, and it's much better than that of the Beats Studio Wireless . At 23 hours of continuous playback on a single charge, they have almost twice the battery life. Battery life varies depending on use, though. They also only take about 30 minutes more to fully charge than the previous model. They also have a quick charge feature to give you about 2.5 hours of playback from 10 minutes of charging. Unfortunately, they don't have passive playback, so if the battery is completely dead, you can't use the headphones, even if you're using the analog cable.

The Beats app is disappointing. Like the Beats Solo3 2019 Wireless and the Apple AirPods (1st generation) Truly Wireless , the app has a few features available on iOS that aren't as well-implemented on Android. On iOS, they connect with a pop-up that displays basic battery information. You can also disable the ANC in the Bluetooth settings. However, this setting isn't available on Android, which is disappointing. However, you can always manually switch off noise cancelling by pressing the power button twice. If you're an Android user, the more recent Beats Studio Pro Wireless offer the same in-app features for Android and iOS.

The Beats Studio3 have decent Bluetooth compatibility. While they don't support multi-device or NFC pairing, they have a W1 chip for seamless pairing with other devices on your Apple device. They also have low latency on iOS and Android devices, which is nice if you stream video. However, their PC latency is much higher, which may cause audio and video syncing issues. That said, some apps and devices compensate for latency differently.

These headphones have a detachable 1/8" TRRS cable with an in-line remote microphone. However, you still need battery life left to use the analog cable. They also come with a micro-USB to USB-A cable for recharging the headphones.

The Beats Studio 3 are fully compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs when used wirelessly. You can also use their 1/8" TRRS cable to connect to PCs via their AUX port with full mic and audio compatibility. However, there needs to be battery life remaining to use the analog cable.

When connected via analog to the controller's AUX port, these headphones have full mic and audio compatibility on PlayStation consoles. The headphones don't support passive playback, so you'll need battery life remaining to use them wired.

These Bluetooth-only headphones aren't compatible with the Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S. However, if you use the provided audio cable, you can plug them into your controller for audio. However, the microphone won't work on these consoles. Additionally, since you can't use the headphones passively, there needs to be battery life remaining to use them via analog.

All products featured are independently chosen by us. However, SoundGuys may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links. See our ethics statement.

Beats Studio Buds Plus review

Published on February 15, 2024

Beats Studio Buds Plus

Case: 26 x 72.5 x 51.5mm

Earbuds: 16 x 18 x 27mm

5g (per bud)

The world of true wireless earphones moves fast, which means you can expect updated versions of successful models roughly every two years. With Beats now debuting the Studio Buds Plus, should you forget about the original Studio Buds ? Or is the new release priced too high for what you get? We took an extended spin with the Beats Studio Buds Plus to find out.

About this review

• We tested the Beats Studio Buds Plus over a period of 4 days. It ran firmware version 2A219, and the Beats app ran version 2.6. SoundGuys purchased the unit for this review.
• This article was updated on February 15, 2024, to add our new scoring, test data.

The Beats Studio Buds Plus is aimed towards a general audience who likes TWS earbuds but is looking for something other than AirPods . Additionally, this Apple-owned product offers an alternative to the lollipop design of the AirPods earphones.

What’s it like to use Beats Studio Buds Plus?

Using the Beats Studio Buds Plus is as straightforward as it gets for earphones, especially given how much of Apple’s design ethos flows into newer Beats products. You can expect every feature to work reliably well without many headaches, even if the Beats Studio Buds Plus doesn’t have the full suite of high-end features enjoyed by the AirPods Pr o or other higher-tier TWS earphones.

Inside the packaging, you’ll find the earbuds in their charging case, three additional sets of ear tips (extra small, small, and large to complement the default medium size), a USB-C cable, and some basic documentation. This is pretty standard, but it’s always nice to see that an effort is made to fit the users where they are — you’d be surprised at how many earphones skimp on tip sizes, leaving those with smaller or shallower ears in the lurch.

The charging case itself is rounded and easy to carry, though, at 26 x 73 x 52mm, the case could prove a little problematic for skinny jeans with shallow pockets. Thanks to the strong magnets in the lid and the earphone receptacles, there’s little risk of losing your earbuds should you accidentally drop the charging case. If you don’t like the translucent option we have, the Beats Studio Buds Plus does come in several other colorways, including a Black and Gold or Ivory option.

When you first insert the earbuds, be sure to use the angled parts of the earbud to twist the bottoms of the earbuds forward, as this will help insert the nozzle deeper into your ear canal. Once this is done, run the app’s test option to ensure you have the correct size and fit of ear tips. You’ll likely only need to do this once.

Once you’ve gone through the initial setup and checks, you should have a good level of comfort. While earphones are typically not amazingly comfortable to begin with, the relatively light housing design means there isn’t a lot of force applied to your ear canals.

Should you need to bounce around between source devices, you’ll appreciate the inclusion of Audio Switch (a Bluetooth multipoint alternative) that will handle switching without futzing with menus. Like other Apple products, user behavior seems to have guided many decisions behind this product’s design.

How do you control Beats Studio Buds Plus?

Controlling the Beats Studio Buds Plus is relatively straightforward. The back of both earbuds houses a shallow button, enabling a set of basic controls. Out of the box, you can use a series of taps to control your music, but you can also define what you want your multifunction input controls to be through the app or in your iPhone’s settings. You can define which earbud you want to turn the volume up or down through the app, but that’s about it.

In a word, actually using the controls is miserable. In other words: it is absolutely foolish for earbuds to have physical buttons instead of touch controls because every press can negatively impact the most critical aspect of an earphone’s performance: the fit. Every time you press the button, you will move the earbud a bit, risking interruption of the seal (and all the things that means ). We suggest gripping the earbuds between your thumb and forefinger tightly before making any inputs if you find the fit to be a little loose.

Thankfully, with the Beats Studio Buds Plus, you can use hands-free “Hey Siri” prompting, though the same functionality isn’t available to Android users for obvious reasons.

Should you use the Beats app for the Beats Studio Buds Plus?

If you’d like to change your controls, adjust the active noise canceling (ANC), change the name of the earphones, or even get firmware updates: Android users should install the Beats app. Though there’s quite a lot of information that the app asks for, permissions like location access are necessary to unlock features like device location and voice assistant access. All these features are baked into the operating system for iPhone users, so there’s no app to install on that platform.

