Type Over-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling Yes
Mic Yes
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 thatautomatically adapts to you and yourenvironment. They also have a W1 chip for seamless pairing with your Apple devices.
Our Verdict
6.8 Neutral Sound
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.
Pros
-
Comfortable and stable fit.
Cons
-
Bass delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
See our Neutral Sound Recommendations
7.4 Commute/Travel
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.
Pros
-
Comfortable and stable fit.
Cons
-
ANC has some trouble blocking out bass-range noise.
See our Commute/Travel Recommendations
7.2 Sports/Fitness
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.
Pros
-
Comfortable and stable fit.
Cons
-
Bass delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
See our Sports/Fitness Recommendations
7.1 Office
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.
Pros
-
Comfortable and stable fit.
-
ANC can cut down mid to treble-range noise well.
Cons
-
Bass delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
-
Sub-par overall mic performance.
See our Office Recommendations
5.5 Wireless Gaming
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.
See our Wireless Gaming Recommendations
7.1 Wired 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.
Pros
-
Comfortable and stable fit.
Cons
-
Mic doesn't work on Xbox consoles.
6.2 Phone Calls
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.
Pros
-
ANC can cut down mid to treble-range noise well.
-
Low audio leakage.
Cons
-
Sub-par overall mic performance.
-
ANC has some trouble blocking out bass-range noise.
- 6.8 Neutral Sound
- 7.4 Commute/Travel
- 7.2 Sports/Fitness
- 7.1 Office
- 5.5 Wireless Gaming
- 7.1 Wired Gaming
- 6.2 Phone Calls
+ Create your own
- 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.Sincethese 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 arethe updated version of the Beats Studio Wireless' design and are the manufacturer's only over-ear model. These premiumcanshave better isolation than their predecessor,thanks totheir adaptivenoise cancelling, and have a comfortablefit. 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 Bluetoothheadphones, the best over-ear headphones for working out,and the best closed-back headphones.
Beats Solo3 2019 Wireless
The Beats Studio3 Wireless are better headphones than the Beats Solo3 2019 Wireless. The Studio3 are over-ear headphones that are more comfortable andhave a good-performing ANC feature. However, the Solo3 2019 deliveraudio more consistently and have a better battery performance. Some users may also prefer theirbass-heavy sound profile.
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Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
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 andhave 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.
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Beats Solo Pro Wireless
The Beats Solo Pro Wireless are slightly better than the Beats Studio3 Wirelessif 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.
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Beats Studio Wireless
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.
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Sony WH-XB910N Wireless
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.
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Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
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, amicrophone, and active noise cancelling, making them more versatile headphones overall. They're also slightly more comfortable, and their battery lasts up to 23 hours.
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Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018
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 iswell-balanced. Their ANC featurenoticeablyblocks 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 threehours longer than the Bose, but they don't have a power-saving feature.
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Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless
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.
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Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless
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.
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Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless
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.
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Beats Studio Pro Wireless
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 supportvirtual 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.
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Bose 700 Headphones Wireless
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.
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Beats Solo3 2018 Wireless
The Beats Studio3 Wireless are slightly better headset than the Beats Solo3 Wireless, thanks to noise cancellation. The Studio3isolate a bit better in noisy conditions, which makes them a better optionfor commutingand travel than the Solo3. They alsohave 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.
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Sony WH-1000XM2 Wireless
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.
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Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Wireless 2016
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 andportableand 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 controlswithmore functionality, and they sound a bit more exciting thanks to their deep and powerful bass range.
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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016
TheBose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016are 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.
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Sony WH-H900N/h.ear on 2 Wireless
The Sony WH-H900N/h.ear on 2 Wireless have similar performance to the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Sonyhave a better-balanced default sound profileand more customization options, thanks to their companionapp. 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 gymand morecomfortable for most users.
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Nura Nuraphone Wireless
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 Nuraalso offer a longer battery life than the Beats.
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Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC
The Beats Studio3Wireless 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 hadsignificant 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 Sennheisercan connect to two devices simultaneously, and you can use thempassively, which you can't do with the Beats.
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Skullcandy Venue Wireless
The Beats Studio3 Wireless are better headphones than the Skullcandy Venue Wireless. The Beats have a more neutral sound profile as they packa 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 twodevices, and their bass isn’t as prone to inconsistencies as the Beats.
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Microsoft Surface Wireless Headphones
The Microsoft Surface Wireless Headphones are better for bass fans, while the Beats Studio3 Wirelesshave a more neutral sound quality with a not-so-veiled treble range. The Microsofthave 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 andhave about half of the Beats'battery life.
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Bowers & Wilkins PX Wireless
The 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 lotfaster.
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Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless
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 Beatsare 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 themwiredwhen the battery is dead, which the Beats can't do.
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+ Show more
Video
Test Results
Design
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic
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.
—
8.0 Design
Weight 0.58 lbs
Clamping Force
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.
—
LEARN ABOUT COMFORT
7.3 Design
OS Compatibility
Ease Of Use Good
Feedback Good
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
Noise Cancelling Control On/Off
Talk-Through
Additional Controls No
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.
—
LEARN ABOUT CONTROLS
6.4 Design
Avg.Temp.Difference 5.9 °C
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.
