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Beats headphones exploded into the world of electronics with a bang, and now own a sizeable market share. Once they were purchased by Apple, they have become even more ubiquitous.
Well known for their extra bass, and high sound quality, they offer many different sleek options. We aggregated tens of thousands of online reviews, tested many different models, and did the research. Here are our picks, for best Beats headphones.
Our Top Pick
Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones
The Solo3 wireless headphones are our top pick. With over 4,000 stellar online reviews, great sound quality, and affordability – they are hard to top. Definitely recommended.
Other Great Picks
Powerbeats3 Wireless Earphones
These affordable Powerbeats have over 3,000 great online reviews, and are quite stylish, to boot. If you want Beats earbuds, these are our top pick. Definitely recommended.
Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Canceling Over-Ear Headphones
The Studio3 headphones offer noise-canceling – which make them one of our favorites. With over 1,300 positive reviews, they are also quite popular. If you love high quality sound – this is likely the best pair of Beats for you. Recommended.
Beats Pill+ Portable Speaker
We love this sleek portable speaker – famous for the Kendrick Lamar and Dr. Dre commercial that launched it. With over 1,000 great online reviews, it offers killer sound, a cool look, and portability. Definitely a top choice.
Beats EP On-Ear Headphones
These affordable Beats headphones are a great bargain, and with over 750 great reviews – they perform extremely well, too. We loved that they looked sleek when we wore them around the office, too. If you want Beats, but also are on a budget – these would be our top pick.
BeatsX Earphones
These affordable headphones are sleek, lightweight, and have over 650 great online reviews. We loved the sound quality (especially for the price), and the long battery life. Definitely recommended.
Powerbeats Pro Totally Wireless Earphones
The Powerbeats Pro are your typical earbuds – only on steroids. With over 350 stellar online reviews, top-of-the-game sound quality, and no wires whatsoever – they are best in class. Definitely recommended.
Beats urBeats3 Earphones
One of the best budget picks for Beats headphones, the urBeats3 have over 300 great online reviews, and deliver exceptional sound quality for the price. Definitely recommended.
What Are Beats Headphones?
Seemingly coming out of nowhere in 2008, Beats emerged to completely revolutionize the headphone market. Boasting celebrity endorsements, huge amounts of bass, and a sleek design – they owned over 60% of the headphone market by 2011 (technically in headphone models costing over $100).
After being acquired by Apple for $3 billion (!), Beats has only grown more ubiquitous. Original founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre made out like bandits, with Dre becoming the first billionaire in all of hip hop.
But all this backstory does not answer the fundamental question – do you need a pair of Beats headphones? Like millions of other consumers, we would vote yes.
Beats Wireless Headphones
The most common pair of Beats headphones, the wireless models are all sleek looking, provide plenty of bass (and then some!) – and will give you excellent sound quality. While almost all Beats will cost mode than budget-model headphones – we think they are worth it.
These headphones always have great battery life – a key feature for wireless headphones – and offer soft padding on the earcups. This makes wearing them (even for long periods of time) – very comfortable.
Even after two to three hours of wearing these, our staff felt no discomfort. They also fold up very nicely, so you can easily transport them without taking up any extra space in your luggage or backpack.
Since wearing Beats is a style statement in and of itself, we loved that there were also multiple color options available. There are also handy controls on the outside of the headphones, so you can skip tracks, adjust the volume, make a phone call – and more.
While you can certainly go very high-end and get audiophile headphones – we think that for most people, Beats wireless headphones will be a solid pick for their everyday needs. They also make a great gift – so bookmark them for later, if you’re not going to buy them today.
Beats Wired Headphones
Beats also offers a plethora of wired headphones – and for very little money. However, unless you are strapped for cash – we don’t really recommend them.
Since the 21st century has been all about going wireless – there’s no need to look backwards and get a wired pair of headphones. Not only are they less convenient – we found they got in our way in nearly every environment.
When we were at the gym – they’d trip us up. When we were on the phone – the cord would get tangled. When we were on a plane – the cord would get smushed under our laptops.
That being said, if you do find yourself needing a wired pair of headphones, we do recommend Beats as a great brand to go with. They offer great sound quality, a low price, and a stylish design.
Beats Noise Cancelling Headphones
If you want a pair of noise cancelling headphones – we highly recommend Beats. They offer a comfortable design, great sound quality, and very good noise cancelling.
If you own an iPhone, and other Apple products, Beats noise cancelling headphones are hands-down the best choice. Since Apple has removed the headphone jack from the iPhone, you’ll need to go wireless if you’re an iPhone user.
The W1 chip in Apple products also makes it even easier to pair Beats headphones, as it will quickly and easily allow you to connect. Instead of messing with Bluetooth connectivity, you simply get a big “connect” button – making life much easier.
Additionally, other manufacturers are quickly following suit, and also have been removing the headphone jack on their devices. If you are ever in any noisy environments (which, let’s face it – basically all of us are on a daily basis) – noise cancelling is an essential feature.
While it may cost slightly more upfront to get a pair of noise cancelling headphones – the extra investment is worth it. If you’re traveling, you can easily fall asleep on the plane with noise cancelling headphones. We were even able to fall asleep in the office in the middle of the day – which truly shows how great noise cancellation can be.
