Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones - Apple W1 Headphone Chip, Class 1 Bluetooth, Active Noise Cancelling, 22 Hours Of Listening Time - Shadow Grey

Product Information

Take calls, skip songs, control volume and activate Siri using the convenient multi-function on-ear controls. The Apple W1 chip features Class 1 Bluetooth connectivity — the industry-leading classification for range and signal strength. With best-in-class performance, Beats Studio3 Wireless seamlessly syncs to your devices, so you can easily move about, keep the music going and stay productive all day. Like the last Studio Wireless pair, there’s also a little 5-LED indicator by the power button to let you see a rough guide of how much juice is left before you even put them on. The plastics don’t creak too much. And there’s a well-judged bit of resistance in the fold-up hinge of the headband that stops the stems from flapping around like broken arms with normal use. 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.

That said, there’s something a bit on the nose about the presentation, they’re more confined than airy. When you turn the Beats Studio 3 Wireless on, you’ll see a pop-up prompt appear on your iPhone with a spinning 3D model of the headphones. You just tap a button on this pop-up to connect. iOS 13 already has a great interface for reconnecting to normal Bluetooth headphones, but the W1 chip makes the interaction seem more direct.The Beats Studio 3 Wireless are also very comfortable. Oval cut-outs in the pads give enough room for most ears, and over-ear headphones like this avoid the ear fatigue problems common among on-ear headphones, like the Beats Solo 3 Wireless and the new Beats Solo Pro. Connectivity and battery life Audio Cable, Power Supply, Hardcase, Micro USB Cable, Charging Cable, Audio Cable with In-Line Microphone Battery life is varied, and this is where Apple’s W1 chip comes in. You can get around 22 hours of play time with ANC on (40 with it off) – but only with Apple devices. With non-iOS gadgets, the Beats Studio 3 achieved about half that. Meanwhile, the Sony WH-1000XM2 offer 30 hours (ANC on) on a full charge, no matter the device you’re using. If silence is important to you, and it should be if you’re considering noise-cancelling headphones, you won’t be disappointed.

Thankfully, the sound quality and noise-cancelling performance you’re treated to is the same, whether you’re in the iOS or Android camp. Even on an Apple device, there were issues. On my MacBook Air, the Beats Studio 3 kept trying to make me go to iTunes whenever I tried to pause or play something on Spotify. The Beats Studio 3 may be Apple headphones, but they don’t sport the signature Apple look. They’re not glossy white and there’s no fruity logo. The Beats branding and aesthetics remain – and alongside it, their street-cred too. There’s nothing new to see here in terms of build. Most of the Beats Studio 3 Wireless frame is plastic. The pads use synthetic leather that, while soft, looks fake from 2ft away.Audio performance is also pretty decent. The sound profile is far more mature and accessible than the bass-dominant approach for which Beats used to be known. There’s a strong sense of dynamism and rhythm. It’s an exciting performance, eloquent enough that music isn’t trapped down in the basement. Treble is nicely pronounced – it could do with more bite, but it’s never hard or tiring.