Though the earphones don’t have any apparent bugs out of the gate, it seems as though you could get away with not installing the app if you’re not keen on sharing information with the company. You’re also not missing out on an equalizer or other advanced features by avoiding the installation, so there are only the downsides mentioned above if you elect to forgo using the Beats app. In our estimation, it’s really not a huge loss: the app doesn’t add much to the experience, and you’re unlikely to use it often.

How does the Beats Studio Buds Plus connect?

Like its predecessor, the Beats Studio Buds Plus connects to your source device via Bluetooth using SBC or AAC. Though there’s really not a pressing need for more advanced codecs in this segment of the market, anyone looking for aptX or LDAC is going to want to keep looking. Still, if you’re using an iPhone, those codecs aren’t available to you anyway, so it’s not a big deal. AAC is one of the best codecs available for latency, so there shouldn’t be much of a noticeable delay in your typical use — even on Android .

The Beats Studio Buds Plus’s range seems to peter out at 10 meters, though this can change depending on several factors. For example: the connection is easily interrupted if there’s a wall between you and your smartphone.

This process depends entirely upon which kind of source you’re using, but the pairing process is as straightforward as it gets.

For iOS devices:

• Enable Bluetooth on your source device.
• Open the charging case, and wait for the card to appear on the screen.
• Tap “connect.”

For Android and Windows devices:

• Enable Bluetooth on your device.
• Open the case and depress the multifunction button in between the buds.
• Wait for the LED to flash white (enable pairing mode).
• Scan for Bluetooth devices.
• Connect to the Beats Studio Buds Plus.

How long does the Beats Studio Buds Plus battery last?

Our standard testing of the Beats Studio Buds Plus shows that they last 8 hours and 22 minutes with ANC on. That’s a fair cut above most true wireless earphones and should last you all day — unless you never take them out during a full commute and workday. Since you’re not likely to do that every day, maintaining battery health is much easier to accomplish without even thinking about it. This is good because not only does it mean that your product’s battery should survive a bit longer than most other earbuds, but it also means that you won’t have to worry about recycling your buds for a while.

Yes. Reportedly a five-minute charge will give you one hour of playback. However, this depends on your charger’s ability to support this feature — not every charging brick or USB port will allow for fast charging.

How well does the Beats Studio Buds Plus cancel noise?

Loading chart ...

Although the quality of your fit will determine how well any product can handle noise, we found that the Beats Studio Buds Plus cancels unwanted noise quite well under near-ideal conditions. Because the fit test guarantees a good seal,  isolation is respectable on its own, even without the active noise cancelation.

While the Beats Studio Buds Plus isn’t exactly the best noise canceling earphones out there — that honor belongs to the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro — they do hang tough with the better-performing options out there like the AirPods Pro, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II , and Beats Fit Pro. Being able to reduce the sound of the outside world by 20dB reliably means that most noise will sound less than 25% as loud as it would without the earbuds inserted.

For commuters and travelers needing to hear announcements and other goings-on around them, the Beats Studio Buds Plus also offers a transparency mode that can be toggled at a moment’s notice. Though many fall into the rut of keeping full ANC enabled all the time, having this option is a nice convenience feature that is thankfully becoming more common in the space.

How does the Beats Studio Buds Plus sound?

Multi-dimensional audio quality scores (mdaqs).

The chart below shows how the sound of the PRODUCT was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score ( MDAQS ) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.

With an impressive 4.9 out of 5 for timbre, the Beats Studio Buds Plus earn top marks in the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores. Though there’s some distortion and the illusion of 3D space in the stereo mix is somewhat lacking in comparison to other models, the earbuds will sound pretty good to most people in ideal conditions. But the real world is often less forgiving.

Timbre (MOS-T) represents how faithfully the earbuds reproduce the frequency spectrum and temporal resolution (timing information).

Distortion (MOS-D) represents non-linearities and added noise: higher scores mean cleaner reproduction.

Immersiveness (MOS-I) represents perceived source width and positioning: how well virtual sound sources are defined in three-dimensional space.

See here for an explanation of MDAQS, how it works, and how it was developed.

Objective measurements:

Unsurprisingly, the Beats Studio Buds Plus sound  quite like other recent Beats earphones — even the more expensive options on the market. The characteristic of the “classic” Beats sound is a slight overemphasis on bass that’s made more stark by under-emphasizing mid frequencies. This will make your music sound like the lowest lows are overly loud compared to vocals and other instruments. The other main hallmark of the Beats sound is that sibilant sounds and cymbals will also get a bit of a boost over the relatively quieter mids. This will lead to the illusion of clearer-sounding instruments and easier-to-hear details like guitar string picking. However, it may not be your cup of tea, especially if you’re listening to vocal-heavy content, as this can boost certain mouth sounds.

This deviates slightly from what we consider to be “good sound ,” but that’s because it’s aimed at people doing casual rather than critical listening. For example, the low bassline in Daft Punk’s “ Get Lucky ” sounds loud but less prominent on other headphones. Additionally, attack and atmospheric effects are much easier to hear because they get emphasized. Songs with prominent echo and room effects, like those in Joji’s hit songs, will have their effect amplified with the Beats Studio Buds Plus. Similarly, the guitar pick sound in Oliver Tree’s “ Miracle Man ” can get a bit distracting as well.

However, there is a confounding factor here, and that’s the silicone ear tips. Even when sized properly, the Beats Studio Buds Plus still slipped out of my ear canal, meaning the bass would drop off significantly when I used the button controls. While the Beats Studio Buds Plus could stand to lower the emphasis on everything under 120Hz, a busted seal will make the bass essentially go away. Since this can change over time and with movement, it’s not terribly surprising that the engineers at Beats decided to keep the signature high emphasis on really low-frequency content.

If you find that you’re unable to get the Beats Studio Buds Plus to fit you, you may want to try picking up some memory foam tips online. Though the product is new and there aren’t many official notices of the correct size (it isn’t listed in the fit chart for Comply’s tips), the TW-200-C will likely fit the Beats Studio Buds Plus best because of its near-identical size and shape to the original Studio Buds. If you are looking at third-party ear tips, just be sure to check they are the correct size, as it’s not always clear from the branding.

Can you use the Beats Studio Buds Plus for phone calls?

One of the aspects of the original Studio Buds design that Beats upgraded is the microphone array. Of course, comparisons mean nothing if you’re unfamiliar with either model, so you can listen to our recordings to decide for yourself whether or not the Beats Studio Buds Plus is adequate for your needs. As far as noise rejection goes, the Beats Studio Buds Plus tends to pick up everything going on around you, so be aware that these earphones may not be the best headset to use in an office or anywhere there are lots of ambient distractions.

