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Beats Studio 3 Wireless noise cancelling headphones review

The dr dre-endorsed beats studio 3 wireless noise cancelling headphones are a safe pair of cans.

Louder Verdict

Beats continues to tread a safe middle ground with the Studio 3 Wireless. The design has been around for yonks, and despite improvements they don’t sound as good as their main rivals, the mid-range could do with losing some weight. Noise cancelling is reasonable without being overly aggressive, and they earn bonus points for battery life and comfort.

Rich bass and mids

Great battery life

Comfortable

Aesthetic isn't for everyone

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Topping the Beats line for the best part of three years, the Beats Studio 3 Wireless headphones combine the brand’s signature style with new Pure Active Noise Cancelling and a high stamina battery.

As befits their lifestyle pose, they come in a wide variety of finishes, including camo, black, red with silver trim, white and gold, and ‘Shadow Grey’. We auditioned the latter. With gold logo and contrasting black and tan leather band, they’re nothing if not ostentatious.

• Best headphones for music : supercharge your listening

Beats Studio 3 Wireless review: Features

Usability is fine, although these cans lack the touch panel finesse we’re used to on rival wireless headphones . The Beats logo on the left cup acts as a Play, Pause and track change button, with volume control above and below. 

Providing connectivity is Apple’s W1 chipset. This is optimized for quick pairing with iOS gear, but we had no problem tethering an Android device either. 

Battery life is generous, running to around 22 hours with noise cancelling engaged. A 10 minute charge will give you enough juice for 3 hours playback, while 90 minutes will have you fully charged.

Pure Active Noise Cancelling activates automatically when you turn on the headphones. 

You can switch it off by double-pressing the power button. This effectively doubles battery life in the process. There’s a little LED indicator by the power button which reveals how much gas is left in the tank. 

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Beats Studio 3 Wireless review: Performance

On first inspection they may look like you’ve nicked them from Trump’s bathroom, but sonically the Studio 3’s are a good deal more tasteful. 

They certainly don’t suffer from a surfeit of bass (long held as a defining trait for the brand). It’s the mid-range that dominates instead.  

The title track from Apocalyptica’s Cell-o (Amazon Music HD), suffers a little from this tubby bias, and it threatens to curtail the frantic fiery strings of this pummelling instrumental.

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This is not to say they won’t drop deep. Take the Money and Crawl (Green Day, from Father of All…) lays the beat down like Conor McGregor.

Similarly, Hardwired (Metallica, title track from ...To Self Destruct) plays like the worst hangover you’ve ever had. You can feel these Beats marching down your ear canal, elbows out. It’s pretty cool.

That said, there’s something a bit on the nose about the presentation, they’re more confined than airy.

The good news is they react well to higher quality streams, offering up more edge and energy as you improve the source. Sugar Youth (same Green Day album) lacks bounce on Spotify, but the same track in UHD on Amazon Music HD, positively blazes. Tidal and Qobuz subscribers will probably also benefit.

When it comes to noise cancelling, we’d rank these Beats below the class leaders. But their Pure Active Noise Cancelling tech is more than able to muffle generic hubbub, by dynamically adjusting to what’s going on around you.

If you’re looking primarily for isolation on the morning commute though, they begin to struggle. Loud transients still have a tendency to break through.

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Beats Studio 3 Wireless review: Comfort and accessories

The headphones fit snug to the head, which gives them a cool streamlined appearance. The ear pads are synthetic leather, but soft as Mr Whippy’s finest. They’re comfortable, although after a few hours your ears will begin to sweat.

They ship in a hard plastic pill-box, and are bundled with a 3.5mm RemoteTalk audio cable, USB charging lead and a belt clip. The pivoting ear cup design means they fold down to an agreeably small size.

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Steve is a home entertainment technology specialist who contributes to a variety of UK websites and mags, including Louder Sound, Yahoo UK, Trusted Reviews, T3, The Luxe Review and Home Cinema Choice. Steve began his career as a music journo, writing for legendary rock weekly Sounds, under the nom de plume Steve Keaton. His coverage of post punk music was cited in the 2015 British Library exhibition Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination, as a seminal influence on the Goth music scene.

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Jeffrey Van Camp

Review: Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones

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Am I enjoying these Beats too much? I’ve asked myself that question a few times in the last couple weeks. For years, I’ve listened to audiophiles rail against Beats by Dre headphones, saying they were all style, no substance. For the money, they just didn’t sound very good and put too much emphasis on a bass-heavy sound.

Sure enough, the first thing I noticed about the Beats Studio3 Wireless was that low, heavy sound signature. They tend to drag down mid-frequency sounds (most vocals and instrumentation) a bit and do emphasize bass and heavy drum sounds more than the competition. The Beats difference was especially pronounced because the last set of headphones I used were the Focal Listen Wireless , which tended to do the opposite, yanking sounds up the audio spectrum toward the higher end of things.

So yeah, the bass is strong with Beats, but is that really such a bad thing? I got used to it pretty quick, and I've grown to enjoy the warmth and woof they add to many tracks. The Studio3 sound better than any Beats I’ve ever worn, and more than hold their own against many wireless noise-canceling headphones on the market. The longer I wear the Studio3’s, the less I care about what I’ve ever heard (or heard ) about Beats.

In the last few days, I’ve listened to new albums by rock bands like Sloan and The Longshot and they rocked just as hard on Beats.

Dancier and more rhythmic tracks sound especially amazing. Kimbra’s new album and Lizzo’s recent string of singles popped especially well on the Studio3, which do a good job of cradling audio in a nice bed of bass without getting too overpowering, while creating an immersive soundstage. Is it exactly how these artists intended their music to be heard? Probably not, but it doesn’t sound bad.

Beats have come a long way—and if you’re an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac user, these are some of the best headphones you can own for reasons beyond sound.

The Studio3 may look nearly identical to the Studio2 Wireless from 2014, but Apple has redesigned their insides. You’ll notice that most if you try to pair it with an iPhone. And I use the word “pair” loosely. Really, if you turn these headphones on in close proximity to your iPhone it will bring up a nice popup (with a picture of the headphones) and ask if you want to connect. Hit yes, and the Studio3 Wireless will seamlessly recognize all Apple devices connected to your iCloud account. Pairing is the most annoying part of almost every Bluetooth device, but here it’s a cinch.

This is mostly thanks to the proprietary W1 chip Apple stuck inside, the same as what you'd get in its Airpods . That W1 chip has other benefits, too. It doubles battery life when synced with an iPhone, giving you up to 20 hours (even more if you turn off active noise canceling) and it has Class 1 Bluetooth connectivity, which is so strong that I sincerely struggled to find a place in my entire apartment complex where I lost connection. Four flights down? No problem. Separated by three rooms with shut doors? Not a single blip. Taking an elevator while my phone is sitting inside a closet with multiple doors shut? Full connection. Sidewalk next to the street? Yep, it worked.

Beats' active noise canceling tech is left me very impressed. Called Pure ANC, it uses the two onboard microphones to monitor and adapt to environmental sounds many thousands of times per second. Many noise canceling headphones noticeably distort audio or have a faint hum to them, but I didn't notice any added noise with these Beats.

The other day I was happily listening to them at a coffee shop, typing away at something or another on my computer when a waitress came up, bent down, looked at me, and tapped her finger on her wrist. I took the Studio3 off and realized that rock music was blaring—precisely how this cafe likes to let everyone know it’s closing time. Most people had left, but I didn't even notice. Trips on the subway and jaunts down the street have been similarly quiet. I haven't tested them directly against the Bose QC35 , but they sure are better than most wireless headphones and hugely improved from older Beats designs.

The noise canceling is also better than the Plantronics Voyager 8200 UC and BackBeat Pro 2 I’ve grown to love. The Studio 3s crush these headphones when it comes to cancelling noise, but lose in the features and comfort department. Both of the aforementioned Plantronics have rotating earcups that sit better on my shoulders and the ability to auto pause when I take them off. The Beats didn't do either of these things, making them less convenient and more uncomfortable around my neck.

I found it odd that even if you skip Bluetooth in favor of a 3.5mm cord, you still need at least some battery charge to play music. Luckily, these headphones charge relatively fast—10 or 15 minutes of charge will net you a few hours of playback time.

While far from perfect, the Studio 3s retain the industrial design and sound that made Beats famous. I was especially surprised by how soft and cool the ear cushions remained, even after extended use. Ample padding in the headband keeps the headphones in place and doesn’t put too much pressure on my skull. Comfort aside, I found them to sound a lot clearer than older Beats by Dre even if the bass is exaggerated. So, they're comfy, sound pretty good, and you get some top-notch tech: the noise cancellation and Apple W1-boosted Bluetooth are both standout features.

Though they're listed for $349 on Apple.com , many large retailers--- like Amazon , Walmart , and Best Buy —list the Studio3 Wireless for $249. While they're not the cheapest, they're competitive with top rival devices from companies like Bose.

Like the Solo3 Wireless , the Studio3 Wireless probably won’t silence Beats critics, but they will silence that pesky closing music so you can jam out 'till the bitter end.

Christopher Null

David Pierce

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• Studio3 Wireless

Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones Review

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are over-ear headphones that come in various colorways. They have the same stylish and polished design as the previous Beats Studio Wireless but with an improved noise cancellation (ANC) system that automatically adapts to you and your environment. They also have a W1 chip for seamless pairing with your Apple devices.

Our Verdict

The Beats Studio3 are okay for neutral sound. Their warm sound profile delivers extra warmth and boom to mixes. However, the extra bass muddies tracks and the recessed treble hurts the detail of vocals and instruments. They're also prone to inconsistencies in bass delivery depending on their seal on your head and lack sound customization features to help you adjust their sound to suit your tastes, too.

• Comfortable and stable fit.
• Bass delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.

The Beats Studio3 are decent for commuting. These headphones are comfortable enough for long listening sessions, well-built, and come with a carrying case to help protect them when you're on the go. They also have noise cancelling but do a better job blocking out passenger chatter than the rumble of bus engines. On the upside, they last 23 hours continuously, making them a solid choice for long trips.

• ANC has some trouble blocking out bass-range noise.

The Beats Studio3 are decent for sports. 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 throughout your workout. They also lack an IP rating for water resistance, though this is to be expected for over-ear headphones.

The Beats Studio3 are satisfactory for office use. These comfortable over-ears are equipped with an ANC system to help cut down chatty coworkers and the high-pitched hum of AC units. With their ANC on, they also last around 23 hours continuously, so you don't need to recharge them often. Thanks to their low audio leakage, you can crank up your audio to high volumes without others around you hearing it. However, if you need to make calls, their integrated mic offers a sub-par performance, and it can be hard to hear you clearly if your office is noisy.

• ANC can cut down mid to treble-range noise well.
• Sub-par overall mic performance.

The Beats Studio3 only connects wirelessly via Bluetooth and therefore aren't compatible with PlayStation or Xbox consoles. They're compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs, but their latency is a bit too high for gaming. That said, their latency is lower on iOS and Android devices, which is handy for mobile gaming.

The Beats Studio3 are satisfactory for wired gaming. They're comfortable for long gaming sessions thanks to their lightweight frame and padded ear cups. The sound profile also leans towards more bass, making effects like footsteps in FPS games easier to hear. However, their microphone offers a sub-par overall performance and only works on PC and PlayStation consoles. Xbox users can only receive audio, which is a little disappointing.

• Mic doesn't work on Xbox consoles.

