Apple AirPods Pro Vs Beats Studio 3: Which One Is Worthy?

Comparing the Beats Studio 3 to the Apple AirPods Pro may appear to be an unusual matchup, similar to pitting an elephant against an ant.

The most exciting battles, on the other hand, frequently emerge from the unexpected. An apparently tiny contender’s abilities might sometimes surpass those of a larger one.

Compact devices, like an ant, may do things that an elephant cannot comprehend. So, enjoy the element of surprise and join us for this humorous duel between Apple AirPods Pro and Beats Studio 3.

By going into this comparison, you’ll find your individual requirements and whether you need the might of an elephant or the cleverness of an ant to meet them.

Apple AirPods Pro Vs Beats Studio 3: Which One Is Worthy?: A Complete Guide

Let’s start with a quick look at these two earphones. For an overview of their essential features, see the table below. Now, before we get into the detailed comparison, let’s have a look at their design and construction.

Specification

Features	Beats Studio 3	Apple AirPods Pro
Form Factor	Over-ear.	In-ear.
Bluetooth Version	Class 1 + W1.	Class 1 + H1.
Driver Size	50 mm.	11 mm.
Battery Life	22 hours (with ANC), 40 hours (without ANC).	4.5 hours (ANC on), 24 hours (with charging case).
Charging Time	1.5 hours.	1.5 hours.
Fast Charging Feature	10 minutes of charging = 3 hours of playback.	5 minutes of charging = 1 hour of playback.
Charging Cable Type	USB-A to USB Micro-B.	Lightning to USB-C.
Codec Support	SBC, AAC.	SBC, AAC.
IP rating	No.	IPX4.
Color	Matte Black, Red, White, Blue, Shadow Gray, Black-Red, Midnight Black.	White.
Dimension	6.3 x 4.7 x 8.9 inches.	1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 inches.
Weight	9.2 ounces.	0.19 ounces (each earbud).
Check Details	See More	See More

What’s in the box

Beats Studio 3	Apple AirPods Pro
Headphone	Apple AirPods Pro
Protective Case	Protective Case
Cable	Documentation
Warranty Card	Warranty Card

Fit & Comfort

The Apple AirPods Pro stands out due to its revolutionary vent system, which is designed to equalize ear pressure and minimize discomfort—a claim that is proven in practice. These in-ear headphones strike an excellent blend of comfort and performance.

The lightweight design, with a shallow insertion depth into the ear canals, offers a barely-there feel, while the exceptional breathability avoids heat buildup, even during intensive activities. The IPX4 grade guarantees resistance to perspiration and small spills.

Furthermore, the AirPods Pro provides a customized fit by delivering three pairs of silicone ear tips in varied sizes that are tuned to specific ear contours. Because of this amount of personalization, even users with narrower ear canals, such as my friend John, can get a perfect fit with the medium-sized tips.

The Beats Studio 3 on the other hand, has well-padded earcups but less substantial padding on the headband. While it may seem slightly unyielding at first, extended listening sessions are fatigue-free thanks to uniform pressure distribution and a mild clamping force.

Nonetheless, the comfort provided by small in-ear headphones like the AirPods Pro much outweighs that of bulkier over-ear counterparts. Carrying the weight of a large headphone on your head may be taxing, making the AirPods Pro the clear victor in terms of comfort and wearability.

Design & Build

Let’s start by looking at the physical characteristics of these two earpieces. The Apple AirPods Pro keeps the sleek and basic form of the original AirPods but with a divisive retro-modern look.

The stems have been trimmed and have a small notch that houses an inbuilt force sensor for essential controls.

A larger head with black mic vents and an additional microphone vent at the stem’s top improve functioning. Notably, the addition of silicone ear tips provides a luxury touch and improves the overall fit.

Moving on to the build quality, the AirPods Pro are made of high-grade plastic, ensuring resistance against inadvertent drops. Furthermore, they have an IPX4 water-resistance rating, which protects them from water splashes and minor moisture exposure.

Comparing these tiny earbuds to bulkier over-ear headphones is intriguing. The Beats Studio 3 has a smooth, curved design with no harsh edges.

It is mostly made of plastic and has an appealing matte surface. While most components are strong, the fold-up hinge and headband frame are reinforced with metal.

The foam padding is encased in synthetic imitation leather, offering comfort with an authentic feel. The headband’s plastic coating, on the other hand, is easily scratched.

When it comes to overall appearance and construction, the AirPods Pro edges out the Beats Studio 3. When selecting headphones or earbuds, comfort is an important consideration that should not be overlooked, as discomfort might interfere with your daily tasks.

Sound Quality

Apple’s approach to audio quality with the AirPods Pro is consistent with the company’s other products, with a focus on clarity and a balanced tonal balance rather than overwhelming bass.

This feature makes the AirPods Pro an excellent choice for genres such as classical music since it provides balanced and controlled bass without overpowering the sound profile.

The mid-range frequencies are highlighted by precise vocals and texture, while the treble provides sparkle without being excessively bright. In general, the AirPods Pro provide a clear, distortion-free, and immersive audio experience.

