On June 14 2021, the Beats brand, owned by Apple, introduced a new model of Beats Studio Buds wireless headphones. We decided to compare the novelty in terms of capabilities with AirPods and AirPods Pro. Headphones are similar in many ways, but there are differences.
At first glance, the Beats Studio Buds outperform the AirPods Pro in many ways. On the side of the new items from Beats are dimensions, price, and different colors. However, in reality, everything is not so simple. The AirPods Pro have their pros.
According to online sources, the Beats Studio Buds can be very similar to the AirPods Pro 2 . Many are sure that the new Apple headphones will noticeably decrease in size and lose their branded “legs.” However, so far, these are only rumors. Essentially, the Beats Studio Buds can be considered a competitor to the original AirPods Pro.
The new Beats headphones feature compact dimensions, built-in noise cancellation, bright colors, and a low price tag. And at first glance, the Studio Buds look like a more interesting purchase than the AirPods Pro. However, Apple headphones have their own strengths.
Beats Studio Buds vs. AirPods Pro: $100 difference. And what about the sound? Compared with Apple wireless headphones.
AirPods Pro box includes:
- Apple AirPods Pro headphones
- Charging case
- USB-C-to-Lightning cable
- 3x tip size options
- Manuals
Beats Studio Buds box includes:
- Beats Studio Buds headphones
- 3x tip options
- Carrying case
- USB-C to USB-C charging cable
- Manuals
- Beats sticker
Pros and Cons
| Beats Studio Buds | Apple AirPods Pro |
| Active noise cancellation | Active noise cancellation |
| 8 hours of battery life | Wireless charging |
| Light and comfy design | Secure in-ear fit |
| No options for customizing sound | 5 hours of battery life |
| No wireless charging | Still feel very iOS-focused |
General
| Beats Studio Buds | Apple AirPods Pro | |
| $ | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
| Brand | Beats | Apple |
| Release date | June 14, 2021 | October 30, 2019 |
| Type | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Colors | White, Black, Red | White |
| Battery life | Up to 8 hours | Up to 5 hours |
| Weight | 48 g | 45.6 g |
| Connectivity | Wireless, Bluetooth | Wireless, Bluetooth |
Design
| Beats Studio Buds | Apple AirPods Pro | |
| Type | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Wireless | Yes | Yes |
| ANC mode | Yes | Yes |
| Case Size | 2.2 x 2.8 x 1 inches | 1.8 x 0.9 x 2.4 inches |
| Dimensions | 25.5 x 72 x 51mm | 45.2 x 60.6 x 21.7 mm |
The new Beats Studio Buds stand out for their compact size. They don’t have the legs like the AirPods or the big ear hooks that the Powerbeats Pro have. In comparison with the device, the novelty looks truly miniature. However, the new fully wireless Beats headphones look more compact against the background of AirPods Pro.
At the same time, the small size does not affect the fit of the Studio Buds in the ears. A well-thought-out design, the presence of three replaceable silicone pads of different sizes, and a low weight allow you to wear the headphones almost all day – your ears do not get tired of them. This is stated by almost all Western journalists who have already tried out the novelty.
It is also worth mentioning the physical button. With its help, you can start and stop playback, as well as activate the noise-canceling mode. The button is pressed with a pleasant, light click, providing a more “understandable” response.
It isn’t easy to name an unambiguous leader in terms of headphone usability. Studio Buds outperform AirPods Pro in size and weight. However, for some, the shape of the new Beats headphones may not fit.
As for the cases, it is also difficult to choose an unambiguous leader here. The AirPods Pro case is thinner and thinner. In addition, it is made of more “premium” glossy plastic. The Beats Studio Buds case, on the other hand, has a matte finish, which should be less likely to pick up scratches. At the same time, the slightly larger size of the case is compensated by its shape, making the Beats Studio Buds case easy to put in a pocket.
However, if you forget about convenience, size, and weight and focus only on design, the new Beats still look more attractive. Perhaps this is since the design of AirPods is already a little boring. Studio Buds are eye-catching, with several colors and a contrasting logo printed on the outside of the earbuds.
The location of the headphones inside the Bits case is not very convenient: you don’t immediately get used to how to return them there. With AirPods Pro, everything is much easier. It is also unclear why Apple made the pairing button inside the case. This is inconvenient when compared to AirPods.
