The best Beats headphones come in different styles to suit a range of preferences, from premium over-ears with strong noise cancellation to small and smart wireless earbuds, to fitness-focused buds with a super-stable fit.
The best Beats headphones follow the lead of the best wireless earbuds and best noise-cancelling headphones from other makers, in that they're packed with the latest smart features such as spatial audio, fast pairing and auto-switching. This makes most Beats products fairly premium, although they're also often discounted heavily – keep your eyes peeled for a bargain in our best Beats headphones deals guide, too.
Based on our testing of the whole Beats line-up, we think the best Beats earbuds for most people are the Beats Studio Buds, due to the low price you can now find them for regularly, which balances well with their generous features. We think the best Beats headphones are the Beats Studio Pro, which are the latest and greatest over-ears cans. You can read more about all the options below!
The Quick List
The best Beats earbuds overall
A great-looking and compact pair of true wireless buds that are incredibly comfortable to wear with solid ANC.
The best Beats headphones overall
A sleek over-ear design that packs in great USB-C lossless audio, ANC and overall audio performance.
The best mid-price Beats earbuds
A rock solid pair of well-priced buds that offer good sound and are comfortable enough for all-day wear.
The best Beats earbuds for working out
These buds are built to bring you a stable fit for exercise and have ANC, spatial audio support and hands-free Siri on iOS.
The best budget Beats headphones
The cheapest Beats you can buy with a neckband design and an impressive 12 hours of battery.
Best Beats earbuds for an unshakeable fit
With a comfortable fit and earhook design, these buds will never fall out of your ears – ideal for fitness and running.
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The best on-ear Beats headphones
We didn't love these over-ears due to their high price, but they look great, have some nice features, and offer an excellent 50 hour battery life.
The best Beats buds for battery life
These buds don't sound the best, with poor bass and no ANC. But they're small, cheap and long-lasting with an impressive 18 hours of non-step use. That's wild for earbuds.
I've been testing and reporting on cutting-edge audio products since 2012, stretching back to iPod dock speakers and early neckband wireless earbuds. I've used a ton of Beats products over the years, as well as AirPods and lots of big Beats competitors. The list below is based on my experience with the products, as well as that of our expert reviewers and editors.
Recent updates
October 9, 2024
Added the Beats Solo Buds as our pick for the 'best buds for battery' based on our recent testing.
The best Beats headphones in 2024
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
The best Beats earbuds overall
The Beats Studio Buds Plus earbuds are an upgrade to the Beats Studio Buds, and are an accomplished buy. First up, they're some of the best-looking true wireless earbuds on the market. They don't have the long stems many brands have – we're looking at you, AirPods – but are instead very compact with a transparent design.
Speaking of design, these buds are incredibly comfortable and among the best we've tested in that regard. This means not only are they a good option for all-day listening but because they stay put they're a solid choice for working out.
During our testing, we also rated the battery life on offer here, which is a solid six hours from the buds and 24 hours in total from the case with ANC on – about average compared to other earbuds, but better than the basic Studio Buds. Noise cancellation is also worth mentioning, when we were reviewing these buds we managed to block out much of the noise in a relatively loud gym environment.
However, we also commented that the Buds Plus have a crisp sound signature that isn't totally natural for music – though it does make phone calls come through clearly. We said it's a little on the "edgy" side, and that you get a better sound balance by stepping up to the AirPods Pro 2.
All in all, these are a good pair of earbuds, but we wouldn't blame anyone by grabbing the regular Beats Studio Buds for a lower price instead.
Read our full Beats Studio Buds Plus review
The best Beats headphones overall
Beats latest high-end headphones keep the same kind of design we're used to from previous hits such as the Studio 3, but bring in new audio tech and features to compete with the latest from the likes of Sennheiser and Sony. Now, we think those companies do this better for the price (see our Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review or our Sony WH-1000XM5 review for more), but there's no doubt that the Beats Studio Pro are the most impressive Beats cans to date.
We liked the sound, and in our review we said "as always with Beats, there's some powerful bass here" which had songs "thumping away to our delight", without lacking "crispness and decent detail". We also noted that "For Apple users, support for personalized spatial audio and Dolby Atmos provides a noticeable boost, alongside head tracking." (Android users still get spatial audio, but no head tracking.) We're also big fans of the inclusion of wireless lossless sound over USB-C. Active noise cancellation is the best of the Beats range.
Like all recent Beats buys, these have feature options for both iPhone and Android. On both platforms, you get fast pairing and support for their respective Find My networks to locate lost devices. On iPhone, you also get the spatial audio support mentioned above. On Android, you also get auto-switching between Google-compatible devices.
For the price, it's a shame the Beats Studio Pro lack wear-detection (to auto-pause when you take them off), and don't have device switching or audio sharing for Apple devices, like AirPods devices and some other Beats products do – but if you're looking for Beats' richest sound and best noise cancellation so far, in a very comfortable and slick design, these are what you need.
