Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Beats Studio Buds + Comparison

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Each bud has beamforming outer microphones, an inward-facing mic and a speech-detecting accelerometer. On Apple devices, Voice Isolation helps reduce background noise on calls. For call-heavy days, a boom-mic model like the Jabra Evolve2 75 places a mic closer to the mouth. On Windows the buds fall back to the standard Bluetooth headset profile.

Beats Studio Buds +

Each bud has three microphones, for six in total, with voice-targeting processing to reduce background noise on calls. For laptop calls they connect as standard Bluetooth headsets. Without multipoint, switching between phone and laptop means re-pairing, which slows down hybrid workers. On Android the Beats app at least shows which device the buds are paired with, which helps when moving between them.

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Apple claims the ANC is up to twice as effective as on AirPods Pro 2. The new foam-infused tips seal better, and that improves passive isolation before any processing begins. On a busy commute the cancellation is among the best in earbuds, reducing engine rumble and voices to a low background.

Beats Studio Buds +

Active noise cancelling and a transparency mode are switched with a press of the Beats logo. Beats claims a 1.6 times improvement in ANC over the original Studio Buds. Cancellation is effective against steady noise such as fans and engines, and fine for an office. It lets in more voices and sudden sounds than Sony and Bose flagships.

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Apple quotes up to 8 hours of listening with ANC on, 10 hours in Transparency using the Hearing Aid feature, and up to 24 hours in total with the case. Heart-rate sensing during workouts reduces this to 6.5 hours. Five minutes in the case gives around an hour of listening.

Beats Studio Buds +

Beats quotes up to 9 hours per charge with ANC off, or 6 hours with ANC or transparency on. The case extends that to 36 or 24 hours. Six hours with ANC covers a long commute and a few calls. Fast Fuel gives about an hour of playback from five minutes of charging.

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Each bud weighs 5.55 g, and Apple includes silicone tips in five sizes, from XXS to L. The bud shape is slightly smaller than before, and the stems carry touch controls. For a full working day the fit is secure and light, and the extra-small tips make them practical for people who found the previous model too big.

Beats Studio Buds +

Each bud weighs about 5 g and sits flush in the ear without a stem. Beats includes three ear tip sizes, and the buds are rated IPX4. The small, rounded shape stays comfortable for long sessions and suits smaller ears. There are no wing tips, so very active workouts may loosen the fit.

Apple AirPods Pro 3

The buds use Bluetooth 5.3. With an iPhone, iPad and Mac on the same Apple Account, they switch automatically to the device you are using, which works like multipoint inside Apple's ecosystem. Apple's AirPods user guide covers Live Translation, Find My with a speaker in the case, and head gestures for answering calls.

Beats Studio Buds +

Bluetooth 5.3 Class 1 offers good range. One-touch pairing works on iPhone, and Google Fast Pair works on Android, with Find My support on both platforms. There is no multipoint, so the buds connect to one device at a time. Automatic switching between Apple devices is also missing, unlike AirPods.

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Apple uses its H2 chip and Adaptive EQ, which measures the sound in your ear and adjusts the tuning to match your fit. Spatial Audio with head tracking is supported on Apple devices. The sound is clean and well balanced, with more bass depth than the previous Pro and clear vocals.

Beats Studio Buds +

Beats uses custom acoustic drivers with codec support for SBC and AAC. Tuning is energetic, with punchy bass and clear vocals. Spatial audio with head tracking is not supported, unlike the AirPods Pro 3. For everyday listening the sound is good for the price.