As we said back in 2017 , when theBeats Studio3 Wireless headphonesdebuted , Beats ’ product have been getting better and better since Apple bought the company and started kick in to their design and hardware . The new Beats Studio Pro , the first new addition to the Beats Studio rail line in six age , work excellent ANC operation plus a build - in DAC brook gamy - res audio through a USB - C connection . But the headphones also palpate like some important features are MIA , make their $ 350 price tag end a harder sell for some users .
Although it ’s arguably the brand that made wear chunky headphones everywhere seem nerveless , Beats has actually expend the past four years focalize its efforts on its wireless earbuds lineup , with some fantabulous results . We scramble to find a reason why anyone should n’t grab the$200 Beats Fit Pro , and powerfully conceive that anyone consider AirPods should go with the$170 Beats Studio Buds + or else . Beats ’ wireless earbuds have become impregnable competition for Apple ’s other audio brand .
The last pair of wireless earphone from Beats was2019 ’s Beats Solo Pro , which we liked , but did n’t conceive all warrant their $ 300 Leontyne Price tag . That ’s more or less the same story with the new Beats Studio Pro . They bring lots of solid upgrades to the aging Beats Studio3 Wireless , but by skipping Apple ’s H1 wireless buffalo chip for proprietary computer hardware , the Beats Studio Pro are by all odds not the low-cost alternative to the $ 550AirPods Maxthat some Apple rooter had hoped for when word of the newfangled headphones first leak out .
Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
Beats Studio Pro
The new Beats Studio Pro are a definite upgrade over the six - year - old Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones , but while ANC execution is fantabulous , some basic feature , like break detection , and easy multi - gadget switching for Apple gadget , is unfortunately MIA .
WHAT IS IT ?
The new Beats Studio Pro carry forward a longstanding design that just aren’t as comfortable as other wireless headphones in this price range.Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
The first new pair of wireless phone from Apple ’s Beats brand in four years , boast amend ANC , support for Spatial Audio , a built - in DAC used when the phone are connect to a digital audio source over USB - nose candy , and better compatibility with Android devices .
PRICE
$ 350
The new Beats Studio Pro carry forward a longstanding design that just aren’t as comfortable as other wireless headphones in this price range.Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
LIKE
The ANC comes closely to matching the public presentation of the Apple AirPods Max and the Sony WH-1000XM5 , and Android users will be able to take vantage of easy multi - machine switch .
DISLIKE
Beats is now using softer memory foam in the Studio Pro’s padded earcups, but the padding isn’t removable or replaceable.Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
Bass performance finger a small lacking and there ’s no adjustable EQ to rectify that . There ’s also no wear detection so your music or videos do n’t automatically pause when you take the headphones off .
A Familiar Design That’s Survived Over a Decade
Thanks to aggressive marketing , Beats have always been some of the most recognizable phone on the market , and not just because of the small letter ‘ b ’ branding on each earcup . The company found a conception that clicked with consumers , made it nerveless through marketing and renown imprimatur , and has more or less stuck with it for well over a decade .
Unlike the now discontinuedBeats Solo Prowhich looked more heavily act upon by Apple ’s designers , the new Beats Studio Pro calculate very similar to theBeats Studio3 Wireless , and the older Beats Studio earphone that came before them .
They are unmistakably Beats headphones , with a few lowly updates . One plebeian complaint about Beats headphones is that the headband tend to deliver quite a impregnable clamp military unit on the wearer ’s head and ears , resulting in soreness when worn for extended period . The Beats Studio Pro do n’t feel as aggressively strong as previous modelling , which could be a result of the enjoyment of easygoing retentivity foam in the earcups render more padding , but they do form a very slopped stamp , and on several occasions , I ’ve taken them off with an audible “ sigh ” at the pressure level relief on my ear .
Extending the length of the Beats Studio Pro’s headband reveals the exposed metal band inside, and it makes the headphones seem less finished than other options in this price range.Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
And despite Apple stupefy the sustainability drum every metre Tim Cook catch on stage to announce new product , unlike the AirPods Max , or otherheadphones that raise repairability , the retentivity foam earcups on the Beats Studio Pro are regrettably not obliterable or easy replaceable .
