Over the last year or so, Beats has been updating its lineup — some models more successfully than others. The Solo headphones are the next model getting an upgrade, with the Solo4 apparently coming sooner rather than later.

9to5Mac has managed to get its hands on some exclusive information about the next pair of Beats, including a rough release month date of May 2. Not long to wait!

Beating the USB-C drum

First and foremost, coming to what feels like everything Apple (and by extension Beats) releases at the moment is the inclusion of a USB-C charging port on the Beats Solo4. That’s going to give you fast charging to get the battery charged up quicker, and an extra five hours of listening from only ten minutes being plugged in. Because there’s no noise canceling on board, the battery is looking stellar too, apparently lasting 50 hours on a full charge. 

There’s another port on the opposite earcup as well — a 3.5mm headphone jack. That’ll mean you can still use them even when the battery is dead, or bypass the internal DAC so that you can use your own.

9to5Mac further states that Spatial Audio with head tracking will be supported, although my experience with the Beats Studio Pro tells me that this will likely be something best left turned off. The exciting bit is that the sound profile of the Solo4 has been improved, using new 40mm dynamic drivers.

To make use of the new sound tech, there’s support for hi-res lossless audio — although to get the most out of it, you’ll need to plug them in with the cable. For wireless connection, there's Bluetooth 5.3 to connect to the best iPhones, and one-touch connection for Android users.

The price to beat

My main complaint about the Beats Studio Pro was the price. For $250, they wouldn’t have been quite as bad, given their build and sound quality, but $349 was just a leap too far. If the price of the Solo4 is to be believed, however, they’re in a much better place — it looks like they’ll cost $199, just like the Solo3 that came before them. 

That’s $149 less than the Beats Studio Pro, making for a more compelling price tag. Given they’re receiving the same new ‘UltraPlush’ earcups as the Studio Pro as well as the same case as the more expensive model, unless you really want noise canceling, the Beats Solo4 could be the Beats to buy in 2024.

Beats

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While Apple's AirPods are usually the first and last word in great headphones for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, Apple also sells a stellar range of alternatives in the form of Beats. The iconic lineup of headphones, founded by Dr. Dre, is known for being generally much more vibrant and more affordable than AirPods while offering many of the features that make AirPods fantastic to use within the Apple ecosystem. 

If you've scoured the best Cyber Monday AirPods deals on offer this weekend and found yourself unmoved, then these alternative Beats selections might be the one for you. There are the great over-ear Studio Pro headphones that are more than 50% off, as well as the Beats Studio Buds, Beats Fit Pro, and more. With a range of colors to choose from they offer users flair and personality you don't get from Apple's iconic but generic white AirPods. One of the best deals we've seen is a new low price on one color of the Beats Studio Buds +, now just $119 at Amazon!

Where to find the best headphones Black Friday deals

• Amazon — Up to 60% off headphones
• Best Buy — Save up to $180
• Target — New lowest prices on top headphones

• Headphone deals: Walmart | Best Buy | Amazon | Dell
• Earbuds deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Amazon | Samsung | Dell
  

First created by Hip-hop legend Dr. Dre and now owned and made by Apple, Beats has some epic headphones under its belt. With some of the best in-ear buds in the Beats fit Pro to some seriously cool over-ear noise cancelers with the Beats Studio3, there’s a pair of Beats for everyone. But which Beats are the best for you, and why would you even want a pair?

With so many options available, it can be a little tricky to work out which ones you want, how much you want to spend, and what kind of features you’re looking for.

This guide will talk you through the Beats lineup, and which ones you should consider if you’re looking for a pair of the best wireless headphones. All the options below are great for a wide range of situations including when using with the best TVs for Apple TV.

Our pick for the best Beats is the Beats Studio 3 headphones. They are super solid in their design, with great over-ear noise-canceling, plus you’ll love their super useful case. They might feel a little plasticky, but they’re a solid option in the Beats range.