Read our full Beats Studio Pro review
The best mid-price Beats earbuds
The Beats Studio Buds are rock-solid true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation, and support for Apple’s Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos format when used with iPhone. They sound good for their price (which is usually much lower than their official list price, since they're a few years old), with a lively sound quality that elevates the highs and lows of your music, and feel supremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
They're not without some drawbacks, though. Chief among them is their lackluster call quality and below-average battery life. With noise cancellation turned on, you get five hours (15 hours with the case), and their noise cancellation isn’t exactly class-leading, either. However, they're small, light and very comfortable to wear.
Saying that, they're much cheaper than the likes of the AirPods Pro 2, and when you get then on a discount, we like the balance of features to cost. At this kind of price, though, we would strongly recommend that people also check out the Sony WF-C700N – we gave those five stars.
Read our full Beats Studio Buds review
The best Beats earbuds for working out
Think of the Beats Fit Pro as the original Apple AirPods Pro with a few modifications and at a lower price. They have a robust feature set that includes active noise cancellation, spatial audio support and hands-free Siri on iOS, as well as a prominent wing tip design, which helps to hold them in your ears really solidly when you’re working out.
They have slightly better battery life and a smaller carrying case than the older Powerbeats Pro, though those have an even more secure fit. Given the lighter and less aggressive design, as well as lots of extra features, we think most people will prefer the Beats Fit Pro of the two workout buds – but for truly hardcore activities where you need there to be zero chance of them falling out, the Powerbeats Pro may still be the better choice.
The Fit Pro aren't perfect, though. Noise cancellation and sound quality are both significantly weaker than AirPods Pro 2 or Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2, which don't cost too much more. And although the wing tips hold them in place, during our testing we found that some people didn't like the extra pressure they add to the outer ears, though this varies by person. It's also worth mentioning that Android users won’t quite get the full experience (i.e. spatial audio and hands-free voice assistance) that iOS users get.
But although they're not perfect, these are a secure-fitting, workout-friendly set of buds that give you the benefits of regular premium wireless buds.
Read our full Beats Fit Pro review
The best budget Beats headphones
Beats Flex are the cheapest earbuds the company makes, and are a rarity in the world of wireless earbuds these days: they have a neckband! Some people prefer this for convenience and so they're harder to lose, and it means they have more battery life in a single charge than any of Beats' true wireless earbuds at 12 hours.
Unlike a lot of cheaper (or even mid-price) earbuds, they also have auto-play/pause when you take them out of your ears, which we like, and they feel pretty premium overall. You also get fast-pairing with iOS devices. But given that they're both fairly old and are also budget (by Beats standard), they're unsurprisingly lacking in other features, including active noise cancellation. Considering you can get tons of advanced features in the Earfun Air Pro 3 (in a true wireless design!) for the same price, we'd mostly recommend Beats Flex when they're discounted.
The sound, similarly, is fun and punchy in Beats' usual way, but lacks some detail and fidelity, and definitely isn't what you'd neutral. Again, it's not a big problem for the price, but if you can step up to the Studio Buds, you'll get a big boost in quality.
Read our full Beats Flex review
The best Beats earbuds for a rock-solid fit
The PowerBeats Pro are here because they're basically impossible to make them fall out of your ears. This will be literal music to the ears of those who need something for high-intensity training, or rock climbing, or biking on bumpy paths, or anything else that would cause regular earbuds to worm their way out of your ears.
The arm that wraps around your ear is the crucial part, obviously, and it does mean that these buds have a huge carry case, and are generally heavier than other buds (but that weight isn't all sitting in your ear canal, so they're still very comfortable).
They're fairly old now, so even though they have fast pairing with iOS, they lack the more advanced features of Beats' other true wireless earbuds: no active noise cancellation, no spatial audio, and so on. So our recommendation is really built around that fit: if you want the mod-cons, get Beats Fit Pro; if you want unloseable earbuds for working out, get Powerbeats Pro.
Read our full Beats Powerbeats Pro review
The best Beats on-ear headphones
The Beats Solo 4 are on-ear headphones and don't completely cover your ears, like the Beats Studio Pro above. This means that they don't offer the kind of immersive ANC you'd expect from other earbuds and headphones in this guide. Having said that, you should expect impressive passive isolation from outside noise, which some people actually prefer.
Although all Beats headphones look great, the Beats Solo 4 are incredibly stylish with a sleek profile, choice of colors and icon Beats logo on the cups. If you want a pair of on-ears that are a fashion statement, these headphones certainly say a lot. In our review we said they bring you a snug and secure fit, although they became a bit uncomfortable after prolonged use because they really do hug your head – great for working out, not so great for all-day wear. Not everyone feels this way about on-ear headphones, but for those on the TechRadar team who don't like that kind of fit, even the super-push ear padding of the Solo 4 couldn't fix it.
