Apple AirPods Pro Vs. Beats Studio Buds: Top Earbuds Compared (2024)

If you own an iPhone, you have your choice of two wireless earbuds that are designed with your device in mind—the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) or the Beats Studio Buds. Both of these companies are owned by Apple, and because of this they are both excellent options for fine tuning your audio. That being the case, you might wonder which are the best for your needs. Because they both offer similar features, I pitted the Apple AirPods Pro versus the Beats Studio Buds in rigorous testing to see which is better for your listening experience.

Of course, since Apple owns both of these buds, they have advantages over the top wireless earbuds that you can buy that are not made by Apple. For example, pairing on each set is simple and extends to all your Apple devices. The settings for these earbuds are located in the operating system itself, as opposed to a separate app you need to download. But that’s where the similarities end, and each features different sound profiles, designs and more. So if you’re between the Apple AirPods Pro versus the Beats Studio Buds, check out my full thoughts about both of these sets of earbuds after testing.

Apple AirPods Pro Vs. Beats Studio Buds: Connectivity and Set Up

Both Feature Apple’s Tips And Tricks

Both the Apple Airpods Pro and the Studio Buds have Apple's fast-pairing technology built in to the iPhone. Simply open the case for either of these sets of buds, and your iPhone detects them and dialogue opens asking if you want to pair them. The first time you do so, the phone walks you through a short demo on how their controls and features work. It’s a handy tutorial that gives you the rundown on ways to use your earbuds and how to control your music and calls.

Furthermore, your Bluetooth connectivity automatically transfers between your iOS devices. Pair on your iPhone, and you can listen on your iPad and MacBook. The earbuds also seamlessly transition between devices if you want to listen on another device or take a meeting. If you're listening to a movie on your iPad and you get a call, the buds will switch back and forth as needed.

Apple AirPods Pro Vs. Beats Studio Buds: Design

Choose Between Stems and Wireless Charging

The Apple Airpods Pro and Beats Studio Buds have very different designs. The Airpods are designed like… well, AirPods. Their iconic look, complete with the stem that extends down to your earlobe, has been around for as long as Apple has been making its own earbuds.

Meanwhile, the Beats Studio buds have a rounded, stemless design that sits entirely inside your ear with only the buttons protruding from your lobe—and only slightly. Unlike the AirPods Pro, which come in only white, you can also get the Beats in different colors, including a bright red or ocean blue. Which you prefer is a matter of taste. Some like the stems that stick down, whiles others prefer the more subtle, compact look.

Both sets of buds rely on their cases for additional power and hold enough charge for another two charge cycles or so. The AirPods Pro case supports wireless charging, which is a nice bonus and allows you to use a 3-in-1 charging station, along with your iPhone and Apple Watch, for charging. The Beats Studio Buds only accept charging via USB-C, so you don’t get wireless charging. For some, this is the deal breaker, as coming from personal experience, the charging station is nice to have on a desk or nightstand.

Apple AirPods Pro Vs. Beats Studio Buds: Controls

Limited Programmable Options For Both

Controls are very distinct for each type of earbud, too. You control AirPods with a series of squeezes and swipes on the stems, while the Beats have a physical button that you press or press and hold.

This opens up a lot more possibility to control your playback with the AirPods. You can play/pause, back up and move forward through tracks, increase and decrease volume and turn on transparency mode and ANC using those stems. I personally found it annoying, as since I have large hands, I had to pull the earbud out a bit to complete any actions and then push it back into my ear. After a couple days, I got used to this and didn’t noticed it during playback.

Meanwhile on the Beats, you get similar commands with the physical button, except volume control. However, pressing the buttons can push them into your ear, which can be uncomfortable for some. It really just depends on your preferences here.