The Beats Studio 3 are at the top of the Beats range and come with some epic features. They’re big and comfortable, the noise canceling is good, and they sound pretty decent too. They’re the top of the Beats tree for a reason, and you won’t wonder why if you pick a pair up.

The all-plastic build doesn’t detract too much from the experience either, as those big earcups are soft, foamy, and comfortable. They might not match up to some of the more expensive options out there, especially when compared to something like AirPods Max, but they’re comfy over long listening periods. They fold up into a very nice carry case though, so they’ve got that over their Apple cousins already.

The noise canceling is fine, although it’s now fallen behind some of the newer headphones on the block. It’ll still block the noise out, however, and you'll be perfectly fine on the bus or at a coffee house. It’s the button-based interface that’s great here though, as it’s so much more reliable than the touch interfaces you’ll find on other over-ear headphones, like Sony’s XM5 headphones. If you can put up with the depth and loud ‘click’ when you press a button, you’ll see how much less annoying it is than accidentally skipping three tracks when you brush an earcup on headphones that rely on touch-based controls.

The sound quality is not going to leave you with any complaints, and you’ll be surprised to notice that it’s not super bass heavy either. Instead, they’re a lot more neutral and natural sounding, albeit a little thin in the higher ranges. They obviously sound their strongest when pumping out hip-hop, but fans of other genres aren’t going to be left wanting.

Read the Beats Studio 3 review

These little guys and their relatively low price are some of the most impressive small earbuds that you’ll find. They may not have the AirPods Pro H1 chip like their bigger brothers in the Beats stable, but their sonic performance outperforms their price and size more than you might expect.

They’re very tiny. Drop them in the wrong place and lose them forever type tiny. But they’re also comfortable, and the seal within the ear means they make pretty good earplugs even with them turned off. The noise canceling is ok, but it’s not going to outperform the likes of the AirPods Pro or even the Beats Fit Pro.

Sound-wise they’re more impressive than you might think. Again, the new Beats sound signature seems to be more neutral, with less bass than the Beats Buds of yesteryear. They’re not going to sound as good as something way more expensive, but they’re impressive enough to raise an eyebrow. Battery life could be better, however. They’re only going to last you around 5 hours of listening time, and the case only extends that to 15.

But when they’re only $150, and frequently down to $100 thanks to holiday deals such as Black Friday and Prime Day, then these become a little more tempting than perhaps even the AirPods 2.

Read the Beats Studio Buds review

The Beats Fit Pro are Beats’ take on AirPods Pro, and they succeed pretty well in that mission. The Fit Pros might not sound as good as AirPods Pro, but they still offer noise canceling and a great in-ear fit.

These are the Beats to go for if you like to go to the gym every day. They feature these little ear clips on the outside of each bud, which keep your buds in even when you’re doing miles on a treadmill, or even running up a mountain. After a while, this can get a little uncomfortable, but they’ll easily last a full exercise session.

Sound-wise you’ll find them acceptable. They don’t sound as good as the frankly exemplary AirPods Pro 2, but they’ll play your music and you won’t be too bothered about how the AirPods might sound better.

One of the coolest parts of the Beats Fit Pro though is the range of colors. There are the original black and white ones, but now there are the Kim K collab versions, as well as the new Neon colors. Each is unique, cool, and all kinds of fun.

Read the Beats Fit Pro review

These are the flagship in ears from Beats, and they’re a stellar headphone option. They come in some cool colors, and they’re pretty comfortable to boot.

They feature the same noise-canceling chip as the first-generation AirPods Pro, and they hook up to your iPhone in the same way as Apple’s headphones. They sound pretty good too, with our review calling them an ‘incredible audio experience in earphones’.

They hook around your ear to stay in place, so they’re pretty good if you’re a bit more active too. There’s a button on the outside rather than a touch panel, while there are several buds in different sizes, found inside its packaging to make sure you can find a good fit for your ears. 

