Beats Studio Pro Review: Lots to Love, a Little to Hate

The Beats Studio Pro, the fourth generation of Beats Studio headphones, maintains the familiar exterior design of its predecessor, the Studio 3 Wireless. Despite the six-year gap, Apple (owner of Beats) chose to keep the iconic design while implementing significant internal upgrades for better performance. Key external changes include USBC charging and enhanced ear pads made from higher-grade memory foam and faux leather, providing better comfort and a superior seal for improved noise isolation. The branding is also more subtle, with no obnoxious logos. The headphones incorporate more recycled materials. The new rectangular soft case replaces the bulky hard case, offering convenience despite being slightly harder to use. Durability concerns with previous hinge designs have been addressed, making this model feel robust. The deep brown color, however, is prone to fingerprints.

Comfort-wise, the Beats Studio Pro are good, but slightly less comfortable than the lighter Sony WH-1000XM5. The AirPods Max, though heavier, offer better comfort due to their mesh headband. Feature-wise, the Studio Pro offers many upgrades but also some omissions. They cater to both Apple and Android users with a custom Beats chip and Bluetooth 5.3. Android users benefit from Google Fast Pair and multi-point Bluetooth pairing with automatic device switching. Apple users get iCloud account linking but need to manually switch devices. Notably, Android users miss out on spatial audio with head tracking and hands-free Siri. While spatial audio with head tracking is present for Apple users, ear detection sensors are absent, meaning music doesn't automatically pause when headphones are removed. The absence of Apple's H2 chip is a drawback, as it limits future feature upgrades.

The noise-canceling performance is very effective, featuring adaptive technology that adjusts to ambient noise. It rivals top-tier noise-canceling headphones from Sony and Bose. The transparency mode allows natural hearing of the outside world with minimal hiss, although slightly less natural than AirPods Max and AirPods Pro 2. Call quality is a significant improvement over previous Studio headphones, thanks to six microphones for noise canceling and voice capture. Noise reduction during calls is excellent, effectively minimizing background noise.

The Beats Studio Pro features new 40mm drivers with a dual-layer design and optimized acoustics, resulting in better clarity, definition, and tighter, punchy bass compared to the Studio 3 Wireless. They offer a more aggressive sound profile with sculpted highs and forward mids, differentiating them from the more laid-back Sony and AirPods Max. Wired modes include a 3.5mm headphone port and a USBC port. Using the USBC connection with high-res audio services like Qobuz delivers a slightly cleaner and clearer sound. In USBC mode, users can toggle between three EQ modes: Beats Signature, Entertainment, and Conversation. However, in wireless mode, only Beats Signature sound is available, with no EQ customization options.

Rated for 40 hours of battery life at 50% volume, the Beats Studio Pro exceeded expectations in real-world usage. Despite their strengths, the Studio Pro faces stiff competition from the Sony WH-1000XM5, which is often discounted, and upcoming Bose models. While the initial list price is high, the street price, especially during holiday sales, is expected to drop significantly, making them a more attractive option. For fans of the Beats Studio line, these headphones offer a substantial upgrade in performance, even if the exterior design remains largely unchanged.