We found that the sound quality isn't the best in this list (and pales compared to other similarly priced headphones, such as the Sony ULT Wear Headphones), but we rated it well for most people, and the inclusion of Apple's Spatial Audio tech sweetens the deal if you watch a lot of movies. The Beats Solo 4 offer plenty of great features too, like an impressive 50 hour battery life (which they had no problem meeting in our tests) and lossless wired playback via 3.5mm and USB-C.
These headphones aren't perfect, but if you're looking for a stylish pair of on-ears – especially if you plan on taking them out running or to the gym – then they might be the right choice for you.
Read our full Beats Solo 4 review
The best Beats buds for battery life
The Beats Solo Buds are far from perfect, but they're small, light, cheap and pack in a very impressive 18 hours of battery life without any kind of charging – that's mind-blowing for today's earbuds. This means that if you love long listening sessions and hate having to take your buds out to charge them, they might be the best for you – but you will have to make some sacrifices.
As well as offering a great battery life, we also rate the design of the Beats Solo Buds. They look cool and come in several different shades – one of the best things about the Beats brand. Both the buds and their case are slim and light with a considered design that we wrote in our review is "made from a gloriously smooth matte plastic that feels great under your fingertips". They come with a range of silicone ear tips, which helps you get the perfect fit. Our reviewer said: "I can honestly say that the Beats Solo Buds are some of the most comfortable I’ve ever tried."
Let's talk about that 18 hours of battery life. Did it deliver during testing? Effectively. We played continuous audio at half volume on the buds and got 17.5 hours from them. However, it's worth mentioning you don't get additional power from the case, so the 18 hours is all you get. Instead, the case is for connecting to a power source to charge only, not for juicing up your buds on the move.
But now onto what the Beats Solo Buds are, unfortunately, lacking. There's no noise cancellation and the overall sound quality here is weak. In our review, we wrote: "The sound struck me as anemic, with a weak low end and a muffled treble; it gave me the uncomfortable sensation of my ears being stuffed with cotton wool." They also don't get super loud, which is great for your ear health but not good if you want immersive sound, especially because they don't cancel outside noise. This doesn't mean you won't find them to be a decent and fun listen at times – we rated them for space and clarity when listening to sparser recordings – but if you want powerful bass and top-performing audio, you'll be disappointed.
You can definitely find better performing and sounding buds. The Beats Studio Buds Plus at the top of this guide would be a more reliable option for most people. But there are few that'll last as long as 18 hours for a budget price. At only $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.95 they're the cheapest that Beats has ever produced.
Read our full Beats Solo Buds review
The best Beats headphones: FAQs
Is Beats owned by Apple?
Yes. The company was originally founded by music producer Dr Dre back in 2006. In 2014, it was bought by Apple for a reported $3 billion and is still owned by Apple today. Beats products benefit from access to unique features Apple usually reserves for the best AirPods, such as Personalized Spatial Audio, but they also include Android-friendly features and app support, which AirPods do not.
Which are the best Beats headphones to buy?
That depends what you're looking for. If you want the latest and greatest earbuds, you should get the Beats Studio Buds Plus, though if you want better value, the regular Beats Studio Buds are great. If you want headphones, the new Beats Studio Pro are the best-performing, but they do come at a premium price.
Are Beats headphones worth it?
Beats headphones offer solid audio quality, strong feature lists, and bags of style. They also often come at a premium price, with cheaper alternatives available that come close in terms of features. However, Beats products are now regularly available with major discounts of up to 50% off, which makes them far better value. So, yes, they're worth it – but mostly if you get them when they're cheaper. Keep your eye on our list of Beats headphones deals for current offers!
How we test the best Beats headphones
We've tested all of the best Beats headphones in this guide. Usually when we have a list of the best headphones, we select the cream of the crop and expect them to hit specific criteria to be included.
This guide is a little different as we've included all of the latest Beats headphones you can buy and then ranked them based on which we think are the best and likely to appeal to the widest range of people.
To do that, we tested the headphones putting them specifically through their paces in the areas they're designed to excel. For example, we tested the comfort levels of the Powerbeats Pro, especially when we were exercising, to see if they deserved the title of best workout buds. Similarly, we made sure we tested the Beats Studio Pro headphones for their noise cancellation abilities.
However, there were some criteria that we wanted to see from all of the headphones, including a comfortable and solid design, quality audio and good value for money.
The result is a guide to the best Beats headphones that's genuinely useful and easy to understand, whether you're looking for running headphones, cheaper headphones or just headphones to sit back and relax with.
Latest updates to this Beats headphones guide
October 9, 2024
Added the Beats Solo Buds as our pick for the 'best buds for battery' based on our recent testing.
July 1, 2024
Added the Beats Solo 4 as the best on-ear Beats option.