If you find that your mic isn’t performing well, buried at the bottom of the app is a setting that allows you to manually select which microphone you want to use for phone calls.

Beats Studio Buds Plus microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Beats studio buds plus microphone demo (office conditions):, beats studio buds plus microphone demo (street conditions):, how does the microphone sound to you, should you buy the beats studio buds plus.

If you seriously considered the Beats Studio Buds before this version came out, you may as well get the Beats Studio Buds Plus. Not only does the newer model improve upon the active noise cancelation of the original, but it’s more likely to last you long-term than the original Studio Buds. Because the Beats Studio Buds Plus is a fair bit less expensive than the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) , you will save yourself a couple of bucks versus the Apple earphones.

Still, you might find that the Beats Studio Buds Plus is a bit too expensive for what it offers, with a few features like wireless charging conspicuously absent. Additionally, the control buttons were so annoying to me that I’d wager a good deal of money they’d frustrate plenty of others as well. While I contend that you’ll get your money’s worth only for the battery longevity, it’s entirely possible that the Beats Studio Buds Plus does too little for the price it commands up-front for many. Instead of paying full retail at $169, you might be better off waiting for a holiday sale.

How does Beats Studio Buds Plus compare to AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)?

For an extra thirty-some-odd dollars, the Apple AirPods Pro has a lot more to offer users than the Beats Studio Buds Plus. From a better control interface to better sound, features, and ANC: if you’re comparing both, the easy winner is the AirPods Pro. However, they’re not for everyone.

In an odd twist, the Beats Studio Buds Plus does have a couple of advantages over the more expensive Apple earbuds, and chief among them is the power management. Not only does the Beats Studio Buds Plus’ quick charge gain you more listening time in only five minutes, but the product’s battery life is far superior to the AirPods Pro.

When it comes to performance, however, the comparison isn’t as close as it might seem. Though both are decent performers, the AirPods Pro does a better job with both tonal balance and noise cancelation. Additionally, the form factor makes the same sort of control input problems much less likely to compromise the seal in the ear canal, so in practice, the AirPods Pro is a very clear winner here.

What should you get instead of the Beats Studio Buds Plus?

Though the Beats Studio Buds Plus are priced competitively for their company’s product line, bargain hunters should look to the older Beats Studio Buds to save some money — as the differences aren’t extremely stark. Similarly, those with deeper pockets should look to the Apple AirPods Pro and Beats Fit Pro. The latter will give you a similar performance but a much better form factor and sweat resistance . Of course, this upgrade comes with a much-inflated price tag.

Those looking to save money will find a competent replacement in the Anker Space A40 . This set of wireless earphones has better ANC and more controlled bass and is roughly half the price. Though it won’t have all the bells and whistles available to iOS users that Apple hardware will, you’ll still be getting a competent set of earphones that won’t empty your bank account.

If you just need something that will be obviously better at a similar price point, we’d have to give the nod to the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 . This pair of wireless earbuds has decent ANC, software features, and comparable performance outside of battery life. It’s also $20 cheaper, so you could use that money to kickstart your music collection .

Frequently asked questions

The main differences are the improved mic and ANC performance in the Plus model. There’s a complete breakdown here .

No, the Beats Studio Buds Plus doesn’t have H1 or H2 chip integration. The Beats Fit Pro does, however.

Yes. Upon first setup, you’ll be prompted on both platforms to set this feature up.

No. Though the Beats Studio Buds Plus has an ingress protection rating of IPX4, that means only that it can withstand some infrequent moisture, not that it is waterproof.

Beats Studio 3 Wireless noise cancelling headphones review

The dr dre-endorsed beats studio 3 wireless noise cancelling headphones are a safe pair of cans.

Louder Verdict

Beats continues to tread a safe middle ground with the Studio 3 Wireless. The design has been around for yonks, and despite improvements they don’t sound as good as their main rivals, the mid-range could do with losing some weight. Noise cancelling is reasonable without being overly aggressive, and they earn bonus points for battery life and comfort.

Rich bass and mids

Great battery life

Comfortable

Aesthetic isn't for everyone

You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.

Topping the Beats line for the best part of three years, the Beats Studio 3 Wireless headphones combine the brand’s signature style with new Pure Active Noise Cancelling and a high stamina battery.

As befits their lifestyle pose, they come in a wide variety of finishes, including camo, black, red with silver trim, white and gold, and ‘Shadow Grey’. We auditioned the latter. With gold logo and contrasting black and tan leather band, they’re nothing if not ostentatious.

• Best headphones for music : supercharge your listening

Beats Studio 3 Wireless review: Features

Usability is fine, although these cans lack the touch panel finesse we’re used to on rival wireless headphones . The Beats logo on the left cup acts as a Play, Pause and track change button, with volume control above and below. 

Providing connectivity is Apple’s W1 chipset. This is optimized for quick pairing with iOS gear, but we had no problem tethering an Android device either. 

Battery life is generous, running to around 22 hours with noise cancelling engaged. A 10 minute charge will give you enough juice for 3 hours playback, while 90 minutes will have you fully charged.

Pure Active Noise Cancelling activates automatically when you turn on the headphones. 

You can switch it off by double-pressing the power button. This effectively doubles battery life in the process. There’s a little LED indicator by the power button which reveals how much gas is left in the tank. 

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Beats Studio 3 Wireless review: Performance

On first inspection they may look like you’ve nicked them from Trump’s bathroom, but sonically the Studio 3’s are a good deal more tasteful. 

They certainly don’t suffer from a surfeit of bass (long held as a defining trait for the brand). It’s the mid-range that dominates instead.  

The title track from Apocalyptica’s Cell-o (Amazon Music HD), suffers a little from this tubby bias, and it threatens to curtail the frantic fiery strings of this pummelling instrumental.

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This is not to say they won’t drop deep. Take the Money and Crawl (Green Day, from Father of All…) lays the beat down like Conor McGregor.

Similarly, Hardwired (Metallica, title track from ...To Self Destruct) plays like the worst hangover you’ve ever had. You can feel these Beats marching down your ear canal, elbows out. It’s pretty cool.

That said, there’s something a bit on the nose about the presentation, they’re more confined than airy.

The good news is they react well to higher quality streams, offering up more edge and energy as you improve the source. Sugar Youth (same Green Day album) lacks bounce on Spotify, but the same track in UHD on Amazon Music HD, positively blazes. Tidal and Qobuz subscribers will probably also benefit.