The Beats Studio3 are passable for phone calls. Their integrated mic has a just okay recording quality, so your voice sounds thin and lacks detail. Unfortunately, if you're taking calls in even moderately noisy environments like an office, the person on the other line may have difficulties hearing you too. On the upside, these headphones have an ANC system that can help block out some noise while on a call.

• Low audio leakage.
• 6.8 Neutral Sound
• 7.4 Commute/Travel
• 7.2 Sports/Fitness
• 5.5 Wireless Gaming
• 7.1 Wired Gaming
• 6.2 Phone Calls
• Updated Aug 30, 2023: Added a note that the Beats Studio Pro Wireless offer the same app support for both iOS and Android.
• Updated Jun 14, 2023: We've updated the text of this review to maintain its accuracy. There hasn't been a change in our results, though.
• Updated May 11, 2022: Some users have experienced a clicking noise in the left ear cup after updating the headphones to firmware update 2.4.4. However, we didn't experience this issue with our unit, and the scoring of 'Noise Isolation' hasn't changed.
• Updated Oct 29, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
• Updated Jun 29, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5 .
• Updated Nov 16, 2020: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
• Updated Feb 05, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4 .
• Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1 .
• Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3 .
• Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2 .
• Updated Nov 02, 2017: Review published.
• Updated Oct 31, 2017: Our testers have started testing this product.
• Updated Oct 29, 2017: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
• Updated Oct 22, 2017: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Beats Studio3 come in four color variants: 'Matte Black', 'Blue', 'Red', and 'White'. They also come in a few special edition colors: 'A-COLD-WALL* Cement', 'Defiant Black-Red', 'Midnight Black', which have a tan inner headband with gold accents, and 'Shadow Grey', which have a beige inner headband and gold accents. Since these differences are only in color, we expect each to perform similarly to our unit. If you come across a pair that are different from ours, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Headphones

The Beats Studio3 are the updated version of the Beats Studio Wireless ' design and are the manufacturer's only over-ear model. These premium cans have better isolation than their predecessor, thanks to their adaptive noise cancelling, and have a comfortable fit. However, their dynamic audio reproduction tends to sound inconsistent, and their noise isolation falls short compared to their competitors, like the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless .

See our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth headphones , the best over-ear headphones for working out , and the best closed-back headphones .

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are better headphones than the Beats Solo3 2019 Wireless . The Studio3 are over-ear headphones that are more comfortable and have a good-performing ANC feature. However, the Solo3 2019 deliver audio more consistently and have a better battery performance. Some users may also prefer their bass-heavy sound profile.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are better over-ear headphones than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable, the Sony are better built and have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their ANC does a significantly better job of cutting down ambient noise around you. They also have a longer-lasting continuous battery life, and their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help adjust their sound to your liking. However, the Beats have a W1 chip, so you can seamlessly pair them with other Apple devices.

The Beats Solo Pro Wireless are slightly better than the Beats Studio3 Wireless if you don’t mind the on-ear design. 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 Wireless are somewhat better headphones than the Beats Studio Wireless . They have the same stylish and polished design, but the Studio3 have a better control scheme and improved noise cancellation. 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.

The Beats Studio3 Wireless and the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless are similarly performing headphones. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Beats have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, their fit is more stable, and they support a W1 chip for seamless pairing with your iOS devices. However, the Sony headphones have a better noise isolation performance, their sound profile is customizable using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets, and they support multi-device pairing.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Anker have a significantly better noise isolation performance, a longer continuous battery life, and their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets so that you can adjust their sound to your liking. However, the Beats would be more comfortable, and they have a W1 chip, so you can seamlessly pair them with your Apple devices.

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are better headphones than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Bose are very comfortable, and their sound profile is well-balanced. Their ANC feature noticeably blocks more background noise than the Beats. On the other hand, the Beats will be slightly better suited for bass-heavy genres, and they leak less than the Bose. They also have an in-line microphone for calls, which the Bose are lacking. The battery life of the Beats is about three hours longer than the Bose, but they don't have a power-saving feature.

The Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless are better headphones than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Sony feel slightly more premium and sound more neutral but with a small excess in thump and rumble. Additionally, you can easily customize their sound to your liking inside the Sony app, which Beats lacks. The ANC of the Sony is also noticeably better and will block out more ambient noise. On the other hand, the Beats have an audio cable with an in-line mic. They also have physical buttons, which can be easier for some.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are better headphones for neutral sound than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. Although they're both closed-back, over-ear headphones, the Audio-Technica have a more neutral sound and a slightly better passive soundstage. However, unlike the Audio-Technica, the Beats are wireless, and they have controls, a microphone, and active noise cancelling, making them more versatile headphones overall. They're also slightly more comfortable, and their battery lasts up to 23 hours.

The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are better for most uses than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable, the Bose are better built, have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their ANC can significantly block out more noise around you. Their integrated mic also offers better overall performance, they can be used passively with their 1/8" TRS cable, and their companion app offers a graphic EQ to help adjust their sound to your liking.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Sony feel better built, their ANC can block out a lot more ambient noise around you, and they have a better battery performance. You can adjust their sound using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. However, the Beats are more comfortable and have a more bass-heavy sound profile, which some users may prefer.

The Sony WH-H900N/h.ear on 2 Wireless have similar performance to the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Sony have a better-balanced default sound profile and more customization options, thanks to their companion app. The Sony also have a sleeker-looking build quality that feels a bit more high-end than the Beats. The Beats, on the other hand, have a slightly stronger noise isolation performance and lower leakage. They also charge much faster and have a greater wireless range than the Sony. They're more stable for the gym and more comfortable for most users.

The Beats Studio Pro Wireless are better than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Pro's ANC feature blocks out more noise. They have a somewhat longer battery life and a more neutral default sound profile, which some may prefer. They have a few EQ presets for sound customization when connected via USB-C. They also support virtual surround sound and NFC pairing. However, the Studio3 have a much more comfortable fit for most people. They also have a more protective case and a W1 chip that allows faster pairing with iOS devices.

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are slightly better headset than the Beats Solo3 Wireless , thanks to noise cancellation. The Studio3 isolate a bit better in noisy conditions, which makes them a better option for commuting and travel than the Solo3. They also have a more comfortable over-ear design that most may prefer over the on-ear fit of the Solo3. The Solo3, on the other hand, are a bit more compact and have a much better battery life than the Studio variant. They also have a greater wireless range and better latency performance.

The  Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016  are a better headset overall than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Bose have a more comfortable over-ear fit and stronger noise cancellation that will isolate better in noisy environments. On the upside, the Beats have a better wireless range and a faster-charging battery life than the Bose. The Beats are also more stable for sports, and some will prefer their sleek and stylized over-ear design over the Bose's somewhat bland but more professional look.

The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Wireless 2016 are a better wireless over-ear than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Beats have a slightly better-balanced default sound than the Plantronics. They're also more comfortable and portable and have a sleeker design that's stable enough for the gym and sports. On the other hand, the Plantronics have a better wireless range and battery life than the Beats. They also have easier-to-use controls with more functionality, and they sound a bit more exciting thanks to their deep and powerful bass range.

The Microsoft Surface Wireless Headphones are better for bass fans, while the Beats Studio3 Wireless have a more neutral sound quality with a not-so-veiled treble range. The Microsoft have a better and more complete control scheme that is satisfying to use. However, the feedback is better on the physical buttons of the Beats, but you get limited controls. Also, the Microsoft have better noise isolation performance and have about half of the Beats' battery life.

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are better mixed-use headphones than the Nura Nuraphone Wireless . The Beats are more comfortable, and they also come with an audio cable and an in-line microphone, which the Nura lacks inside the box. On the other hand, the personalization feature of the Nura is a unique experience you can’t get on the Beats headphones. The Nura also offer a longer battery life than the Beats.

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are better headphones than the Skullcandy Venue Wireless . The Beats have a more neutral sound profile as they pack a little less bass than the Skullcandy, and their treble is more mellow than harsh. They're better built and are more comfortable. Their ANC feature blocks more noise than the Skullcandy's, and the provided case is better. On the other hand, the Skullcandy can connect to two devices, and their bass isn’t as prone to inconsistencies as the Beats.

The  Bowers & Wilkins PX Wireless have a fairly similar performance to the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Bowers & Wilkins isolate a lot better in noisy environments than the Beats, so they'll be more suitable for traveling and commuting. They also have a better more premium-looking build quality. Despite their adaptive audio reproduction, the Beats have more consistent audio delivery than the Bowers & Wilkins. They also have a sleeker over-ear fit that's more comfortable and more suitable for physical activities. The Beats also have longer battery life and charge a lot faster.

The Sony WH-1000XM2 Wireless are a better wireless over-ear than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Sony have a better noise cancellation performance, making them more suitable for commuting and travel than the Beats. They have a slightly more polished design that looks and feels more high-end than the Beats. The Beats have a more stylish-looking build quality that some will prefer over that of the Sony. They also have a faster charge time, a longer wireless range, and slightly better latency performance, especially on iOS devices. The Beats are also a bit more lightweight, comfortable, and stable for the gym.

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC . The Beats are noticeably more comfortable, slightly better built, and have a more premium feel than the Sennheiser. They also have a better-balanced sound profile, but our unit had significant phase mismatch and performed differently on various users. The ANC feature of the Beats is quite good, but the self-noise is pretty high and can be heard when no audio is being played through the headphones. The Sennheiser can connect to two devices simultaneously, and you can use them passively, which you can't do with the Beats.

The Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless are marginally better than the Beats Studio3 Wireless if the most important thing for you is an accurate and neutral sound. The Beats are slightly more comfortable and have a noticeably better ANC feature, but when it comes to sound, the Sennheiser are more accurate. You can also customize the sound of the Sennheiser to your liking with their dedicated app, which the Beats don't have. They can also connect simultaneously to two devices, and you can use them wired when the battery is dead, which the Beats can't do.

Test Results

The Beats Studio3, like many other headphones from Beats' lineup, including the Beats Solo3 2019 Wireless , have a sleek and rounded look. The manufacturer's logo is on each ear cup. They're available in several understated or flashy colors to suit your preferences, which is great if you want something that matches your style.

These over-ears are very comfortable. The ear cups are well-padded, and the pressure is distributed well around your ears. While the headband isn't as cushioned as the ear cups and can feel rigid, it isn't too much of an issue. You can wear them for long listening sessions without feeling too much fatigue.

The Beats Studio3 have decent controls that are better than their predecessor, the Beats Studio Wireless . The controls are efficient and easy to use. The buttons also provide good tactile feedback, but they're completely flat, so it may be a bit tricky to distinguish when you're first using them.

The 'b button':

• One press: Plays and pauses audio. Also answers and ends calls. You can answer a second incoming call when you're on a call. This command also lets you switch between calls.
• One press and hold: Activates voice assistant. Rejects an incoming call.
• Double press: Skips to the next track.
• Double press and hold on the second press: Scan forward through your track.
• Triple press: Skips to the previous track.
• Triple press and hold on the third press: Scan backward through your track.

The ring surrounding the 'b button':

• One press above the 'b button': Raises the volume.
• One press below the 'b button': Lowers the volume.

The power button:

• Press and hold for one second: Turns the headphones on and off.
• Double press (while connected to a device): Turns the ANC on and off.

These headphones have a somewhat breathable design, but they're closed-back over-ears with a decent seal, so they trap a lot of heat. While it's not so noticeable if you're only listening to audio at your desk, trapped heat can make you sweat while using the headphones during a long walk.

These headphones are somewhat portable. They fold into a more compact format that's easier to transport with the provided hard case. While they won't fit in a pocket, you can place them in most small bags. However, they're still bulky, so they take up room however you want to store them.

