Beats Studio 3 Wireless headphones review: Apple pairs noise cancellation and the W1 chip

Battery life has been improved, wireless performance is spotless, and the W1 chip makes these headphones remarkably functional. Noise cancellation is also better but still doesn’t come close to the best in class. Therefore, we were forced to remove the headphones to check the LED pairing indicator light that pulses when pairing is underway. This same button also controls the Active Noise Cancellation. A clearly positioned choir, well-balanced electric bass and finely-tuned upper mids are all clearly audible. The remastered version of the classic when played on the sounds pretty close to what it must have sounded like during the original recording.

They sound quite similar, but the Studio3 sound slightly better overall. The Studio3 also have a much better battery than the Studio Wireless and feature the W1 chip for improved ease-of-use with Apple devices. The Studio have better latency and microphone noise handling performance. They’re both decent headphones for most uses, but the more intuitive pairing process and control scheme of the Studio3 gives them an edge. It will work just fine with any Bluetooth device, but you’ll get the most out of these headphones with an iOS device, like up to a whopping 22 hours of wireless, ANC playback . A great thing now is that the user can turn off ANC if it’s unneeded, or to save on battery life by double-pressing the power button.

On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the kick drum loop’s attack gets plenty of high-mid presence and retains its sharp attack, allowing it to cut through the several layers of the mix. Thus, those seeking out a mega-boosted bass sound will likely be disappointed with the balanced, crisp Studio3 Wireless. The vocals here benefit from the solid high-mid presence—perhaps things get a tad too sibilant here and there, but this is a clean sound, generally speaking. Apple W1 chip makes pairing with iOS devices even more simple. Before that, I was PCMag’s lead audio analyst from 2006 to 2011.

We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry. A lower weight is also an advantage for home appliances, as it makes transportation easier, and for many other types of products. I think most users will like listening on the Studio3s and enjoy how the music is presented, no matter the genre. Plus, the long battery life and quick charge functionality are a big bonus, along with Apple’s W1 chip and Pure ANC being included. Even so, the Studio3s support fast charging via the included micro USB cable.

beats studio3

The feedback is better on the physical buttons of the Beats, but you get limited controls. Also, the Microsoft have better noise isolation performance but have about half of the Beats’ battery life. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are better headphones than the beats solo pro wireless Wireless. The Bose are very comfortable and their sound profile is well-balanced.

They can also perform inconsistently across users due to fit. However, they’re still suitable for most audio genres, especially if you like more bass-driven music. Unfortunately, they lack an EQ or presets to help you customize their sound to your liking. They’re comfortable and stable enough to exercise with. They’re also wireless with a great range, so you can leave your phone on a bench while you run or have a fixed Bluetooth source. However, they can make your ears a bit warm and sweaty after a good 30 minutes of working out.

Instead, there is one mode for Pure Adaptive Noise Cancellation, and it performs well. You can turn it on or off by double pressing the power button. It does turn on by default when you turn the headphones on. Beats aims to provide exceptional sound beats solo pro wireless in a comfortable design with not too many features. You’ll find Pure Adaptive Noise Cancellation, which uses microphones to block out low-frequency sounds. However, you won’t find an app filled with features that might be daunting to use.

The Solo Pro Wireless have a slightly better noise cancellation feature and their sound profile is better balanced than the Studio3. On the other hand, the Studio3 are more comfortable thanks to their over-ear design and come with an audio cable to use when wired, which you need to buy separately for the Solo Pro. The Beats Studio3 have a mediocre frequency response consistency. Despite their noise cancelling and self-calibrating systems, they perform less consistently than other noise cancelling headphones such as the Sony MDR-1000X Wireless and the Sony WH-1000XM2 Wireless. Their bass and treble delivery can vary based on fit, seal, and positioning.