Beats was acquired by Apple in 2014, but it still maintains its own distinct branding and iconic designs. In its early days, audiophiles rightly looked down upon the sound quality of Beats headphones, which served up a preponderance of bass that lacked definition. However, Beats headphones and earbuds have come a long way in terms of sound quality, and they now produce quite respectable sound while also offering very good noise-canceling and voice-calling performance.
8.0/10 CNET Score
Love 'em or hate 'em, Beats Studio headphones are among the most popular headphones of all time, launching as wired headphones back in 2008. This is the fourth generation of them, and they carry the same list price as their predecessor and look very similar on the outside but have some big changes on the inside that make them significantly better headphones. I'm tempted to describe them as more affordable plastic versions of the AirPods Max. However, that's not quite accurate due to a choice in chipsets and one notable missing feature. But read our full review to find out what makes these very good headphones, albeit with some caveats.
Pros
- Improved sound quality, ANC and ear pad design
- Very good voice-calling performance
- Spatial audio with head tracking for Apple users
- USB-C audio
Cons
- No Apple H2 chip
- No ear-detection sensors
- No major design changes except for case
8.8/10 CNET Score
Why I like them
Pros
- Improved design: buds are 20% lighter, case is 33% smaller, and ear hook is slimmer, incorporating nickel-titanium alloy
- Equipped with Apple's more powerful H2 chip
- Improved noise canceling and natural-sounding transparency mode
- Very good sound quality
- Excellent voice-calling performance with new microphones and voice accelerometers to help pinpoint your voice
- Built-in heart-rate sensors
- Physical control buttons work well during athletic activities
- Improved design and sound quality with smaller case
- Strong battery life and wireless charging
Cons
- Premium price
- Some users may not get a tight seal with included ear tips
- A few features missing from AirPods Pro 2 (no Precision Finding, Conversation Awareness or Adaptive Audio)
- Some Apple-exclusive features unavailable to Android users
- Built-in heart-rate monitor may not seem like a needed feature to some people
8.8/10 CNET Score
Why I like them
Pros
- Lightweight design with integrated wingtip that fits securely
- Very good sound and noise canceling
- Powered by Apple's H1 chip
Cons
- No wireless charging
- No enhanced My Find with proximity view (only standard Find My)
8.2/10 CNET Score
Why I like them
Pros
- Lightweight and discrete, they fit comfortably with upgraded performance all-around (voice-calling is good now)
- Android friendly (iOS users get hands-free Siri)
- Improved battery life
Cons
- Missing: wireless charging, spatial audio with head tracking and in-ear detection sensor
8.0/10 CNET Score
In a nutshell, the Beats Solo 4 on-ear headphones have pretty much the same look on the outside as the 3s, but some notable improvements on the inside bump their performance by about 25% to 30% when it comes to sound quality, battery life and voice-calling.
Pros
- Improved sound and voice-calling performance
- Strong battery life
- USB-C audio
- Spatial audio with head tracking for Apple users
- Android compatible
Cons
- No active noise canceling
- No ear-detection sensors
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What are the best Beats headphones overall?
You can argue over which Beats models are the best, but if I had to choose, I'd say the Studio Pro and Powerbeats Pro 2 are probably its top headphones and earbuds, respectively. The new Powerbeats Fit are also quite good, but they're simply a rebranded version of the 4-year-old Fit Pro buds with redesigned wingtips and a smaller charging case. Note that while some Beats headphones and earbuds have certain features that are exclusive to Apple users, there's a Beats app for Android, and the company has made an effort to market its products to Android users.
Read more: Best Wireless Earbuds of 2025
Best Beats headphones and earbuds of 2026
Pros
- Improved sound quality, ANC and ear pad design
- Very good voice-calling performance
- Spatial audio with head tracking for Apple users
- USB-C audio
Cons
- No Apple H2 chip
- No ear-detection sensors
- No major design changes except for case
Love 'em or hate 'em, Beats Studio headphones are among the most popular headphones of all time, launching as wired headphones back in 2008. This is the fourth generation of them, and they carry the same list price as their predecessor and look very similar on the outside but have some big changes on the inside that make them significantly better headphones. I'm tempted to describe them as more affordable plastic versions of the AirPods Max. However, that's not quite accurate due to a choice in chipsets and one notable missing feature. But read our full review to find out what makes these very good headphones, albeit with some caveats.
