Beats Studio Buds + Review

The $169.99 Beats Studio Buds + noise-cancelling true wireless earphones improve upon the Studio Buds with better battery life and more effective active noise cancellation (ANC). They also deliver a bass-forward yet balanced sound signature and integrate just as flawlessly with iOS devices as Apple's first-party products. If you use an iPhone, the Studio Buds + get our nod over the $179 third-generation AirPods because they cost slightly less, fit more consistently, and have the advantage of ANC, something the regular AirPods don't offer. If you're willing to spend more, the $249 second-gen AirPods Pro offer superior spatial audio and slightly better noise cancellation, earning them our Editors' Choice award.

The Studio Buds + are available in a black-and-gold, ivory, or transparent finish. I tested the transparent model and enjoyed the cool aesthetic—it's somewhat reminiscent of the old-school semi-transparent iMacs as well as recent designs from Nothing. The earpieces fit securely and ship with four pairs of silicone ear tips (in XS, S, M, and L sizes). Each earpiece has three mics—one feed-forward, one feedback (for ANC and transparency modes), and one that focuses on voices.

Internally, custom two-layer dynamic diaphragm drivers provide the audio, while acoustic vents allow for better airflow during playback. Unfortunately, Beats doesn’t share frequency range specs.

The earbuds are compatible with Bluetooth 5.3 and support the AAC and SBC codecs, but not AptX. One-touch pairing allows for instant connections with all the devices in your iCloud account, while the Handoff feature lets you easily switch playback over to your Apple Watch, for instance, if your phone is out of range. Interestingly, these rely on a proprietary second-generation Beats platform rather than the Apple H2 chip in the latest AirPods Pro or the H1 chip in the Beats Fit Pro. Beats doesn't forget about Android users either: The earbuds support Google Fast Pair, as well as automatic pairing with all the Chrome or Android devices linked to your Google account.

The on-ear push-button controls are simple to use and work the same on each side by default. A single press handles playback and call management, a double press skips forward a track, and a triple press navigates backward a track. A long press cycles through ANC On and Transparency modes (though you can add an ANC Off option to this list). You can customize long presses to instead summon voice assistants or handle volume control via the integrated settings menu on your iPhone or the Beats app on Android devices. You can also set long presses on the left and right earbuds to control different functions.

These controls feel responsive and aren't prone to accidental presses, but not everyone will enjoy the push-button mechanic. Clicking them didn't affect the fit or push the earbuds further into my ear canal in testing, but it's an extra step compared with taps on a capacitive panel.

The IPX4 water-resistance rating here is standard for noise-cancelling earphones, but not overly impressive. It means they can withstand light splashes from any direction, so neither light rain nor sweat should cause an issue. You should avoid dunking them or submerging them for cleaning, though. If you're looking for something more durable, the $149.95 JBL Reflect Aero earbuds offer a top-notch IP68 rating.

The included oval charging case has a matte surface, and I like how the transparent version looks—you can see just about every one of its internal components through a slightly opaque plastic material. The front sports the lowercase Beats “b” logo as well as a status LED, while the bottom houses a USB-C port for the included USB-C-to-USB-C cable. Unfortunately, the case does not charge wirelessly and can't stand upright by itself—I just propped it up in the photos here to show its design. For reference, the AirPods case supports MagSafe charging.

Beats estimates that the Studio Buds + can last roughly nine hours per charge without ANC and that the case holds an additional 27 hours of battery life. Expect a dip to around 6 and 18 hours, respectively, for the earbuds and the case if you switch ANC on. Those estimates are slightly above average, but your typical listening volume will also affect how long you get. The company claims that the battery takes two hours to fully charge from empty and that five minutes of charging nets you an hour of playback.

I tested the Studio Buds + primarily with a 2022 iPhone SE. In iOS, the earbuds' features are very much a part of the operating system, much like with the AirPods. Android users can download the Beats app for access to button customizations, ANC mode controls, a location-based function for finding a lost pair, and firmware updates.

For iOS devices, pairing is a one-touch process. Simply flip open the case and wait for the Studio Buds + graphic to appear, along with some basic tips.

