Which Beats headphones to choose in 2022? Comparison and differences

In short:

• active noise reduction on Studio3
• best price for Solo 3
• Studio3 more comfortable
• Siri and Android compatible
• Solo3 loads faster

Acquired by Apple, Beats by Dre is one of the benchmarks in terms of wireless Bluetooth headphones. In this comparison, we will look at the case ofStudio3 and Solo3whose positioning is clearly different. To be clear, we will look at their respective technical sheets in order to know which device to choose based on which profile. Finally, we will also mention the case of prices, which here go almost double.

Design

The first clear difference when comparing the Beats Studio3 and the Beats Solo3 is theirformat: the first is circumauricular, which means that it completely encompasses the ears and stays in place by being glued to your skull. The second, on the other hand, is supra-aural: you simply place it on the ears, but it lets the surrounding sounds pass through, which is less attractive to audiophiles and professionals, and it ispliablefor easier transport. The Beats Studio3 is therefore more comfortable and offers better isolation with therefore more centered bass than the Beats Solo3, but it is 45 g heavier.

The colors are also different:

Beats Solo3 colors

• noir
• rosé
• rouge

Beats Studio3 colors

• matte black
• black and red
• rouge
• blanc
• bleu
• dark black
• shadow gray

The case of active noise reduction

Active noise reduction technology isavailable on Beats Studio3 headphonesbut not on the Beats Solo3. A major difference to take into account, and which allows for example to compare the Studio3 toAirPods Max, also with the same audio advantageand designed by the same parent company: Apple.

Still on the music side, however, be aware that the functionalityAudio spatialwith Dolby Atmos is only available with Beats Solo3. However, compatible content is not yet very numerous, including on Apple Music: this difference therefore remains anecdotal.

Battery life comparison: Beats Studio3 vs Beats Solo3

According to official information from the manufacturer, the Beats Solo3 offersup to 40 hours of listening timenonstop. In comparison, the Beats Studio3 is satisfied with 22 hours if you activate noise reduction, but also 40 without using it. With this, Fast Fuel technology allows you to obtain three hours of battery life in just ten minutes of charging with the Beats Studio3 compared to five minutes with the Beats Solo3. And no difference in terms of connectivity: the Beats Solo3 and the Beats Studio are both powered by a portmicro-USB, the status being indicated using a diode on the side of the headsets.

In short, we can only recommend the Beats Solo3 if you are used to traveling at the last minute, because itrecharges faster. On the other hand, if active noise reduction is important to you, for example in transport or at work, in this case you should know that the difference in autonomy is seriously felt over the week with the Beats Studio3, even if we tend to spend less energy with reduced volume because the pads insulate well.

Siri, assistant on demand

Both Beats Solo3 and Beats Studio3 wireless headphones can be controlled by voice using Siri. The voice assistant published by Apple allows you to consult the weather, set an alarm, find out the time in a particular country or even carry out a search on the web. To use it, it is necessary to connect a Mac, an iPad, an iPod touch or aiPhone compatibleon headphones.

Beats headphone compatibility

No difference in compatibility either, since the Beats Studio3 and Beats Solo3 both feature the Apple W1 chip with connectivityBluetoothto pair with mobiles from Apple and other brands. Android is supported, as are computers running Windows, MacBooks and smart TVs.

Price comparison

The Beats Studio3 is sold for349.95 euros versus 199.95 eurosfor the Beats Solo3, still a difference of 150 euros. In comparison, the AirPods Max are priced from 629 euros in the Apple Store while the AirPods Pro with active noise reduction are worth 279 euros.

Good to know: prices do not change depending on the colors, including forspecial editions. We thus see that the Beats Studio3 designed in collaboration with Madhappy or Kerwin Frost are also offered at around 350 euros.

To conclude this comparison, we can draw up the profile of the typical user for whom each Beats wireless headset is aimed.The Beats Studio3 is clearly the bestfrom the American manufacturer, because it is the only one to feature active noise reduction which, coupled with a successful circumaural design, will guarantee you a most successful immersive experience. Its insulation therefore makes it ideal for all fans of faithful and trouble-free reproduction, however the price is quite off-putting when we know that other brands offer better for the same price.

With the Beats Solo3 headphones, you benefit from avalue for money(same price asthird generation AirPods headphones!) which makes the difference. We thus see many points in common between this device and the Beats Studio3, even though the second is almost twice as expensive: autonomy, Siri compatibility, speakers... On the other hand, the Solo3 does not hold up as soon as you are fidgety: it can quickly slip out of the ears with less effective support than its cousin.

In the comparison table below, you can find all the prices charged on the Beats Studio3 by French resellers. Prices are updated in real time according to the most interesting promotions of the moment, with differences sometimes up to -30% depending on the season.