AirPods 3 are Apple's latest and greatest earbuds, but how do they stack up the more affordable Beats Studio Buds? In 2021, it's difficult to overstate Apple's dominance in the consumer audio space. AirPods are the most popular true wireless earbuds by a long shot. They were originally mocked for the bizarre design and high price, but they now dominate a niche Apple essentially helped create overnight. Combine that with the premium-focused AirPods Max and growing subscriber numbers of Apple Music, and it's clear the audio/music niche is one Apple's serious about.
In addition to everything it does with its own branding, Apple is also very much focused on growing its Beats products. Founded in 2006 and purchased by Apple in 2014, Beats is one of the most iconic audio brands on the planet. From its bass-heavy headphones to portable speakers, it's a name that's just as synonymous as Sony or Bose. It also happens to have its own wireless earbuds in the form of Beats Studio Buds. Beats Studio Buds and AirPods 3 are two of the most compelling earbuds on the market right now — but which is ultimately worth buying? Here are a few things interested shoppers should know.
Design-wise, AirPods 3 and Beats Studio Buds take slightly different approaches with their form factor. Just like the past two generations of AirPods before them, AirPods 3 have a one-size-fits-all design with no customizable ear tip. It's a design that works well for some people, terribly for others, and really just depends on the shape/size of someone's ear. By comparison, Beats Studio Buds are much more traditional. They have customizable gel tips to get the perfect fit, no stem, and use physical buttons to control audio playback (AirPods 3 use a pressure-sensitive 'force sensor'). Both earbuds tout an IPX4 water-resistance rating, but Beats gets the edge with its color options — offering Black, White, and Beats Red. The white AirPods might be iconic, but Apple's single color offering is beyond boring at this point.
Things get a bit more heated when it comes to the earbuds' competing features. Both are marketed as supporting spatial audio, but the Studio Buds only work with standard Dolby Atmos tracks in Apple Music. AirPods 3 take things a step further with full head-tracking support in Apple Music and supported video apps — adding a level of audio immersion the Studio Buds just can't match. That said, the Studio Buds are the only earbuds in this comparison with active noise canceling and transparency mode. The performance of these two modes isn't the strongest out there, but it's still better than AirPods 3 not having them at all.
Something else to consider is how each pair of earbuds works with the iPhone. Upon initial setup, connecting them is as easy as opening the case near your phone and tapping the 'Connect' button that automatically appears. Both earbuds also have easy access to playback settings in the iPhone's Control Center, 'Hey Siri' voice control, and work with the Find My app in case they become lost. However, AirPods 3 have a few exclusive features not present on the Studio Buds. If someone wants to have their earbuds seamlessly switch between different Apple devices, auto play/pause with in-ear detection, or share audio with another set of AirPods, they'll need to buy AirPods 3. Last but certainly not least, there's the battery/charging experience. AirPods 3 deliver up to 6 hours of continuous playback and 30 hours of total listening time. Beats Studio Buds have a longer 8-hour endurance for continuous listening time, though total battery life is slightly less at 24 hours. USB-C charging for the Studio Buds case is great, but Apple offers more charging options with AirPods 3 (Lightning, Qi wireless, and MagSafe).
The last thing to consider in this comparison is price. AirPods 3 are available for $179, whereas Beats Studio Buds are $149. That's not a dramatic difference, but it does make the Studio Buds the best choice for price-conscious shoppers. Beats' earbuds also stand out as the go-to choice for anyone who needs customizable ear tips, noise-canceling, and/or longer continuous battery. So, who should buy AirPods 3? Assuming you can stomach the $30 price hike and don't mind the one-size-fits-all approach, AirPods 3 are absolutely worth it for someone deep in the Apple ecosystem. They have better spatial audio, play nicely with other Apple gadgets, and generally provide the best experience for someone all-in on Apple.
Source: Apple
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