It’s hard to forget when Beats (AKA Beats by Dre) headphones first hit the scene in the late aughts and how quickly they became one of the most iconic headphones. To this day, the Beats Studio headphones, specifically, are instantly recognizable and have only gotten better since the first pair came out in 2008 (and especially after Apple acquired the company in 2014). It’s been fifteen years since then (and six years since the 3rd generation came out), and the label has kicked off the fourth generation of the lineup with the new Beats Studio Pro Wireless Headphones, which feature personalized spatial audio along with other upgrades.
Inside, the new drivers provide nearly zero distortion (even when you crank the volume), and the custom acoustic platform creates immersive sound and high-quality audio. Battery life is solid, too, with up to 40 hours of listening time without the active noise canceling or transparency mode on (and 24 hours with them on). These two listening options, ANC and transparency mode, work together to create the perfect amount of noise cancellation based on your environment and preferences. ANC monitors the surrounding sounds and adjusts itself to the space, and transparency mode lets you blend sounds from your environment into the audio you’re listening to. Spatial audio is also included and benefits from these upgrades, making music and movies more immersive, and the upgraded voice-targeting mics make your calls sound crisp and clear (around 27% better, according to Apple).
For some, the return of this design may not be as exciting compared to designs from contemporaries like Apple’s flagship headphones, which have been shaking things up with each new design (for the most part). But sometimes, a classic design can stand the test of time, and many fans appreciate the familiarity. And it’s actually been upgraded to be more comfortable this generation, with seamless engineered leather and a lightweight body.
The Beats Studio Pro Wireless Headphones are available now for $350.
