Beats Studio2 (Left) and Beats Studio3 (Right). Photo Credit: Chloe Becquet
The advertised 22 hours of battery life for the Beats Studio3 with Pure ANC turned on proved true when I tested them. If you turn off Pure ANC, then you can stretch the battery life to a whopping 40 hours without affecting the audio quality. The Beats also have a neat Fast Fuel feature which gives you 3 hours of playback from just a 10 minute charge.
The ear pads on the Beats Studio 3 are more comfortable than they were on the Beats Studio2 and in general they are a very comfortable pair of headphones. The ear cushions also offer a great seal for when you want to use “passive noise isolation” with ANC turned off. The headphones do create some pressure on your head if you wear them for long periods of time, however that is the case for the majority of over ear headphones that I’ve tested.
Beats Studio2 (Left) and Beats Studio3 (Right). Photo Credit: Chloe Becquet
Overall, the Beats Studio3 are a significant upgrade over the Beats Studio2. To that effect, they sound even better than their predecessor, and their Pure ANC technology is sublime. We wholeheartedly prefer the Beats Studio3 over Bose. The inclusion of the W1 chip also makes them a welcome upgrade if you’re an Apple user.
At $349, the Beats Studio 3 aren’t cheap, and they are a bit pricier than Bose’s QuietComfort 35 headphones, but we think their price tag is worth it if you’re an Apple user looking for pair of headphones with ANC. In fact, we consider the Beats Studio3 to be the best noise cancelling headphones an Apple user can get. Between the sublime audio, ANC and battery life, and the W1 Chip, these are a superb pair of headphones for Apple users.
we consider the Beats Studio3 to be the best noise cancelling headphones an Apple user can get. Between the sublime audio, ANC and battery life, and the W1 Chip, these are a superb pair of headphones for Apple users.
The Beats Studio3 available in a choice of six colors – matte black, shadow gray, blue, red, white and porcelain rose.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review unit
What I Like: Phenomenal sound and ANC tech, easy pairing to iOS users thanks to W1 chip, long battery life with neat quick charge feature, comfortable ear pads with good seal, excellent above average wireless range, great call quality, ear cups offer easy access to Siri and controls, durable build
What Needs Improvement: A bit pricey for a plastic build