When it comes to noise cancelling, we’d rank these Beats below the class leaders. But their Pure Active Noise Cancelling tech is more than able to muffle generic hubbub, by dynamically adjusting to what’s going on around you.

If you’re looking primarily for isolation on the morning commute though, they begin to struggle. Loud transients still have a tendency to break through.

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Beats Studio 3 Wireless review: Comfort and accessories

The headphones fit snug to the head, which gives them a cool streamlined appearance. The ear pads are synthetic leather, but soft as Mr Whippy’s finest. They’re comfortable, although after a few hours your ears will begin to sweat.

They ship in a hard plastic pill-box, and are bundled with a 3.5mm RemoteTalk audio cable, USB charging lead and a belt clip. The pivoting ear cup design means they fold down to an agreeably small size.

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Steve is a home entertainment technology specialist who contributes to a variety of UK websites and mags, including Louder Sound, Yahoo UK, Trusted Reviews, T3, The Luxe Review and Home Cinema Choice. Steve began his career as a music journo, writing for legendary rock weekly Sounds, under the nom de plume Steve Keaton. His coverage of post punk music was cited in the 2015 British Library exhibition Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination, as a seminal influence on the Goth music scene.

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Beats Studio 3 Wireless review

Expert's Rating

Our verdict.

The Studio 3 Wireless are the most fully featured Beats headphones and can claim to to be best you can buy. This also means they are the most expensive, but their RRP still undercuts similar products from Bose and Sony. While working best with an iPhone or iPad it’s great that you could use them with any other Bluetooth device should you want to. Sound quality is close to as good as you’ll find on headphones for this price, but they may not be the ones to go for if your main musical love is loud, guitar-led rock music. That said, it’s hard to truly fault the Studio 3 and they stand out further thanks to exceptional comfort and class-leading battery life.

Best Prices Today: Beats Studio 3 Wireless

It is a testament to the power of Apple that Beats headphones are now the go-to headphone choice for many an iPhone user. Bought by Apple in 2014 for £3bn, Beats are now seen on celebrities and people in the street daily by millions of people.

The Studio 3 Wireless are the flagship (most expensive) model of Beats in 2018. As the name suggests, they are the third version of the headphones, adding the W1 chip from the AirPods and subtle improvements to design.

But are Beats best for everyone and all music genres? The products’ famously bass-heavy tuning is great for some tastes, but maybe not for all. We went into this review with open minds and open ears to see if the Studio 3 Wireless are the over-ear headphones you should buy.

Beats Studio 3 Wireless: Price and availability

The Beats Studio 3 Wireless cost £299.95/$349.95  direct from Apple  or Amazon UK .

This puts them in direct compeition with two over-ear headphones widely said to be the best around – the Bose QC35 II ( £329.95/$349 ) and the Sony WH-1000XM2 ( £330/$349.99 ).

At the Beats have a catchier name.

Beats Studio 3 Wireless: Design and build

You cannot mistake Beats over-ear headphones for any other brand. The overhead band is emblazoned with ‘Beats’ and each ear cup has the familiar curved lower case ‘b’ design.

The left ear houses physical buttons for volume controls and play/pause. You can also double tap the play button to skip track or triple tap to go back. This is normal fair for inline remotes on headphones but pressing a big, clicky button quite hard on a premium headset like this feels a bit odd when touch controls could be an option. But at least the button is easy to find and works reliably.

The over-ear design here is extremely comfortable, even over glasses. Many on- and over-ear headphones of worse design dig in after extended listening sessions and hurt more than they should.

No such problems with the Studio 3 thanks to the padded design around the ear cups that are deep enough not to squash your ears.

The headband is lined on the inside with a soft rubber that adds to the premium feel. Each side, as expected, is fully adjustable and is hinged to allow for stowing in the included carry case.

It’s slightly odd and outdated to see the headphones charge via micro USB. Given they are designed with iPhones and iPads in mind you’d be forgiven for thinking Apple would have used Lightning or, more likely, USB-C. But in day to day use it isn’t an issue.

Beats Studio 3 Wireless: Sound quality and features

The Studio 3 Wireless are powerful in the bass department and definitely have certain genres of music that they reproduce with better clarity than others. They are tuned to compliment electronic, dance and hip hop music especially – music with lots of bass and detail in the high end.

This means that tracks like ‘Get Innocuous!’ by LCD Soundsystem, ‘C.R.E.A.M.’ by Wu Tang Clan and Dr Dre’s own ‘Still D.R.E.’ sound brilliant, the headphones exposing detail you simply won’t hear on cheaper cans.

Things are less impressive with guitar music. This isn’t to say the Beats aren’t still a good choice if you’re into rock, but the tuning can’t cope as well with the middle range occupied by electric guitar noise.

Nirvana’s ‘Serve the Servants’ is quite muddy and flat, as the Studio 3 struggles to give as full a sound as it can with synthesised instruments. The bass guitar is well produced on Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman’, but the headphones can’t quite cope with the thrash guitar throughout the track, over-peaking occasionally where they can normally reign in spiking frequencies with other genres.

But then Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Voodoo Child (Slight Return)’ sounds great, with the often-lost bass guitar accurately separated in the mix. And acoustic guitar-led tracks like ‘Never Going Back Again’ by Fleetwood Mac and ‘Heart of Gold’ by Neil Young sparkle in all the right places.

This kind of criticism is nitpicking in the extreme and most listeners will overlook these slight shortcomings and may not even notice them in the first place.

The listening experience is also altered, usually for the better, by the active noise cancellation (ANC) built into the Studio 3. ANC uses the mic built into the headphones to listen to the ambient noise around you. It then plays back into your ears the exact inverse signal, effectively ‘cancelling’ out background noise.

Headphones with ANC are popular amongst frequent flyers as it tunes out the loud hum of an aeroplane but it’s also great in everyday use to muffle sound and allow you to enjoy the richness of the music reproduction on offer.

You can toggle ANC on and off with a double tap of the power switch on the right ear cup. Beats quotes 22 hours of use with ANC on and an incredible 40 with it turned off. We found this promise to be pretty much bang on and only had to charge the Studio 3 every four days or so throughout an intense testing period.

Beats brands its fast charging as Fast Fuel, and promises three hours of play from a ten minute charge – also proven accurate in our testing.

