Overall Score 7.3 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Overall Score 7.3 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Category | Features | Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) | Beats Studio Buds |
---|---|---|---|
DESIGN | ingress protection (ip) rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
weight | 8.56g | 5.1g | |
has no wires or cables | ✓ | ✓ | |
sweat resistance | ✓ | ✓ | |
has stereo speakers | ✓ | ✓ | |
SOUND QUALITY | has active noise cancellation (noise control) | ✓ | ✓ |
has passive noise reduction | ✓ | ✓ | |
driver unit size | 11mm | 8.2mm | |
lowest frequency | 10Hz | 20Hz | |
highest frequency | 20,000Hz | 20,000Hz | |
sound pressure level | ✗ | 100.5dB/mW | |
POWER | battery life | 6hours | 8hours |
battery life of charging case | 30hours | 16hours | |
charge time | 0.3hours | 1.5hours | |
has wireless charging | ✓ | ✗ | |
has a battery level indicator | ✓ | ✓ | |
CONNECTIVITY | has usb type-c | ✗ | ✓ |
bluetooth version | v5 | v5.2 | |
maximum bluetooth range | 10meters | 10meters | |
has aac | ✓ | ✓ | |
MICROPHONE | number of microphones | 6only | 6only |
has a noise-canceling microphone | ✓ | ✓ | |
EXTRAS | has ambient sound mode | ✗ | ✓ |
has in/on-ear detection | ✓ | ✗ | |
has find earbuds feature | ✓ | ✓ | |
supports fast charging | ✓ | ✓ | |
multipoint count | 2only | 2only | |
has a mute function | ✓ | ✓ | |
control panel placed on a device | ✓ | ✓ | |
warranty period | 1Years | ✗ | |
has voice prompts | ✓ | ✓ | |
travel bag is included | ✓ | ✓ | |
See price on Amazon | See price on Amazon |
Ingress protection ratings is the rank of protection offered by an enclosure, against solids and liquids. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value of the IP rating means protection against solids such as dust, followed by the one that refers to resistance against liquids (water).
Having a value of IPX4, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s rating is read as, the first number of X denotes that no data available to specify a protection rating, and the second value of 4 means that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes. In comparison to the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), Beats Studio Buds have a rating of IPX4 meaning that
we are not yet certain of their rating with solids (dust)
and that of liquids is that,
they both have the same rating against liquids
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a weight of 8.56g . We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are easier to carry.
Beats Studio Buds, at 5.1g weigh less than the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by -3.46g For a device to be true wireless it must have no wires linking any part of the device together, Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) are true wireless for this case since they don't have wires. This is a key difference since wireless earbuds have cables linking the two earbuds . Beats Studio Buds also is true wireless because it has no cables linking the 2 earbuds . Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have sweat resistance Beats Studio Buds's resistance to sweat makes both devices fit for use while doing sports such as long-distance running, marathons, cardio sweat workouts , etc Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have stereo speakers, what this means is that Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better listening experience. The Beats Studio Buds also have stereo speakers ANC uses advanced technology to actively cancel noise.
How it works, it listens to the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and generates a mirror signal to cancel it out. In simple terms, it's like having +1 (sound from your surrounding) and adding -1 (inverted noise) giving zero resulting in a reduced level of noise.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have ANC allowing you to listen at lower volume levels, causing less ear fatigue as you don't need to crank up the earbuds volume to outcompete background noise.
Beats Studio Buds too have ANC making both devices ideal for plane rides and morning commutes. Each work with different noise cancellation modes, pick the noise cancellation type that you prefer for travel or that suites your relaxation time. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) stay well in place, this creates a sound seal that reduces your environment sounds while preventing the device music from leaking out . Both of these devices have passive noise reduction this implies that both limit ambient noise instead of actively using ANC to cancel it out.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) driver unit is 11mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, therefor producing better bass. A driver unit is basically a mini speaker that produces sound in the device, its size corellates with the loudness of the earbuds. Beats Studio Buds driver unit is 8.2mm in diameter, which implies that they have a smaller driver unit than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 2.8mm , as many tend to believe that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.
