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

As has become the norm for Beats headphones, wireless performance is just about perfect whether you use an iPhone or an Android. This isn’t something only just get with Beats/Apple. Sony and other manufacturers also fantastic blip-free wireless these days, but it’s still worth celebrating. If you’re looking primarily for isolation on the morning commute though, they begin to struggle. Loud transients still have a tendency to break through.

On Android, it’s ordinary. The Beats Studio 3 took an average amount of time to connect to my Huawei Mate 9 or LG V30. Occasionally, they didn’t show up in the Bluetooth pairing menu, or didn’t always want to connect when they were visible. I also experienced dropouts in areas of high wireless interference, such as cafes and train stations. I had no such problems with the B&W PX. The H1 chip is still very good though; it also lets you see the headphones’ battery per cent from the app you’re using to stream, which is handy. Passing cars aren’t “turned electric”, reduced to a light whoosh, and the effect isn’t eerily detaching like Bose’s. However, it's good enough that you don’t have to turn the volume up in noisy environments. That said, there’s something a bit on the nose about the presentation, they’re more confined than airy. Then there’s Class 1 Bluetooth connectivity, which theoretically ups the range you can move from your source from 10m (the distance limited by Class 2 Bluetooth) to 100m.Visually, it’s hard to separate the Beats Studio 3 from the Studio 2 and original Studio Wireless models. The construction is still primarily plastic, with a prominent ‘b’ logo stamped on each ear. The overall aesthetic is more streamlined and sits flatter against your head compared to the clunky first-gen Beats made by Monster. The Beats By Dre Studio3 uses microphones to listen to your ambient environment and then matches the frequency to cancel out the unwanted noise, leaving you and your favourite music alone. Leaks caused by movement, hair, hats or spectacles will also be detected and this is very effective indeed. The plus side is that the music is not affected in any way by the active noise cancellation. Battery life lasts for an estimated 22 hours of noise cancelling listening. Pretty impressive to say the least. Get Connected Connectivity is easy and hard to beat in terms of connection strength. Switching between devices is painless and if you're signed into the same iCloud Drive automatic pairing is possible. Audio Quality

Beats is also, predictably, promising better sound. No bad thing considering our review of the Beats Solo 3 headphones left us a little unconvinced in that department.It is, seemingly, designed to avoid distortion caused by cancellation of louder sources. We’ve heard such distortion in pairs from less experienced noise cancelling headphone makers when taking the London Tube, standing next to the door, but haven’t heard any such distortion from the Bose QuietComfort 35. Pure ANC (Active Noise Cancelation) is another tweaked feature of the Beats Studio 3 Wireless. The Studio series has had active noise cancellation since 2014, but this new version claims to put an extra layer of smarts between noise and your ears.

Micro USB Cable, Charging Cable, Audio Cable, Audio Cable with In-Line Microphone, Power Supply, Hardcase

The Dr Dre-endorsed Beats Studio 3 Wireless noise cancelling headphones are a safe pair of cans

Beats has marketed “Pure ANC” to sound better than just about anything out there. It isn’t, but it's perfectly decent all the same. Sound quality 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. However, for those who own an iPhone, iPad and iMac, and use these devices to listen to iTunes, these wireless noise-cancelling headphones will serve you well. You’ll benefit from excellent connectivity and battery life. You can’t fault Apple for looking after its own. Verdict We’ve heard this mid failing before in Beats headphones and noted how it makes the soundstage seem constrained, even though the problem is in the “middle”, not the top and bottom.

There’s no creaking when you fold the headphones up or twist them; the Studio 3 appear able to withstand reasonable wear and tear. That said, the market has moved on a bit since the first-gen Studio were launched, and similar money could buy you a more luxurious finish. The Sony WH-1000XM2 combines plastic with metal and faux leather; the Bowers & Wilkins PX fuses anodised aluminium with ballistic nylon. The Beats Studio3 Wireless headphone is designed for long-term comfort to match its impressive battery life of up to 22 hours for all-day play. The soft over-ear cushions feature advanced venting and signature ergonomic pivoting for a custom, flexible fit for any head shape. The holistic design is lightweight, durable and comfortable, so you can get lost in your music. 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. 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. If you’re a fan of Apple devices then the Beats Studio 3 may be for you. For Android users, who won’t benefit from the boost of the Apple W1 chip, the experience is merely average. Similar money can buy you much better alternatives. The Sony WH-1000XM2 or Bowers & Wilkins PX offer a greater number of features and better sound, too.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.