Waterproof Headphones: Worth It?
In addition to noise cancelling headphones, there are also headphones which have the ability to withstand water. If you love the beach, or are just clumsy – this is a very valuable feature.
In our experience, it is worth it to get waterproof headphones – or at least headphones which are water resistant. The key difference being that waterproof headphones will completely withstand water, while water resistant headphones only offer a modicum of protection.
Unfortunately, Beats headphones are not waterproof – only water resistant. If they get splashed with water, you should be okay.
However, if you submerge them in water – all bets are off. Make sure you avoid water if you’re going with Beats, as they are higher-end headphones, and replacing them from water damage is usually not covered under the warranty.
Earphones vs. Headphones
While they seem like they might offer the same sound quality and features – the truth is, earphones and headphones are fairly different. You may have seen the term ‘earbuds’ thrown around – but technically any type of headphones that fit within your ear canal would be classified as earphones.
If you have seen anyone wearing Apple earbuds (notable for their white appearance) – you are already very familiar with earphones. By fitting right inside the ear canal, earphones offer a better ability to cut off outside sound.
If you are going with earphones, make sure you form a good seal. This can be done by gently lifting up the top of your ear, placing the earphone in your ear canal, and then letting the top of your ear come down.
If done properly, you should hear no outside noise or sound, once the earphone is properly sealed off. There are also other ways that earphones differ from traditional headphones.
Audio quality is better with headphones, as they have much larger drivers. Earphones will still sound good, but they don’t give your ears much room to breathe – literally.
You won’t be able to enjoy the full width and soundstage of a song’s mix with earphones – while headphones will make it feel like you’re right in the studio with the band. However, earphones are also much more affordable, as well as more portable.
And we should add – there are exceptions to the sound quality rule. Some earphones sound quite good – Beats included.
Generally, the pricier the headphones, the better the sound quality. This is doubly true with earbuds.
The higher price tag for higher-end earbuds is usually due to better on-board technology. Cheaper earphones will, by default, not sound as good.
Like any good investment, the more money you put in – the more you’ll get out of it. Higher-end earphones will sound incredible – as will more expensive headphones.
Ultimately, how much you are willing to spend, will determine the sound quality of your headphones. Beats makes great headphones and earphones – so you can take your pick, without being let down.
Wired vs. Wireless Headphones
While there are almost no benefits to wired headphones these days – they do technically offer superior sound quality. This is largely due to the ability to transmit more kilobytes-per-second (kbps).
Most wired headphones can transmit about 2,000 kbps – while wireless headphones are usually limited to around 700 kbps. However, most digital audio files are limited to 256 kbps (and at a maximum – 520 kbps).
Unless you are looking for a pair of studio headphones for recording music in a professional setting – we highly recommend going with wireless headphones. They are more convenient, you won’t notice a dip in sound quality, and you’ll be far less restrained.
Headphone Driver: Does It Matter?
As the name implies, a headphone driver is a tiny speaker, which pushes the sound out of the headphones and into your ear canal. Generally, the bigger the driver, the better sound quality. However, this is not always the case.
Drivers are essential in converting electrical signals into sound you can hear. However, the size of the driver is more related to the loudness of the headphones – rather than the sound quality.
For the average consumer (not an audiophile) – headphone drivers won’t really make much of a difference. But if you are more interested in sound quality, it may make sense to dive in deeper to the world of headphone drivers.
Beats Bluetooth Headphones
Bluetooth headphones have become the go-to choice for consumers. This is because they offer very affordable wireless functionality, and their compatibility spans across nearly every type of device.
All wireless Beats headphones connect via Bluetooth, and you can pair them with any sound source that supports Bluetooth. This includes your car, iPhone, smart TV, laptop, or any other device you can dream of.
Beats Headphones Price
Unless you are looking for wired earbuds, Beats headphones do tend to cost slightly more. However, in our experience and testing – the extra cost is more than worth it.
Additionally, Beats are very compatible with Apple devices – offering extra functionality that is not available with other brands. If you own an iPhone and want to upgrade from the included earbuds – we highly recommend going with Beats headphones.
Noise Cancellation (ANC)
ANC is an abbreviation for active noise control. This is also known as noise cancellation, or active noise reduction (ANR).
This method of noise cancelling works by producing a sound, to cancel out outside sounds. Beats headphones offers a specific form of noise cancellation, which uses internal and external microphones.
These microphones measure unwanted sounds, and then produce sound on these same frequencies, to cancel them out. This method of noise cancelling works very well, and if you’re serious about obtaining a quiet atmosphere – Beats are a great choice.
How To Choose The Best Beats Headphones For You
There a number of Beats headphones for you to choose from – whether you want in-ear, wireless, or high-end. You may want to go with noise cancelling headphones – or opt for the least expensive pair of earbuds.
Factor in your budget, where you might be using the headphones, and how often you might be listening. Unlike other products – we do recommend investing slightly more in headphones, since cheaper pair almost never work out favorably.
The Best Beats Headphones
There you have it – our top picks for the best Beats headphones. There are lots of options out there in the electronics world though, so be sure and check out our other tech product reviews.