When you want to change controls using your iPhone on either earbuds, you'll find the option under Bluetooth settings, which is as unintuitive as it sounds. If you’re the type to customize your earbuds, the AirPods Pro feature more programmable options than the Beats. Additional options for the AirPods Pro included Spatial audio, Automatic Ear Detection, optimized battery charging and the ability to add Siri voice commands. None these options are supported by the Beats Studio Buds. With the Beats, you can only configure Active Noise Cancellation or Siri voice commands.

Apple AirPods Pro Vs. Beats Studio Buds: Sound Profile

One Comes Out The Clear Winner

Both sets of earbuds use silicone tips and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to isolate outside noise from your listening experience. They also feature a transparency mode that allows you to hear outside noise if you need to. These options are great for having conversations with others without taking out the buds, and for exercising outdoors so you can hear what's going on around you.

After extensive testing, the AirPods Pro offer a far more balanced sound profile than the Beats Studio Buds. Beats have a well-earned reputation for emphasizing bass while sacrificing mid and high tones. The Beats Studio Buds live up to that reputation, though high tones are still very present. I particularly noticed the absence of mid tones when listening to my tunes. Of course, Beats were designed by artist Dr. Dre, whose music also tends to have a heavy bass profile.

Meanwhile, you get a wide range of playback audio from the AirPods Pro. AirPods in general have always had a quality, balanced sound profile, but it wasn't until the AirPods Pro introduced the silicone tips that you could actually hear them clearly. The audio quality of AirPods pro is excellent, though not up to the standards of what you'll get with a pair of other audiophile-focused earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds.

ANC is also very good in both sets of earbuds, though the AirPods Pro also do a better job in this regard, drowning out more background noise and adapting well to unexpected sounds like people talking in the background. Of course, if you want to best ANC you can find on earbuds, you'll want to check out the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Earbuds.

Apple AirPods Pro Vs. Beats Studio Buds: Pricing, Availability and Verdict

These two sets of earbuds are not on the same level when it comes to price. The Beats Studio Buds cost $149, but can often be found as low as $100, making them an affordable option. Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro cost $249 but can also regularly be found for much less. Both products qualify for Apple Care+, which is not a bad idea for either set, especially if you’re considering these for accident-prone kids and teens.

Given that price disparity, the AirPods Pro are superior in every way. The lack of the Beats Studio Buds’ spatial audio and wireless charging are noticeable when comparing the two, but they're also noticeable when comparing other sets of earbuds on the market. These days, wireless charging and ANC/transparency mode can be found on most sets of earbuds in the $99 to $149 price category. You can also get other controls like an on-board EQs and control customizability that neither of these earbuds offer.

That being the case, if spatial audio, wireless charging and volume control are all important to you, you'll want to go with the AirPods Pro. If none of those things matter, and you don't mind sacrificing a bit of mid-range or are looking for your teens, then the Beats Studio Buds are a great investment. If you don't have a budget, then the AirPods are the better buy in every way, except price.

How I Tested The Apple AirPods Pro And Beats Studio Buds

I wore both earbuds for a few weeks across a variety of scenarios and listened for across different music genres to get a sense of how each set performed. Some situations included riding in an airplane, on the show floor at CES and in the car with the windows open. I also wore them daily at around my home for a number of hours per day.

I listened to hours of music, ranging from metal to dubstep to classical, as well as podcasts. I also made a received phone calls with both sets of buds, noting audio quality I heard as well as how well each set’s microphones picked up my voice. I connected the buds with my iPhone and transferred audio receiving to my iPad and back with both sets.

My Expertise

Adam Doud is a Chicago-based freelance reviewer and has been writing about consumer electronics for over a decade with a particular focus on mobile phones and cellular technology, including the birth of 5G. He has also tested most headphones on the market over the last several years, including the two featured in this article.

When he’s not testing the latest and greatest flagship phones, he’s hosting the Benefit of the Doud podcast/YouTube channel with his co-host Clifton M. Thomas and editing technology news articles for SlashGear. In addition to Forbes and SlashGear, he has bylines at Android Central, Reviewed.com, Android Authority, Lifewire and more.

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