These headphones come with a sturdy and compact hard case that can protect them against scratches, mild water damage, and falls.

The Beats Studio3 are well-built headphones. Their ear cups are made from dense plastic that feels sturdy, while their headband has a tough yet flexible metal frame. They're a bit thinner and less robust than the wired Beats Executive , and the plastic coating on the headband is prone to scratches and scuffs, but their overall build quality feels high-end and well-made.

These headphones have a stable fit. They don't move much when running, and since they're wireless, they won't accidentally fall off your head because the audio cable got hooked on something. However, they're still big over-ears and can slide a bit depending on the intensity of your workout routine.

• Beats Studio3 headphones
• Carrying case
• 1/8" TRRS cable
• USB-A to Micro-USB cable

These cans have a warm sound profile. The bass is slightly boomy, good for bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. However, the added bass muddies the rest of the mix while the treble response is somewhat weak, resulting in veiled vocals and instruments and weak sibilants like cymbals. They're also prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery and lack an EQ or presets to help you customize their sound to your liking.

These over-ears have mediocre frequency response consistency. Despite their noise cancelling and self-calibrating systems, they perform less consistently than other noise cancelling headphones, like the Sony MDR-1000X Wireless and the Sony WH-1000XM2 Wireless . Their bass and treble delivery vary based on fit, seal, and positioning. It can also be difficult to achieve a consistent listening experience, especially if you have thick hair or wear glasses, as these features can disrupt the headphones' seal on your head.

The bass accuracy is great. Although they lack a thumpy low-bass, the rest of the response is over-emphasized, which adds extra kick, warmth, and boom to your mixes. However, the extra high-bass makes mixes sound muddy. In songs like Satisfaction by Benny Benassi, the bassline has solid punch, which can sound energizing. However, it also bloats the rest of the mix.

Unfortunately, their bass delivery can vary noticeably across users: the quality of the fit, seal, and whether you wear glasses all affect how the bass sounds to you. Our response represents the average bass response, and your experience may vary.

These cans have very good mid accuracy. The low-mid is pretty overemphasized, which muddies and clutters the mix. However, the rest of the range is well-balanced. The mid-mid is fairly neutral, so vocals and lead instruments are present, but a small dip in the high-mid slightly weakens their detail and clarity.

The treble accuracy is okay. The response is underemphasized, resulting in veiled vocals and lead instruments. Sibilants like cymbals are also dull and lispy.

These headphones are prone to inconsistencies in treble delivery and are sensitive to fit and positioning. Our results represent the average response, and your experience may vary.

These headphones have a good peak and dips performance. There are a few deviations, but the headphones can follow their sound profile well overall. The peaks in the low to mid-bass and high bass to low-mid give a bit more kick and boom to your audio but also muddies the mix. A dip in the mid-mid nudges vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix. The low-treble is also uneven, so the upper harmonics of vocals and lead instruments are alternatingly harsh and veiled. Sibilants like S and T sounds also sound a bit piercing.

The Beats Studio3's stereo imaging is disappointing. Beats usually ensure good quality control and ergonomics. However, since imaging varies across units, it's possible to encounter a product with mismatched drivers. Our unit's L/R drivers have a few spikes in the group delay's bass range, which indicates a loose bass. The rest of the response falls below the audibility threshold, resulting in more transparent imaging. While the drivers are matched regarding amplitude, they're very mismatched in frequency and phase response. The right driver is louder in the bass range than the left and is noticeable in bass-heavy songs.

The passive soundstage performance is poor. Even though these are over-ear headphones, they don't activate the outer ear with resonances, resulting in a small soundstage that seems to be coming from inside your head. Their closed-back design makes their soundstage seem less spacious, especially compared to open-back models.

These headphones support Apple's Spatial Audio, a feature that creates a more immersive audio experience. However, unlike the Apple AirPods (1st generation) Truly Wireless , you can't access this feature directly through your phone's volume settings. Spatial Audio is only available in supported apps with compatible content, like Apple Music, and using many of these services requires a subscription or additional fee.

The weighted harmonic distortion performance is decent. The response generally falls within good limits at moderate listening volumes, resulting in clear and pure audio reproduction. However, there's a peak in the low to mid-treble at higher volumes. It's hard to hear with real-life content, though.

These are the settings used to test the Beats Studio3. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.

The Beats Studio3 have a decent noise isolation performance. However, they don't perform as well as competing models like the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless , Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 , or the Microsoft Surface Wireless Headphones . While they barely reduce bass-range noise like bus or plane engines in the bass range, they do a better job of cutting down mid-range sounds like ambient chatter. They also do an outstanding job at blocking high-pitched noise like the hum of an AC unit. However, they produce a lot of self-noise with the ANC on, which can be distracting if there's no audio playing.

There have been a few user reports that after updating the headphones to firmware update 2.4.4, the headphones make a clicking noise in the left ear cup while in idle mode (power on and ANC on, but no audio playing). After updating our headphones to this firmware, we didn't hear any clicking sounds, regardless of whether audio was playing. However, if you've experienced this issue, please let us know in the discussions.

The leakage performance is great. Most leakage is found in the high-mid to mid-treble range, which sounds thin. In a noisy environment, people won't hear your audio if you have it cranked to a high volume.

These headphones have an integrated microphone. If you prefer to use these headphones wired, the cable also has an in-line microphone.

The integrated mic has a just okay recording quality. Your voice sounds slightly thin and lacking in detail and presence. There's also a bit of distortion present.

The microphone has disappointing noise handling. It struggles to separate your voice from ambient noise, even in moderately loud environments. As a result, if you're taking a call from a busy street, your voice will be drowned out.

The battery performance is good, and it's much better than that of the Beats Studio Wireless . At 23 hours of continuous playback on a single charge, they have almost twice the battery life. Battery life varies depending on use, though. They also only take about 30 minutes more to fully charge than the previous model. They also have a quick charge feature to give you about 2.5 hours of playback from 10 minutes of charging. Unfortunately, they don't have passive playback, so if the battery is completely dead, you can't use the headphones, even if you're using the analog cable.

The Beats app is disappointing. Like the Beats Solo3 2019 Wireless and the Apple AirPods (1st generation) Truly Wireless , the app has a few features available on iOS that aren't as well-implemented on Android. On iOS, they connect with a pop-up that displays basic battery information. You can also disable the ANC in the Bluetooth settings. However, this setting isn't available on Android, which is disappointing. However, you can always manually switch off noise cancelling by pressing the power button twice. If you're an Android user, the more recent Beats Studio Pro Wireless offer the same in-app features for Android and iOS.

The Beats Studio3 have decent Bluetooth compatibility. While they don't support multi-device or NFC pairing, they have a W1 chip for seamless pairing with other devices on your Apple device. They also have low latency on iOS and Android devices, which is nice if you stream video. However, their PC latency is much higher, which may cause audio and video syncing issues. That said, some apps and devices compensate for latency differently.

These headphones have a detachable 1/8" TRRS cable with an in-line remote microphone. However, you still need battery life left to use the analog cable. They also come with a micro-USB to USB-A cable for recharging the headphones.

The Beats Studio 3 are fully compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs when used wirelessly. You can also use their 1/8" TRRS cable to connect to PCs via their AUX port with full mic and audio compatibility. However, there needs to be battery life remaining to use the analog cable.

When connected via analog to the controller's AUX port, these headphones have full mic and audio compatibility on PlayStation consoles. The headphones don't support passive playback, so you'll need battery life remaining to use them wired.

These Bluetooth-only headphones aren't compatible with the Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S. However, if you use the provided audio cable, you can plug them into your controller for audio. However, the microphone won't work on these consoles. Additionally, since you can't use the headphones passively, there needs to be battery life remaining to use them via analog.

All products featured are independently chosen by us. However, SoundGuys may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links. See our ethics statement.

Beats Studio Pro vs Beats Studio 3 Wireless

It’s been several years since the Beats Studio 3 Wireless was released, and now the Apple subsidiary has released the Studio 3 Wireless successor, the Beats Studio Pro. Are the new Beats headphones worth the upgrade? Let’s take a listen in this Beats Studio Pro vs Beats Studio 3 showdown.

Editor’s note: this article was published on February 20. 2024, to adjust formatting to our current style and ensure the timeliness of the information within.

What’s it like to use the Beats Studio Pro compared to the Beats Studio 3 Wireless?

The Beats Studio Pro succeeds the Beats Studio 3 Wireless , and it’s not surprising that they are very similar. However, you could be easily forgiven for mistaking one for the other. Really, the main outward sign that you’re using the newer model is the upgrade from a micro-USB to a USB-C port. It definitely made me do a double-take the first time I saw the new headphones.

It is hard to find any headphones out there that are as similar to their predecessors as the Beats Studio Pro. Of course, that’s not really a good or bad thing, just an issue to be aware of. If you were reading this article because you liked the Beats Studio 3 Wireless and wanted to see if the new headphones are worth it, then this may be all you need to hear. However, if you didn’t like the older headphones because they were uncomfortable, that hasn’t changed.

The newer headphones are 10 grams heavier, still aren’t water resistant , and sport the same plastic exterior design. We don’t recommend either set of headphones for working out. They might work okay for you — it’s just that moisture is a pernicious thing and can cause unexpected problems with unprotected products.

The biggest difference between the two pairs of headphones is the updated dynamic drivers and internal circuitry of the newer model, which makes the audio quality and ANC much better than the Beats Studio 3 Wireless. This also means you can use the headphones in more contexts with the USB connection.

How do you control the Beats Studio Pro and Beats Studio 3 Wireless?

Controls on both the Beats Studio Pro and Beats Studio 3 Wireless are largely the same, as they primarily make use of clicky buttons hidden within the casing of the ear cup. This means that their shortcomings are shared, too. The clicky buttons can be a bit loud when you’re wearing the headphones, so you might find this annoying. The main difference is how you switch the EQ presets on the Beats Studio Pro, which aren’t available on the Beats Studio 3 Wireless because they’re exclusive to the USB audio feature.

Beats Studio Pro controls:

With no USB audio, controlling the Beats Studio 3 Wireless is a bit simpler, as the power button only controls pairing mode and power.

Beats Studio 3 Wireless controls:

Should you use the apps of either beats studio pro or beats studio 3 wireless.

Considering that both products use the same software, this recommendation is easy: do it. If you have an iOS device, the operating system will handle all of the necessary functions the app would normally provide. If you have an Android phone , the app provides both the Beats Studio Pro and Beats Studio 3 Wireless with firmware updates, allows you to tweak the power button function (slightly), and other features like changing the device name.

Though most headphone apps tend to collect lots of user data , it doesn’t seem like there’s a ton of that going on with the Android app, at least. Of course, if you enable the Find My feature for the Beats Studio Pro, you’ll be sharing location data. Similarly, using voice assistants requires you to share audio and other data by default. Be sure you know what you’re good with beforehand because it can be a little scary when you think about it too hard.

How do the Beats Studio Pro and Beats Studio 3 Wireless connect?

One of the few ways these headphones differ significantly is the connection methods . Though both have a 3.5mm headphone jack on the right earcup, the Beats Studio 3 Wireless only has Bluetooth 4.0 and no wired digital input. The Beats Studio Pro, on the other hand, uses Bluetooth 5.3 and has USB-C digital audio input (allowing lossless, digital playback) on the left ear cup.

Though both headphones support SBC and AAC , the newer version of Bluetooth should pay dividends in future compatibility with updated standards and features. Additionally, this version of Bluetooth should support LE audio , so it’s conceivable that a future update may use this capability.