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Pros
- Improved design: buds are 20% lighter, case is 33% smaller, and ear hook is slimmer, incorporating nickel-titanium alloy
- Equipped with Apple's more powerful H2 chip
- Improved noise canceling and natural-sounding transparency mode
- Very good sound quality
- Excellent voice-calling performance with new microphones and voice accelerometers to help pinpoint your voice
- Built-in heart-rate sensors
- Physical control buttons work well during athletic activities
- Improved design and sound quality with smaller case
- Strong battery life and wireless charging
Cons
- Premium price
- Some users may not get a tight seal with included ear tips
- A few features missing from AirPods Pro 2 (no Precision Finding, Conversation Awareness or Adaptive Audio)
- Some Apple-exclusive features unavailable to Android users
- Built-in heart-rate monitor may not seem like a needed feature to some people
Why I like them
The original Powerbeats Pro were released in May 2019, so Beats has had a lot of time to plot how to improve the second generation of its popular ear-hook style true-wireless sport earbuds. And improve they have -- by quite a bit. Not only do they feature a new, more refined design with better ergonomics, but new drivers, a more powerful Apple H2 chip, a new built-in heart-rate sensor and, yes, active noise canceling for the first time in a pair of Powerbeats. And that noise canceling is quite good, as is the sound quality and voice-calling performance -- so long as you get a tight seal from one of the five different included eartips. Read my Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review.
These new Powerbeats Pro 2 fit my ears better thanks to Beats improving the overall ergonomic shape of the earbud and completely redesigning the ear hook -- it's 50% smaller and incorporates nickel-titanium alloy, so it's both flexible and durable. The buds themselves are 20% lighter.
Reasons to buy
Fitness enthusiasts prefer earbuds with ear hooks to prevent their buds from falling out of their ears during intense workouts. Typically, such earbuds don't offer the greatest performance, but the Powerbeats Pro 2 share many of the same qualities and features as the AirPods Pro 2, featuring very good sound quality, along with strong noise cancellation and voice-calling performance. In short, they're versatile, also performing well as everyday earbuds. It's also worth noting that while the Powerbeats Pro 2 have some Apple-exclusive features, Beats does have an app for Android users that makes these more Android-friendly than AirPods.
Reasons to skip/keep looking
While Beats has improved the Powerbeats Pro 2's design and ergonomics, they still may not be a comfortable fit for everybody's ears, and some people may not get a truly tight seal from any of Beats' eartips. (I had an issue and had to use another set of eartips from my collection.) If you don't get a tight seal, you'll likely be unimpressed with the sound quality and noise canceling and may want to return them to the store where you bought them. (Try to find some alternative eartips before you do that.)
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Pros
- Lightweight design with integrated wingtip that fits securely
- Very good sound and noise canceling
- Powered by Apple's H1 chip
Cons
- No wireless charging
- No enhanced My Find with proximity view (only standard Find My)
Why I like them
Beats has redesigned the wingtips of its popular Fit Pro earbuds, trimmed down their charging case by 17% and rebranded them as the Powerbeats Fit. While I'm disappointed we didn't get the Fit Pro 2 this year, the changes do make this set of top-notch sports earbuds (that work well as everyday earbuds) a little better. Read my Powerbeats Fit review.
Reasons to buy them
If you don't like the ear-hook design of the Powerbeats Pro 2, the Beats Powerbeats Fit are a good alternative (I personally prefer the fit of the Powerbeats Fit). While the Powerbeats Pro 2 offer slightly better performance overall and are equipped with Apple's H2 chip and heart-rate sensors, the Powerbeats Fit still sound good and offer decent noise canceling. They also frequently go on sale, so they can be had at a decent discount. Definitely don't buy them at full price.
Reasons to skip/keep looking
The Beats Fit Pro were launched at the end of 2021. Yes, the Powerbeats Fit are slightly improved over that model, thanks to their smaller case and redesigned wingtips. However, the reality is that they're 4-year-old earbuds and are still in need of an upgrade.
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Pros
- Lightweight and discrete, they fit comfortably with upgraded performance all-around (voice-calling is good now)
- Android friendly (iOS users get hands-free Siri)
- Improved battery life
Cons
- Missing: wireless charging, spatial audio with head tracking and in-ear detection sensor
Why I like them
Compared to the original Beats Studio Buds, which remain on the market, the newer Studio Buds Plus buds are significantly improved, with better sound, noise canceling and battery life. Additionally, they now deliver top-notch voice-calling performance. Read my Beats Buds Plus review.
The transparent version got a lot of attention at launch (who doesn't like transparent electronics?), but the big changes are on the inside. Beats says 95% of the components are new and improved, and the buds' "acoustic architecture" has been revised. The speaker drivers remain the same, but the Studio Buds Plus are powered by a new, more powerful custom chipset and have three new microphones in each bud, which are three times larger and more sensitive than the ones found in the Beats Studio Buds.