The case they come in is a little more awkwardly shaped than that of some of their siblings, but it’ll still fit in your pocket. Battery life from that case is good too, with 9 hours in the buds plus a further 15 from the charging case. They’re a great alternative to the AirPods Pro, although they’re a bit pricey at $220.

Read the Beats PowerBeats Pro review

The best Beats

We love Beat’s headphones and Buds, and they make great alternatives to Apple’s AirPods line. As we said toward the start, the Beats Studio 3 are our pick for the best Beats, but the other models also make for really great options if you’re after some incredible headphones for on-the-go.

The Studio Buds give you an excellent experience for a little less money and the likes of the PowerBeats are great alternatives to Apples AirPods Pro. There really is a pair of Beats for everyone. If you'd rather have some of Apple's buds, we know where to find the best AirPods deals.

Beats has today unveiled three wild new colors for its Beats Fit Pro line. The new colors, Coral Pink, Volt Yellow, and Tidal Blue, will be available at the standard Beats Fit Pro price of $199 beginning Thursday, February 23. 

To celebrate the launch, Beats has collaborated with singer, songwriter, and actress Chlöe Bailey and American tennis player Frances Tiafoe on a new LOCK IN. WORK OUT. campaign. 

We've been hands-on with all three ahead of release and can confirm that these new colors are really fantastic. The Volt Yellow and the Tidal Blue especially pop both in their respective cases and in-ear. 

All three will be available at Apple.com, Apple Stores, and various resellers when they are launched.

Move over Kim Kardashian

The three new colors follow the incredibly popular launch of Kim Kardashian's own Moon, Dune, and Earth colors which launched last year. Like that launch, these Beats Fit Pro colors don't bring any other new features or changes. 

Beats Fit Pro offers class 1 Wireless Bluetooth connectivity, and Apple's H1 chip for incredibly fast pairing and device switching. On a single charge, they offer up to 6 hours of battery life, and more importantly, you can get an hour's worth of listening time from just five minutes of charging thanks to Fast Fuel, perfect for spontaneous workouts or when you forget to charge your headphones. They have USB-C, and button controls on either side. 

Unlike AirPods, they also tend to work a lot better with Android, so you don't have to sell your soul to the Apple ecosystem in order to enjoy them. They offer all-important active noise canceling, transparency mode, Siri support, and Find My compatibility should you ever lose them. They're also IPX4 water resistant and come with a wing-tip design to keep them pinned into your ears for working out. 

Despite their slightly inferior sound quality, Beats Fit Pro remains some of the best AirPods Pro alternatives you can buy.

If you're looking for a pair of Kim Kardashian's new special edition Beats Fit Pros, you're going to have a heck of a time tracking them down.

According to Apple's online store in the United States, all three variations of the wireless earbuds are already completely sold out, despite launching earlier today.

The Beats X Kim version of the wireless earbuds, which come in Moon, Dune, and Earth, retail for the usual price of Beats Fit Pro at $199. The headphones went on sale on Apple's online store today and quickly sold out.

Thankfully, the company also says that they will be available in Apple retail stores on Wednesday, August 17, so you still have a chance to track a pair down before they're gone completely. Update: we've just seen some stock appear at Amazon US.

Go behind the scenes of the earbuds

The earbuds, which feature skin tone colors, were a collaboration between Kardashian and the Beats team. Kardashian said that she wanted to question the usual trend in colors that people are accustomed to finding in headphones.

"I wanted to break away from the idea that headphones have to be colorful to make a statement," and said that the "collaboration is special because it allows you to blend in or stand out, and Beats is known for creating products that showcase individuality.”

You can go behind the scenes of the earbuds below:

The Beats Fit Pro Kim K Special Edition earbuds are on sale now but, like I mentioned above, are already completely sold out on Apple's online store in the United States.

Thankfully, you could still find them elsewhere. In addition to being offered on Apple's online store in the U.S., Apple is also selling them on its online store in Canada, the UK, France, Germany, and Japan.

