Beats latest flagship headphones are available now in the form of the Beats Studio3. The Beats Studio2 were a significant improvement over the original Beats Studio headphones, but it has been four years since the Beats Studio2 were released, so it was due time for Beats to release a new flagship pair of headphones.
After testing them out for a few weeks, I highly recommend the Beats Studio3 – even as an upgrade from the Beats Studio2.
Of course the new Beats Studio3 pack in the W1 chip from Apple. That means that if you’re using an iOS device, pairing the Beats is a seamless and quick process. In addition, iOS users can seamlessly switch between iCloud-registered devices. So if your Beats are connected to your MacBook for watching a movie, you can seamlessly switch to an incoming call on your iPhone.
When it comes to sound quality, the Beats Studio3 sound incredible. Tracks of all genres sound warm with lots of body, and in general music sounds incredibly rich and detailed. The headphones are focused on the mid-range, and they sound quite balanced – but the Studio3’s don’t have very strong bass, which is actually how I personally prefer my headphones. Overall, the Beats Studio3 are definitely a significant improvement over the Beats Studio2, and have quickly become one of my favorite over-the-ear headphones.
Beats Studio2 (Left) and Beats Studio3 (Right). Photo Credit: Chloe Becquet
Bose better watch out – because the noise cancelling on the Beats Studio3 headphones are superb too. Pure Adaptive Noise Canceling (Pure ANC) on the Beats Studio3 works to actively block external noise. As a matter of fact, it works so well, that I was told that someone was calling out my name for a half hour in the same room – yet I never flinched once because I couldn’t hear them with Pure ANC turned on. That said, depending on the environment, the Pure ANC doesn’t always wash out the background noise by 100%. For example, while walking in the street, I could faintly hear the engine noise coming from a truck passing by. But overall, I found Pure ANC to be great in noisy areas, including riding the New York subway
Perhaps more importantly, the Studio3’s don’t give me a headache. Bose has made a big name for themselves in the noise cancelling market, but their active noise cancelling feature has always given me a low grade headache. To that effect, I’m super sensitive to the buzzing / white noise that Bose’s and many other headphones’ ANC technology creates. This is where the Beats Studio3 really shines. Despite my sensitivity to ANC, their Pure ANC technology is just right for me. To that effect, when I’m listening to the Beats Studio3 I don’t notice the white noise at all, nor do I get a headache from having ANC turned on.
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