Beats Studio Pro Wireless ANC Headphones Deliver Without the Sticker Shock

In a world where premium headphones often demand a premium paycheck, the Beats Studio Pro steps in with a quiet confidence. This over-ear model, priced at $139 on sale (down from $350), promise the kind of active noise cancellation and audio punch that echoes Apple’s AirPods Max, yet they arrive at a fraction of that model’s $549 tag.

The Studio Pro wraps your head in soft, synthetic leather cushions that mold comfortably for hours. At 260 grams, they are lighter than the AirPods Max, which weigh 384 grams and can feel like a crown after a time. The matte plastic frame repels fingerprints better than glossy counterparts, and the adjustable headband distributes weight evenly. They fold flat and disappear inside a bag. The right earcup contains controls such as a volume rocker, play-pause/call button, and a toggle for noise cancellation and transparency mode.

Dual 40mm drivers deliver balanced audio with bass that thumps without overpowering the mids and highs. Spatial audio with head tracking works on Apple devices, creating a spacious stage that makes music feel immersive. On Android, you miss that capability, but the fundamental playback is excellent via Bluetooth 5.3. Support for AAC, SBC, and lossless audio over USB-C increases versatility; connect a cable and forgo wireless compression for unadulterated sound. Compared to the warm and polished AirPods Max, the Studio Pro is punchier and more suited for pop, hip-hop, and podcasts. The Beats app’s EQ settings allow you to fine-tune the output for more treble or suppressed lows.

Noise cancellation is a lifesaver in crowded places, filtering out all background sounds, including the rumbling of city traffic, the talk of colleagues, and the hum of the engine in the car next to you. It’s quite effective, holding its own against even the AirPods Max in everyday situations such as a commute. Transparency mode is also a fantastic feature, allowing you to listen to the sounds around you without having to take off your headphones, which is great if you need to grab a coffee without pausing.

Battery life is also impressive: up to 40 hours with noise canceling turned on, or 24 in transparency mode, plus there’s an excellent rapid five-minute boost that gives you four hours of playback. Oh, and these headphones support USB-C charging, so you won’t have to worry about losing track of those annoying propertairy cords clogging up your drawer. And when it comes to phone calls, the microphone really shines; it provides clear pickup and even effectively eliminates that unpleasant wind noise when strolling down the street.

For the price, you’d expect to receive some pretty high-end capabilities, and you do: one-touch pairing with your iPhone, automatic device switching across all of your Apple devices, and even the essential Find My feature in case you misplace your headphones. Android users aren’t left out either; there’s an app for firmware upgrades and customizing your headphones.