Beats Studio Pro vs Studio 3 vs Solo 3 Compared

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I haven’t written much about Beats in the past. In the early days, they gained mainstream popularity due to their association with Dre and some good marketing. However, most enthusiasts hated them; the overall quality was poor, they were overpriced and over hyped. They are also perhaps responsible for the trend of excessively bassy sound profiles.

However, Apple bought Beats back in 2014, and subsequent launches have generally been well-regarded.

Looking at their product lineup, it is quite surprising how rarely they update the headphones. The Beats Studio 3 were launched back in 2017, and they are still sold for on Beats for £350, albeit most other sites have them for under £300.

This year, they launched the Beats Studio Pro, which seems to be the replacement model, and these introduce all the features you’d expect for a premium-priced pair of headphones for 2023.

If you look at competing brands such as Sony, they refresh their flagship headphones yearly.

Beats also has the more affordable Beats Solo 3, which was launched back in 2016!

Beats Studio Pro vs Studio 3 vs Solo 3 Specification Compared

Feature/SpecificationBeats Studio ProBeats Studio3 WirelessBeats Solo3 Wireless
Launch Date202320172016
Price£349.99£349.95£199.95
DesignOver-earOver-earOn-ear
SoundBeats’ custom acoustic platform delivers rich, immersive sound
Custom-made 40mm active driver enhances sound clarity and near-zero distortion even at high volumes – an improvement of up to 80% compared to Beats Studio3 Wireless, providing increased audio fidelity
Integrated digital processor optimises frequency responses for a powerful, balanced sound profile
Fully adaptive Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) keeps you immersed in the music
Transparency mode blends your listening experience with the world around you
Personalised spatial audio with dynamic head tracking for theatre-like sound from your favourite content3
Music and films available in Dolby Atmos deliver full immersion with 360-degree surround sound
Noise Cancelling continuously pinpoints, isolates and cancels exterior noise in real time to play sound the way it was intendedFine-tuned acoustics for clarity and depth with noise isolation
Spatial audio immerses you in music
MicrophonesSix with ANC on, three with ANC off22
Weight260g260g215g
Height18.1cm18.4cm19.8cm
Noise CancellingYesYesNo (Noise Isolation)
Listening TimeUp to 40 hours
24 hours with ANC on
Up to 22 hours (40 hours with NC off)Up to 40 hours
Fast Fuel10 mins for 4 hours10 mins for 3 hours5 mins for 3 hours
BluetoothBluetooth 5.3Bluetooth 4.0Bluetooth 4.0
3.5mmYesYesYes
USBUSB-C, 3.5mmMicro USBMicro USB
Special FeaturesLossless audio
Personalised spatial audio
Enhanced compatibility with Apple & Android
Real-time audio calibration
Audio Sharing
Spatial audio
Enhanced by Apple W1
Compatible with Android
In the BoxHeadphones, Carrying case, USB-C cable, 3.5mm cable, Guide, Warranty cardHeadphones, Carrying case, 3.5mm cable, USB cable, Guide, Warranty cardHeadphones, Carrying case, USB cable, Guide, Warranty card
Beats Studio Pro
Beats Studio Pro

Design

  • Beats Studio Pro:
    • Over-ear design: These headphones cover the entire ear, providing better passive noise isolation.
    • Cushioned ear cups: This provides comfort for extended listening sessions.
    • Slightly heavier than the Solo 3 due to the over-ear design and additional technology.
    • It is worth noting that some people have criticised these for not being very comfortable if you have a larger head.
  • Beats Studio 3:
    • Similar design to the Studio Pro but with more colours available
    • Cushioned ear cups: This provides comfort for extended listening sessions.
    • Slightly heavier than the Solo 3 due to the over-ear design and additional technology.
  • Beats Solo 3:
    • On-ear design: These headphones rest on the outer ear.
    • More compact and lightweight compared to the Studio 3.
    • Ideal for users who prefer a more portable design.
Beats Solo 3
Beats Solo 3

Noise Cancellation

  • Beats Studio Pro:
    • Fully adaptive Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) keeps you immersed in the music
    • Transparency mode blends your listening experience with the world around you
  • Beats Studio 3:
    • Features Adaptive Noise Cancelling (ANC) that actively blocks external noise.
    • Offers real-time audio calibration to preserve clarity and range.
  • Beats Solo 3:
    • Lacks active noise cancellation. Provides passive noise isolation due to its on-ear design.

Sound Quality

  • Beats Studio Pro:
    • Beats state that these should have significantly better sound quality than the older Studio 3. They feature a custom-made 40mm active driver that enhances sound clarity and near-zero distortion even at high volumes – an improvement of up to 80% compared to Beats Studio3 Wireless, providing increased audio fidelity
    • While Beats used to have a reputation for being excessively bassy, the new Beats Studio Pro has received positive reviews stating that it stays close to recommended frequency response curves.
  • Beats Studio 3
    • Beats states that these have real-time audio calibration preserves clarity, range, and emotion to deliver a premium listening experience.
  • Beats Solo 3:
  • Both headphones offer the signature Beats sound profile: prominent bass response with clear mids and highs.
  • However, the Studio 3’s ANC and real-time audio calibration can provide a more immersive listening experience by reducing outside interference.

Battery Life

  • Beats Studio Pro:
  • The battery life has been slightly improved compared to the Studio 3, with 24 hours with the ANC on, but it matches the 40 hours with the ANC off
  • Beats Studio 3:
    • Up to 22 hours of playback with ANC on.
    • With ANC and Bluetooth turned off, it offers up to 40 hours.
  • Beats Solo 3:
    • Up to 40 hours of playback.

Fast Fuel Charging

  • All three headphones feature Fast Fuel technology with the performance being similar between each model.
  • The older models use microUSB, which in my opinion, is a good reason not to buy them.
  • The new Beats Studio Pro features USB-C

Connectivity

  • Both the Studio3 and Solo3 use Apple’s W1 chip, making the pairing process smoother with Apple devices.
  • The Studio3 is listed as using Bluetooth 4.0, which I assume is the same as the Solo3
  • The Studio Pro uses the far superior Bluetooth 5.3

Price

  • Beats Studio Pro: have an RRP of £350, and because they are quite new, there are no good discounts yet.
  • Beats Studio 3: have an RRP of £350, but Amazon has them as low as £260
  • Beats Solo 3: More budget-friendly compared to the Studio 3 with an RRP of £200 and Amazon has them for around £180

Overall Recommendation

Unless you get a massive discount, I would personally avoid the older Beats Studio 3 and Beats Solo 3. They are just too old, and I also hate microUSB. The USB-C connection of the Beats Studio Pro also allows them to play lossless audio.

The Beats Studio Pro have significantly better sound quality than the predecessor, better ANC, and they feature all the advanced smart features you’d expect from modern headphones, including Google Fast Pair, Audio Switch, Find My Device, and Hey Siri support.

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