They will also be available in stores on Wednesday, August 17 at some Apple Store locations as well as some authorized resellers. In the United Kingdom, they will also be available at London's Regent Street Apple Store and Selfridges. 

Apple and Beats by Dre have today unveiled their new Beats Fit Pro made in partnership with Kim Kardashian. 

The new headphones, which are set to be released next week, come in three distinctive new colors, Moon, Dune, and Earth. 

The new Beats will be released next week and will retail at the regular price of $199/£199. Online orders start on Tuesday, August 16, and they'll be available in stores on Wednesday, August 17. 

Beats X Kim

Beats says that its new Beats X Kim collaboration "sits at the intersection of fashion and functionality, with high-quality tech outfitted in Kim Kardashian's signature minimalistic aesthetic," as evidenced by the three incredibly neutral colors. 

The light color is Moon, the medium color is Dune, and Earth is the deepest of the trio. 

Kardashian said "I wanted to break away from the idea that headphones have to be colorful to make a statement," and said that the "collaboration is special because it allows you to blend in or stand out, and Beats is known for creating products that showcase individuality.”

Apple's SVP of services praised Kardashian, saying she "brought her signature minimalist style to the first-ever Beats Fit Pro custom headphones." 

You can go behind the scenes of the new Beats Fit Pro below:

Beats X Kim will be available from Apple.com/kim in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, and Japan from Tuesday, August 16 at 7 am PT online, and in select Apple Store locations, as well as some authorized resellers. In the UK, they will only be available at London's Regent Street Apple Store and Selfridges. 

As an audio lover, I take reviewing headphones and speakers very seriously. I've had the chance to review three speakers by Tribit, and I'm a fan of this company because they deliver high-fidelity audio in many forms at affordable price points. The Tribit StormBox Pro is a Bluetooth portable speaker that doubles as a power bank. It features a whopping 24 hours of playback, and its tower shape delivers 360-degree sound wherever you go.

Tribit StormBox Pro: Price and availability

Tribit StormBox Pro is available on Amazon and the Tribit site for $120, although it will likely go on sale on Amazon over time. Purchase comes with the StormBox Pro, warranty card, user manual, and USB-C charging cable.

Tribit StormBox Pro: What sounds good

If you're looking for superior audio quality at a great price, Tribit is worthy of checking out. I've reviewed the Tribit XSound Mega, StormBox Micro 2, and now Tribit StormBox Pro, and I've been impressed by all three for various reasons, but most of all for their sound quality and value.

What sets Tribit StormBox Pro apart from some of the other Best Bluetooth speakers, is its tall, tower-like design. This speaker is made to sit vertically, which provides full, 360-degree sound, with no dead zones.

The button controls are straightforward and easy to use. It has dedicated Bluetooth, power, and XBass buttons, plus a five-light LED battery indicator, and from left to right: volume down, multifunctional button, and volume up controls. The multifunctional button can play/pause a track, skip forward and back, activate Siri, answer/end/reject phone calls, pause the current call and answer the incoming, and switch between two phone calls.

StormBox Pro packs a lot of power with its 40W output. It can get seriously loud. Dual passive radiators deliver smooth, deep bass notes, and reduce vibration by turning it into acoustic output. It has a downward-facing, full-range transducer that works with an acoustic deflector for 360-degree, well-balanced audio. A three-inch, neodymium, subwoofer provides lots of depth, especially when in XBass mode. XBass mode gives the bass a boost providing a fuller, more sonorous sound. A fan of big bass, I typically listen with XBass mode on. It's a richer audio experience and without it, it lacks depth.

The cool thing about Tribit StormBox Pro is that it also doubles as a portable power bank. With its 40W output and 24-hour battery life, it can charge any USB-A compatible device effectively wherever you are. It features Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, has a wireless range of up to 100 feet, and has easily paired with an iPhone, Macbook Pro, and other devices.