I ’m also surprised that for a brand that put a potent emphasis on aesthetics , the Beats Studio Pro ’s adjustable headband is n’t exactly pretty . The design of the headband on both theApple AirPods Max , and theSony WH-1000XM5 , manage to cleverly blot out when the headband has been extended to suit big heads , but on the Beats Studio Pro , extending the headband split its plastic housing and endanger the alloy band inside it . It ’s an approach that many other headphone utilization , but for $ 350 , I ask something more aesthetically pleasing .
I do , however , like that the headband on theBeats Studio Prohas a pair of flexible joint let the headphones to fold quite small so they can extort into an included carrying case that ’s not much grownup than a toiletries bag . If we ever see an update to the AirPods Max , lease ’s hope that Apple ’s audio team is devote attention and admit a right carrying casing like this next time , and not the weird diaper thefirst - gen AirPods Maxare forced to wear out in populace .
The Beats Studio Pro have a hinge on each side of the headband allowing the headphones to fold up small enough to fit in an included case that’s about as large as a toiletries bag.Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
An Apple Product That Caters to Androids Too
Despite being a brand that ’s owned by Apple , Beats ’ headphones and earbuds do n’t functionally cater to just iPhones , iPads , and Macs like AirPods do . In fact , the Modern Beats Studio Pro includes some feature that are Android only .
As with premature multiplication of the Beats Studio headphones , functionality through the headphones themselves is kind of canonical — there are no touchpads you’re able to swipe to control your euphony or dial you’re able to twist to make volume adjustments . On the left earcup , the ‘ b ’ stigmatization is a elementary button that can be entreat , twofold - pressed , and triple - agitate to control medicine playback , or held down to activate voice helper . With the Beats Studio Pro connected to Apple machine , Siri is also accessible by just saying , “ Hey , Siri , ” out loud , but hands - gratis access to Google Assistant when connected to Android machine is n’t an option .
squeeze just above or just below the ‘ b ’ you ’ll also find a pair of hidden clicky buttons that allow for agile volume adjustments . I would detect them prosperous to locate while don the earphone if they had a subtle bump or indent you could feel , but dedicated loudness clit are always much appreciated .
The ‘b’ branding on the Beats Studio Pro’s left earcup is also a physical button that controls media playback or activates a smart assistant.Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
The right earcup features a much modest “ organization release ” that ’s used to power the headphones on and off , activate Bluetooth pairing , and toggle between noise cancellation , transparentness , or turn both modes off . For the first time , the USB - C connection on the right earcup which is primarily used to charge the headphone after 40 hours of exercise ( or 24 hours with ANC or foil turn on ) also bear out USB - C sound .
The Beats Studio Pro includes a built - in digital - to - analogue convertor ( DAC ) countenance eminent - resolution audio files and flow ( up to 24bit/48kHz ) to be get at , and while ANC and transparency modes are disabled while listening to audio over a USB - C connection , users can select between three different EQ preferences . alas , these EQ options are limit to a balanced mixture , a mix that ply to movies and games , and a mix that promote voices when making call or listen to podcasts . There are no adjustable EQ options when listening to audio over Bluetooth , which , again , feels like another feature that ’s truly lack on a couplet of $ 350 phone .
beat has also hop-skip using Apple ’s W1 or H1 audio french fries in the unexampled Studio Pro , in favor of proprietary hardware . It will still do head tracking if you ’re sold on the Spatial Audio hype , supports lose gadget trailing , and allows the Beats Studio Pro to easy switch between multiple twist , but only those run Android or ChromeOS . The headphones can only link up to one Apple machine at a metre , and I was also defeated to find the raw Beats Studio Pro do n’t feature clothing detection , so when take them off , your music or video recording playback does n’t mechanically pause .