Is battery life better on the Beats Studio Pro or Beats Studio 3 Wireless?

While we don’t have standardized testing to stack these headphones against each other, anecdotally, in real-world use, the battery life is better on the Beats Studio Pro than the Beats Studio 3 Wireless. However, as Adam Molina (who reviewed the Studio 3) and I have different listening habits, that should not be taken as gospel. New headphones offer improved power efficiency (Bluetooth tends to get better about this from version to version), so even if the power cells vary in size, you’ll get more out of less with the newer product.

Does the Beats Studio Pro have better active noise canceling than the Beats Studio 3 Wireless?

As expected, the Beats Studio Pro has better ANC than the Beats Studio 3 Wireless. It’s not really a fair comparison, given the years between release dates, but it is worth noting that this is one of the few straight upgrades to be had with the newer headphones. In large part, it seems like the Beats Studio Pro is able to isolate better (undoubtedly helped by the strong clamping force) than the Beats Studio 3 Wireless, making the whole task a fair bit easier for the newer cans.

That’s not to say that the Beats Studio 3 Wireless aren’t decent — on the contrary, the ANC is one of the better things about these headphones — but it’s been a long time since these headphones were released!

This is a noticeable upgrade, however, and the benefits here — namely the much-improved noise reduction in the sub-1kHz region — will allow you to listen to your music at a lower volume  when you’re out and about, meaning you are more likely to avoid accidentally giving yourself noise-induced hearing loss.

How does the Beats Studio Pro sound quality compare to the Beats Studio 3 Wireless?

The Beats Studio Pro sounds better than the Beats Studio 3 Wireless, and it’s not a particularly close contest. Not only are the older headphones laden with poor tuning choices, but the newer Beats Studio Pro has a slew of improvements in this area, including USB-C connectivity (allowing lossless digital audio) that simply make this a one-sided beatdown.

Beats has made great strides in its audio products since the Beats Studio 3 Wireless was released, and nowhere is it more apparent than the Beats Studio Pro. The newer headphones have fixed all of the weird issues found on the older ones, especially the performance in the mids and bass. The older headphones also had a comparatively lower emphasis on highs , making the bass appear louder. The opposite is true for the Beats Studio Pro: highs are now more prominent, and bass is about where it should be.

A notable plus with the Beats Studio Pro is that you’re not limited to Bluetooth or wired listening via an analog connection. The USB-C port on the bottom of the left ear cup gives the job of decoding audio to the headphones rather than your source device’s digital-to-analog convertor (DAC). This means you can enjoy lossless audio without the compression of lossy Bluetooth connections or unnecessary conversions between digital and analog.

There seems to be the misconception that lossless audio is automatically better than what you’d get from a lower-tier streaming service. Still, the truth is that it comes with several tradeoffs for marginal benefit. Now that Bluetooth has come so far, you won’t notice a massive difference in fidelity while you’re in a noisy environment like a train or bus. Even at home, when it’s reasonably quiet, you might have a hard time picking out the difference between compressed media and lossless.

Beats Studio Pro vs Beats Studio 3 Wireless: Microphone quality

You’ll notice right away that the microphones of the Beats Studio Pro are a lot less sensitive (quieter) than those of the Beats Studio 3 Wireless. Depending on the application, though, your phone can automatically apply gain to the signal to fix any volume issues.

Beats Studio Pro microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Beats studio 3 wireless microphone demo (ideal conditions):, beats studio pro microphone demo (street conditions):, beats studio 3 wireless microphone demo (street conditions):, which microphone sounds best to you, beats studio pro vs beats studio 3 wireless: price and availability.

Given that the Beats Studio 3 Wireless is so old and probably on its way out, it might be time to forget they exist. However, they’re still worth taking a flyer on at a sale price. They’re already about half the cost of the Beats Studio Pro (currently selling for $149.99 at Best Buy ), so any further discounts would mean their shortcomings will be that much easier to tolerate. However, that does mean that you will be missing out on the advanced features of the Beats Studio Pro, and they definitely will feel ancient pretty quickly with the micro-USB charging port.

The Beats Studio Pro is still sitting at its release price of $349.99 at Amazon and will be slowly replacing the Beats Studio 3 Wireless on shelves in big box electronics stores as stock of the latter product dwindles. As Beats is one of the most popular brands of headphones out there, there is absolutely zero reason to believe that it will disappear from the market any time soon.

Should you get the Beats Studio Pro or Beats Studio 3 Wireless?

Neither of these headphones will top anyone’s list for the best noise canceling headphones out there, but the Beats Studio Pro is a much better bet for the long term than the Beats Studio 3 Wireless. Not only do they sound better and have more effective ANC, but they also have a modern connector that’s still in use with smartphones and other mobile tech today. At this point, there’s really no reason outside of cost to pick up the older headphones, but even that isn’t very wise because you’re only delaying the need for an upgrade by spending the money on the older headphones.

Of course, we’re pretty cool on the Beats Studio Pro to begin with because they’re best matched with smaller ears and heads. So you might want to shop around if you find that your headphones are a little on the small side for you. However, if you know you want either the Beats Studio 3 Wireless or the Beats Studio Pro: get the Beats Studio Pro.

Frequently asked questions

No. Neither set of headphones are waterproof, nor do they bear an ingress protection rating that would indicate this.

Despite the tighter fit being able to keep each set of headphones on your noggin during periods of heavy movement, we don’t recommend these headphones for working out.

The Beats Studio Pro supports head-tracked spatial audio, though you’ll need an iOS device to use it.

Yes, they do.

Yes, but for the PS5, you might want to use the wired connection, and for the Xbox, you’ll likely use the adapter or the headphone jack on the controller.

After five years, Beats Studio 3’s replacement is finally here

The studio pro brings enhanced sound quality, spatial audio and — most importantly — usb-c for $349.

Next week, Beats will have debuted its first product 15 years ago. The headphone maker quickly established itself as a status symbol, on the strength of partnerships with musicians and sports influencers. It was a rare feat in the world of consumer electronics, where cool factor largely takes a back seat to functionality.

For Beats, that sometimes meant sacrificing quality in those days. Its early products were notorious for overcompensating with overwhelming bass. In the decade and a half since, however, the company has improved products beyond the design language. More recent headphones have offered a much more well-rounded experience, and the company was ahead of the game when it came to adaptive noise-canceling technologies.

While Apple’s 2014 acquisition of Beats was primarily about hitting the ground running with a Spotify competitor, Apple has largely been a good steward. As a headphone maker, Beats continues to operate as its own brand, and while the companies do clearly share technologies (including Apple’s in-house silicon), Beats can continue focusing on the things that made it successful in the first place.

Image Credits: Brian Heater

I likely say some version of this every time the company releases a new pair of headphones, but Beats isn’t — and likely will never be — an audiophile brand. If you prioritize sound quality above all else, I still recommend Sony’s WH-1000XM5 in the over-ear category. If you’ve asked me to recommend a pair of plane headphones in the past couple of years, I’ve almost certainly recommended them.

Beats, meanwhile, are vibing headphones. They’re the headphones you wear to pump yourself up. There’s a reason you see a lot more people at the gym lifting weights in them than any other company. It’s the same reason they’re one of the rare things in this world that can unite LeBron, Draymond Green, James Harden and Kevin Durant. They’re tuned and built for action. Touches like the large play/pause button on the ear cup make them much easier to operate on the go.

That certainly applies to the Beats Studio Pro. The new $350 headphones are very much in line with the brand’s trajectory. They’re effectively the long-awaited successor to 2017’s Beats Studio 3 . They’re good walking around headphones. I’ve been wearing them a lot while cleaning my apartment. But if I’m looking to, say, appreciate the nuances of my favorite jazz album, I’m reaching for the Sony’s.

They continue to offer excellent noise-canceling and are quite comfortable. Coupled with a stated 40 hours of battery life on a charge, I wouldn’t hesitate to pop them in my carry-on for a long trip. They also fold up nicely and compactly. The audio quality has continued to be refined, but I would hesitate to recommend them over several pairs when it comes to offering the most well-balanced music-listening experience.

In terms of breathability, well, that’s all relative. It’s been humid and in the 90s here in New York, so I’ve largely avoided wearing them outside during the day. But I would say that for all over-ear headphones. They’re nice and snug and will probably stay comfortably on your head when going for a run, but I’ve reserved the Studio Buds+ for my morning workouts. I just can’t comfortably sweat with over-ear headphones on. I’m not LeBron James, as surprising as that might seem. I would also need to have them in perpetual transparency mode when navigating the city — it’s generally easier to be more alert in earbuds.

There are some nice touches here. The ability to continue listening while the headphones are charging is great — and not something everyone offers. Active noise-canceling and transparency are disabled when plugged in, but that’s mostly not a big deal. Those features, meanwhile, can be used when utilizing the 3.5 mm port — a must-have for flights. The color palette is more muted, which makes them a bit more versatile.

Spatial audio is present — that’s the Apple influence. I have yet to be convinced that it isn’t superfluous on headphones. It makes a lot more sense on speakers like the HomePod, which can offer a much more dramatic presentation of audio in a three-dimensional space. Here, it’s more about keeping the audio source fixed in space as you turn your head (Apple platforms only). Compatibility with lossless audio is far more useful, especially as that feature is one of Apple Music’s biggest selling points over Spotify.

Design wise, they’re not a huge departure from the Studio 3s — more of a refinement. In fact, that can probably be used to sum up the entirety. In spite of the five-year gap and the name change, the Studio Pros are a huge step up from the Studio 3s. And they bring some nice updates. Keep in mind, the 3s are so old they still feature micro USB — a mind-boggling fact in 2023. Also, kudos to Beats/Apple for maintaining the $349 price point after half a decade, particularly in an era when the price of electronics is continually on the rise.

If you’ve gravitated toward Beats in the past, you’ll find plenty to like here. They’re on sale starting July 23.

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Find Your Beats

If your Beats are missing, track them down with the ‘Find My’ app. footnote 1

Beats App for Android

Download the Beats app to unlock additional features.

Personalize It

Free engraving for Beats Fit Pro. Only at Apple.

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Enjoy 6 months of Apple Music free with select Beats. footnote 2

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footnote 1  Works with compatible Beats headphones. Find My Beats requires an iPhone or iPod touch with iOS 14.5 or later, iPad with iPadOS 14.5 or later, or Mac with macOS Big Sur 11.3 or later. Customers must have an Apple ID and be signed into their iCloud account with Find My enabled.

footnote 2  New subscribers only. Offer available for a limited time to new subscribers who connect an eligible device to an Apple device running iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 or later. Offer good for 3 months after eligible device pairing. No audio product purchase necessary for current owners of eligible devices. Plan automatically renews at your region’s price per month until cancelled. Restrictions and other terms apply.

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New Beats Studio Pro release coming soon — here’s how we know

Beats will return with new over-ear headphones, according to new FCC filing

After six years, Beats is poised to unveil a successor to the Beats Studio3 — the Beats Studio Pro has just appeared in a recent FCC filing following a leak last month discovered in the internal files of  iOS 16.5 . 

First spotted by MacRumors , the headphones in question go by the product number A2924 — just a few numbers away from the A2931 model number used by the AirPods Pro 2 — and have an ID of BeatsStudioPro1,1.  

Digging through the filing, we discovered that the Pro headphones seem to support Bluetooth LE , a new codec that would give the Studio Pro a huge uptick in sound quality. 