If you’re out of power then you won’t be able to use ANC or Bluetooth for wireless listening, so there is a 3.5mm to 3.5mm jack cable in the box. You can plug in your the headphones and your device to continue listening and the cable has an inline remote for volume, play/pause and a mic for handsfree calling.

Compared to the similarly priced Bose QC35 II, the Studio 3 lack adjustable ANC – you can only turn it on or off. But they do have voice assistant support for iOS and Android. Holding the left ear ‘b’ button down until you hear a chime will activate Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa or Bixby, whichever you phone has.

The headphones worked perfectly with every Bluetooth device we used them with, though pairing is much simpler with an iOS device thanks to the clever W1 chip – simply turning on the headphones near an iPhone prompts them to communicate with each other. The firmware will also be updated on the headphones automatically if you’re using them with an iOS 11 device, otherwise you have to do it manually.

Author: Henry Burrell , Phones Editor

Henry is Tech Advisor’s Phones Editor, ensuring he and the team covers and reviews every smartphone worth knowing about for readers and viewers all over the world. He spends a lot of time moving between different handsets and shouting at WhatsApp to support multiple devices at once.

Recent stories by Henry Burrell:

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Beats Studio3 Wireless review: huge battery life with a solid sound

Superb wireless performance; top-notch battery; headphone socket

No auto shutdown; disappointing mid-range; hot ears!

Beats has done such a good job with the distinctive design and branding of its Studio line of over-ear headphones that you cannot help but notice the legions of people wearing them. They are almost ubiquitous. And while they seem to be winning on the aesthetic front, attracting a younger, “cooler” consumer, they have yet to win over the audiophile audience.

And it is perhaps with this mission in mind that Apple has launched the new Studio3 wireless headphones with active noise cancelling that are also packing Apple's W1 chip, which means you get the same seamless pairing as with the AirPods. But are they as good as Beats says they are? WIRED has been wearing them for two weeks to find out.

It’s fair to say that the designers at Beats have not been taxed too heavily with this new model for the lineup. The Studio3s adhere to the brand aesthetic religiously. What I have always liked about Beats over-ears is they do not stick out a mile from the side of your head, they have a slim profile for their category, and as such, if you go for the matt black version, can actually be quite subtle. As with all Beats products, though, go for brighter colours and you’d better have the swagger/wardrobe/youth to carry off the look.

The synthetic leather on the pads hint at where some cost savings have been carved out, though they are soft and very comfortable. And those who like feel and sturdiness of premium aluminium should look elsewhere, as the all plastic structure does not feel the finest quality, but it doesn’t creak either, to be fair.

One point of note was that after just one week, I noticed the black paint on the outer ear cup of my Studio3s had already started to rub off – this is far from ideal. Another design niggle was that after about 30 minutes use, my ears started to get uncomfortably hot in these headphones. The oval cut-outs in the pads do give enough room for my big ears, but it’s snug, and this maybe why my lugholes started to feel like they were in Southern Spain when the rest of me was in London.

The inclusion of a headphone socket is also pleasing to see - despite the fact that we really should all now be getting on board with wireless being the standard. The carry case is sturdy too, and comes with all your lead needs.

Colours : White, red, blue, black, grey, rose

Battery life : 22 hours of wireless playback with Pure ANC

Charging : Fast Fuel provides three hours of battery life with 10 minutes charge

Processor : Apple W1 chip

Price : £299.95

From the start you notice that W1 chip in play as pairing these cans is about as simple as it gets, and satisfyingly stress-free (especially with an iOS device). This is what we all wanted from Bluetooth connections from the very beginning: that the devices know each other are in proximity, sync in one tap and connection remains rock solid as long as the headphones are powered up.

Like with its watches and other recent headphones, Apple is doing great things with battery life on these accessories at the moment. It’s really great to know you are going to have enough juice to see you through a mammoth flight or road trip, and still have hours to spare on wireless connection, even with noise cancellation turned on constantly. With the Studio3s you get a very respectable 22 hours with wireless and ANC, besting Bose by two hours. But switch that active noise cancellation off and they will last up to 40 hours straight, which should be enough for whatever you are about to get up to. If you do need more charge, fast charging means you will get three hours of juice in just 10 minutes.

Julian Chokkattu

David Nield

Adrienne So

You get the familiar Studio 5-LED indicator lights next to the power button to show roughly how much battery is charged when you switch them on. And speaking of that power button, it is annoyingly small and recessed so that you often spend time fumbling about feeling for it. The button controls on the left ear cup work much better but do illicit a cheap-sounding clunk for the wearer when pressed.

There’s another issue with that power button, unlike the Bose QC35s, the Studio3s have no auto-off feature when they are left inactive for a period of time. Why on earth not? This seems a ridiculous option to leave out. On more than a few occasions I returned to my Beats headphones to find them still on – and it was only thanks to that impressive battery life that they weren’t rendered useless as a result.

Apple's W1 chip enables its new Pure Adaptive Noise Canceling technology, which supposedly calibrates itself up to 50,000 times per second to adjust for head movement, fit and the shape of your ear. It also apparently switches to compensate for whatever environment you are listening in. Of course, this means they sound should be uniform wherever you are, and that is on the whole the impression I got from these cans.

I have heard better NC in other headphones, but what is on offer here is still very good and mercifully with a much lower level of background hiss that you get with some other NC headphones. Apple said in its briefing that these were designed to have the very best noise cancelling around. They haven’t quite hit this mark, but they are not far off.

The first thing you notice when listening with the Studio3s is that there is a lack of a bass onslaught on your hearing. This is surprising for the brand, and for some, including myself, it is welcome – initially at least. After a while I could not help but wonder if Apple, in its attempt to make a more grown-up sound for the Studio3s, had gone slightly too far.

On podcasts and talk radio, this soundscape worked very well, but switching to some classic Pink Floyd or funk-laden Meters left me feeling on occasion that something was missing not only in the bass but the mid ranges as well.

This is picking holes to a degree, mind you. It is doubtful that many will don a pair of Studio3s and be disappointed with the sound reproduction.

If you are after good-looking wireless noise-cancelling headphones then you will not be sad to have gone for the Studio3s. They deliver a nice sound, though not audiophile by any means, and are no longer bass monsters. Some will prefer a more engaging soundstage, but most will want the monster battery life on offer here and ease of use. As for the “best noise cancelling on the market”? No, not this time. But Beats could well be getting there.

This article was originally published by WIRED UK

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Beats Studio Buds review

The beats studio buds are some of the best beats buds you can buy.