It supports TWS pairing if you want to connect it to another StormBox Pro for even bigger sound in party mode. It's IP67 waterproof and even has a protective cover over the USB-A output and USB-C input, making it splash-proof and safe to take to the beach, pool, and lake. I haven't drop-kicked it around, but it feels sturdy and durable, and comes with a thick rubber carrying strap for easy portability.

Tribit StormBox Pro: What doesn't sound good

On the downside, Tribit StormBox Pro's extra-long battery life of up to 24 hours comes at a price. It takes a whopping seven hours to charge. When it's dead, it's dead for a while. Another con: color enthusiasts may be disappointed that it only comes in black.

Tritbit StormBox Pro: Competition

We all know Bose offers premium sound quality — but it comes at a premium price. As you can see, Bose SoundLink Revolve+ boasts a similar design to Tribit StormBox Pro's, but the Pro's speaker covers 100% of the surface area top to bottom, compared to SoundLink Revolve+'s 50%. The features on both are similar, but StormBox Pro comes out on top with its 24-hour battery life (Revolve+ offers 17), and portable power bank. I don't own a SoundLink Revolve+, so I can't compare the audio quality, but I can say StormBox Pro delivers exceptional sound quality and comes at a fraction of the cost, making it a better value.

I have reviewed the similar Tribit StormBox Micro 2 and love it because it sounds great — especially when considering how small it is — and like the StormBox Pro, it doubles as a power bank. StormBox Micro 2 doesn't have nearly the power output (10W vs. 40W), nor the battery life (12 hours vs. 24 hours) of StormBox Pro, but it's much lighter and also comes in at a cheaper price point. Choosing between these two is tough, but it comes down to your needs and how you plan on using it.

Tribit StormBox Pro: Should you buy it?

• You're looking for a mid-size portable speaker
• You want a two-in-one portable charger
• You want excellent battery life

• You don't have seven hours to charge it
• You want something other than black

You should buy this if you're looking for a great value, mid-size, portable speaker with impressive sound quality and extra-long battery life. StormBox Pro offers up to 24 hours of playback. It has a 40W output and can charge all of your USB-A compatible devices on the go. You shouldn't buy this if you're not into the extra-long charge time as StormBox Pro takes seven hours. Also, if you're looking for some fun colors be aware that this only comes in black.

StormBox Pro is another noteworthy portable speaker by Tribit. It's powerful and produces 360-degree dynamic sound. I'm all about its extra-long battery life of 24 hours and the ability to charge my compatible accessories on the go is definitely a huge plus. It does take seemingly forever to charge, and it only comes in black, but overall, I am quite impressed by this wireless Bluetooth speaker.

I've been reviewing a lot of headphones and speakers lately, and as a high-quality sound enthusiast, I've been having a great time doing it. My latest speaker review features the Tribit StormBox Micro 2. This pocket-sized speaker delivers surprisingly bold bass and rich sound for a micro. It conveniently doubles as a portable charger making it an optimal two-in-one device. It offers extended battery life, party and stereo modes, as well as simultaneous Bluetooth pairing. It sounds best at 40% volume or higher, and its size, weight, and convenient silicone strap ensure you can bring beats and power with you wherever you go.

Tribit StormBox Micro 2: Price and availability

Tribit StormBox Micro 2 is currently available on Amazon and the Tribit site for $60. Your purchase comes with one StormBox Micro 2 speaker, a user manual, and a UCB-C to UCB-C fast charging cable.

Tribit StormBox Micro 2: What sounds good

Let's get down to brass tacks, Tribit StormBox Micro 2 packs big sound for such a little speaker. The Micro 2 weighs less than a pound (.6 pounds to be exact), but its sound is parallel to that of a medium-sized speaker. Its output power is 10 watts, but at max volume, it sounds like much more. It uses a specially designed 48-millimeter NdFeB driver, integration of passive radiators, and XBASS technology to produce dynamic audio — crisp, clear trebles, well-balanced mids, and bold, rich bass lines.