Reasons to buy
The compact Beats Studio Buds Plus offer good sound quality and strong all-around performance for an affordable price, especially when they're discounted, which they often are. It's also worth noting that like with other Beats headphones and earbuds, these are more Android-friendly than Apple's AirPods (there's a Beats app for Android) and the only feature that Apple users get that Android users don't is hands-free Siri.
Reasons to skip/keep looking
The Studio Buds Plus were released in May of 2023, so they're over two years old and may be due for an upgrade. Also, while the AirPods Pro 2 may cost more, they have a more robust feature set -- for Apple users anyway.
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Pros
- Improved sound and voice-calling performance
- Strong battery life
- USB-C audio
- Spatial audio with head tracking for Apple users
- Android compatible
Cons
- No active noise canceling
- No ear-detection sensors
In a nutshell, the Beats Solo 4 on-ear headphones have pretty much the same look on the outside as the 3s, but some notable improvements on the inside bump their performance by about 25% to 30% when it comes to sound quality, battery life and voice-calling.
Would I pay $200 for them? No, I wouldn't. But if you look at what's happened with the Studio Pro's pricing -- they're sporadically discounted to $200 or $150 off their list price and even dropped to $180 for Prime Day -- the Solo 4s won't always be $200. I'm certain we'll see them fairly soon for what the Solo 3s now cost, which is around $130. They make a lot more sense at that price, particularly if you're looking for a more compact on-ear headphone and don't need active noise canceling.
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Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Very compact case
- Good sound and voice-calling performance
- Strong battery life
Cons
- Few features
- No battery or LED charging indicator in charging case
Why I like them
Available in four color options, the Solo Buds are missing some key features found in more premium buds, including a battery in their very compact charging case, ear-detection sensors and active noise canceling. But they get the fundamentals right. They're lightweight and not only offer decent sound quality and strong battery life but also very good voice-calling performance that rivals what you get with the company's more expensive Studio Buds Plus. Read my Solo Buds review.
Reasons to buy
They're the most affordable Beats earbuds, and their charging case is quite compact and doesn't take up much room in a pocket. They also have great battery life.
Reasons to skip/keep looking
Having no battery in the case may be a deal-breaker for some people (using a USB-C cable, your phone can supply power to charge the buds in the case, but not everybody likes that concept).
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Pros
- Price is right
- Improved sound, voice calling and battery life
- Rock-solid wireless connection
- Auto-pause magnetic buds
- Easy pairing with Apple devices
- Android app for Android users
Cons
- They have wires
- No carrying pouch included
- No official water-resistance (no IPX certification)
- Ear tips don't have integrated wings to lock buds in your ears.
Yes, these are "wired wireless" earbuds -- with a cable connecting the left and right earbud, but they're also the most affordable wireless Apple headphones you can buy (Beats is a subsidiary of Apple). Equipped with Apple's older W1 chip, not the H1 found in the AirPods 3rd Generation, AirPods Pro and Beats Fit Pro, they don't have such extra features as spatial audio. However, they sound good and work well for making voice calls.
Some people like the concept of neckband-style wireless earbuds. You can leave the earbuds dangling from around your neck, wearing them like a pendant. Gone is the fear of losing an AirPod by dropping it. Going from listening to not listening to the earbuds requires simply lifting them to your ears -- or pulling them out. And forget about having to drop them in a charging case when you're not using them.
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Budget
Before anything else, you'll want to figure out how much you're willing to spend on new Beats headphones. The quality of value-priced Beats headphones continues to improve, so you can find good affordable headphones for less than $100. But the premium models, which offer better build quality and performance, tend to cost $200 or more -- sometimes much more.
Fit (comfort)
It's key that whatever Beats headphones you buy fit your head well. They should offer a comfortable fit that's snug yet not too snug. If you don't get a tight seal with noise-isolating earbuds, sound quality and noise cancelling can be dramatically impacted for the worse. Open earbuds, like the Beats Flex, don't have that issue, but they should be comfortable to wear and sit securely in your ears. Ideally, you want headphones you can wear over the course of a day with minimal breaks.
Durability
You want earbuds that hold up well over time, so look for models that we note have sturdy build quality. This is especially important with true wireless earbuds, which are more susceptible to loss or damage due to their size.
Maximize performance and features for your budget
You want the best-sounding headphones with the best noise-canceling, call quality, and features for whatever you're able to spend.
