Beats Studio Buds

The Beats Studio Buds are a solid all-round pair of active noise cancellation (ANC) earbuds. The sound is well-balanced, the ANC is solid (given the price) and iOS and Android support means there’s no favouritism in terms of platforms. There are limitations but the Studio Buds pack in plenty of value.

The Beats Studio Buds are easily the best-sounding earbuds Beats has ever made. They’re comfortable to wear and they sound great, plus they support active noise cancellation. Unfortunately, their call quality isn't great and they're missing Apple's H1 Wireless Chip.

If you already have the Powerbeats Pro and are happy with them, there’s not much about the Studio Buds that warrants an upgrade. Like a lot of rivals battling it out at this price, they’re perfectly adequate, but they lack any one must-have standout thing. Considering the cultural clout that the Beats brand still possesses, that still might be enough for them to be a hit.

I did really like them overall. As I said, they fit my ears well, they're small, and have good sound and call quality. The case is good, too. It's a shame Apple created a bit of a downgraded experience for its own users by not including a couple of those key differentiating features you get with the AirPods and other Beats.

At $150 they’re pitched right at the heart of the ANC earbud category, too. If you ever assumed you weren’t in Beats’ target audience given your music tastes, the Studio Buds may well change your mind.