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Beats has been on a comeback tour since Apple bought it, and the impressive Beats Studio Buds+ we reviewed last month was the last stop on that trip. The first Beats Studio Buds came out in 2021, and that model was an update to them. Now, the company does the same thing with the product that started it all. The Beats Studio Pro are the best over-ear headphones Beats has ever made. They build on the great Beats Studio 3 Wireless by adding a few key features.
The Studio Pro are likely to be the most flexible over-ear headphones on the market today because they support key features like active noise cancellation (ANC), spatial audio, lossless audio, and transparency mode. Beats is also dedicated to making all of its headphones’ features available on both iOS and Android, which is also helpful. This year, Studio Pro have a USB-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack, so they can be used with almost any device that can play music.
Beats Studio Pro Specifications
In the years after Apple acquired Beats, the company has been on a return tour, which just culminated in the release of the amazing Beats Studio Buds+ headphones, which we reviewed just a month ago.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Weight | 260g |
| Dimensions | 7.13 x 7 x 3.1 inches (181 x 178 x 78mm) |
| Charging | USB-C |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3, Class 1 Bluetooth |
| Battery life | 24 hours (ANC on) |
| Multipoint | Android only |
| Check Price |
Beats Studio Pro: Design
Beats hired Samuel Ross, a fashion and product designer who has previously collaborated with Hublot, Nike, Oakley, and others, to update the brand’s visual identity. The end effect is a refreshed appearance thanks to new hues, components, packaging, and logos. Although the changes are minor and the folding design is still the same in principle, there are a few key differences.
To begin, there are now four color options for Studio Pro, all of which include a matte appearance. The model name has been dropped, and the previously contrasting color of the headband hinge has been replaced with a tone-on-tone finish. However, the classic lowercase “b” logo is still there on both sides.
Beats Studio Pro: Call Quality
Thanks to voice-targeting mics and a machine-learning algorithm, Beats says you can expect up to 27 percent better voice clarity than with the Studio 3 Wireless. The company says that over 7,000 hours of “real-world environments” were used to train the system so that it can “precisely hone in” on your voice. Those are some big claims, and some of them are true.
The Studio Pro is great for cutting out background noises that don’t stop, like a fan or an air conditioner. Even though I was sitting right next to one or the other, neither of them came through on calls. It’s better than how most headphones and earbuds sound, which is like a speakerphone, but it’s not perfect.
Beats Studio Pro: Battery life and charging
The Studio Pro are rated to have a battery life of up to 40 hours without active noise cancellation or transparency, and up to 24 hours with either feature enabled. The Studio Pro was used intermittently over the course of several days, primarily with ANC/Transparency enabled, before we were finally forced to plug it in. With ANC turned on, we used the phone practically continuously for eight hours but still only depleted 87% of the battery.
The Pro’s Fast Fuel charging, which claims up to four hours of playback from a 10-minute charge, delivered as promised when we needed to rapidly charge up before going for a walk. The Sony XM5 leads its class in battery life, clocking it at 30 hours with ANC and 40 hours without. Without ANC, the AirPods Max can be used for up to 40 hours.
Beats Studio Pro: Pricing and availability
On June 19, 2023, Beats Studio Pro were introduced, and beginning the same day, orders could be placed for them. You can read about them on the Beats website, but if you want to purchase them, you will be taken to the online store operated by Apple instead. The shipping of Studio Pro will get underway on June 20. It will be offered in stores owned and operated by Apple as well as retailers owned and operated by other firms. They have the same price tag as their predecessor, the Beats Studio 3 Wireless, which is $350.
Final Words
The sound is quite good, but it does not quite measure up to the absolute best that Sennheiser and Sony have to offer. The noise cancellation is also fairly effective, coming in as a close second to the best models offered by Bose and Sony. However, what separates them from the competition is the extensive integration they have with the various Apple devices and Android.
Beats Studio Pro review: The good and The bad
The Beats Studio Buds are ideal for use during physical activities. They are soft, well-made, and have a water resistance rating of IPX4.
The Good
- Improved sound quality
- Above average voice performance
The Bad
- Still not the most comfortable
Questions and Answers
With the Find My app1, you can use iCloud or your iOS device to find Beats headphones that work with it. Find your Beats with an iPhone or iPad: Start the app Find My. Tap the Devices tab, and then choose the headphones you’re looking for.
The Active Noise Cancellation mode blocks out sounds like traffic or people talking, while the Transparency mode lets you hear what’s going on around you. In the Beats app, you can turn these settings on or off.