This is the second speaker I've reviewed from Tribit. I recently reviewed the Tribit XSound Mega and overall, I'm very impressed with the sound quality on both speakers, especially when considering price point. Both speakers deliver high-fidelity audio at a competitive cost in their respective categories, making them an excellent value.

The StormBox Micro 2 easily fits in the palm of my hand and is outfitted with a silicone carrying strap so it can attach to a fanny pack (my favorite method of toting), belt loop, tree branch, backpack, handlebars, etc. — you get the picture. It's lightweight and versatile and is designed for the outdoors with an IP67 rating. It feels durable and has had no problem holding up to dust and sand in my experience. I've brought it to the desert and beach so it's been immersed in both, and it easily weathered the journey. It's not designed to be submerged in water but it will survive if that happens as long as you pull it out within 30 minutes. A frequent companion to the beach and pool, it's proven itself to be splash-proof.

One of the coolest things about this speaker is that it doubles as a portable power bank. It uses Tribit's SmartID technology and features a water-resistant USB-C charging port to charge your phone, tablet, and other compatible accessories. Take note that the Micro 2 comes with a UCB-C to UCB-C charging cable, but you'd need to purchase a Lightning to USB-C cable to charge your phone, which I recommend. This has come in handy on several occasions and has made this speaker a must-bring everywhere in my book.

The controls are straightforward and easy to use. The volume buttons obviously control the volume, and the circle multifunctional button in the middle can play, pause, skip next and previous, activate Siri, answer and end phone calls, reject a call, pause a current call and answer an incoming call, and switch between phone calls. It's outfitted with a mic so it can even operate as a speakerphone. It's got dedicated power and Bluetooth button, as well as LED lights to indicate battery level.

Tribit StormBox Micro 2 uses Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and features a connection range of up to 120 feet. It offers up to 12 hours of playback depending on usage. This is a dramatic improvement from its predecessor, the Tribit StormBox Micro, which offers eight. It features Party Mode where you can connect to another Tribit StormBox 2 speaker for bigger sound and more bumping bass. It also offers Stereo Mode where one speaker will sound left and the other right for a surround sound experience. It can remember up to eight paired Bluetooth devices and supports two-device simultaneous Bluetooth pairing.

Tribit StormBox Micro 2: What doesn't sound good

There's a lot to like about Tribit StormBox Micro 2. My only complaint is that it doesn't sound great at lower volumes. In my opinion, it sounds best at 40% volume or higher. The mid-levels really start to drop out on anything below that, creating a bass-heavy, treble-heavy distortion.

Tribit StormBox Micro 2: Competition

We reviewed Apple HomePod mini and loved it for its compact size and more affordable price tag than the original Apple HomePod. It boasts the excellent sound quality we've come to expect via Apple, and seamless integration with Siri for Apple Music and controlling your smart home. It supports Bluetooth connectivity, but it is a wired speaker, so it's not portable like Tribit StormBox Micro 2. I don't own a HomePod mini so I can't compare the sound quality myself, but Tribit StormBox Micro 2 offers exceptional sound quality, is wireless, also integrates with Siri, also functions as a portable battery pack, and comes at almost half the price, making it a better value.

Yet another small Bluetooth speaker, we reviewed the Marshall Emberton Speaker last year and were fans of its excellent battery life, rich sound quality, and IPX7 water resistance rating. It offers up to 20 hours of playtime, which is substantially more than StormBox Micro 2's 12 hours. However, it boasts a much heftier price tag of $150, and does not double as a portable power bank. Therefore, Tribit StormBox Micro 2 offers more bang for your buck!

Tribit StormBox Micro 2: Should you buy it?

• You want high-quality sound in a micro package
• You're interested in a two-in-one music and charging device
• You're looking for something portable

• You want a medium or large-sized speaker
• You plan on playing it very quietly all of the time

You should buy this if you want high-quality sound in a micro package. Tribit StormBox Micro 2 is the best-sounding micro speaker I've listened to. It provides excellent audio and doubles as a USB-C charging port, able to power up compatible devices at home or on the go. As a micro speaker that weighs just over half a pound with a handly carrying strap, StormBox Micro 2 is about as portable as it gets. You shouldn't buy this if you want a medium or large-sized speaker — it's named micro for a reason.

