Beats Beats by Dr. Dre Studio Pro Wireless Over-Ear Review
The Beats Studio Pro headphones look the part, but our testing shows they're middle-of-the-road performers in a premium-priced field. Here's who should buy them, and who should run.
The 30-Second Version
The Beats Studio Pro are fine, but that's the problem. For around $200, you get mid-pack performance across the board while competitors offer more. Sound and ANC scores hover around the 48th-49th percentile. Only buy if you love the Beats look more than you love top-tier sound.
Overview
The Beats Studio Pro are a solid pair of wireless over-ears that get the basics right. They look good, they're comfortable enough for long sessions, and they connect easily to your Apple or Android phone. But when you look at our data, they're sitting right in the middle of the pack in almost every category. That's not a bad thing, but it means they're not really winning any awards either.
You get active noise cancellation and a transparency mode, plus Beats' personalized spatial audio with head tracking. Battery life is rated for up to 40 hours, which is plenty. The problem is, for the price, you're competing with some of the best headphones out there, and the Studio Pro just don't stand out.
Performance
Performance is exactly what you'd expect from a mid-tier headphone. Sound quality lands in the 49th percentile, which means it's fine—nothing offensive, but nothing that'll blow your mind. The ANC is decent, blocking out a fair amount of background noise, but it's not as isolating as the top-tier options from Sony or Bose. The mics are okay for calls, and comfort is good but not plush. It's all just... fine.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Sleek, low-profile design that looks good. 97th
- Easy one-touch pairing with both Apple and Android devices. 91th
- Solid 40-hour battery life gets you through the week. 89th
- Comfortable enough for long listening sessions. 89th
Cons
- Sound and ANC are just average for the price.
- Build quality feels a bit plasticky and unremarkable.
- The microphone quality is merely passable for calls.
- Lacks the premium feel and features of its top competitors.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | Over-Ear |
| Open/Closed | Closed |
| Foldable | Yes |
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.6 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Driver Size | 40 |
| Drivers | 1 |
| Surround | Spatial Audio |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Wired Connector | 3.5mm |
Battery
| Battery Life | 40 |
| Fast Charging | 10min=4hrs |
| Charging | USB-C |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
| NC Mic | Yes |
Features
| Touch Controls | Yes |
| App | Android |
Value & Pricing
At $170 to $200, the Studio Pro are in a tough spot. You're paying near-premium prices for decidedly mid-tier performance. If you're a die-hard Beats fan who loves the look and the Apple ecosystem integration, maybe it's worth it. But for everyone else, there are better values out there that either cost less for similar performance or cost the same for significantly better sound and noise cancellation.
vs Competition
This is where it gets rough. The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra absolutely smoke the Studio Pro on noise cancellation and sound quality for about the same money. Even the older Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 often goes on sale for less and offers a richer, more detailed sound. The Apple AirPods Max are in a different price league, but if you're deep in Apple's world, they're a much more compelling (if heavier) option. The Studio Pro's main advantage is its style and brand recognition, not its performance.
| Spec | Beats Beats by Dr. Dre Studio Pro Wireless Over-Ear | Sony Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise-Canceling Wireless Over-Ear | Apple AirPods Max Apple AirPods Max Wireless Over-Ear Closed-Back | Sennheiser Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus Wireless Active | JBL JBL Tune 770NC Noise-Cancelling Over-Ear | Bang & Olufsen Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX Noise-Canceling Wireless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Driver Size (mm) | 40 | 30 | 40 | 37 | 40 | 40 |
| Impedance Ohms | - | 48 | 16 | - | 32 | 24 |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Open Closed Back | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Battery Life Hours | 40 | 30 | 20 | 50 | 70 | 35 |
Common Questions
Q: How good is the noise cancellation?
It's decent, scoring in the 48th percentile in our tests. It'll handle a noisy office or airplane hum, but it's not as powerful or adaptive as what you get from Sony's WH-1000XM5.
Q: Do these work well with Android phones?
Yes, they have enhanced one-touch pairing for Android as well as Apple devices, so connectivity is seamless on both platforms.
Q: Are they comfortable for all-day wear?
Comfort scores in the 48th percentile. They're fine for a few hours, but some users with larger ears or who wear glasses might find the clamp force or ear cup depth a bit lacking for marathon sessions.
Who Should Skip This
Skip these if you're an audiophile or a frequent traveler who needs best-in-class noise cancellation. The Sony WH-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra will serve you much better for the same cash. Also, hardcore gamers should look elsewhere—these scored a dismal 4.1/100 for gaming in our tests.
Verdict
Buy these only if you care more about the Beats brand and aesthetic than you do about having the best sound or noise cancellation. They're a decent daily driver for commutes or work, but audiophiles and frequent travelers should look elsewhere. They're for the person who wants headphones that look cool and work reliably, not for the person chasing audio nirvana.