Which Beats Headphones Should I Buy UPDATED

That depends what you're looking for. Best in terms of quality and the newest, high-end tech, we'd say the Beats Studio 3 Wireless are the winners. These are over-ear headphones that are super comfortable with noise-cancelling smarts. However, if you need a pair to workout in, the Powerbeats are probably your best bet and if you want noise-cancelling but want to save a bit of money, the Beats Solo Pro are a solid alternative. Check out the guide below for all of our recommendations.

which beats headphones should i buy

There are plenty of different Beats headphone options to choose from these days, including in-ear headphones for sports enthusiasts, comfortable pairs of on-ear headphones, along with over-ear headphones, and the latest Beats Fit Pro, which are true AirPods Pro competitors but at a cheaper price.

In late 2021, Beats discontinued three of its older models, the Beats Powerbeats, Beats EP and Beats Solo Pro. This was a move to make way for its more up-to-date wireless headphones and wireless earbuds. However, while stocks last, you'll still find the Solo Pro in our guide below.

They have slightly better battery life and a smaller carrying case than the older Powerbeats Pro and deliver better results than the similar-looking Beats Studio Buds, which makes them well worth an upgrade.

They're a slightly tight fit and they can be bettered for timing, but their overall balance is nicely judged and bass isn't overpowering, which makes for an enjoyable listen. If you want to get involved with the Beats brand, these headphones are a good place to start.

We wondered what Beats would do for an encore after releasing two critically acclaimed true wireless models in the Powerbeats Pro and Studio Buds. The answer: launch its best workout headphones to date. Enter the Fit Pro.

The Studio Buds is Beat's most unusual pair of headphones yet. It's a set of true wireless earbuds, not unlike the Powerbeats Pro, but adopts a much more stylish and compact design that's more in line with most of the best wireless earbuds. It's also muhc more platform-agnostic: there's no Apple H1 or W1 chip, which means fewer exclusive features for iOS handset owners but more support for Android features like fast pairing. Best of all, the Beats Studio Buds keeps itself to a relatively affordable price point despite the inclusion of full active noise cancellation.

A codec is how two devices communicate with each other. Think of it like a language that needs to be spoken by one device, and understood by another. All devices speak SBC which is the most basic codec, and from there things get messy. Mainly due to the fact that different companies prefer different codecs. Sony has LDAC, Qualcomm has aptX (and soon aptX Adaptive which has the potential to be the best one so far), and companies like Apple use AAC. Since Apple owns Beats, you can see why Beats headphones only use AAC. So is it bad?

Now to put that into headphone terms, your source device outputs a signal to your headphones. If all of the components in your headphones are working fine then that same signal should make its way out of the drivers at the end so you can hear it.

We've currently tested 18 pairs of Beats headphones. They're a popular brand that makes stylish and comfortable headphones. The brand was acquired by Apple in 2014, which has meant that some models come with features meant for users of the Apple ecosystem. Also, while they used to be known for their excessively bass-heavy sound signature, some newer models sound more well-balanced.

Compared to some other older Beats headphones, they have a more neutral sound profile, which you might like if you're not a fan of a bass-heavy sound or listen to a lot of podcasts or audiobooks while you're exercising. Unfortunately, they don't come with sound customization options, and the companion interface is very limited. They won't isolate you from much ambient sound, so they aren't ideal if you want to escape distracting noise at the gym. However, you might not mind their low level of noise isolation if you're running outdoors, as you can more easily monitor your environment.

But if you're shopping for a pair of earbuds -- whether on Apple's website or at a store -- don't be surprised to find stocks of Beats Studio Buds nearby. The infamous Beats label, which once lived on the ears of every walking athlete and celebrity, was acquired by Apple in 2014. Since then, Apple has been selling Beats-made headphones and earbuds in its own stores.

Before checking out true wireless headphones, make sure to rank which factors are most important to you. And remember, different brands have different strengths. Take your time to do your research before making the purchase.

