• 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

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • 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
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Hitting the ‘GenAI wall’: Where generative AI stops working, and what it means for your talent strategy
AILeadership
Hitting the ‘GenAI wall’: Where generative AI stops working, and what it means for your talent strategy
By François Candelon and Iavor BojinovMay 1, 2026
16 minutes ago
Evan Spiegel wears a black t-shirt and speaks into a microphone while on stage.
AITech
Snap CEO praises AI for writing two-thirds of the company’s code but warns fellow tech executives underestimate ‘societal pushback’ to the tech
By Sasha RogelbergMay 1, 2026
41 minutes ago
Meta wants to spend more even after it lost $80 billion on the Metaverse and over 20 million users
Big TechMeta
Meta wants to spend more even after it lost $80 billion on the Metaverse and over 20 million users
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMay 1, 2026
1 hour ago
Tim Cook reveals the advice he gave Apple’s next CEO: The most important decision he’ll make is ‘where he spends his time’
Big TechApple
Tim Cook reveals the advice he gave Apple’s next CEO: The most important decision he’ll make is ‘where he spends his time’
By Alexei OreskovicApril 30, 2026
9 hours ago
Meta’s threat to quit New Mexico ‘is showing the world how little it cares about child safety,’ AG says
LawMeta
Meta’s threat to quit New Mexico ‘is showing the world how little it cares about child safety,’ AG says
By Catherina GioinoApril 30, 2026
12 hours ago
Meta's Hyperion data-center site in Northeastern Louisiana.
NewslettersEye on AI
Big Tech will spend nearly $700 billion on AI this year. No one knows where the buildout ends
By Sharon GoldmanApril 30, 2026
15 hours ago

Most Popular

Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne—whose stake would be worth up to $400 billion had he not sold it in 1976—says that at 91, he has no regrets
Success
Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne—whose stake would be worth up to $400 billion had he not sold it in 1976—says that at 91, he has no regrets
By Preston ForeApril 27, 2026
4 days ago
China dominates the world's lithium supply. The U.S. just found 328 years' worth in its own backyard
North America
China dominates the world's lithium supply. The U.S. just found 328 years' worth in its own backyard
By Jake AngeloApril 30, 2026
15 hours ago
Google Cloud revenue is now 18% of Alphabet's business. Is this the beginning of the end of Google's search identity?
Big Tech
Google Cloud revenue is now 18% of Alphabet's business. Is this the beginning of the end of Google's search identity?
By Alexei OreskovicApril 29, 2026
1 day ago
Accenture's Julie Sweet blew up 50 years of company history. She says the hardest part is still ahead
Conferences
Accenture's Julie Sweet blew up 50 years of company history. She says the hardest part is still ahead
By Nick LichtenbergApril 29, 2026
2 days ago
With no end in sight, Trump considers new options in Iran war—including the ‘Dark Eagle’ hypersonic missile
Big Tech
With no end in sight, Trump considers new options in Iran war—including the ‘Dark Eagle’ hypersonic missile
By Jim EdwardsApril 30, 2026
23 hours ago
‘The cost of compute is far beyond the costs of the employees’: Nvidia executive says right now AI is more expensive than paying human workers
AI
‘The cost of compute is far beyond the costs of the employees’: Nvidia executive says right now AI is more expensive than paying human workers
By Sasha RogelbergApril 28, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 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.