On the contrary, the Beats Studio 3 has a bass-heavy sound profile, which is consistent with the brand’s hallmark style. This bass emphasis fits genres such as EDM and rap, giving strong thumping beats.

However, the mid-range can sometimes lack clarity, and the treble can be weak, resulting in certain mixes seeming muffled. The AirPods Pro won this round due to their balanced and clean sound.

Both of these earphones have noise-canceling capabilities. Let’s look at their noise-canceling skills and see which one stands out.

Noise Cancellation

Moving on to noise cancellation, the AirPods Pro is one of the top contenders among true wireless earbuds in this category. While they do not approach the capabilities of models such as the Sony WF 1000XM4, they do provide a commendable noise-canceling experience.

When you put on the AirPods Pro, background noises in the bass region, such as the hum of a bus or plane engine, become nearly inaudible.

The earphones efficiently attenuate midrange sounds such as ambient talk, making them appear half as loud as they would without active noise cancellation (ANC).

Their treble range noise cancellation is slightly weaker, yet it is still capable of effectively blocking out numerous noises.

In comparison to the AirPods Pro, the Beats Studio 3’s noise-cancelling capability falls short. While it can assist in blocking out office noise and provide a focused environment for studying, it cannot compete with the AirPods Pro.

The Studio 3 can successfully decrease mid-range noises as well as high-pitched sounds such as air conditioner hums. However, its performance against low-frequency sounds is less effective.

In conclusion, the AirPods Pro excels at noise cancellation, making it a diverse choice for silencing your surroundings and even aiding in sleep, whilst the Beats Studio 3 gives a respectable but significantly poor noise-canceling experience.

Recording Quality

Both the AirPods Pro and Studio 3’s inbuilt microphones produce decent recordings. The microphones on the AirPods Pro catch clear audio, however, you may need to talk louder to achieve proper clarity.

Studio 3, on the other hand, has improved call microphone quality, making it perfect for virtual meetings and phone chats.

Microphone or Call Quality

When it comes to microphone performance, the Beats Studio 3 excels. Whether conversing on a busy street or in the comfort of your own home, the call quality stays consistent and dependable. The person on the other end of the line will hear your voice clearly and distinctly, ensuring excellent communication.

In comparison, the AirPods Pro has an excellent microphone that excels at recording human sounds. Its microphone is designed to maintain a balanced frequency response across the range of human speech, which is typically between 100Hz and 3000Hz.

While the microphone in the AirPods Pro may vary slightly, it generally avoids over- or under-emphasizing any one area of the frequency range. For the most part, this results in clear and natural-sounding discussions with little difficulty.

Surprisingly, the Beats Studio 3 performs admirably in this category. Both the Beats Studio 3 and the AirPods Pro have excellent microphone performance, ensuring clear conversation.

As a result, this evaluation concludes in a tie, recognizing both models’ excellent microphone quality.

Next, we’ll look into battery life to assist you in making an informed decision based on your usage requirements.

Battery Life

The Apple AirPods Pro has a total battery life of 28.5 hours, with the earbuds offering up to 4.5 hours of usage and the charging case extending it to 24 hours.

In comparison, the Beats Studio 3 has a battery life of 22 hours with active noise cancellation (ANC) activated, which can be expanded to 40 hours when ANC is turned off. This large difference in battery life is notable, especially given that both headphones share the same charging time.

Adding to the comparison, the Beats Studio 3 shines in quick charging functionality. A 10-minute charge can provide an extra 3 hours of playback, providing a quick option for those on the go.

AirPods Pro, on the other hand, takes only 5 minutes of charging time to offer an hour of listening. This round obviously favors the Beats Studio 3, thanks to its extended battery life and effective quick charging option.

As we go deeper into their features, let’s now look at their control systems to get a better grasp of their usefulness and ease.

Control System

The AirPods Pro includes an easy-to-use control mechanism that works flawlessly even on Android devices. Each earbud stem has a force sensor that supports various movements but lacks tactile feedback.

These movements, such as pressing the sensor for varied lengths, control functions such as play/pause, call handling, track skipping, ANC activation, and transparency mode.

Volume control is missing, but you may use Siri to modify it or tweak the “Press and Hold” action to favor voice assistant control over ANC activation. Beats Studio 3, on the other hand, has playback and call controls on the left earcup.

The clickable “b” button requires separate presses for different purposes, such as volume changes and ANC activation. 

Connectivity

The AirPods Pro and Studio 3 are both equipped with class 1 Bluetooth technology, making them compatible with both iOS and Android devices.

The connection quality is consistently solid, allowing for uninterrupted music pleasure. There is, however, a considerable distinction between the two. As previously noted in the chart, Apple’s AirPods Pro includes the H1 chip, which provides several benefits.

It provides a smooth connection to all iCloud devices and seamless switching between them. Additionally, when linked to an iPhone, this chip extends the life of the earphones and provides greater sound quality. 

The Beats Studio 3, on the other hand, is powered by the W1, the H1’s predecessor. While the W1 chip performs similar functions, the H1 chip outperforms it in several ways.

