Beats Studio Pro Review: Better Than AirPods Max?

May 20, 2023

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Headphones might be one of the most competitive industries in the tech realm, and the number of options seems to keep growing. According to a recent report, the U.S. headphones market is expected to top $45.7 billion globally by 2026 and $12.3 billion in the U.S. by 2030.

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While there are a lot of brands on the market, not all headphones are created equal. Beats Studio Pro Headphones ($349.99), the latest installment to the Beats product lineup released on July 19, offer the best of both worlds when it comes to premium sound quality and comfortability, but how do they hold up against other higher-priced headphones such as Apple’s AirPods Max?

There’s been some debate over whether Beats Studio Pro headphones will give AirPods Max a run for its money. After testing them out, I wouldn’t say that they’re in direct competition with AirPods Max (especially since Apple owns Beats), but the Studio Pro headphones are a great alternative at a lower price point — and they work for iPhones and Androids.

According to a report published by Headphones Addict, nearly all 87% of people in the U.S. use headphones to listen to music and nearly half (47%) use them to watch movies and TV shows.

Beats Studio Pro noise-cancelling headphones feature “next-level audio fidelity” for listening to music, taking calls watching TV and videos, along with some notable upgrades. While you probably won’t be dodging paparazzi on your way to the corner store like A$AP Rocky in the Beats Studio Pro commercial, the over-ear headphones are built to withstand dancing, running and other low-impact movement. They’re not water proof, but from my own experience, they’re definitely sweat resistant (a feature that comes in handy during a heatwave).

Beats Studio Pro headphones are equipped with soft ear-cushions and up to 40 hours of battery life making them ideal for work, school, travel and more. If the battery gets low, you won’t have to wait long to juice them back up as a 10-minute fast charge gets you four hours of battery life.

After testing the headphones out for the last two weeks, what I’ve come to enjoy most about them is how comfortable they are, noise-cancelling capabilities and how easily they connect to my iPhone and Android (compared to other Bluetooth headphones). Beats Studio Pro fit snug enough to wear comfortably for at least three hours at a time (you can also sleep in them, which is great for anyone looking for headphones to wear on a flight, listen to music, watch TV or stream videos before bed).

Beats Studio Pro are more than $100 cheaper than AirPods Max ($549), and while they might not offer the same eye-catching qualities as it relates to design aesthetic (AirPods Max users love the slim ear cups and thin headband) and interiors (no H1 chip), Beats Studio Pro are sleek in their own right with adjustable, premium metal sliders that fold up and fit neatly in the accompanying carrying case. Beats Studio Pro are also a little cheaper than Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones ($399.99) and Bose 700 headphones ($379).

According to Beats, the Studio Pro headphones offer updated “interior components” such as custom 40mm drivers engineered for “optimal clarity” and almost no sound distortion at a high volume (an 80% increase compared to its predecessor) while the microphones filter out background noise and enhance voice clarity up to 27% better than Beats Studio 3.

Additional features include Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking that lets you experience music and other content in Dolby Atmos, Lossless Audio via USB-C3 and UltraPlush ear cushions made from engineered leather and they’re available in four colors: black, deep brown, navy and sandstone.

Despite being compatible with iPhones and Androids, some capabilities such as one-touch pairing, may not be available on older Android phones (if you have an older phone, you may need to download the Beats app to connect). Once you cop a new pair of Beats Studio Pro headphones, you can test them out with a free subscription to Apple Music for up to six months and free Apple TV+ for three months.

Beats Studio Pro headphones are available at major retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target and BeatsbyDre.com.

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