Beats Studio Buds + vs Sennheiser Momentum TW4 Comparison

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.

Sennheiser Momentum TW4

Each bud has multiple microphones for calls, with processing to reduce wind and background noise. Calls work over standard Bluetooth on phones and laptops. Voice quality is clear in quiet places and acceptable in busier ones, though not a strength compared with business buds. Background noise is reduced, but voices can sound a bit processed in loud spaces.

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.

Sennheiser Momentum TW4

Adaptive ANC adjusts to your surroundings, and a transparency mode lets sound in. There is also an anti-wind mode for outdoor use. Cancellation is good on buses and in offices, cutting steady noise well. Against Bose and Sony flagships it lets more mid-frequency sound through, including voices and keyboard chatter.

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.

Sennheiser Momentum TW4

Sennheiser quotes up to 7.5 hours with ANC on and up to 30 hours in total with the case. A quick charge restores about an hour in minutes. That is fine for a working day with mixed listening, though Sony and Poly last a little longer per charge. Lossless streaming draws slightly more power, so expect a little less when using aptX Lossless all day.

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.

Sennheiser Momentum TW4

The buds are compact with a smooth outer shell, and Sennheiser includes ear tips in four sizes. The water rating is IP54 for dust and splashes. The shape sits fairly flush, so they work while lying back on a headrest, though some find the fit loosens with jaw movement. Touch panels cover much of the outer surface, so adjusting the fit can accidentally pause music.

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.

Sennheiser Momentum TW4

Bluetooth 5.4 supports multipoint, Google Fast Pair and Auracast broadcast audio. Auracast lets you join shared audio streams in airports, gyms and venues that support it, without pairing to each transmitter. The Smart Control app handles firmware, EQ and gesture settings, and LE Audio support should improve over time as more phones and laptops adopt the newer standard.

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.

Sennheiser Momentum TW4

Each bud uses Sennheiser's 7 mm TrueResponse dynamic driver, and Snapdragon Sound supports aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC and LC3. The Smart Control app adds EQ and a Sound Check personalisation tool. The Sony WF-1000XM5 is its closest flagship rival. With an iPhone you get AAC, which is still excellent but loses the lossless advantage that Snapdragon phones enjoy.