The battery life is long, lasting 36 hours on a full charge with ANC activated (41 without). If you run out of juice, the Elite 85h features a quick-charge function, which means you get five hours of listening time from a 15-minute charge. The headphones also detect when you take them off and put them back on, automatically pausing and resuming your music, which helps conserve battery life. Plus, they function while charging, although the included 12-inch cable is a little short for this to be practical. You can also use the pair in wired mode.

V-Moda M-200 ANC: As with all things V-Moda, the M-200 ANC has metal parts that feel solidly built, and this pair features optional ornamental shield customization. That build style comes at a hefty price, as the price starts at $500. The noise cancellation is quite good, and the intensity is adjustable via the V-Moda app. Worth noting is that the fit will affect your experience. The headband was a touch long for my face, so the earcups were slightly lower than optimal, which made the ANC less effective. This should only be a problem for those with small heads, however. Though the V-Moda app has EQ presets, no matter the option there is a jagged boost that causes vocals to sound too forward in the mix, which both John and I thought made singers sound strained or shouty. At the time of our review the V-Moda app was buggy and on our iPhone 12 frequently crashed or got hung up on a spinning loading wheel. Parents will also want to use caution as the M-200 ANC pair gets incredibly loud at max volume.

They're some of the most expensive wireless headphones on the market, but Apple's AirPods Max (8/10, WIRED Recommends) will get you the best sound. They have rich bass, a massive soundstage, and excellent noise cancellation. My favorite part? The large Apple Watch-like knob on the top of the right ear cup, which you use to easily adjust the volume. Apple users will love how well they integrate with iOS devices, and especially how well they handle video. When watching via certain apps (HBO Max, for example), they can track your head to simulate full object-based surround sound.

The Pixel Buds Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are a perfect alternative to the AirPods Pro if you're an Android fan, like me. The cute multicolored earbuds have great noise canceling, a super comfortable fit, and an hour more playtime (seven) than the Apple-made equivalents. I also like that they switch quickly between multiple paired devices, which makes it nice for those of us who use headphones for both work and workouts. The only downside is that they don't work super well with iPhones. Too bad. So sad.

For a much more affordable option, we like these wire-free earbuds from JLab (8/10, WIRED Recommends). They get only five hours of battery life per charge, and the case (which holds about four extra charges) has an open-top design that can collect a bit of dirt and lint from your pockets, but they're great cheap headphones. They are small and comfortable in your ears, and they sound good enough for the price. They also have an IP44 water-resistance rating, so you can sweat in them without worry. And the case has a built-in USB cable, so you don't need to tote an extra cord.

We also really like the Back Bay Audio Tempo 30 (8/10, WIRED Recommends), which suffer in call quality but have nice build quality, are waterproof, and beat the JLabs on battery life. Check out our other favorite cheap headphones for more.

In short, this is what you hear when wearing Beats. The X axis is showing the frequencies, from 20Hz to 20kHz (which is what the human range is.) The idea is that the line in this graph for all headphones and speakers should be as flat as possible. Do you see the problem here?

Beats are ALL about advertising which of course considerably drives up their price. Beats charge over $300 for the Solo3, which is WAY too much money! They are the headphones of Dr Dre, one of the best and most popular rappers in the world. They are worn by a lot of celebrities and people who probably should have bought better headphones. But on the other hand, most Beats actually have good reviews on certain websites like Rtings, which reviews almost every headphone on the planet.

The slightly more rugged Elite Active 75t is also available for about $20 more, but with the new Elite 85t arriving we should see some sales on the Elite 75t. which has been out on the market a while.

At $180, the Jaybird Vista with its bigger battery is a little more expensive than it should be, but it was one of the better true wireless headphones to hit the market in the year 2020. These AirPods alternatives will especially appeal to those looking for a more discreet set of totally wireless workout headphones that offer full waterproofing. A companion Android app allows you to tweak the sound. 041b061a72