Tribit StormBox Micro 2 is an excellent value. This feature-heavy micro speaker fits in the palm of your hand, making it easy to take anywhere. The fact that it doubles as a power bank makes it a must-have device on all adventures. It delivers high-quality sound but sounds best at 40% volume or higher. Overall, Tribit StormBox Micro 2 offers the best sound quality, battery life, and multi-functionality than any other speaker I've discovered in its category: best mini Bluetooth speakers.

I've tried and reviewed a bunch of different wireless headphones including in-ear, on-ear, and over-ear options. The MU6 Ring wireless headphones are my first open-ear pair, and I've got to say I love them! This open-ear concept allows you to hold conversations and stay aware of your surroundings, all while listening to all your favorite audio.

MU6 Ring: Price and availability

MU6 Ring is currently available on Amazon for $75. Your purchase includes the Ring headset, three reflective strips, micro-USB cable for charging, and a waterproof carrying bag. You may occasionally find it on sale for less, or there may be an Amazon coupon to bring the price down even further.

MU6 Ring: Open-ear, comfortable, easy

I love the open-ear concept of the MU6 Ring headphones. I go on a lot of outdoor walks, hikes, and runs, and this open-ear design enables me to hear my surroundings, while listening to my favorite tunes, podcasts, or audio books. The ring headset encircles the back of your head and features foldable ends that hook over your ears. It's fully adjustable and can easily accommodate all head shapes and sizes.

I wasn't sure what the sound quality would be like on the Ring, but it's surprisingly good. I'm a DJ and avid music listener, so high-quality audio is very important to me. I'm pleased to report that the Ring delivers. Sound comes through crystal clear — I can hear all three levels: trebles, mid-levels, and bass lines well. The bass lines are the weakest of the three, but that's to be expected from a design that's supposed to be transparent and not fully immersive.

Perhaps my favorite thing about MU6 Ring is its lightweight design and comfortable fit. Seriously, I can wear this thing all day long and barely notice that it's there. It gently hugs the side of your head, so it stays firmly in place while you move, but not so much that it becomes irritating after long periods of time. I've worn it during high-intensity cardio workouts and have tried to force it out of place by vigorously shaking my head from side to side, but it stays put. This is by far my most comfotable pair of headphones.

This headset is very easy to use. It only has one control button, located on the right side. You use this button to turn it on and off, control the volume, skip forward or back, answer and hang up the phone, reject a call, and connect to your voice assistant. Simple and responsive. It features Bluetooth connectivity and has seamlessly paired with my MacBook Pro, iPhone, and MYX II indoor bike.

MU6 Ring offers a solid battery life of 10 hours on a full charge. It arrived with enough juice to keep me listening on and off for days without needing to be plugged in again. It comes with a micro-USB cable for charging, and the input can be found on the right side under the control button. It features fast-charging and can get to 100% in just 90 minutes.

MU6 Ring: No privacy, low volume, glasses

The MU6 Ring is an open-ear concept, designed to enable you to hear your surroundings or carry on a conversation, while listening to audio. Therefore, those around you can hear whatever you're listening to. These are great for outdoor workouts or wearing in the privacy of your own home, but I wouldn't recommend wearing these on an airplane, subway, or train.

They also don't get super loud. This again, is purposeful, so you can hear your external environment while listening to your favorite tunes. Additionally, the Ring takes a little adjusting if you're wearing them with glasses. The part that hooks over your ears takes some finagling to achieve a comfortable fit.

MU6 Ring: Competition

AfterShokz OpenMove Headphones

This is another open-ear headset design. Instead of air conduction, AfterShokz OpenMove use bone conduction technology to deliver audio through the cheekbone, keeping you connected and aware of your surroundings. OpenMove wraps around the head and hooks over the ear. These are similar in price range, but MU6 Ring offers much better battery life of 10 hours versus OpenMove's six.