In addition to a new audio codec, we speculate that the new Beats Studio Pro will likely feature Apple’s H2 wireless chip that enables the new adaptive audio feature coming to the AirPods Pro 2 and, by extension, active noise cancellation like the Beats Studio3 have.

So how do we know that it’s coming soon? The report was filed with the FCC on June 15 and became available to the public on June 20. Typically, FCC filings become public just a few months before the products are officially announced, which means the headphones will be announced sometime in the next two months — though neither Apple nor its subsidiary Beats have made any claims to that effect.

Time to head to back to the Studio 

Beats headphones haven’t seen a new over-ear model added to the lineup since the Beats Solo3 were released in 2019, though there have been a half-dozen in-ear models in that time. The most recent of which was the Beats Studio Buds+ . 

A return to the over-ear design feels overdue at this point, especially if Apple plans on adding both Bluetooth LE and the H2 Wireless Chip in the latest model.

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As far as potential pricing, there’s no real indication based on the FCC filing. If they’re designed to supersede the Beats Studio Wireless3 that currently retail for $349 on Apple’s website , it’s possible the Studio Max could come in at $399 or more. 

We won’t have pricing information until Apple and Beats officially announce the headphones, and there’s a good chance that won’t happen for another few months. Until then, over-ear headphone aficionados can grab a pair of the Apple AirPods Max — or a pair of the Sony WH-1000XM5 that just launched last year. 

More from Tom's Guide

• Sony WF-1000XM5 — everything we know about the release date, price, and design
• 5 things the Sony WF-1000XM5 will do better than the AirPods Pro 2
• Best headphone deals

Nick Pino heads up the TV and AV verticals at Tom's Guide and covers everything from OLED TVs to the latest wireless headphones. He was formerly the Senior Editor, TV and AV at TechRadar (Tom's Guide's sister site) and has previously written for GamesRadar, Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer and other outlets over the last decade. Not sure which TV you should buy? Drop him an email or tweet him on Twitter and he can help you out.

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Beats Solo 3 Wireless review

Fashion-focused cans get smart.

TechRadar Verdict

Smart wireless headphones that make some real techy improvements, but the sound unfortunately lags behind.

Excellent wireless stability

Good Bluetooth-phone interaction

Energetic, punchy sound

Firm headband pressure

Lack of fidelity for the price

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

These Beats headphones were the first fruits of Apple 's deal to buy the Beats brand – in terms of actual products at least – and the review below represents our initial thoughts when the headphones first appeared in 2016.

When Apple bought the Beats brand, it was only a matter of time before that Cupertino mobile know-how would be baked into Dr Dre's personal audio line. The Solo 3 wireless are the first obvious fruits of that partnership in terms of products, taking an existing Beat Audio line and giving them a sprinkle of Apple's magic dust.

The Beats Solo 3 Wireless were the first fruits of Apple's deal to buy the Beats brand – in terms of actual products at least – and the review below represents our initial thoughts when the headphones first appeared in 2016.

At first glance, the Solo 3 Wireless don't look all that different to their predecessors the Solo 2, Apple takeover or not. It's only under further inspection to the internal specs that the improvements become more obvious – Apple's expertise in mobile engineering sees connectivity stabilized and battery life improve.

However, the traditional issues with audio quality are back with the Beats Solo 3 Wireless. If you're not a total Beats brand loyalist, you'll likely find that for a few more notes the Bose QuietComfort 35 , with their noise cancelling smarts, added comfort and superior sound performance, could be a better fit for your needs. 

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Beats Solo 3 Wireless: design

The Beats Solo 3 Wireless don't usher in a dramatic design refresh from the outside, which to be fair is a sensible move on Apple's part.

Beats headphones remain among the most recognizable in the world, and these days it's the Beats Solo we see out and about the most. In 2014 Beats smoothed-out the lines of the set with the Solo 2 for a less aggressive appearance, and while the glossy finish of our pair has a loud and adolescent edge to it, reports you need to be under 25 to pull these off are exaggerated. 

You just have to make sure you buy the right color. Apple sent us the glossy black version, but there are also matte black, glossy white, silver, gold, rose gold, violet and red to choose from... so quite the color palette.

All Beats headphones used to feature brash bright red “B” logos on them, but they now come color-matched to whatever shade you pick. The Sennheiser Momentum On-ear and Bose pairs look more grown-up, but the last couple of generations have tried to make the Beats Solo style more palatable for a wider audience. 

The Beats Solo 3 Wireless build is much the same as ever, though, and it may make some of you look at the price a little suspiciously. Most of the frame is plastic, with only the fold-up hinge and the skeleton of the headband made of metal for, extra strength.

The pads are synthetic leather-topped foam, and the fake leather really isn't all that convincing either. Synthetic stuff can look almost indistinguishable from the real thing these days, but this is very clearly plastic-based. 

Beats headband padding on the Beats Solo 3 Wireless doesn’t seem luxurious either, but this time it has a definite purpose.

The Beats Solo 3 Wireless use squidgy rubber for the part that sits on your head, spreading the pressure well and creating a much higher-friction hold than conventional headband padding. The idea is you'll be able to wear these headphones while out jogging without them gradually working their way off your head.

It’s not just the headband that makes this possible, though. The Beats Solo 3 Wireless also have a fairly firm grip on your cranium, which initially doesn’t feel that comfortable compared to a set of over-ear headphones. 

If you wear glasses with chunky stems, you’ll likely find that after a few hours you start to feel a bit of gnawing discomfort in your ear cartilage. However, this is a problem of runner-ready on-ear headphones in general, rather than specific to the Beats Solo 3 Wireless. In this specific class, the headphones are actually fairly comfy too, thanks to ear cups that shift to fit your head’s contours in order to spread out the pressure as evenly as possible. 

Wear chunky glasses and want a wireless pair you can wear for six hours at a time without any discomfort? Check out the Bose QuietComfort 35 before buying these is our recommendation.

Other external bits of the Beats Solo 3 Wireless worth checking out include the 3.5mm input on the left cup, for use when the battery is dead, and the fold-up design. You get a carry pouch in the box, and it's a good idea to use it if you pick a glossy version – that finish will show off scratches like they're newly-caught Pokémon. 

There are also some hidden controls on the right ear cup: the Beats logo acts as a play/pause button and the ring above/below alters volume. A mic hidden in the ear cup lets you take calls too, but the Beats Solo 3 Wireless don't have active noise cancellation, a feature now fairly common in higher-end wireless headphones . 

Whereas active noise cancelation monitors ambient noise and adds inverse frequencies of that noise to the drivers' output to cancel it out, the Solo 3 Wireless instead use pure passive isolation, where the pads simply block out sound. While not as effective at cutting out the low-end hum of a city, it works well enough here for use on noisy public transport. 

Beats Solo 3 Wireless review: performance

The external hardware of these headphones is pretty solid, but there are two sides to the meaty insides of the Beats Solo 3 Wireless. One is excellent, the other just passable. 

The Beats Solo 3's strong point is the tech that goes into its wireless capabilities. Apple credits its W1 wireless chip for the headphones' excellent up-to 40 hours battery, but the exact specs are – as usual for Apple – rather opaque. 

We're very happy for wireless sets like this to last around 20 hours, and the former Beats Solo 2 last 12 hours between charges, so this is a huge improvement. It means most people should be able to get two weeks' use before charging rather than just one. Wireless charging is super-quick too: Apple claims you get 3 hours of playback from a 5 minute charge. 

You can check the charge level using the 5-pip LED indicator on the right cup.

They use a micro USB cable, although there's no way to directly connect this to, and charge the headphones from, an iPhone Lightning port. Apple wants to sell us the Solo 3 Wireless as a Bluetooth headphone revelation, but when used wired they actually feel more at home with an Android phone. 

What's actually even more useful than ultra-long battery life is the reliability of the wireless signal. We didn't hear a single burble, blip or cut-out once during testing, and we've mostly been using Android phones rather than the iPhones that are "officially supported" by this pair. 

The slightly cheaper, larger Sony MDR-100ABN also have excellent wireless stability though, so Apple doesn’t exactly have a trademark on these wireless chops. 

Their interaction with iOS devices is – for now – unique. Where the Beats Solo 2 Wireless are really just like any other pair of Bluetooth headphones, the Solo 3 Wireless pop-ups in iOS more like a Wi-Fi speaker. It appears as specific source, so doesn't have to be treated like just another wireless accessory. 

There's clearly something clever going on in the Apple W1 chip. And if you use an Android, you can use the Solo Wireless 3 like any Bluetooth pair, although as there's no NFC or aptX, they make quite a basic setup.

The sound of the Beats Solo 3 Wireless is less impressive than the tech, and roundly similar to that of the Beats Solo 2. Before we get into any criticism, it's worth noting that these last two generations of Beats Solo headphones are still far better than those of the early years of Beats. 

An approach of just making the bass sound big and fat, which tends to cloud the sound, has been altered. Now the aim seems to be to make the Beats Solo 3 Wireless sound like a hi-fi system with a subwoofer attached. 

There's bonus bass here, but for the most part it's centered around fairly low frequencies. This results in aggressive and punchy-sounding kick drum beats without the resonant boom that so often turns big bass into bad bass. 

The Beats Solo 3 Wireless sound is lively and energetic, fitting the Beats brand image well. The pounding bass beat of Simian Mobile Disco's Sleep Deprivation sounds suitably juggernaut-like through this pair, with much less unwanted boom than the earliest Solo headphones. 

However, for a pair this pricey, the mid-range sound quite flat, lacking dynamics. A slight lack of finesse in the sort of frequencies where mids and treble meet can also cause some hard edges to certain vocals, depending on the singer's register (for example, Randy's Newman’s gravelly croon can sound a bit hard). It's not enough to make you wince, or to tire out your ears in an hour, but at this price we have a right to be picky. 

Listening to the Solo 3 Wireless next to the Audio Technica ATH-MSR7 and Sennheiser Momentum 2.0, the Beats pair lacks a certain sort of detail that separates decent headphones from great ones. It's not classic audio bore treble detail that's missing, but spatial detail. 

Where the ATH-MSR7 can deliver a very 3D-like take on fairly complicated arrangements, the Solo 3 Wireless approach is much more crude and rudimentary, almost pudding-like. In Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill, say, the rolling bass tom bed becomes a muddling influence that makes the track sound messy.

If you're not listening closely, the powerful bass is enough to divert your attention from these sorts of effects, but it also actually compounds the problem, upsetting arrangements and at times even making lead vocals sound almost like incidental parts of a mix when left to compete with a strong bass line. 

It's a classic example of a headphone you might hear described as "good for dance music", but all that really means is that it's one of the few genres that tends not to expose the pair's significant audio flaws.

We liked 

The Beats Solo 3 Wireless ace their wireless tech, with very solid Bluetooth, good range and class-leading battery life – there's a huge difference here compared with often-flaky cheap Bluetooth sets. The new way they interact with iPhones should also make Google think about how Android talks to Bluetooth accessories in the future. 

Their bass response is sure to be a crowd-pleaser too. It's not meant to be neutral or accurate, but by providing meaty thuds without major boominess, the Solo 3 Wireless do what a Beats headphone should. 

The range of colors available also good, going from bolder shades that skew younger to plain matte finishes that won't look out of place on anyone's head. 

We disliked

We hear no major sound quality improvements over the Beats Solo 2. Limited dynamics and a lack of spatial detail may leave you unimpressed if you're not blown away by the stomach-punching low-end. 

