It’s fair to say that no other brand has had the impact on the headphones market that Beats has in the past 15 years. While their take on styling and sound might not have always pleased the audiophile crowd, there’s little argument of just how much they captured public attention. They made paying (not inconsiderable) money for headphones cool again – in an era where cheap bundled buds were the go-to option for most.
Apple saw this potential and acquired Beats almost 10 years ago now. The line up has going from strength to strength ever since, refining sound, improving features and sticking with the same snazzy approach to design. There’s now a considerable range to choose from, though, so finding the best Beats for you can feel like a bit of a minefield.
Whether you’re interested in over-ear, on-ear or in-ear headphones, there are now multiple options to explore at a number of different price points.
We’ve tested and rated the entire range for our in-depth Beats reviews, but this is a good place to get familiar with what’s available. Keep reading to find out which are the best Beats headphones you can buy now.
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Pocket-lint Beats Fit Pro
1. Best Beats headphones overall
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Beats Studio Buds+
2. Best Beats headphones for mid-range budgets
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Pocket-lint Beats Powerbeats Pro
3. Best Beats headphones for workouts
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Pocket-lint Beats Studio 3 Wireless
4. Best Beats headphones for overear fit
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Pocket-lint Beats Studio Buds
5. Best Beats headphones for smaller budgets
Top picks: The best Beats headphones to buy
Beats Fit Pro
1. Best Beats headphones overall
$159.95 $179.95 Save $20
A superb blend of comfort and sound quality, whether you want to exercise or use them for everyday listening.
Pros
- Spatial Audio and dynamic head tracking
- Super noise cancelling and sound
- The fit is comfortable and secure
Cons
- No wireless charging case
- Not full support for Android
There are plenty of Beats headphones that specialise in one particular area, but the Beats Fit Pro buds are the best all-rounders – and that, for our money, makes them the best overall pick.
The Powerbeats Pro might be the go-to pick for hardcore workouts, and the Studio Buds+ offer incredible features at a good price, but the Fit Pro manages to sit right in the sweet spot of these two options and provide a superb experience whatever the occasion.
The standout features are the very capable ANC, solid sound quality, Spatial Audio and easy pairing for Apple users, thanks to the H1 Chip. And though it’s not perfect, this is still a fairly complete experience for Android users, as well.
The only big disappointment is the lack of a wireless charging case – because, after all, we’ve seen the technology packed into much smaller models.
Either way, these are still excellent buds, and ideal for those who like AirPods Pro, say, but want a bit more of a workout-ready pair. The colour options are great too.
Beats Studio Buds+
2. Best Beats headphones for mid-range budgets
Fantastic true wireless earbuds, that push things on a little from the original Studio Buds, in terms of performance, noise cancellation and fit.
Pros
- Fun, energetic sound
- Good noise cancellation
- Comfortable fit
Cons
- Treble lacks some refinement
- No wireless charging case
- No wear sensor
The Beats Studio Buds+ take the experience we enjoyed in the original Studio Buds and hones it into much improved product for today’s market. Sound remains as full bodied and energetic as we remember it, but we now have significantly improved noise cancelling, a more comfortable fit and better battery life, which all add to the experience considerably.
There’s still some things missing, like wireless charging and a wear sensor, but this is a fantastic pair of headphones at a great price. Best of all, with the universal compatibility they offer, they appeal to Android users just as much as they do Apple’s. If you don’t need a more workout-ready fit, these offer one of the best all-round Beats experiences.
Beats Powerbeats Pro
3. Best Beats headphones for workouts
$159.99 $199.99 Save $40
Amazing true wireless earbuds, these are ideal for exercising in.
Pros
- Unmatched design and sound for exercise
- Exceptional battery life
Cons
- No wireless charging case
- No noise cancelling
The Beats Powerbeats Pro are the company’s flagship in-ear buds that give you complete freedom when running or in the gym – they’re unashamedly workout-orientated with the distinctive ear hooks, but can easily be used for general listening, too.
They’re based on the same technology as the Apple AirPods, but have the benefit of being sweatproof and waterproof. They’re extremely light in your ears and come in a charging case.
You get some super sound across the spectrum, but you don’t feel like they’re pressing into your ear; thanks to the range of tips, you don’t have to get a complete seal to ensure great sound.