TechRadar Verdict

The Beats Studio Buds are easily the best-sounding earbuds Beats has ever made. They’re comfortable to wear and they sound great, plus they support active noise cancellation. Unfortunately, their call quality isn't great and they're missing Apple's H1 Wireless Chip.

Great sound quality

Comfortable to wear

Active Noise Cancellation

ANC could be stronger

Lackluster call quality

No H1 Wireless Chip

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Two-minute review

The Beats Studio Buds were one of Apple ’s worst-kept secrets before they launched in mid 2021. Star athletes wore them around town, while photos and technical documents about them leaked months in advance. Pretty much everyone knew about these earbuds well before they were even announced. Yet, when they arrived, we were still shocked by how good they were. 

The Beats Studio Buds are a pair of rock solid true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation and support for Apple’s Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos format. Audio is great, with a lively sound quality that elevates the highs and lows of your music, and they feel supremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time. 

An update from Apple after they launched made the Beats Studio Buds available in three new color options – gray, pink and blue – and added the Locate My Beats feature for Android devices. 

Weight: 5g (buds) 48g (case) Acoustic design: Closed Drivers: 8.2mm Battery life: 8 hours (24 hours with charging case) Extra features: Active noise cancellation, spatial audio support.

Despite being some of the best true wireless earbuds , they're not perfect. Chief among their faults is their lackluster call quality and lack of an H1 Wireless Chip. Battery life with either ANC or Transparency mode turned on is also a little short at only five hours (15 hours with the case), and their noise cancellation isn’t exactly class-leading, either.

However, these are some of the best Beats headphones you can buy today. They offer a decent alternative to the current king of true wireless earbuds, which you can find out more about in our Sony WF-1000XM4 review . Ot take a look at similar high-end buds in our Sennheiser CX True Wireless review .

These were our favorite Beats wireless earbuds for some time, but read our Beats Fit Pro review for another pair of Beats buds that are marginally better in terms of fit and sound. They also have the H1 chip the Studio Buds are, unfortunately, lacking.

In the Beats Studio Buds review below, we share everything you need to know about these great true wireless earbuds after spending time testing them, including their design, performance and who they’re best suited for.

Beats Studio Buds: price and availability

• Release date: June 24, 2021
• Price: $149.99 / £129.99 / AU$199.95
• Cheaper than AirPods Pro and better than the AirPods

The Beats Studio Buds dropped on June 24, 2021 for $149.99 / £129.99 / AU$199.95. That puts them well below the price of Apple's latest AirPods, which you can find out more about in our Apple AirPods review . As well as the Apple AirPods Pro with active noise cancellation that will set you back $249 / £249 / AU$399 – and we like them more than the standard issue AirPods. 

You might want to pay more for Apple's flagship earbuds, find out more about them in our Apple AirPods Pro review . These might make more sense, especially if you're using a lot of Apple products and not tied to a budget. You should also consider the Beats Fit Pro, a similar pair of true wireless earbuds with a better fit for working out and Apple's latest H1 chip inside.

Alternatively, there are similar true wireless earbuds available that are much cheaper. Take a look at our Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0 review or Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus review to see other cheaper options. But if you're looking to use the buds with an Apple device, the Beats Studio Buds are surprisingly good value for their price.

Beats Studio Buds: design

• Both case and buds are small and easy to carry
• The buds fit comfortably in the ear and look good

Unlike the last true wireless earbuds from Beats, which you can read about in our Beats Powerbeats Pro review , the Beats Studio Buds come in a case that's almost as sleek and small as the earbuds themselves. The case is egg-shaped, not unlike that of the new Google Pixel Buds Series-A, and features a single USB-C port on the bottom and a status LED on the front. 

Pop it open and you’ll find the earbuds. To pull them out, you pinch on the outer control panel and pull them up. The control panel is raised, and that helps the buds slip firmly into the ear without any over-ear hooks or a fin that pushes against the outer ear. The buds then sit almost flush with the ear, and while you won’t be able to wear them to sleep (they stick out a bit too far for that), they’re still supremely comfortable. 

In terms of water-resistance, the Beats Studio Buds are rated IPX4, making them sweat-resistant but not waterproof. That means you certainly can take them to the gym for a quick workout, however, without the earhooks they're a little less secure and the lack of outright waterproofing means that they're certainly not something you should be bringing out to the beach with you.

Inside the box you’ll find a USB-C to USB-C charging cable and additional eartips. Disappointingly, all of the included eartips are silicone instead of foam – and they only come in two extra sizes – but most people should have everything they need to get a proper seal and a good fit.

Beats Studio Buds: audio performance and noise cancellation

• Fun, lively sound quality that's a pleasure to listen to
• Active noise cancellation is a nice addition but needs work
• Call quality fine but not fantastic

Once you’ve got the right fit, it’s time to turn the earbuds on and give them a listen. For our testing, we paired them with an iPhone 11 Pro and turned on Apple Music, which now supports Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and Lossless Audio. 

While you won’t be able to get the full effect of Lossless Audio with the Beats Studio Buds (Bluetooth compression ruins the lossless nature of the music), you can still use them to play songs with Spatial Audio, and it sounds great. 

Unlike previous Beats earbuds and headphones that blasted you with thumping bass, the Studio Buds have a lively sound quality that elevates both the high and low end of the mix. The result is toe-tapping, head-bobbing music that doesn’t fatigue you, but engages you for long periods at a time.

As for the noise-cancelling aspect of the earbuds, it’s a great inclusion, and performs moderately well, although Beats still has some work to do to catch up with the likes of Sony and Bose, each of which has years of experience tinkering with the design, processor and noise cancellation algorithm, to make its Buds keep the maximum amount of noise out of your ears.

To that end, it feels like the Beats Studio Buds will be a great office companion – keeping the dull roar of office conversation to a minimum, but likely struggling to be heard over the jet engine on an airplane or the ear-shaking rattles of a subway car. Of course, thanks to lockdown restrictions it’s been a while since we’ve been on either, so that’s something we’ll have to put to the test in the future.

Unfortunately, the call quality leaves something to be desired. It's good enough when you've got them on walking around the house, but take them outside where you've got wind, traffic and other background noise and you'll quickly wish you were wearing another pair of earbuds. 

Beats Studio Buds: battery life and connectivity

• No W1 or H1 Chip for hands-free Siri or multipoint pairing
• Battery life is fine at 15 hours with the case
• Fast-charging in 5 minutes

Beats designed the Studio Buds to work with both Apple and Android phones with just a tap. All you need to do is open the case near either device and you’ll see them pop up on your screen, ready to pair.