There's also a strange dichotomy going on here. The Solo 3 Wireless are meant to be next-gen wireless headphones for iPhones, but their wired connection won’t plug in directly to an iPhone without using the 3.5mm adapter, and they charge using microUSB rather than Lightning. This is good for Android owners, but not so good for those who have gone all-in with Apple. 

Not everyone will get on with the Beats Solo 3 Wireless fit either. While they are comfortable for a pair of fairly firm on-ear headphones, glasses-wearers in particular should know what they're in for: potential discomfort after a while. 

The Beats Solo 3 Wireless make huge improvements in some areas, and change little in others. Top on its list of achievements are class-leading battery life and wireless stability on-par with the very best, regardless of whether you use an Android or an iPhone. 

They also interact a little differently with iOS devices than older Bluetooth headphones, which is a neat change, particularly when iPhones don’t allow pairing using NFC. 

Other elements are less impressive, though. Some issues are very minor, like the use of unconvincing leatherette in a headphone set this pricey. 

It's the sound that matters most though, and it's not at the level of the best at the price. While the bass is punchy and the Solo 3 Wireless have plenty of energy, the flat mid-range leaves them less sophisticated and involving than some cheaper sets, particularly if you actually listen to music rather than treating it as an incidental soundtrack to your life. 

• Check out our guides to the best headphones , best wireless headphones , or best on-ear headphones if you're looking for some other suggestions.

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Beats Solo 3 Review: My Honest Thoughts on the Trendy Headphones

With top-notch battery life, a foldable design and more, these on-ear headphones are worth it.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

You've probably spotted someone wearing the trendy Beats Solo 3 at the gym or on your morning commute. Featuring the Apple W1 chip, these headphones connect instantaneously to Apple devices (and yes, they're compatible with Android devices too).

On top of their powerful battery life, intuitive controls and minimalist design, there are many reasons why someone would be drawn to the Solo 3. To find out whether these noise-isolating headphones are the right choice for you, and how they compare to other top-performing headphones on the market today, our pros put them to the test.

Below you'll find everything you need to know about these on-ear headphones and whether or not they're worth it for you, and where there's room for improvement.

Beats Solo 3

There’s no denying that the Beats Solo 3 headphones have an appealing look. Not only are these sleek on-ear headphones more compact and minimalist than most over-ear counterparts, but they're available in metallic shades like gold, rose gold and silver as well as classic shades like black and red.

When testing out the headphones myself, I found on-ear controls easier to use than other headphones that try to incorporate complicated and confusing gestures. Beats keeps things simple with a small button on the right earcup that turns the headphones on and off, while a large “b” button on the left earcup lets you pause or play tracks with a quick press. A double tap skips to the next song, while a triple tap goes back a track. You can also adjust the volume from this same button.

While the Beats do feature a headphone jack so you can establish a wired connection (like when you want to use an airplane’s entertainment system), keep in mind that it doesn't come with a 3.5mm AUX cable. The brand suggests purchasing the Beats RemoteTalk cable separately, though we wish it came included.

When I initially put on the Beats, they felt comfortable and fit securely over my ears. Though I was worried the band would be too big for my head, the fit was perfect (and easily adjustable if needed). They're great headphones if you’re someone who has trouble wearing in-ear earbuds, or if you tend to find over-ear headphones a bit too bulky.

Unfortunately, the Beats started to feel uncomfortable after roughly 30 minutes. They put intense pressure on my ears, and the tightness was made worse when my glasses began to painfully dig into the sides of my head. Because I'm someone who frequently takes long-haul flights and has a lengthy commute, the Solo 3 likely won't replace my go-to over-ear headphones anytime soon, which are ultimately more comfortable for extended use and better at blocking out sounds.

Sound quality

When streaming music, I found the Beats Solo 3 audio quality to be crisp and clear. While it wasn't as exceptional as other headphones I've tested, most casual listeners will be satisfied with the Solo 3’s performance while audiophiles should search elsewhere. If you're willing to spend just a bit more, the Bose QuietComfort are an excellent alternative that offers fantastic sound quality, noise cancellation and a super comfortable fit. Or if you have even more wiggle room in your budget, you could consider the Bose 700 , our top-performing nosie-cancelling headphones in recent Lab tests, or 2024 Good Housekeeping Travel Awards winner, the Sony XM5 .

Noise isolation

When testing the Beats out on a flight, I found that their on-ear design isolated noise out well, though not nearly as effectively as other noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds.

Because the Beats Solo 3 don’t feature active noise cancellation, a technology that uses built-in microphones to actively pick up and listen to the sounds around you and produce a counter soundwave to neutralize background noise, it’s normal that I could still hear low frequencies like the hum of the plane over my music. The headphones did help mask out conversations around me as well as announcements, but if you’re looking to tune out the world entirely you’re better off spending a bit more and investing in noise-cancelling headphones.

The Solo 3 headphones feature noise isolation by the nature of its design, which helps block out external noise by covering up your ears. However, the lack of active noise cancellation means that these headphones don't feature any type of transparency mode that lets sound through with the press of a button. To hear someone speaking clearly, you'll have no choice but to take off the headset.

Battery life

According to Beats, the Solo 3 should last up to 40 hours. For comparison's sake, that’s 20 hours more than some of the best headphones out there like the Bose 700 or the AirPods Max . Because the Beats don’t feature active noise cancellation, they require less power overall and should last you several days without needing a boost.

When it comes to charging, the Solo 3 use microUSB. Fortunately, you'll still get fast charging (in fact, a 5-minute charge should provide 3 hours of playback). On the downside, you'll be stuck bringing the microUSB cable with you everywhere as opposed to the more versatile USB-C that most devices these days rely on.

Portability

If there's one feature I love about the Beats Solo 3, it's their portability. When traveling, the headphones easily fit into my mini travel backpack without me having to fight for space. Plus, they're super lightweight at under half a pound and even more compact. The Beats fold up neatly when you're ready to store them in their softshell carrying case that comes included. Admittedly, the case isn't the sturdiest I've seen, but it'll protect the headphones from any scratches they could collect in a backpack or purse. Just keep in mind that the case is a bit flimsy and won’t protect as effectively as a hard-shell case would in the case of a spilled water bottle or an accidental drop.

Bottom line: Are the Beats Solo 3 worth it?

The Beats are sleek, compact and connect seamlessly to iPhones once initially set up, similar to AirPods. That means that you likely won't have to go into your Bluetooth settings to establish a connection to start streaming music. Connecting to Android is also easy, though not quite as fluid.

At under $150, the Solo 3 are reasonably priced and offer impressive battery life as well as solid noise isolation. The sound quality doesn't disappoint. But if you're looking for super comfortable headphones to wear for hours at the office or premium noise cancellation is a priority, our pros advise checking out some of our favorite noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds. By investing a little bit more, you can ultimately find a better bang for your buck.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Product Reviews Analyst and Writer Olivia Lipski tests and reviews the latest gadgets and gear in tech, travel, fitness, home and more, including audio equipment like AirPods alternatives , JBL earbuds and AirPods Max vs. Sony XM5 . Not only does she bring years of product review experience to GH, but since joining in 2021 she tests at least 25 pairs of earbuds and headphones per year and rotates them out as she takes flights, commutes to the Hearst Tower or walks her dog.

Olivia (she/her) is a media and tech product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute , covering tech, home, auto, health and more. She has more than five years of experience writing about tech trends and innovation and, prior to joining GH in 2021, was a writer for Android Central, Lifewire and other media outlets. Olivia is a graduate of George Washington University, with a bachelor's degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.

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The headphones have now appeared on the FCC database after image renders leaked in February , with 9to5Mac saying they’ll be available on May 2nd for $199.99. The publication says the Beats Solo 4 will include up to 50 hours of battery life alongside support for Apple’s “Find My” feature and one-touch pairing for Android devices.

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Beats Tour (2nd generation)

• Edit source
• View history

The 2nd-generation Beats Tour , also known as the Beats Tour v2 and Beats Tour² , are wired earphones that were released by Beats by Dr. Dre in 2013, succeeding the original Beats Tour .

• 1 New features
• 3 External links

New features [ ]

The new Tours were redesigned for an improved fit with optional wingtips to hold them more securely in the ear. They also include ControlTalk and a microphone for incoming calls when connected to a mobile phone. They were available in black (with red), red, titanium (with black), and white (with red).

Gallery [ ]

External links [ ]

• Beats Tour at Beats Electronics (archived 2014-12-28, 2013-07-02 )
• Beats Tour (titanium and black) at Apple (archived 2015-03-02, 2014-10-07 )
• Beats Tour (white and red) (archived 2015-03-21, 2014-10-29 )
• Beats Tour (red) (archived 2015-07-02, 2014-10-12 )
• 1 List of Beats products
• 2 Beats Studio
• 3 Beats Solo HD

Pocket-lint

Apple's beats solo 4 may have a release date -- and it's sooner than we thought.

The long-awaited headphones promise better clarity, added convenience, and the universal USB-C port.

Key Takeaways

• The headphones are rumored to drop May 2, 2024, and retail for $200.
• The new Beats Solo 4 over-ear headphones promise enhanced sound quality & Spatial Audio provides an immersive experience.
• USB-C charging offers newfound convenience, especially following Apple's most recent Lightning to USB-C port conversion.
• An anticipated longer battery life and fast recharging should keep the music playing for longer play periods.

Almost eight years after the release of Beats Solo 3, it looks like Apple is finally ready to release the sequel the same year it's rumored to also drop the newest AirPods 4 . A full rundown of new specs by 9to5Mac following an FCC filing suggests Beats Solo 4 is finally a reality; and quite a convenient one at that.

Here's what you can expect from Apple's newest over-ear headphones as part of its ever-growing Beats collection .

6 features the AirPods 4 need to stay competitive

Impressive audio and better connectivity.

Most importantly, Beats Solo 4 looks to significantly boost sound quality. Like Apple's over-ear AirPods Max, the Beats Solo 4 are said to include Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking to bring immersive sound from all directions, while the headphones also welcome improved clarity and acoustics with enhanced drivers and custom-built 40mm transducers. Unlike the current AirPods Max, however, the Solo 4 are rumored to include lossless audio , which, along with wired headphones , has made a comeback -- bringing CD-like quality to the streaming era. This could be a game-changing feature for Apple audiophiles.

6 tricks for when your wired headphones aren't working

Apple is also bringing USB-C charging to these headphones, continuing the company's shift away from Lightning cables towards the more ubiquitous and convenient USB cords. Beats Solo 4 will still include a 3.5mm port to preserve audio fidelity.

Upgraded microphones are also promised to improve voice clarity when making phone calls. Additionally, equipped with the latest Bluetooth version, the headphones will presumably provide reliable and efficient connectivity.

Beats Solo 3 wireless headphones review: Bass solo

New conveniences, price, and availability.

When it comes to charging, the Beats Solo 4 battery life is said to be better the Solo 3 by about 25%, offering up to 50 hours of playback on a single charge. In addition, Fast Fuel recharging for about 10 minutes should offer five hours of uninterrupted listening. Solo 4 will reportedly also provide one-touch pairing for Android users, but will still include Apple's Find My for users wanting to track Apple ecosystem devices.

Portability is also promised a remaining top of mind convenience with the foldable design and lightweight construction allowing ease of use throughout the day.

5 features the Beats Studio Pro 2 need to be top over-ear headphones

According to the report, Beats Solo 4 will drop on May 2, retailing at $200 .

