![]() ![]() Read more: Best noise-canceling true wireless earbuds for 2021 They do work for spatial audio for music in Apple Music, but that's not a big deal because all headphones do. These have no gyroscopes or accelerometers for the head-tracking that's required for spatial for video. ![]() That's Apple's virtual surround feature and it's pretty cool if you haven't tried it already. The other thing that's missing is spatial audio for movie and TV watching. But at least you can pair the buds with one of your iCloud devices and it will be listed in the Bluetooth menu of all of them. Practically speaking, this means the audio doesn't automatically switch over to your iPhone when a call comes if you're using the Studio Buds with your Mac or an iPad. And while Beats updated to the Studio Buds' firmware in January 2022 so now Apple users now get "instant pairing" with all their iCloud devices from a "single tap," the Studio Buds don't pair simultaneously with two Apple devices (you have to manually switch between devices by tapping on the Studio Buds' Bluetooth menu). That it's not available with the Studio Buds may be a deal-breaker for some people, especially if they're used to the feature on earlier Apple or Beats models. That's a killer feature for Apple users, the equivalent of multipoint Bluetooth pairing, one of the best conveniences of higher-end wireless headphones. Here's how Apple describes it: "When your other iOS and iPadOS devices are signed in with the same Apple ID as your iPhone, your AirPods seamlessly connect to whichever device you're listening to (on supported AirPods and Beats headphones)." That means there's no iCloud pairing across all your Apple devices, and thus no auto-switching. One of the reasons the experience is so similar for Apple and Android users is that the Beats Studio Buds don't have an H1 or W1 chip - the not-so-secret sauce in other Apple and Beats headphones, including the step-up Beats Fit Pro ($200), that allows them to tap into the Apple ecosystem. But I can see how some people would like the Powerbeats Pro's ear hook for sporting activities because it gives you some reassurance that the buds won't fall out of your ears. (Ultimately, foam tips offer a bit more grip.) They also fit my ears better than the Powerbeats Pro, which I have trouble getting a tight seal with unless I use my own XXL large ear tips. I had no issue with them staying in my ears while running with them but you may get a little slippage as you sweat - they are IPX4 splashproof - and sometimes it can help to use foam ear tips, as I do with the AirPods Pro. But more on that after I finish talking about their design and features. I found them as comfortable to wear as the AirPods Pro and I also thought they sounded a little better than both the AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro. David Carnoy/CNETīeats says it's redesigned the silicone ear tips and I got a tight seal with the largest ear tip and the buds stayed securely in my ears. The buds are IPX4 splashproof like the AirPods Pro. (If they sound like old news, thank a steady stream of recent leaks, up to and including LeBron James.) Unlike Apple's own mega popular AirPod headphones, these new Beats noise-canceling true-wireless earbuds are being targeted at Android users, too. The Beats Studio Buds are a little unusual for an Apple product - yes, Apple owns Beats, for those who might have missed that 2014 acquisition. (The Studio Buds do not pair to two devices simultaneously.) With the January firmware update, the Studio Buds' "b" button can also be customized to control volume, either within the iOS/macOS Bluetooth menu or the Beats app for Android. But you have to click on the Studio Buds in the Bluetooth menu to pair them to that specific device. The Studio Buds are automatically added to your list of Bluetooth devices available to you on your iCloud devices. With no onboard W1 or H1 chip, some key features are missing for Apple usersĮditors' note: In January 2022, Beats updated the firmware of the Beats Studio Buds, adding a few new features, the most important of which is that Apple users now get "instant pairing" with all their iCloud devices from a "single tap." This is not the same as the automatic pairing found on the step-up Beats Fit Pro, as well as the Apple AirPods Pro, AirPods 2nd Generation and AirPods 3rd Generation. Similar experience for iOS and Android users, except iOS users get hands-free Siri Slightly better sound than AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro Lightweight and discrete, they offer a comfortable fit with active noise canceling and transparency mode ![]()
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