Now, that's because the Studio Buds are running a proprietary wireless chip that's not exactly the W1 or H1 Chip we've seen in other Apple earbuds. That's both refreshing for Android owners who haven't been catered to as well in recent years by the Beats brand since its acquisition by Apple and a bit of a disappointment for some Apple users who enjoy features like multipoint pairing with other Apple devices and hands-free Siri. 

While that last bit is pretty disappointing, the benefit of the Buds' wireless chip is that it enables Bluetooth 5.2, and support both Find My in iOS and Find My Device in Android. That’s good, because the earbuds themselves are pretty small and, if you get the all-black color, can be pretty easy to misplace if they accidentally drop behind the bed… not that we’re speaking from experience.

The battery life on offer in the Beats Studio Buds is fine but not great. They’re only good for five hours per charge, or 15 hours with the case, when you have either ANC or Transparency mode turned on, which isn't awful and certainly falls in line with other noise-cancelling earbuds, but it falls short of class-leaders like the WF-1000XM4 that offer eight hours per charge and another 12 in the case for a total of 20 hours before you need to go back on the charger.

What's more, the Beats Studio Buds don't support wireless charging, which isn’t a deal-breaker, but can be a minor inconvenience if you already have a charging pad setup for your other devices. The good news is that the Studio Buds do support fast-charging, and can get one hour of playback time from just five minutes on the charger.  

Should you buy the Beats Studio Buds?

Buy them if...

You miss Beats' audio quality Look, audio purists have always taken issue with Beats' audio quality, but its fun, lively sound is really a blast to listen to. Its accentuated highs and lows will make your music radiate energy, and will have you bobbing your head along with the beat.

You want something that's comfortable and stylish We really like the Powerbeats Pro and the Sony WF-1000XM4, but they're not the most stylish. The Beats Studio Buds are both pretty stylish and supremely comfortable. We could wear them for hours and still want to listen more.

You want *affordable* noise cancelling true wireless earbuds The Beats Studio Buds aren't the best noise cancelling earbuds out there, but they are on the more affordable side compared to the AirPods Pro and WF-1000XM4. If you don't have $300/£300 to shell out on earbuds, the Beats Studio Buds offer a good mix of price and performance.

Don't buy them if...

You need top-tier noise cancellation The Beats Studio Buds aren't the best noise-cancelling earbuds – we found the Sony WF-1000XM4 to be a bit better in that area, and would likely pick those instead if we were about to jump on a transatlantic flight.

You're buying a pair of earbuds for the gym The Powerbeats Pro are still our go-to gym earbuds and the Beats Fit Pro are also worth considering. With over-ear hooks these styles stay locked in place a little better.

You are an Apple aficionado If you own an iPad, an iPhone, a Mac computer and a Macbook, you'll probably want a pair of earbuds that plays nicely with all of them without needing to re-sync them every time you use a new device. If you're in that camp, pick up the Apple AirPods Pro instead or the Beats Fit Pro with Apple's newest H1 chip.

Also consider...

If our Beats Studio Buds review has you considering a new pair of true wireless earbuds then 

Apple AirPods Pro 2 The new AirPods Pro are more expensive than the originals and considerable more expensive than the Beats Studio Buds, but they boast a new H2 chip and even better ANC. So if you have a higher budget, you'll be impressed. Check out our <a href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/airpods-pro-2" data-link-merchant="techradar.com""> Apple AirPods Pro 2 review

Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW If you're looking for a much more affordable true wireless earbuds option, we recommend the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW. They look unusual and there's no ANC here, but for the price the performance is excellent. Check out our <a href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-technica-ath-sq1tw" data-link-merchant="techradar.com""> Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW review

Beats Fit Pro The Beats Fit Pro are similar to the Beats Studio Buds, but they have Apple's latest H1 chip and offer greater comfort if you plan on using them while working out. The H1 chip is totally worth it if you have an iPhone, if you're on Android, it's not going to matter. Check out our <a href="https://www.techradar.com/uk/reviews/beats-fit-pro" data-link-merchant="techradar.com""> Beats Fit Pro review

First reviewed September 2021.

Nick Pino is Managing Editor, TV and AV for TechRadar's sister site, Tom's Guide. Previously, he was the Senior Editor of Home Entertainment at TechRadar, covering TVs, headphones, speakers, video games, VR and streaming devices. He's also written for GamesRadar+, Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer and other outlets over the last decade, and he has a degree in computer science he's not using if anyone wants it.

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Beats studio 3 wireless review: smart sounding, ultra long-lasting headphones.

Beats Studio 3 Wireless are 2017's flagship Beats over-ears, packing a familiar design and Apple's W1 chip.

In 2016 Beats upgraded two of its most popular headphones - the Powerbeats and Solo - and released the all new Beats X . All three came equipped with the same W1 chip that makes the Apple AirPods so convenient to pair for iPhone users.

For 2017 it's time for the Studio to be given the same treatment. The Studio 3 Wireless is the latest flagship product from Beats, which also comes equipped with the same W1 processor. While it looks similar to the last model, everything inside has changed for the better.

Is the Studio Wireless 3 the over-ear headphones product to beat all others? Here's our full review.

Beats Studio 3 Wireless

The Beats Studio 3 Wireless might not suit the pickiest of audiophiles, but for everyone else, they're very easy to recommend. Especially iPhone users.

• Comfortable fit
• Enjoyable sound quality
• Great ease-of-use for Apple users thanks to W1 chip
• Ridiculously long battery life
• Plastic design might not suit everyone
• Pauses music when notifications come through on Apple Watch
• Could be too bassy for some tastes
• Same design as previous Studio Wireless
• Improved soft padding on earcups
• Matte black, white, red and navy regular colourways
• Grey and Rose porcelain special editions

On the surface, the new Studio 3 Wireless look very similar, indeed almost identical, to the previous Studio Wireless. It has the same plastic headband with hinges built-in allowing you to fold both the earcups inward for stowage.

As over-ears should, the earcups are designed to fully surround the wearer's ears with the improved padding covered with a soft, leather-like material. Combined with the soft, flexible padding on the underside of the headband it makes for a very comfortable pair of headphones.

We were able to have the Studio Wireless 3 on our head for a solid two to three hours and still felt no discomfort. The ear padding is supremely comfortable, with the only downside being that once you take them off, you realise your ears have been sweating while inside these sumptuous ear-duvets.

