Do the Studio Buds simply 'Beats' the latest AirPods?
Comfortable pick
Beats Studio Buds
$120 at Amazon $120 at Best Buy $120 at Walmart
Pros
- Better than typical Beats sound
- Super comfortable fit
- Hands-free Siri access
- Works well with Android
- Decent app support
Cons:
- No H1 or W1 chip for Apple users
- No auto play and pause
- No wireless charging
Beats made the Studio Buds appeal to a wider subset of users, meaning you're not just buying these because you think they'll rumble your ears with thick bass. There's more to them than that, which includes decent sound and good comfort and a little flash on the side.
Traditional look
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)
$150 at Amazon $169 at Best Buy $179 at B&H
Pros
- Improved audio quality
- Spatial audio support
- More durable build this time
- Excellent call quality
- Small charging case
Cons
- No ANC
- No EQ options
- Lightning for charging
- Not as resistant to water and sweat
Apple gave its entry-level earbuds a slightly different take, but the gist of what's going on inside hasn't changed all that much. New things do make them unique compared to their predecessors, but you still have to deal with the caveats to begin enjoying them.
Beats may be a different brand, but it bears many hallmarks that define Apple's products. Both have found themselves among the best wireless earbuds, though neither of these are the best in their own respective product lines. Incidentally, they carry some similarities, including pricing, only to deviate significantly once the music plays.
Beats Studio Buds vs. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen): Standing out
The AirPods Pro are often the measuring stick for any pair of Apple or Beats earbuds, and it would be no different for both of these. But this is a better comparison because the AirPods (3rd Gen) are usually more expensive than the Beats Studio Buds. The question is, which pair gives you the better value at the end of the day. The specs only tell part of the story.
| Beats Studio Buds | Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) | |
|---|---|---|
| Durability | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Bud battery life | Up to 8 hours | Up to 6 hours |
| Charging case battery life | 15 hours (24 without ANC) | 30 hours (20 hours with Spatial Audio) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Digital assistant support | Google Assistant, Siri | Siri |
| Supported audio codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Speaker size | 8.2mm drivers | 6mm drivers |
| Active noise cancelation | Yes | No |
While there are similarities, there are also distinct differences that play significant roles in how they respectively function. For example, battery life isn't exceptionally good, either way, when each pair's signature feature comes into play. For the Studio Buds, it's active noise cancelation (ANC), and for the AirPods (3rd Gen), it's Spatial Audio. Those two features don't cross over, so they are part of the value proposition involved.
What also matters is which pair plays nicer with Android devices, and that's where Beats holds an advantage. The Studio Buds lack the H1 and W1 chips that connect seamlessly with Apple devices, but are otherwise irrelevant to Android ones. Moreover, the Studio Buds also work with Google Assistant. Though not hands-free, it's at least easy enough to access, which isn't the case with the AirPods.
Coming back to battery life, they aren't far apart, but Beats last at least an hour longer per charge and don't require as much power to play at the same volumes. That matters over time. Even if the AirPods hold an edge with two extra charges coming from the case, plus wireless charging. The Studio Buds' case can only offer two additional charges and bizarrely doesn't offer wireless charging.
Beats Studio Buds vs. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen): Sound and comfort
The sound has everything to do with the overall design. The Studio Buds use ear tips and feature a nicely contoured build for better comfort. Larger drivers certainly don't hurt, but the real benefit is in how they fit, which ultimately makes them sound so much better than the AirPods. Like their predecessors, the 3rd-Gen AirPods use an open-fit design that simply can't seal in the audio the way tips can.
They're also a one-size-fits-all concept. How they fit you once is how they'll pretty much feel every time. Unfortunately, that doesn't bode well for how they'll sound because the lack of a tighter seal means you hear less bass. Beats already come with a reputation for ramping up the low end, though the Studio Buds aren't as intense that way. Whatever the case, the AirPods come with a big caveat for how they sound, and there's not much you can do about it.
The chasm grows larger when you factor in ANC or lack thereof. Beats at least give you the ability to drown out as much of the background as possible. Or you can pipe it in with Transparency mode. Noise cancelation isn't all that great, especially in louder settings, but it feels like a world of a difference compared to the AirPods (3rd Gen).
Beats at least gives you the ability to drown out as much of the background as possible.
The lack of Spatial Audio might hurt the Studio Buds, but in fairness, it's probably not a feature you'll miss all that much. Still, it's nice to have on the AirPods, and in quieter situations, it makes a show or movie feel more immersive. It's just unfortunate you can't tinker with the sound all that much beyond that. Beats certainly could've gone further with the sound customization here — like offering a custom EQ for one — but at least they sound pretty good out of the box. Apple only gives you its Adaptive EQ for the AirPods, all of which is automated, so you have no control over it.
Beats has an app for Android users, whereas those features fall under settings for iOS devices. Apple's blueprint does apply similarly to both in certain respects, like a "Find My" option to track them when you can't find them. Neither pair is all that rugged, so don't get them thinking they're ideal for the gym. They each have the same IPX4 rating: very limited water resistance and little else for sweat.
Beats Studio Buds vs. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen): Everything else
From a purely aesthetic point of view, it's worth noting Beats offers the Studio Buds in three colors. You can go flashy with red or stay neutral with black or white. They're options at least, which is more than you can hope for the AirPods (3rd Gen), who stick to the tradition of a single choice in white.
Apple has always made the AirPods stalwarts for phone calls, and that does continue here, except much of the same call quality applies to the Studio Buds, too. One could argue the AirPods' stems make calls better, but I'm not so sure that's the case between these two. The Studio Buds have onboard mics for ANC that make calls clearer, and the results aren't bad.
It's safe to say the same is true for onboard controls as well, though Beats gives you physical buttons, which vastly improve overall efficacy. So when you click once, twice, or three times, you'll rarely make a mistake. The AirPods are pretty good with standard all-touch controls, so it's not a route, but the Studio Buds are more consistent.
Beats Studio Buds vs. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen): Which should you choose?
These are two brands under the same umbrella, so while there are some differences, they also don't divert completely. Where they do divert, however, is in areas that matter, like fit, comfort, sound, and accessibility for Android users. For those reasons, Beats is the better option compared to the AirPods (3rd Gen). Why Apple continues to stubbornly stick to an open-fit design that is more a detriment than an asset to audio playback is unclear.
What is clear is that Beats got a different memo and built the Studio Buds to be more like most wireless earbuds. And with some of Apple's DNA inside, they feel familiar and unique by comparison all at once. As a result, you will get better sound, long battery life, and feel more comfortable the whole time, which is worth it when looking at what you pay for either pair.
Feeling the Beats
Beats Studio Buds
Decent Beats
$120 at Amazon $120 at Best Buy $120 at Walmart
The Beats Studio Buds do the few things well that matter, which is how they fit, how they sound, and how they work with Android.
Looking the part
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)
Easy to spot
$150 at Amazon $169 at Best Buy $179 at B&H
The AirPods (3rd Gen) sport a slightly different look, yet maintain their open-fit design that comes with consequences for playback,
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