The Beats Studio Pro’s right earcup features a ‘system button’ used for power, Bluetooth pairing, and switching between ANC and transparency modes. The earcup’s USB-C port used for charging can also be used as a USB-C audio connection, allowing for high-res digital audio sources to be accessed at full quality.Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
The Beats Studio Pro Sound Surprisingly Good
Although Beats has apparently decided not to get get up in the active noise cancellation arms race fall out between Sony , Apple , and Bose , I was really quite surprised at how in effect the ANC on the new Beats Studio Pro is . Listening toaudio sample of various noisy environmentsblasting through my home field of operations setup , the Beats Studio Pro did a very good occupation at gutting lower relative frequency like the deep rumbles you ’ll hear while riding a coach or during a flight on a large commercial airliner .
Most material - metre ANC ironware still struggle with higher relative frequency — you’re still going to hear the cacophony of voices in a busy coffee shop class with ANC turn on , but they ’ll terminate up much quieter . The ANC on the Beats Studio Pro is decidedly well than what you ’ll get from any of beat ’ wireless earbud products , but that ’s also because of the added sound block from the earcups that wholly compensate your ears . The Beats Studio Pro do n’t surpass theApple AirPods Maxor theSony WH-1000XM5when it comes to their randomness - canceling capabilities , but palpate on equation with the last generationSony WH-1000XM4 , which are still very undecomposed phone .
Without any power to make EQ adjustments , you ’re more or less stuck with the Beats Studio Pro ’s out - of - the - box tuning , which for past models we ’ve described as sounding “ dreadfully adequate . ” I would n’t be quite so harsh describing the Beats Studio Pro ’s phone , but I did chance it to be far less belligerent than how I thought the headphones were going to sound . mysterious basso beats and kick membranophone striking do n’t have as much thud as you get from the Sony WH-1000XM5 ( which I discover are in reality a bit too bass part - fleshy out of the corner , but can be remedied through in - app EQ adaption ) and almost sense a bit muted through the Beats Studio Pro .
The Beats Studio Pro (top) don’t sound as good as the Apple AirPods Max (bottom, right) or the Sony WH-1000XM5 (bottom, left) but their improved ANC comes very close.Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
The same goes for vocals , or electronic cut with a lot of high frequency hits . It almost sound like the frequency range of most tracks has been compressed on the high and low remnant passing through the Beats Studio Pro . I would n’t inevitably call it disappointing , and comparing the strait to what you ’ll get from the Apple AirPods Max is n’t fair give those are $ 549 headphone , but if audio caliber is your numeral one priority , you’re able to do better than the Beats Studio Pro at this Leontyne Price point .
Are the Beats Studio Pro Worth the Upgrade?
If you ca n’t think being spotted out in public wearing anything other than Beats headphones , then sure , the new Beats Studio Pro are definitely a welcome upgrade over both the Beats Studio3 Wireless , and the Beats Solo3 Wireless . The ANC is observably better than its predecessor ( which is n’t that surprising given the Beats Studio3 Wireless are six years former at this degree ) and actually come in closely to ANC champs like the Apple AirPods Max , and the Sony WH-1000XM5 — but the Beats Studio Pro are definitely not a step - up over either of those .
If I was pass $ 350 on wireless headphones , I would either observe a way to squeeze my budget a short blotto to snaffle the $ 400 Sony WH-1000XM5 alternatively , which offer better ANC , multi - gadget connectivity , and put on sleuthing , or choose for Sony ’s last generation wireless headphones , the Sony WH-1000XM4 , which are still $ 350 but can frequently be found for much cheap than that . metre headphones , which once limit the brand , have seemingly taken a back tush to its wireless earbuds , which do a with child job of give birth a lot of functionality at a free-enterprise price point . At $ 150-$200 , the newBeats Studio Prowould have been an excellent oblation , but for $ 350 , you could find better alternative .
Want more of Gizmodo ’s consumer electronics option ? Check out our usher to thebest phonesbest laptops , best TVs , andbest headphones . If you want to study about the next heavy thing , see our scout toeverything we make love about the iPhone 16 .
Daily Newsletter
Get the best tech , scientific discipline , and culture news show in your inbox daily .
intelligence from the future , delivered to your nowadays .
You May Also Like