The main screen for the Studio Buds + shows battery life readouts for the earphones and the case, along with a name field below that you can easily edit. The next section allows you to switch between Noise Cancellation, Off, and Transparency modes but not make any adjustments to their levels. Further down, you can customize Press and Hold functions for each ear. Apart from the aforementioned Siri and ANC options, you can choose whether a single or double tap ends a call and how the mic behaves when you use a single earbud.

The Studio Buds + work with the iOS Find My app, which helps you locate lost earbuds on a map. Just note that this shows the last place your case, with the earphones inside, was connected to your phone. If you take your earbuds out and leave the case where it was last, that's the location the app reports. Below that section, you can view details like the product's serial number and access the standard Disconnect and Forget This Device functions. Over-the-air firmware updates install automatically.

Hands-free Siri is an option with the Studio Buds +, though you can disable this integration in the Siri settings menu if you prefer. In testing, the mics responded quickly to “Hey Siri” commands on the first try.

Neither the Android nor iOS experiences offer an adjustable EQ. iOS gives you various presets to try, but that’s true of the OS in general and not specific to the Studio Buds +. A multi-band EQ to tweak the audio to taste is a basic feature most competing models include and I don't understand why some premium brands leave this off.

The Studio Buds + offer some of the best active noise cancellation we've experienced under $200. They largely eliminate low-frequency rumble like from an airplane and considerably cut back noises from a more variable recording of a packed restaurant. A thin band of higher frequencies got past the circuitry in the latter test, but that's common for most noise-cancelling models.

Compared with the more expensive Apple AirPods Pro, the Studio Buds + were nearly as effective against the low frequencies, though the AirPods had a clear edge against the mids and highs. The Studio Buds behave similarly to the AirPods Pro in adapting to sound—the initial profile might just be decent, but the subsequent readjustment after a few seconds should result in something better.

Transparency mode is also effective. With it active, you can hear your surroundings clearly, at close to real-life levels. This mode also tamps down loud sounds as they occur to help protect your ears, though not as gracefully as with Apple's adaptive transparency mode.

Beats claims that the Studio Buds + automatically analyze audio when the ANC or transparency modes are active to correct for any resultant audio artifacts, and I didn't notice much of a difference with either mode in testing. That's a plus because these modes should never affect the sound signature.

Before I get into impressions of the sound signature, note that the Studio Buds + can play Dolby Atmos audio, but don't support spatial audio with head-tracking. If you don't want to listen to Dolby Atmos audio, you have to use Apple Music's settings menu to disable it. I recommend some A/B testing with this feature because some stereo Atmos mixes actually sound fuller with the setting inactive.

On tracks with heavy sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the earphones boost the bass depth and put out crisp highs. The lows don't distort at maximum volume levels and still sound robust at more reasonable settings.

The Buds + have no trouble reproducing the sub-bass progression at the 34-second mark of Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty.” Each note in the sub-bass synth line is audible, and the drum loop gets some additional thump. The various vocal performances on the track exhibit strong clarity and never seem in danger of losing presence to the powerful bass elements.

Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with far less deep bass, gives us a better sense of the sound signature. The Studio Buds + lend a fullness to the drums, without ever pushing them into unnatural territories. The other bass elements retain a richness as well, while the higher-register percussive hits and acoustic strums benefit from a pleasing edge. The drivers scoop the mids a bit and I would still like access to an EQ, but I enjoy the overall tuning.

On orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, the earphones produce a pleasant mix of sculpted highs and slightly boosted lows. The lower-register instrumentation gets some extra heft in certain spots, but the spotlight belongs to the higher-register brass, strings, and vocals.

The mic array works reliably and I could understand every word from an iPhone test recording. The mics don't emphasize clarity as much as those on the AirPods Pro, but conversations over a strong cellular signal aren't an issue with either one.

The Beats Studio Buds + produce natural, full bass depth that doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the mix and they offer effective noise cancellation at a price lower than many top-tier competitors. Hands-free Siri is also quite convenient and we’re big fans of the transparent model’s design. Ultimately, the Studio Buds + get our recommendation over the standard AirPods because they offer ANC and fit more securely. If you're looking for the best in noise cancellation and spatial audio, however, the $249 AirPods Pro are worth the extra money.

The Beats Studio Buds + seamlessly integrate with Apple devices, deliver vibrant sound, and offer some of the best noise cancellation you can get for less than $200.

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