They don’t have noise cancelling, so don’t expect that, but battery life is brilliant with nine hours of constant listening, while you can charge them twice over again from the case. Our only gripe is – like all Beats buds – that the case is not able to charge wirelessly.
Beats Studio 3 Wireless
4. Best Beats headphones for overear fit
Chunky around-ear headphones that bring powerful sound.
Pros
- Incredible battery life
- Superb sound and pairing
Cons
- Plastic build not for everyone
- Very bass-heavy
The Beats Studio 3 Wireless are an over-ear headphone design that encapsulates your whole ear inside the ear cup. This design helps to block out external noises, although it’s aided further by active noise cancellation (ANC). This new ANC is different to previous iterations, in that it constantly adjusts its frequency to match the sound of your environment, making it more versatile.
The built-in rechargeable battery can last over 22 hours, and the lightweight build combined with the soft materials used will mean you’ll want to keep them on your head for as long as possible. There are controls on the headphones themselves to skip tracks, change volume and accept phone calls.
The Beats Studio are not just one of the most iconic pairs of Beats headphones available, but one of the most iconic pairs of headphones full stop. Soundwise, they’re bassy (as you’d expect), but the entire nature of the audio profile seems to have shifted to make it more refined. They can go loud and hard, and the addition of active noise cancellation should only help focus more you on the music.
Beats Studio Buds
5. Best Beats headphones for smaller budgets
With good pairing support for Android and iOS users, as well as balanced sound and a neat design, these are a basic but very effective pair of wireless buds.
Pros
- Affordable and great-sounding
- Android Fast pair support
Cons
- No H1 chip for cross-device Apple pairing
- The charging case isn’t wireless
The Beats Studio Buds are the cheapest wireless earbuds in the Beats line up, and show Beats can impress at this level too.
The sound is crisp and solid in pretty much every scenario we’ve tested – including trains, workouts and casual wear – with active noise-cancelling a really nice addition, too.
Like its Apple cousins, though, the biggest benefit of Studio Buds is the convenience. They’re small enough to carry around easily, they last for long periods and are also comfortable to wear.
The Beats Studio Buds+ offer a step up from these if you’d like better noise cancellation, fit and sound quality, but as it stands, these buds still offer tremendous value.
Beats Solo 3 Wireless
6. Best Beats headphones for overear portability
A solid set of on-ear cans for those that prioritise battery life and portability.
Pros
- Great connectivity for Apple users
- Long battery life
Cons
- Very snug fit
- Too much bass for some
The Solo 3 Wireless on-ears were introduced quite a long time ago, but handily still feature Apple’s W1 wireless chip. It promises greater battery life, a greater Bluetooth range and improved connectivity options for iPhone users.
Touch-sensitive controls are present on the left ear cup for skipping tracks and changing volume. Beats claims up to 40 hours of life – and they do last so long – but, naturally, you can also plug in a 3.5mm cable for a wired connection to your phone. Or charge them up for five minutes to get three hours of playback time.
In terms of sound, they’re very much a pair of Beats headphones, which means bass in your face. But they do bass very well. So if you’re after a powerful yet portable pair of headphones, the Solo 3s are for you.
Beats Flex
7. Best Beats headphones for ultimate affordability
Amazing budget wireless audio, with a battery life that’s impressive for this price range.
Pros
- Extremely affordable
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- Very snug fit
- Too much bass for some
The Beats Flex are a welcome update to the formula laid out by Beats X, and are some of the best budget wireless earbuds around with a neckband design.
They’re comfortable to wear, are really light and come in some fun colours – all while working superbly with iOS. In this case, that’s thanks to the older W1 chip on board.
You get 12 hours of battery life, which is really impressive for the price, and they’re really great for a hectic lifestyle. If you want some Beats without breaking the bank, these are the obvious solution.
FAQ
Q: How to choose the best Beats headphones for you?
Firstly, you need to think about what you’ll be using the headphones for most, and where. You probably already have an idea whether earbuds or full headphones would be best for your needs, but it’s a good place to start if you haven’t.
No matter the conclusion you’ve come to in the above question, Beats are almost certain to offer something to suit – whether that’s headphones for the gym (have a think about fit and waterproofing), travelling or commuting (think about design, battery life and noise cancelling) or that prioritise sound quality over portability, Beats should have you covered.
You can read our full reviews for further insight into how they are to use, but our summaries above should give you an idea of which headphones would be the best for your needs.