However, large drivers find it difficult to produce high frequencies so it's true that, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not mean that they produce better quality sound. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s lowest frequency is at 10Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well an audio device generates low frequencies that can be heard, and if it alters the signal while at it. Beats Studio Buds's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) can make sound with a juicier bass than the Beats Studio Buds
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response indicates how well a particular audio device makes high audible frequencies and if it changes to the signal while at it.
Beats Studio Buds's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this means that both devices produce equal treble The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s battery life is 6 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average before recharge. A device's battery life is usually given by the manufacturer, and with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and have to charge the device less often. Beats Studio Buds's battery life is more than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 2 hours . Every time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less playing time.
The effect is not noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time. The battery life of the charging case is given by the manufacturer, and Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s case has a charge of 30 hours. A charging case with more battery hours allows you to recharge your earbuds on the go multiple times before having to recharge the case itself.
Beats Studio Buds's charging case has a battery life of 16 hours, less than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 14 hours It takes 0.3 hours to fully charge the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s battery. It is highly adivsable to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds for the first time. Beats Studio Buds takes 1.5 hours to fully charge the battery, more than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 1.2 hours The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), the device supports wireless charging.
To charge the earbuds, you simply place down on a supported charging pad. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a battery level indicator, an indicator alerts you when the device has a low battery. Its lights show the charging status of your earbuds and case.
Beats Studio Buds too have a battery level indicator, these enable you determine the charging state of your earbuds, whether fully charged, or having a low battery. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have Bluetooth version of 5, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data transfers between devices placed in range, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves. Beats Studio Buds has a Bluetooth version of 5.2, newer than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) . Newer versions provide faster data transfers.
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a 10meters distance connecting via Bluetooth. Beats Studio Buds have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support AAC, a codec used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps.
Since it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it can provide better results than other codecs at the same bit rate.
Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) will work well with your iPhone. If you are planning on using these with Android you need to pay even closer attention to codec support for if they only have AAC they won't provide the best audio quality possible, ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.
The Beats Studio Buds support AAC as well. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 encoders at the same bit rate. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have 6 microphones.
The Beats Studio Buds microphones are 6, equal to that of the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) . More microphones record better sound quality and enable the earbuds to filter out noise. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are intended to filter out noise from the earbuds' sound. The Beats Studio Buds too use a noise-canceling microphone.
This is useful in noisy environments. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when they are removed from your ears . When lost in a room, or can't easily find them in your bag, Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a find earbuds feature. Beats Studio Buds too have the find earbuds feature.
Use the earbuds app on your phone to play a sound from your earbuds to locate them. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support fast charging. Most often, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to lower the time it takes to charge a device.
The Beats Studio Buds support fast charging. It's very similar to regular charging, just that the battery is filling up much faster. Say, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery is charged to 50% in thirty minutes.
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a multipoint of 2 connections, the multipoint feature allows you connect to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. Say, you can seemlessly switch calls from one device to another without manually disconnect and reconnect. The Beats Studio Buds have a multipoint count of 2, equal to that of the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) . Bluetooth multipoint is useful because you can be on one call and not miss notifications coming from another device.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a mute function, they support the option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device. The Beats Studio Buds also support this function. The mute function means that you are in position turn off the earbuds' microphone, but still hear the other party's voice.
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), so you can easily access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever functions are supported on the device. Beats Studio Buds also have a control panel on them. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a warranty period of 1 Years, the period of time that warrant free repair and adjustment services in case of a malfunction occurring under normal use that has followed instruction manuals.
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support voice prompts. With voice prompts, you receive information through audio messages, say if there is an issue with the connection. The Beats Studio Buds too have voice prompts .i.e the device will notify you if the battery is low, and it's time to recharge them.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) come with their own special pouch. Carrying earphones openly, or putting them inside your bag without a casing can easily put them at risk of getting damaged. Beats Studio Buds too have a case included, which offers safe transportation.