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LEARN ABOUT BREATHABILITY
6.1 Design
L 4.6" (11.7 cm)
W 6.5" (16.5 cm)
H 3.0" (7.6 cm)
Volume 90.00 in³ (1,474.83 cm³)
Transmitter Required No
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.
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LEARN ABOUT PORTABILITY
8.0 Design
Type Hard case
L 4.8" (12.2 cm)
W 6.7" (17.0 cm)
H 3.2" (8.1 cm)
Volume 103.00 in³ (1,687.86 cm³)
These headphones come with a sturdy and compact hard case that can protect them against scratches, mild water damage, and falls.
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LEARN ABOUT CASE
7.5 Design
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.
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LEARN ABOUT BUILD QUALITY
7.5 Design
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.
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LEARN ABOUT STABILITY
Design
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Design
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Design
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Design
- Beats Studio3 headphones
- Carrying case
- 1/8" TRRS cable
- USB-A to Micro-USB cable
- Carabiner
- Manual
—
Sound
Bass Amount
Treble Amount
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.
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LEARN ABOUT SOUND PROFILE
6.3 Sound
Avg. Std. Deviation
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.
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LEARN ABOUT FREQUENCY RESPONSE CONSISTENCY
Sound
—
LEARN ABOUT RAW FREQUENCY RESPONSE
8.1 Sound
Std. Err.
Low-Frequency Extension
Low-Bass
Mid-Bass
High-Bass
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.
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LEARN ABOUT BASS ACCURACY
7.8 Sound
Std. Err.
Low-Mid
Mid-Mid
High-Mid
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.
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LEARN ABOUT MID ACCURACY
6.9 Sound
Std. Err.
Low-Treble
Mid-Treble
High-Treble
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.
—
LEARN ABOUT TREBLE ACCURACY
7.6 Sound
Peaks
Dips
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.
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LEARN ABOUT PEAKS/DIPS
5.1 Sound
Weighted Group Delay
Weighted Phase Mismatch
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
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.
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LEARN ABOUT IMAGING
3.9 Sound
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
PRTF Size (Avg.)
PRTF Distance
Openness 2.8
Acoustic Space Excitation 2.0
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.
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LEARN ABOUT PASSIVE SOUNDSTAGE
0 Sound
Head Modeling
Speaker Modeling
Room Ambience
Head Tracking
Virtual Surround
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.
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LEARN ABOUT VIRTUAL SOUNDSTAGE
7.3 Sound
WHD @ 90
WHD @ 100
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.
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LEARN ABOUT WEIGHTED HARMONIC DISTORTION
Sound
Firmware
Power
Connection
Codec
EQ
ANC
Tip/Pad
Microphone
These are the settings used to test the Beats Studio3. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.
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LEARN ABOUT TEST SETTINGS
7.2 Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
Noise Cancelling Yes
Bass
Mid
Treble
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.
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LEARN ABOUT NOISE ISOLATION
8.2 Isolation
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
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.
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LEARN ABOUT LEAKAGE
Microphone
Integrated
In-Line
Boom
Detachable Boom
Mic Yes
These headphones have an integrated microphone. If you prefer to use these headphones wired, the cable also has an in-line microphone.
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LEARN ABOUT MICROPHONE STYLE
6.5 Microphone
Recorded Speech
LFE
FR Std. Dev.
HFE
Weighted THD
Gain
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.
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LEARN ABOUT RECORDING QUALITY
5.1 Microphone
SpNR
Noise Gate
Speech + Pink Noise Handling 5.5
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling 4.5
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample
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.
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LEARN ABOUT NOISE HANDLING
7.6 Active Features
Battery Type
Continuous Battery Life
Additional Charges
Total Battery Life
Charge Time
Power-Saving Feature
Audio While Charging
Passive Playback
Charging Port micro-USB
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.
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LEARN ABOUT BATTERY
5.0 Active Features
App Name Beats
iOS Yes
Android Yes
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
ANC Control
Mic Control No
Room Effects
Playback Control
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
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.
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LEARN ABOUT APP SUPPORT
7.3 Connectivity
Bluetooth Version
Multi-Device Pairing
NFC Pairing
Line Of Sight Range
PC Latency (SBC)
PC Latency (aptX)
PC Latency (aptX HD)
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
iOS Latency
Android Latency
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.
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LEARN ABOUT BLUETOOTH
0 Connectivity
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
Non-BT Latency
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LEARN ABOUT NON-BLUETOOTH WIRELESS
9.5 Connectivity
Analog Audio
USB Audio
Detachable Yes
Length 4.30 ft (1.31 m)
Connection
Analog/USB Audio Latency
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.
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LEARN ABOUT WIRED
Connectivity
Analog
Wired USB
Non-BT Wireless
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.
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Connectivity
PS4 Analog
PS4 Wired USB
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
PS5 Analog
PS5 Wired USB
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
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.
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LEARN ABOUT PLAYSTATION COMPATIBILITY
Connectivity
Xbox One Analog
Xbox One Wired USB
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
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.
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LEARN ABOUT XBOX COMPATIBILITY
0 Connectivity
Type
USB Input
Line In
Line Out
Optical Input
RCA Input
Dock Charging
Power Supply
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LEARN ABOUT BASE/DOCK