Return policy
It's critical to buy your headphones at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case you have buyer's remorse. Some people who are having trouble deciding between two models sometimes buy both, try them out for a few days, and then return one. If you're buying Beats headphones directly from Apple, you have 14 calendar days to return an item from the date you received it. Otherwise, return policies vary by retailer.
We test Beats headphones and earbuds based on six key criteria. These criteria include design, sound quality, noise-canceling performance, voice-calling performance, features and value.
Design
We assess not only how comfortable the Beats fit (ergonomics) but their build quality and how well included features like touch control are implemented. We also look at water- and dust-resistance ratings, but keep in mind that only a few full-sized headphones offer water and dust protection (IP ratings). Models with a more durable build are highlighted as great picks for those who may need a set of earbuds that can withstand a heavy workout or a long trip in your work bag.
Sound quality
We evaluate sound quality and music experience by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing the earbuds to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment. Some of my test tracks include Spoon's Knock Knock Knock, Athletes of God's Don't Wanna Be Normal, The Doors Touch Me - Take 3, Orbital's Dirty Rat, Taylor Swift's Vigilante Shit, Jvke's Golden Hour and Drake's Passionfruit.
Noise-canceling performance
We evaluate Beats' noise-canceling performance by wearing the headphones in the same spot indoors near a noisy HVAC unit to see how well they do at muffling lower frequencies. Then we head out to the streets of New York to test the headphones in a real-world environment where we see how they do at muffling not only street noise but people's voices.
Extra features
Some of the best-sounding Beats headphones and earbuds aren't loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from quick-access awareness to transparency modes (your music pauses and the headphones open up to the outside world so you can have a conversation) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears. We also take a look at the Beats companion app for the headphones and see how user-friendly it is with the particular model.
Voice-calling
When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls in the noisy streets of New York and evaluate how well the earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear your voice. The best headphones and earbuds for voice calling pick up your voice clearly while significantly reducing background noise. Onboard microphones, sophisticated noise-reduction algorithms and voice accelerometers that detect when you're speaking all factor into call quality. Plus, a sidetone feature allows you to hear your own voice when chatting with noise-isolating buds, helping you avoid talking too loudly.
Value
Beats headphones and earbuds span a wide range of price classes, from the budget-friendly $47 Beats Flex to the pricer $200 Beats Studio Pro. We determine value after evaluating the strength of the headphones against all these criteria and what the buds are able to deliver compared to other models in their price class. Great sounding, feature-packed headphones that offer a great bang for your buck earn top marks in this category.
Beats Fit Pro: Beats has replaced the Beats Fit Pro with the Powerbeats Fit, which feature redesigned wingtips and a smaller charging case but are otherwise the same. As a result of the Powerbeats Fit release, you may be able to find the Beats Fit Pro at a nice discount.
Beats Studio Buds: The Studio Buds were once a good value, but the Studio Buds Plus offer significant improvements, so we tend to recommend that newer model. The cheaper Solo Buds also offer superior sound to the standard Studio Buds. These are worth considering only if you see them substantially discounted, but still be sure to check out our full review of the Studio Buds to see if they're right for you.
Beats Powerbeats Pro: A lot of people like the Powerbeats Pro and you still see many people wearing them. They remain good ear hook-style buds, but they're rather pricey for earbuds that have been on the market for several years. Learn more about the Powerbeats Pro in our full review.
Beats Solo Pro: The Solo Pro were a more premium version of standard Beats Solo headphones and featured active noise canceling. But they were too expensive ($300 list) and were discontinued in late 2021. If you're still looking to grab yourself a pair, check out our full review of the Solo Pro for more information.
Which Beats headphones are the best to buy?
If I had to choose, I'd say the Studio Pro and Fit Pro are probably its top headphones and earbuds respectively. But your favorite Beats headphones may come down to personal preference. If you're looking for standard earbuds that are comparable to the Apple AirPods Pro, you might opt for the Beats Studio Buds Plus. If you're a running fanatic, the neck strap on the Beats Flex might suit your needs.
Do Beats headphones have good audio quality?
Beats has come a long way in terms of audio quality from its early days with boomy bass and underwhelming sound quality. Now, the Apple-owned headphones sound quite respectable and also offer very good noise-canceling and voice-calling performance that rivals top brands. My favorite option for a great-sounding Beats headphone is the Studio Pro, which offers spatial audio with head tracking for Apple users.
Are Beats higher quality than AirPods?
Apple makes some of the best earbuds and headphones on the market -- and that includes models from Beats, which was acquired by Apple several years ago. Beats headphones and earbuds may not be called AirPods, but in some cases, they share the same Apple chipsets and features. The quality between the two brands is comparable, and their utility depends on your individual use case.