As a result, the Apple AirPods Pro triumphed yet again. With these comparisons, I have covered all of the major differences between the AirPods Pro and the Studio 3. It’s finally time to reveal the ultimate victor.

Portability

When it comes to portability, choosing between the Apple AirPods Pro and the Beats Studio 3 is simple. The AirPods Pro is definitely more portable than the bulkier Beats Studio 3 over-ear headphones, even though the latter can be folded into a more compact size. The AirPods Pro once again takes the lead in this category.

Support for Bluetooth Codec 

The AirPods Pro and Studio 3 both support the AAC Bluetooth codec, which allows for high-quality audio streaming.

However, AirPods Pro has an advantage with its H1 chip, which improves the whole Bluetooth experience by providing enhanced connectivity and sound quality, especially when used with Apple devices. This advantage provides AirPods Pro a minor advantage in this category.

App Feature

AirPods Pro may be handled via the Apple AirPods app on iOS devices. This software provides basic customization options such as switching between ANC and Transparency modes and altering press-and-hold controls.

In contrast, the Beats Studio 3 lacks dedicated software, limiting its customizing choices. If app functionality is important to you, the AirPods Pro offers a more comprehensive experience.

Extra Feature

Both the AirPods Pro and the Studio 3 offer their own set of features. The AirPods Pro includes an Adaptive EQ, which automatically tunes music according to your ear shape, offering a personalized audio experience.

Furthermore, the AirPods Pro includes a Transparency mode that allows external noises to pass through the earphones for improved awareness of your surroundings.

Beats Studio 3, on the other hand, has an excellent battery life, making it appropriate for prolonged listening sessions without frequent recharging.

Apple AirPods Pro Vs Beats Studio 3: Pros And Cons

When comparing the Apple AirPods Pro and Beats Studio 3 headphones, consider the following pros and cons:

Which is the Winner?

Because the AirPods Pro wins in almost every category, I heartily suggest them over the Beats Studio 3. These earbuds have a higher build quality, a more appealing design, improved comfort, outstanding sound quality, and exceptional noise-canceling capabilities.

Furthermore, the H1 Bluetooth chip enables continuous connectivity with few interruptions. With these benefits, the AirPods Pro are a better choice than the larger Studio 3.

However, if neither choice fits your needs, the section that follows offers alternate possibilities for your consideration.

Alternative Options

Consider the following possibilities for your headphone selection:

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: These earbuds provide comfort, effective noise cancellation, high-fidelity audio, and an extended battery life. They are also IPX4-rated for sweat and water resistance, like the AirPods Pro.

Sony WH-1000XM4: If you’re ready to spend extra money, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is a viable alternative to the Studio 3. When compared to the Studio 3, it has superior noise cancellation and a more accurate sound signature.

Apple AirPods Pro Vs Beats Studio 3: Which One Is Worthy – FAQs

Are the AirPods Pro and Beats Studio 3 both compatible with Android devices?

Yes, both the AirPods Pro and the Beats Studio 3 are compatible with Android devices. However, the AirPods Pro’s seamless integration and quick pairing features operate best with Apple devices, whilst the Beats Studio 3 has a wider range of compatibility.

Which headphones have the best noise cancellation?

The AirPods Pro includes outstanding active noise cancellation (ANC) technology, making it appropriate for suppressing a wide spectrum of external disturbances. The Beats Studio 3 offers noise isolation as well, although its over-ear design and ANC may not be as advanced as the AirPods Pro.

Can I change the sound quality on both headphones?

Yes, both the AirPods Pro and the Beats Studio 3 have configurable sound profiles. The Adaptive EQ and personalized sound capabilities of the AirPods Pro tailor the audio to the shape of your ears, but the Beats Studio 3’s equalizer settings and sound modes allow for some degree of customization.

Which headphones have the longest battery life?

The Beats Studio 3 has a battery life of up to 22 hours with ANC and up to 40 hours without ANC, making it suited for prolonged listening sessions. In comparison, the AirPods Pro provides up to 4.5 hours of continuous listening time with ANC, plus an additional 24 hours from the charging case.

Do both headphones allow hands-free voice commands?

Yes, both the AirPods Pro and the Beats Studio 3 allow hands-free voice commands. The AirPods Pro supports “Hey Siri” speech activation, whilst the Beats Studio 3 may activate voice assistants via the integrated controls. However, the AirPods Pro’s interaction with Siri on Apple devices gives a more smooth experience.

Final Thoughts

I hope our in-depth comparison of the Apple AirPods Pro and Beats Studio 3 has helped you make an informed decision. Both of these goods have advantages and disadvantages.

If portability, advanced capabilities, seamless interaction with Apple devices, and tailored sound quality are important to you, the AirPods Pro is the clear winner.

If you prefer an over-ear design, robust bass response, and a lengthy battery life for longer listening, the Beats Studio 3 is an appealing choice. 

Finally, your pick should reflect your specific preferences and needs. With this comprehensive comparison, you’ll be able to make an informed purchase that meets your audio needs and lifestyle. Consider your priorities before deciding on the best solution for you. I wish you a wonderful day.