Like the last generation, there's a chrome-finished panel above each of the hinges, although there is a lack of glossy finishes in the colour options. Each of the six colours is a matte, with the only shine provided by those aforementioned chromed panels, and the the iconic "b" logo on the exterior of the earcups.

There's a set of physical controls on the outside of the left earcup that allow you to skip tracks, adjust the volume, take calls or launch Siri on your iPhone. The middle "b" icon on the left side acts as the play/pause button, while the upper part of the surrounding ring is the volume up button, and the lower part is volume down.

The power button on the underside of the right earcup doubles up as the Pure ANC activation key (that's active noise-cancellation, if you're unfamiliar with the acronym). Press-and-hold it for a second and it'll turn the headphones on or off. Double-press it quickly to activate or deactivate the built-in noise-cancellation.

Overall, the Studio 3 Wireless are incredibly comfortable to wear. And despite being plastic they don't give that "cheap" feeling of some previous versions of Beats headphones. The addition of new matte colours, particularly the Shadow Grey version we reviewed, ensures that they remain stylish and subtle, not ostentatious or overly shiny.

Noise cancelling

• Pure ANC noise-cancellation adjusts for your surroundings
• Wind noise is also cut out

Most active noise-cancelling is based on playing a quiet preset single noise to cancel out ambient noise. In a good pair of earphones, this can work well, but it's not very flexible. You'll find that it doesn't cut out higher frequency noises, or perhaps even some incredibly low ones.

Beats has gone a different route with its Pure ANC technology in the Studio Wireless 3. Rather than just play a preset frequency, it continuously detects the noise around you and adjusts the noise-cancelling and music playback to match your environment. Whether that be on a plane, or in a busy bar or cafe. It goes through this process up to 50,000 times per second.

In use, we found the noise-cancelling worked really well, being able to negate most unwanted noise from our surrounding environment. These headphones are particularly good at dealing with the lower frequencies, such as the boom of male voices, for example. Equally, muting the interior hiss of a plane is no issue either.

It doesn't seal you off in a noise-less bubble however. If you listen carefully enough, you can still hear loud, high impact or high pitched noises. Clapping and doors closing, for instance, are still audible with the Pure ANC switched on.

Another issue with other company's ANC is, at times, wind noise. Because ANC typically uses microphones on the outside of the earcups, wind can often blow across them making a horrendous "tearing" noise in your ears.

Beats' new Pure ANC engine can tell when this is happening, and cut this out too. As a test: after four to five seconds of air blowing directly at our ears from a nearby fan, the earphones understood they were encountering wind tear, and just cut out that rustling noise. It wasn't perfect, but it dealt with the majority of the unwanted noise.

The real take-away is that you can tell when the noise-cancelling is switched on, and when it isn't. What's more, the ability to switch it on or off just by double-pressing the power button is a nice touch, helping to extend battery life rather than leaving it on at all times.

Battery life

• W1 chip included
• Up to 40 hours playback with ANC off
• Up to 22 hours playback with ANC on

We've seen the convenience of the W1 chip in the Apple AirPods before - which allows fuss-free pairing across your Apple devices - so it's great to see it here in the Studio 3 Wireless.

The W1 chip allows you to pair the headphones with your iPhone just by bringing the two devices close to each other and clicking "connect" on the pairing pop-up that appears on screen.

When you're signed into the same iCloud Drive account on your iPad and/or Mac, the headphones are then automatically paired with those devices as well. Just whip out your MacBook, power on the Studio 3 Wireless, and you can play music immediately. In real-world testing, this is one of those Apple-flavoured features that just works. And works so well.

While it's not technically magic, it certainly feels like it, given our years of experience with other Bluetooth devices that require re-pairing.

However, there is one downside to this W1 technology. If you have an Apple Watch, it automatically connects to your watch at the same time as your phone, so any notifications make an audible ping in your ears. Which is potentially useful, except in our testing it paused the music every time, meaning we had to hit the play button again, manually. If it wasn't for the conveniently placed play/pause button on the earphone, this could have been seriously detrimental to our experience.

Most importantly of all, the W1 Chip makes battery performance way more efficient. The Studio 3 is a perfect example of this. With its Pure ANC switched on, the headphones can stream music wirelessly, non-stop for up to 22 hours. That's 10 hours more than the previous model, despite having virtually the same battery capacity. With Pure ANC switched off, Beats promises up to an insane 40 hours.

Surprisingly, we think Beats' estimates are conservative. When we sat down to actually track the battery percentage - which you can do thanks to the W1 Chip - after three hours of constant listening via Spotify, the battery dropped from 96 per cent to 85 per cent. At that rate (~3.7 per cent, per hour), it would still have somewhere near 20 per cent left at the claimed 22-hour mark. It's worth noting that this was in a relatively quiet environment and so the headphones didn't have a lot of exterior/ambient noise to contend with.

Either way, the Beats Studio 3 Wireless can last a very long time between charges, even if you have the noise-cancelling switched on. What's more, with Fast Fuel charging technology onboard, you'll be able to plug your new Beats in for just 10 minutes and get up to three hours of playback.

Performance

Beats are known for bass, but we really enjoy the sound profile of the new Beats Studio. Sure, bass is prominent, but it doesn't muddy the mid or high-end frequencies. But make no mistake, there's still plenty of the low-end stuff.

The Studio 3 Wireless retain detail, so whatever genre of music you like we think you'll enjoy the Beats earphones. They're incredibly versatile. It's impossible to listen to you favourite music and not be immersed and swept away in it.

In the songs that allow it, you can hear subtleties like strings pressing against the metal frets during chord changes in acoustic sounds. As an example, listening to some of Newton Faulkner's more recent music with droning bass and some clappy, clacky percussion is the perfect canvas for these Beats. It's just so damned enjoyable, even if it's not what a studio would class as perfect or balanced sound.

The Beats Studio 3 Wireless is one of those great pairs of headphones that helpa you once more appreciate songs you've almost forgotten about. By bringing details to the fore, uncovering intricacies you didn't notice before and filling in the background with warmth.

The Beats Studio 3 Wireless might not suit the audiophile, but for everyone else these over-ear cans are very easy to recommend. Especially for iPhone users, thanks to the W1 chip's easy pairing and cross-device ease of use.

Even if you're not an iPhone user, the ultra-long battery life, attractive and comfortable design, and serious sound quality makes these Beats stand out beyond their over-ear competition.

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PEKIN, Elektrostal - Lenina Ave. 40/8 - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor