Buying Beats Headphones? We Broke Down the Entire Beats Lineup (2024)

The Beats Fit Pro is undisputedly the best pair of earbuds you can buy if you're going off of tech alone. For starters, the Fit Pros have the same Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) you get in AirPods Pro, as well as adaptive EQ listening and spatial audio. What really makes the Fit Pros stand out is its outfitted with an Apple H1 processing chip, enabling features like automatic switching between Apple devices, automatic audio sharing (with another pair of Beats or AirPods), and hands-free Siri assistance.

Last to mention is the physical design notes which are unique to the Fit Pros. The most apparent note is the wingtip design on each earbud to create a secure fit—you also get three silicone ear tips to switch out in order to get the most customized fit. As for storage, you get a square charging case that can power the Fit Pros for up to 30 hours.

The deal breaker on the Fit Pros doesn't necessarily come down to lack of tech, but rather a preference for fit, as some might not want an earbud with the wing tip design.

Read more: Best Fitness Smartwatches

The crown jewel of the Beats headphones, so to speak, the Studio 3 headphones are immersive over-ear headphones made to drown out outside noise and give you top-tier audio quality. Unlike the Solo 3, Studio 3 is outfitted with Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode, so you can switch back and forth between how much sound you wish to let in at any given time. With noise cancellation on, they pack up to 22 hours of battery life (a seriously long time for ANC to stay on) and, when off, up to 40 hours of battery life. Similar to Solo 3, Studio 3 has on-ear play, pause, and skip controls.

So what does Studio 3 do best? Comfort. The ear cups blissfully hug around your ear without confining them into a tight space and without pressing too hard into your head. The sound quality is much more focused thanks to the over-ear design, so you can feel the entirety of the spatial audio features working to give you a premium listening experience.

Studio 3 can be used in all types of environments, and even though they are not waterproof and sweatproof, we still found them to be a comfortable choice for the gym and light running. If you do use them for fitness, be aware the ear cups might wear down quickly; we recommend keeping your eyes peeled on swapping the cups with third-party replacements that are more sweat resistant.

Powerbeats Pro are the fitness earbuds that keep on giving. They are most known for their secure hook design, which helps hold the earbud in a locked-in position through the most intense workout sessions. Powerbeats Pro also has a long nine-hour battery life and sweat and water resistance. The one thing the Powerbeats Pro doesn't have is Active Noise Cancellation, but they make up for it with an Apple H1 chip, which helps ensure more seamless pairing with Apple devices and features like audio sharing and Siri assistance. The Powerbeats Pro comes with voice call capability too, as well as a charging case that powers for up to 24 hours.

It's hard to exactly pindown where the Powerbeats Pro sit among the Beats earbuds because they're so unique. You can wear these for everyday use, especially if you're a fan of the over-ear hook design, but where the Powerbeats Pro shine is when used for fitness purposes. If you're tired of your earbuds falling short in the gym then a pair of Powerbeats Pros should be added to your gym bag in the near future.

The most affordable Beats you can buy, the Flex Earbuds pack high-quality sound and voice call capabilities for under $75. Sure they are still somewhat of a "corded" headphone (if you can even call it that) but due to the design, they run a long 12 hours per charge: also known as the longest standalone charge of the Beats earbuds.

The downside to the Flex is you do not get noise cancellation and you do not get a charging case, so they might not be the most suitable for those who like to carry their earbuds on them at all times. But thanks to its portability and long battery life, the Flex can exist in any scenario. The Flex is also sweat- and water-resistant, making them a solid choice for the gym especially.

Read more: Best Treadmills

Studio Buds have the most traditional earbud fit of the Beats lineup. The Studio Buds are close to the performance of the Fit Pros, except they have lower battery life and are outfitted with a custom Bluetooth chip, as opposed to the Apple H1 chip. The Studio Buds do have Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode though. They also have call capability and sweat and water resistance, making them perfect for everyday use and for fitness.

What Studio Buds do best is they provide an excellent price point for a pair of high-quality earbuds. You don't get as long of a battery life as the Fit Pros, but the Studio Buds still have respectable juice. The Fit Pros also have the traditional earbud design going for them, so if you like that fit then these will give you the same comfort.

The on-ear and over-ear Beats headphones are best suited for those who are really looking to enjoy their music or podcasts. The Solo 3 has been a mainstay in the Beats lineup for years thanks to its ability to pack deep bass and crisp audio for a friendly price point (only $200). Special features that stand out include a marathon 40-hour battery life; ear cup controls that can pause, play, and skip; and a compact and minimalist design that doesn't take up much space.

If you are looking for a pair of on-ear headphones that you can carry around for everyday use or for travel, then the Solo 3 is a fine choice. As for fitness? It's possible you could wear them working out, but due to the plastic ear cups and on-ear fit, we find the headphones become prone to slipping off and moving around when sweat gets involved. The Solo 3 is also not waterproof, let alone sweatproof.

Read more: Best Travel Gadgets

All Beats headphones have solid audio quality but due to the range in prices (from $70 to $350), there are obviously going to be models that provide better listening experiences than others. Aside from price point, here are some factors to consider when buying the best Beats headphones for your lifestyle.

Apple User vs. Android User

As mentioned earlier Apple owns Beats. Most Beats headphones are outfitted with Apple chips, thus making the headphones pair as fast to your iPhone as a pair of AirPods does. Some of the Apple chips also allow for Siri assistance and fun features like audio sharing with other Beats and AirPods. This is all to say Beats headphones provide the best value if you have an iPhone.

If you have an Android, don't fret. All Beats headphones work with Android and provide a quality listening experience, however, you simply do not get the Apple ecosystem features that are baked into the Beats headphones. It's not a huge downside, but it's still a downside nonetheless.

Purpose of Headphone Use

Write down what you plan on using your Beats headphones for. What are your listening habits and priorities? Are you planning on buying a pair of Beats for everyday use or for fitness only? Knowing what you want will give you a better chance at buying Beats that best fit your needs.

Active Noise Cancellation

The last thing that's worth considering is how much you want to prioritize audio quality. If you want the best quality, then choosing a pair of Beats with Active Noise Cancellation is going to help block out surrounding sounds and give you an immersive experience.

Only a few Beats headphone models have ANC, so keep that in mind when shopping the entire lineup. The feature will likely cost you a bit more but you will likely find spending more on your Beats for the feature was a worthy investment.