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Beats Solo 4 release imminent with FCC regulator listing

Beats Solo 4 as found in the iOS 17.4 RC

A special Alo Yoga edition of Beats Fit Pro is quietly released on Tuesday, but that's not all the Beats news for the day. The previously leaked Beats Solo 4 may finally be nearing release.

Apple has still not announced or acknowledged that the new Beats by Dre are coming, but now the FCC database has detailed around half of the 30+ documents required during testing. The released documents include a request for confidentiality over many other reports, such as ones showing certain diagrams or full technical descriptions.

The remaining publicly-accessible FCC documents detail the standard testing and results that the headphones have gone through. As spotted by 9to5mac , they do not have any more detail about functionality or colors, than the code leak did.

All such devices are required to pass FCC testing before they can be sold. It does not automatically follow that a device listed on the database is about to launch. However, it's unusual for Apple or any other firm to wait for more than the minimum time to launch after the listing has appeared.

So far it's been eight years since the Beats Solo 3, and the new model does not appear to have any visibly significant redesigned features. It is expected to support Spatial Audio, however, and the code revealed that it would be available in at least black, blue, and pink.

More leaked data

An update from 9to5Mac breaks down some of what to expect from the Beats Solo 4. It's not a far-fetched upgrade as many of the new features work to bring them into modern sound and technology.

The audio drivers will be upgraded with 40mm transducers and will support spatial audio with head tracking. The aging micro-USB port will finally be replaced with USB-C.

The Beats Solo 4 retain their folding design and headphone jack. The battery life is reportedly boosted to 50 hours, up from 40, and still have fast fuel charging that delivers 5 hours of playback with 10 minutes of charging.

There is Find My support along with tap to pair for Android.

The rumored price is $199.99, which is identical to Beats Solo 3. The sources suggest May 2 as a release date.

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Beats Solo 4 headphones "imminent", should bring plenty of new tricks to the party

New Beats are ready to hit the street

Quick Summary

The long-awaited Beats Solo 4 headphones are finally on their way – most likely in May.

They have appeared on the website of the FCC – the US communications regulator that approves devices for sale in the country.

The headphones we've known are coming for a little while just got a little closer – the Beats Solo 4 are finally on the way.

As spotted by the team at 9to5Mac , who also found images of the headphones in a software update earlier this year, a new FCC listing for the Beats Solo 4 has appeared.

Unlike some other registries, this isn't a case of interpreting some technical details to figure out what device it's most likely talking about, either – the listing literally names the device in question. 

It includes a whole heap of certificates and test results for the many stages you need to pass to bring an electronic device to market in the US. And its timing suggests that their launch is now pretty imminent. 

Since we haven't had a new Beats Solo headset in years now, the new headphones should mark a seriously major upgrade over the Beats Solo 3, too. 

For one thing, they'll abandon micro-USB charging and move to the now-universal USB-C standard at last. 

There's also a strong expectation that they'll have spatial audio on board since this is something that Apple has been pushing with its flagship audio products for a while, particularly where AirPods are concerned. 

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With controls on the earcup to let you adjust volume and skip tracks, that rounds out a pretty standard set of expectations from a new set of headphones.

Underlining the accuracy of those leaked images, too, the FCC filing confirms that there will be black, blue, and pink models to pick from at launch.

We don't, of course, have any indication of pricing or availability at this stage, but Apple never leaves long between an FCC filing and release - not least since the filing tends to completely give the game away when it's discovered.

So, these headphones should arrive in the next few weeks or months, and revive a string of the Beats brand that had fallen by the wayside a little. 

With new AirPods models also rumoured to possibly be being detailed at this year's WWDC, it's shaping up to be a busy year for Apple's audio division, as it turns out. 

Max is a freelance writer with years of experience in tech and entertainment. He's also a gaming expert, both with the games themselves and in testing accessories and consoles, having flexed that expertise at Pocket-lint as a features editor. He has tested all manner of tech too, from headphones and speakers to apps and software.

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Poisonous Potato Update

The (s)mashing update you always asked for!

Imagine being a potato. Now imagine being the potato’s less popular sibling who didn’t inherit the tuber-licious looks the rest of your family possesses. What’s worse is – you're facing the impossible decision of what to do with all this starch? Since neither French fries nor couch potato sat right with you, there's only one option remaining. Congratulations friend, you’re a poisonous potato. 

For years, Minecraft’s own toxic tuber has been neglected and underappreciated, lacking both purpose and usefulness. For years, you – the community – tried to highlight this, working tirelessly to bring it to our attention and literally begging us for more functionality. As of today, your concerns are a thing of the past. 

Mojang Studios is proud to release our most well-boiled update to date that will add so much usability to the poisonous potato that even tater-haters will become devoted spud-buds. The Poisonous Potato Update – rich in both carbs AND features! You asked. We delivered. Or maybe you didn’t ask, but we delivered anyway? In any case, it is HERE! 

GET THE SNAPSHOT UPDATE 

Snapshots are available for Minecraft: Java Edition. To install the snapshot, open up the Minecraft Launcher and enable snapshots in the "Installations" tab. You can even play the snapshot on your own Java Realms together with your friends! 

Remember, snapshots can corrupt your world, so please back up your world and/or run the snapshot in a different folder from your main worlds.  

-> DOWNLOAD THE CROSS-PLATFORM SERVER JAR

Poisonous potato add-on.

The roots of the poisonous potato run deep within Minecraft and extends far beyond Java Edition. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the tuber-lar sensation has spread its influence to Bedrock Edition as well. With Jigarbov’s Poisonous Potato add-on , you’ll be able to experience the joy of the poisonous potato the way it was always intended – through blocks and furniture to weapons and armor.

-> GET THE ADD-ON

Gameplay & features.

• Poisonous potatoes – LOTS of poisonous potatoes! 
• A few normal potatoes too! 
• The homeland of all potato kind
• Five spud-tastic biomes: fields, hash, arboretum, corruption, and wasteland 
• Experience the life of a potato – from its inception as a raw potato picked from the fields, through cooked hash browns, to its eventual decay
• Local weather with a-mashing effects 
• Added the Colosseum, home to the lord of potato kind... 
• A whole sack of a-peeling new blocks 
• Rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and Niacin! 
• No new mineral blocks. No need! The blocks themselves contain minerals: Potassium, Magnesium, and Iron! 
• Added the frying table – everyone asked for it, so we added it. It fries potato things. It's a really nice model! 
• Added functionality to the fletching table. You can now fletch toxic resin into more refined versions of the resin. 
• Added impurities because purity is overrated 
• Added a whole bunch new gadgets that will tune your poisonous potato game up to eleven! 
• You get it by now. They’re all poisonous potatoes... 

TECHNICAL CHANGES 

• The flux capacitor integration now synergizes with quantum voxelization, which enables a 360-noscope enhancing real-time RTX terrain-rendering nightshade multibox spectrum acceleration while optimizing transdimensional entity synchronization for seamless vitelotte-king edwards-russel burbank experiences! 

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DOWNLOAD THE UPDATE?

Then you will be the proud owner of the file that contains the update. 

WHAT CAN I EXPECT IN TERMS OF GAMEPLAY?  

Poisonous potatoes. We hope this article has made that perfectly clear. 

I DON’T BELIEVE I ASKED FOR THIS UPDATE, IF I’M HONEST. 

You might not have – but your brain (or maybe belly) did! 

ARE THERE CURRENTLY ANY OTHER CARB-BASED UPDATES IN THE WORKS? 

Great question! Please look forward to the Radioactive Rice Update and Toxic Taro Update in the very distant future! 

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Community creations.

Discover the best add-ons, mods, and more being built by the incredible Minecraft community!

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🏀 Women's Tournament

🍿 Stories all over the Final Four

🏀 Behind NCAA president Charlie Baker's love of hoops

Bueckers vs. Watkins

NCAA | March 31, 2024

Minnesota state wins the 2024 ncaa division ii men's basketball championship.

Minnesota State is the 2024 NCAA Division II men's basketball champion after beating Nova Southeastern 88-85 off a game-winning three pointer with less than a second on the clock.

This victory came one day after the Minnesota State women won their respective title .

WHAT A SHOT WITH 0.6 LEFT 😱😱 WILLINGHAM FROM THE CORNER @MinnStMBBall !!!! pic.twitter.com/rvW3RdSGT0 — CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 30, 2024

2024 NCAA DII men's basketball championship bracket

The DII men's basketball tournament continues through the championship game on Saturday, March 30:

Click or tap here for the printable bracket ➡️

2024 NCAA DII men's basketball championship schedule

*All times in Eastern

National Championship: Saturday, March 30

• (1) Minnesota State 88,  (2) Nova Southeastern 85

March 15 | Regional quarterfinals

• (1) Gannon 97, (8) Lincoln (PA) 63  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (2) California (PA) 96, (7) West Virginia State 80  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (4) West Liberty 100, (5) Millersville 78  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (3) Charleston (WV) 93,  vs. (6) Concord 55  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• ( 6) Chico State 78, (3) Mont. St. Billings 64  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (2) CSUSB 52,  (7) Alaska Anchorage 49  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (8) Azusa Pacific 60, (1) Cal State LA 59  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (5) Central Washington 110, (4) Cal St. Dom. Hills 90  | WATCH FULL REPLAY

March 16 | Regional semifinals

• (1) Gannon 103,  (4) West Liberty 88  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (3) Charleston (WV) 68, (2) California (PA) 67  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (2) CSUSB 75,  (6) Chico State 73  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (8) Azusa Pacific 82, (5) Central Washington 74  | WATCH FULL REPLAY

March 16 | Regional quarterfinals

• (3) Minnesota Duluth 59,  (6) Fort Hays State 58  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (2) Northwest Missouri State 73, (7) Southwest Minn. State 43  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (1) Minnesota State 75,  (8) Arkansas Tech 68  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• ( 4) MSU Moorhead 73 , (5) Pittsburgh State 55  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (3) Southern New Hampshire 75 , (6) Bloomfield 70  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (7) Post 80, (2) St. Thomas Aquinas 72  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (1) Saint Michael's 68,  (8) Southern Connecticut State 62  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (4) Daemen 74,  (5) Jefferson 66  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (6) Lake Superior State 74,   (3) Walsh 72  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (7) Upper Iowa 82, (2) Kentucky Wesleyan 72  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (1) Uindy 71,  (8) William Jewell 65  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (5) Ferris State 81,  (4) Northern Michigan 65  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (3) Florida Southern 80,  (6) Clark Atlanta 72  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (2) West Georgia 75,  (7) Lee 61  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (1) Nova Southeastern 115,  (8) Benedict 95  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (5) Embry-Riddle (FL) 104,  (4) Alabama Huntsville 78   | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (6) Lander 85 , (3) Lincoln Memorial 76  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (7) Emmanuel (GA) 70 , (2) USC Aiken 69   | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (1) North Georgia 89,  (8) Wingate 80  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (5) UNC Pembroke 98, (4) Catawba 94  OT  | WATCH FULL REPLAY

South Central

• (3) Colorado Mesa 95,   (6) Eastern New Mexico 77  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (2) Fort Lewis 86,  (7) Lubbock Christian. 72  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (1) West Texas A&M 81,  (8) Angelo State 66  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (4) DBU 86, (5) Colorado School of Mines 73  | WATCH FULL REPLAY