Features
| Beats Studio Buds | Apple AirPods Pro | |
| OS Support | Android, iOS | iOS |
| Instant one-touch pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Music Controls | Yes | Yes |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Quick Charge | Yes | Yes |
| Speakers | No | No |
| Auto play/pause | No | Yes |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes |
| One touch pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Siri support | Yes | Yes |
It should be understood that while evaluating the sound of Beats Studio Buds, one can rely only on the opinions of Western journalists. Nevertheless, they note that the novelty “plays” quite well. The new headphones from Beats can cope with different genres, they have noticeable bass, but the detail does not suffer from it.
Basically, Beats Studio Buds are a good option for listening to podcasts and music streaming services. However, the AirPods Pro is the same. Judging by the comments and reviews, the headphones are roughly similar in sound quality.
However, there are some microphone issues with Studio Buds. Several journalists noticed that they had to speak a little louder on the street when talking through Beats than usual.
Noise reduction and transparency mode
As in the case of sound, so far, you can only evaluate the capabilities of Studio Buds based on reviews from Western colleagues.
However, many agree that noise cancellation in Beats headphones works worse than in the same AirPods Pro. The novelty does not cope well enough with the “usual” city noise.
The transparency mode is also not perfect. Many people say that he lacks “naturalness.” However, in this case, Studio Buds lag behind the AirPods Pro quite a bit.
App
The AirPods Pro are more compatible with Apple devices, whereas the Beats Studio Buds are compatible with both Android and iOS.
Battery
| Beats Studio Buds | Apple AirPods Pro | |
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion | Lithium-Ion |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 hours | Up to 5 hours |
| Charge Time | 5 Minutes for 1 Hour | 5 Minutes for 1 Hour |
| Charging Port | USB-C | Lightning, wireless charging |
| Additional Runtime | 16 Hours | 19 Hours |
| Wireless charging case | No | Yes |
Despite its compact size, one full charge of the built-in battery in Beats Studio Buds lasts about 8 hours without active noise canceling. With an active noise cancellation system, autonomy will be reduced to 5 hours. A battery built into the case allows you to charge your Beats Studio Buds twice fully. Thus, the total battery life of the headphones reaches 24 hours.
AirPods have about the same performance. In total, the top apple TWS headphones can work for about a day. However, without an active noise cancellation system, AirPods Pro can “live” only five hours.
The main distinguishing feature of Apple headphones is their wireless charging capability. There is no such option in Beats Studio Buds. Instead, you will need to use a USB-C cable to charge your new Beats headphones.
Connectivity
| Beats Studio Buds | Apple AirPods Pro | |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Sensor | Transparency mode, spatial audio, Fast Fuel charging, “Hey Siri” voice-activated assistance, Fast Fuel charging, Google Fast Pair | Audio sharing, announced messages with Siri, customizable fit, Fast-Fuel Charging, on-board volume controls, “Hey Siri” voice-activated assistance |
The key difference between Studio Buds and AirPods Pro is that the new Beats headphones lack Apple’s chip. But, despite this, the new product supports some of the functions in the Apple headset. In particular, fast connection to iPhone and iPad, integration into Control Center, Siri voice activation, and spatial audio in Apple Music.
But at the same time, Beats Studio Buds lacks some of the features that AirPods owners are already used to. Instead, it’s about multi-channel connectivity, fast switching between iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and automatically pausing playback when the headphones are removed from your head. Also, Studio Buds do not support the Spatialize Stereo feature introduced in iOS 15 and macOS 12.
At the same time, you need to understand that the new Beats headphones are “friendlier” than other manufacturer’s products when paired with Android devices. And here we are talking not only about the abandonment of the Lightning connector. After syncing, Beats Studio Buds start showing up in Android Bluetooth settings. Thanks to this, users will see the remaining battery power, both in the headphones and in the case. The new product also supports Find My on iOS and Find My Device on Android.
The only thing that Android device owners cannot do is call the Google Assistant using a voice command. To summarize, the AirPods Pro offers more options for Apple device owners. They are better built into the Apple ecosystem. The Beats Studio Buds are more versatile. However, this versatility comes at the price of the lack of several options.
Price
Although Beats Studio Buds are not yet available for purchase (in the US, official sales will start only next week), many are already actively arguing about which is more profitable to buy.
Unfortunately, there is no unequivocal answer to this question. We can only say that the Beats Studio Buds and AirPods Pro difference is a notable $ 100. Moreover, both models are a good solution for their money.
Conclusion!
If you try to summarize all of the above, you get a very curious picture. The new Beats headphones have a number of benefits. They are compact, bright, have a good design, have decent battery life, and have an active noise cancellation system. At the same time, they cost around $150.
We can say that the Beats Studio Buds are excellent headphones in their price range. In addition, they can be suitable for those who often “jump” between iOS and Android.
