Beats Studio Buds + Review

Beats Studio Buds + Review

Voice & Call Noise Isolation 6.0/10

Each bud has three microphones, for six in total, with voice-targeting processing to reduce background noise on calls.

Call quality is clear in quiet rooms and acceptable on busy streets. Voices sound more natural than on the original Studio Buds, which struggled in wind.

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.

ANC & Transparency 8.7/10

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.

Transparency mode is natural enough for short chats, helped by the improved microphones. A good tip seal makes the biggest difference to ANC strength.

• Adaptive Yes

Battery & Case Charging 8.0/10

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.

The case charges over USB-C, but there is no wireless charging. That is a notable omission at this price. Hybrid workers with back-to-back calls may need a midday top-up in the case.

• Battery 6 (ANC on), 9 (ANC off)
• With Case 24 (ANC on), 36 (ANC off)
• Wireless Chg No
• Fast Charge Yes (Fast Fuel)

Fit, Stability & Portability 8.3/10

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.

The transparent colour option shows internal components and has become a signature look. The case is compact and pocketable. Trying all three tip sizes on day one is worth the five minutes, because the seal drives both comfort and cancellation.

• Bud Weight 5 g
• IP Rating IPX4
• Wings No
• Case Size 7.2 x 5.1 x 2.55 cm

Connectivity & UC Integration 4.9/10

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.

The Beats app on Android adds controls and firmware updates. On iPhone, settings appear in the Bluetooth menu without an extra app. Pairing to a Windows laptop takes a long press on the case button and the standard Bluetooth menu.

• Dongle No
• BT 5.3 Class 1

Sound & Audio Quality 6.9/10

Beats uses custom acoustic drivers with codec support for SBC and AAC. Tuning is energetic, with punchy bass and clear vocals.

Music sounds lively and fun, which suits pop, hip-hop and podcasts on a commute. The upper mids can sound a little bright at high volumes, so an EQ would help, though Beats offers none.

Spatial audio with head tracking is not supported, unlike the AirPods Pro 3. For everyday listening the sound is good for the price.

• Codecs SBC, AAC
• Driver Type Custom acoustic platform
• Spatial Yes

Full Specifications

Product Details