March 17 | Regional semifinals

• (3) Northwest Missouri State 71,  (2) Minnesota Duluth 62  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (1) Minnesota State 78,  (4) MSU Morehead 55  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (3) Southern New Hampshire 69,  (7) Post 64  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (1) St. Michael's 86,  (4) Daemen 62  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (6) Lake Superior State 88,  (7) Upper Iowa 80  | WATCH FULL REPLAY  
• (5) Ferris State 94,  (1) UIndy 87 OT  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (3) Florida Southern 93,  (2) West Georgia 87 OT  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (1) Nova Southeastern 81, (5) Embry-Riddle 73  | WATCH FULL REPLAY  
• (6) Lander 86,  (7) Emmanuel (GA) 78 OT  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (1) UNG 86,  (4) Catawba 70  | WATCH FULL REPLAY  
• (3) Colorado Mesa 85, (2) Fort Lewis 80  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (1) West Texas A&M 60,  (4) DBU 54  | WATCH FULL REPLAY  

March 18 | Regional finals

• (2) CSUSB 74, (8) Azusa Pacific 67   | WATCH FULL REPLAY

March 19 | Regional finals

• (3) Southern N. H. 73,   (1) Saint Michael's 61
• (1) Nova Southeastern 98,  (3) Florida Southern 66  
• (1) North Georgia 70,   Lander 67
• (5) Ferris St. 86, (6) Lake Superior 81
• (1) Minnesota St. 43, Northwest Missouri St. 42
• (1) Gannon 67,  (3) Charleston (WV) 65
• (1) West Texas A&M 88, (3) Colorado. Mesa 76

March 26 | Quarterfinals 

• (6) CSUSB 99, (3) Gannon 65 | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (2) Nova Southeastern 68, (7) Southern N.H. 60 | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (1) Minnesota St. 98, (8) Ferris St 70  | WATCH FULL REPLAY
• (4) West Tex. A&M 90 ,  (5) North Georgia 76  | WATCH FULL REPLAY

March 28 |Semifinals

• (2) Nova Southeastern 91,  (6) CSUSB 77   | WATCH FULL RECAP
• (1) Minnesota St. 79,   (4) West Tex. A&M 72    | WATCH FULL RECAP

How to watch

NCAA Championships Pass will stream 120 DII men’s and women’s basketball tournament games (all games from first round through quarterfinals) live on NCAA.com. Games will be available on NCAA.com , school sites that stream through Hudl and opt to co-distribute the live streams, and the NCAA Championships Pass app available for Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Google TV.

Prices for viewing (first round through quarterfinals)

• $9.95 per game
• $29.95 per championship
• $49.95 for all games

Semifinals and finals viewing

• Semifinals: Thursday, March 28 on CBS Sports Network (2p ET, 4:30p)
• Championship: Saturday, March 30 on CBS (3p ET)

🎟️ Get NCAA Championships Pass

DII NCAA men's basketball championship history

The Division II men's basketball championship consists of a 64-team field with eight qualifiers from each region competing at a single regional site. Twenty-three teams earn automatic qualifications and the remaining 41 receive at-large bids to the tournament. Once the eight regionals conclude, respective teams will advance to the Men's Elite Eight at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.

The DII men's basketball national championship dates back to 1957, skipping 2020 due to COVID-19, with the first-ever championship trophy going to Wheaton (Ill.). Kentucky Wesleyan is the winningest team, with eight national championships. Evansville follows with five titles.

Below is a list of all DII men's basketball champs since 1957:

**Student-athletes declared ineligible

Basketball has stolen heart of NCAA’s Charlie Baker

Never-before-seen college basketball fairytales set to converge at the Final Four

NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee names game officials for 2024 men’s Final Four

Screen Rant

Solo leveling episode #12 release date & time.

Solo Leveling season 1's finale is on the horizon, and after concluding one of the most exciting fights in 2024 so far, anticipation is high.

• Solo Leveling 's season finale has fans on the edge of their seats, with an action-packed episode that doesn't disappoint.
• Episode #12 showcases Jinwoo's epic battle with Blood Red Commander Igris, with high stakes and intense fighting.
• The success of Solo Leveling sets the stage for a possible sequel, leaving viewers eager for more adventures in the future.

Solo Leveling has just aired its best episode yet, and the upcoming season finale has built enough anticipation to have most fans of the famous manhwa's anime adaptation at the edge of their seats. The anime has been nothing short of fantastic, and its incredible success makes the chances of a sequel far more likely going forward.

Crunchyroll's New Manhwa Series Could Be The Next Solo Leveling

What time solo leveling episode #12 releases, produced by a-1 pictures; based on the original web novel and manhwa by chugong.

Episode #12 of Solo Leveling will be released in Japan on March 30 , 2024, at 6:00 PM Japanese Standard Time (JST). The episode will be available for international viewers on Crunchyroll at 9:30 AM Pacific Standard Time (PST), 11:30 AM Central Standard Time (CST), and 12:30 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST).

What Happened In Solo Leveling Episode #11?

The series' builld up to its finale has been nothing short of fantastic.

The system gave Jinwoo the option to enter a new dungeon and level up, but it was no ordinary venture. He could not leave until he defeated the monsters, and he couldn't use his recovery spell. Nonetheless, he entered and defeated the low-level knights waiting for him. Things took a turn for the worse when Blood Red Commander Igris appeared , and Jinwoo could barely fight back. He was battered and damaged by this formidable beast, but he kept fighting despite this.

Meanwhile, the S-Rank Hunter team composed of Choi Jong-In, Cha Hae-In, and others were getting on a helicopter and heading to the dangerous Jeju Island. The episode shifts to the battle between Jinwoo and Igris, and Jinwoo luckily figures out that Igris' weakness is in his head. He goes berserk and attacks Igris' weak points relentlessly until he manages to fell him. The quest wasn't over though, as many knights appeared, and Jinwoo had to last as long as possible to level up, but the sheer number of these enemies proved to be too much, and Jinwoo was between a rock and a hard place.

Solo Leveling Goes Out With a Bang

Season 1 of solo leveling has more than lived up to fan expectations, making for another hit show from the winter 2024 season.

This season has been nothing short of incredible, and the series ending with its best fight yet shows that Solo Leveling is an action lovers' dream. The S-Rank hunters and Jeju Island are also becoming relevant, opening up a new storyline that might take the focus away from Jinwoo. Episode #12 will close the chapter on a highly successful first season , and the finale will hopefully be followed by a sequel announcement.

Don't miss the finale of Solo Leveling when it releases on March 30 on Crunchyroll.

Watch Solo Leveling

Solo Leveling

Based on a webtoon series, Solo Leveling is an action-adventure fantasy anime originally created by Chugong. When Sung Jinwoo is slain in the depths of a high-level dungeon, he is reborn - but this time with a plan. Utilizing a unique program that only he can, Jinwoo levels up remarkably fast - and he intends to use his newfound strength to reach the heart of the dungeon and uncover its secrets.

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Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Is Here, and It’s Much More Than Country

The superstar’s new LP is a 27-track tour of popular music with a Beatles cover, cameos by Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton, and features from Miley Cyrus and Post Malone.

• Share full article

By Ben Sisario

Beyoncé has gone country, sure … but it turns out that’s only the half of it.

For months, the superstar, who made her name in R&B and pop, has been telegraphing her version of country music and style. There was the “disco” cowboy hat at her Renaissance World Tour last year, and her “ western ” look at the Grammys in February, complete with a white Stetson and black studded jacket. Then, on the night of the Super Bowl, she released two new songs, and sent one of them, “Texas Hold ’Em” — with plucked banjos and lines about Texas and hoedowns — to country radio stations, sparking an industrywide debate about the defensive moat that has long surrounded Nashville’s musical institutions.

At midnight on Friday, Beyoncé finally released her new album, “Cowboy Carter,” and the country bona fides were certainly there. Dolly Parton provides a cameo introduction to Beyoncé’s version of “Jolene,” Parton’s 1972 classic about a woman confronting a romantic rival. Willie Nelson pops in twice as a grizzled D.J., who says he “turns you on to some real good [expletive],” including snippets of Chuck Berry, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and the blues singer Son House.

Yet “Cowboy Carter” is far broader than simply a country album. Beyoncé does a version of the Beatles’ “Blackbird” and, on the track “Ya Ya,” draws from Nancy Sinatra and the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations.” “Desert Eagle” is glistening funk, and the upbeat “Bodyguard” would not be out of place on a modern rock radio station. The album’s range suggests a broad essay on contemporary pop music, and on the nature of genre itself.

That theory is made clear on the partly spoken track “Spaghettii,” featuring the pioneering but long absent Black country singer Linda Martell , who in 1970 released an album called “Color Me Country.”

“Genres are a funny little concept, aren’t they? Yes, they are,” Martell, 82, says. “In theory, they have a simple definition that’s easy to understand. But in practice, well, some may feel confined.”

Of course, Beyoncé herself indicated this a week ago when she posted a note on Instagram saying: “This ain’t a country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album.”

Still, the theme of simultaneously celebrating and transforming country music extends to the album’s cover art, featuring Beyoncé seated sideways on a white horse, dressed in red-white-and-blue rodeo gear and hoisting an American flag.

Guests on the album include Miley Cyrus on the song “II Most Wanted,” and Post Malone on “Levii’s Jeans.” (The extra I’s underscore that “Cowboy Carter” is officially “Act II” of what Beyoncé has said will be a three-album cycle, which began with “Renaissance” in 2022. That motif repeats throughout the album’s 27-song track list. The Beatles cover — where she is joined by a quartet of young Black female country singers — Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts and Tiera Kennedy — is rendered as “Blackbiird.”) Midway through the track “Daughter,” Beyoncé even flexes some opera skills, singing a bit of “Caro Mio Ben,” a popular 18th-century Italian aria. ( More on that here .)

In a statement, Beyoncé described the sonic texture of the album, differentiating it from the synthesized process behind most contemporary pop albums (including her own).

“With artificial intelligence and digital filters and programming, I wanted to go back to real instruments, and I used very old ones,” she said. “I didn’t want some layers of instruments like strings, especially guitars, and organs perfectly in tune. I kept some songs raw and leaned into folk.”

As with “Renaissance,” the audio for “Cowboy Carter” was leaked online shortly before its planned release, with some fans urging others not to listen early.

Back when Beyoncé released her self-titled “visual album” without warning in 2013, establishing the “surprise drop” as an industry trope, it was partly meant to protect the album from leaks, which had become a threat to first-week sales numbers. For these last two albums, Beyoncé has embraced a more conventional marketing plan, announcing her album weeks ahead of time and preparing deluxe physical editions. (There are many for “Cowboy Carter,” including LPs in, yes, red, white and blue vinyl.)

In the end, the leaks meant little to “Renaissance,” which went straight to No. 1 . And, regardless of the new album’s fate at country radio — where “Texas Hold ’Em” has so far made it only as high as No. 33 — the commercial potential for “Cowboy Carter” seems vast, given Beyoncé’s recent success.

Last year, she won her 32nd Grammy Award , more than any artist in history. Her Renaissance tour sold $580 million in tickets, second only to Taylor Swift. A related concert film, “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” offered a rare look behind the scenes of her creative process and was a hit in cinemas.

Last week, as the release of “Cowboy Carter” neared, Beyoncé wrote on Instagram that the album was “over five years in the making,” and that “it was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed … and it was very clear that I wasn’t.” Fans zeroed in on her appearance at the Country Music Association Awards in 2016, where she performed her song “Daddy Lessons” with the Chicks, and drew backlash online .

“The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me,” Beyoncé said. The new album, she added, “is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”

An earlier version of this article misstated the name of an earlier Beyoncé song. It is “Daddy Lessons,” not “Daddy Issues.”

How we handle corrections

Ben Sisario covers the music industry. He has been writing for The Times since 1998. More about Ben Sisario