• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechChange the World

Apple Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones Review: The Best of the Best

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 27, 2017, 2:45 PM ET

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been testing the new Apple (AAPL) Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones. And after trying Studio3 with music, podcasts, and instrumental tracks, I can say they’re the best-sounding headphones I’ve ever tested.

The headphones, announced earlier this month in prelude to shipping in October, come with a whopping $350 price tag. But for that, you’re promised studio-quality audio and noise-canceling technology that Beats says removes outside distraction so you can focus on the music you’re listening to.

Like other Beats headphones, the Studio3 come in a variety of colors including black, red, and blue. The headphones have an earcup design, so they’ll envelop your ears and are bulkier than Apple-made alternatives, like its wireless AirPods.

But if it’s audio quality you care most about and you don’t mind spending some cash, buying the Studio3 is a good choice.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter

Design and Comfort

The Studio3 Wireless Headphones have a traditional headphone design, so if you’d rather have a low-profile option like earbuds, the Studio3 aren’t for you.

But if you don’t mind earcups, you’ll find the Studio3 headphones are quite comfortable. The leather padding is comfortable on the ears, and even after prolonged use, I didn’t feel pain or start to get headaches like I have with other headphones.

The Studio3 version Beats sent me were red. The color was fine, but I think the gray, black, and white versions have a better aesthetic. Like other Beats headphones, the Studio3 headphones are made of plastic, but their construction doesn’t feel cheap.

A sliding mechanism on either side lets you adjust the headphones for fit. Under the cups, you’ll find a power button and light indicators to let you know if the headphones are on. There are also ports to charge the wireless headphones and plug in a cable, if you so choose.

I should also note that the Studio3 headphones come with a small carrying case and they fold up nicely to fit inside.

Ultimately, the Studio3 Wireless Headphones are about as good-looking as any big headphones you’d find today.

Audio Quality

The Studio3 Wireless Headphones’ audio quality is downright impressive. And I can’t tell you how many times I felt chills down my spine as a heavy bass reverberated, or when I heard nuances to songs I couldn’t hear when I played them over my iPhone’s speakers.

Whether it was music or talk shows I was listening to with the headphones, it all sounded great. Deep bass sounded heavy, and higher notes came through crystal clear. And although you can turn up the volume on the Studio3 quite high, I found that they were sufficiently loud even at low levels.

The headphones’ noise-canceling technology, which removes ambient sounds to let you focus solely on your music, worked exceedingly well. When I played music, I was more immersed in the sound without external noise distracting me. I also found myself turning on the headphones without music, so I could enjoy some peace and quiet.

Suffice it to say, the Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones are the best-sounding headphones I’ve ever used. And their noise canceling is outstanding.

Call Quality

Beats’ headphones also come with a built-in microphone and the ability to handle telephone calls. Overall, the sound quality during conversations was quite good, though it would at times feel a bit muffled. The built-in microphone works well and those on the other side of the call could hear me without trouble.

Not bad.

Value & Final Thoughts

At $350, the Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones are really expensive compared to devices like AirPods, which cost $159. Apple-owned Beats tries to justify that by pointing to the noise canceling and high-quality sound as justification for the price.

Ultimately, I think the new Beats headphone is worth it, but the headphones might not be for everyone.

If you’re on a budget or don’t like on-ear headphones, look elsewhere. But if you want high-quality wireless headphones and don’t mind dropping a lot of cash to get them, the Studio3 Wireless Headphones may be for you.

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

AIchief executive officer (CEO)
Microsoft AI boss Suleyman opens up about his peers and calls Elon Musk a ‘bulldozer’ with ‘superhuman capabilities to bend reality to his will’
By Jason MaDecember 13, 2025
9 hours ago
InvestingStock
There have been head fakes before, but this time may be different as the latest stock rotation out of AI is just getting started, analysts say
By Jason MaDecember 13, 2025
15 hours ago
Politicsdavid sacks
Can there be competency without conflict in Washington?
By Alyson ShontellDecember 13, 2025
15 hours ago
InnovationRobots
Even in Silicon Valley, skepticism looms over robots, while ‘China has certainly a lot more momentum on humanoids’
By Matt O'Brien and The Associated PressDecember 13, 2025
17 hours ago
Sarandos
Arts & EntertainmentM&A
It’s a sequel, it’s a remake, it’s a reboot: Lawyers grow wistful for old corporate rumbles as Paramount, Netflix fight for Warner
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 13, 2025
21 hours ago
Oracle chairman of the board and chief technology officer Larry Ellison delivers a keynote address during the 2019 Oracle OpenWorld on September 16, 2019 in San Francisco, California.
AIOracle
Oracle’s collapsing stock shows the AI boom is running into two hard limits: physics and debt markets
By Eva RoytburgDecember 13, 2025
22 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Success
Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne sold his 10% stake for $800 in 1976—today it’d be worth up to $400 billion
By Preston ForeDecember 12, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
Tariffs are taxes and they were used to finance the federal government until the 1913 income tax. A top economist breaks it down
By Kent JonesDecember 12, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
40% of Stanford undergrads receive disability accommodations—but it’s become a college-wide phenomenon as Gen Z try to succeed in the current climate
By Preston ForeDecember 12, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
The Fed just ‘Trump-proofed’ itself with a unanimous move to preempt a potential leadership shake-up
By Jason MaDecember 12, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Apple CEO Tim Cook out-earns the average American’s salary in just 7 hours—to put that into context, he could buy a new $439,000 home in just 2 days
By Emma BurleighDecember 12, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
For the first time since Trump’s tariff rollout, import tax revenue has fallen, threatening his lofty plans to slash the $38 trillion national debt
By Sasha RogelbergDecember 12, 2025
2 days ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.