Sanag Headphones

Like the MU6 Ring, Sanag open-ear, wireless, headphones use air conduction technology to deliver quality sound. This headset is lighter than the Ring, weighing in at 18 grams versus the Ring's 35 grams. They're also slightly less expensive. MU6 Ring comes out ahead in battery life however, with 10 hours of continuous playtime, versus Sanag's eight.

MU6 Ring: Should you buy it?

• You want open-ear headphones
• You want something lightweight and comfortable
• You want long battery life

• You want fully immersive audio
• You don't want others to hear your audio
• You need extra volume

You should buy the Ring if you want a wireless, open-ear headset. It features Bluetooth connectivity and uses air conduction technology to deliver high-quality sound. It only weights 35 grams, making it comfortable to wear. It's fully adjustable for the perfect fit. It features fast-charging and 10 hours of continuous play time. You shouldn't buy the Ring if you want fully immersive audio. This open-ear concept is meant to keep you in transparency mode all of the time so you can hear your surroundings. That being said, those around you will be able to hear whatever you're listening to as well. These don't get super loud. They're not right for you if you want major volume.

MU6 Ring lets you listen to your favorite audio and your surroundings. It's lightweight, extremely comfortable, and adjustable to fit all head sizes. The single control button makes this headset easy to use, and you get 10 hours of continuous play time on a full charge. I love my Ring. It's perfect for outdoor workouts, working in my home office, and getting things done around the house.

Verizon isn't just a place to shop for smartphones and internet service. If you're not checking Verizon's sales out for accessory deals, you've been missing out on some excellent offers. Luckily, the latest sale is live through the end of the month with discounts on everything from the popular Beats Studio3 wireless headphones to the latest Apple Watch. Of course, those in need of a new phone can find some stellar savings right now as well; there's even a flash sale going on this weekend that's offering 'buy one, get one free' on the iPhone 11 Pro.

With the Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones now on sale for $199.99, today's deal saves you $150 off their full price while supplies last. These headphones feature Pure Adaptive Noise Cancelling technology to block out much of the background noise around you while you're listening. They utilize real-time audio calibration and can last for up to 22 hours on a single charge. Plus, there's an integrated Apple W1 chip for advanced pairing with your Apple devices as well as the ability to easily access Siri and control your iPhone.

Another offer drops the price of the Arlo Pro 2 wireless security camera (2-pack) down to just $199.99. That's a 50% discount and one of the best deals ever offered on the set. These security cameras are weather-resistant so you can use them inside or outdoors. You'll be able to download an app on your phone and begin checking in on the live video feed whenever you want to see what's going on, no matter where you are. The cameras feature 1080p HD video resolution and also have built-in speakers and microphones so you can use the app to hear and speak with anyone nearby.

Even more deals are live now at Verizon, including an offer that can save you $150 on an Apple Watch with the purchase of a new iPhone, so be sure to check out the sale while these prices are still low!

While you may think your Beats Solo3 headphones don't have a ton of opportunity to get dirty being on your head all day, dust, sweat, and little bits of dirt still manage to find their way onto them eventually. Proper cleaning and care of your Beats Solo3 headphones will help keep them in tip-top shape and looking great, so here are a few handy tips on how to clean the Beats Solo3 headphones.

• Soft cloths to wipe it clean: MagicFiber MicroFiber Cleaning Cloths ($13 at Amazon)
• Cotton swabs for the tough spots: Q-Tips ($3 at Amazon)

If there's no visible dirt, use a soft cloth

After you're done using your Beats Solo3's for the day, take them off your head and wipe them with a soft microfiber cleaning cloth. Make sure to clean the entire surface area, including the band, ear cups, and the padding lightly to get rid of dust, smudges, and oil your skin may leave on the headphones. If you feel like you need for a little extra cleaning, you can get the cloth slightly damp and give the oily, or smudgy spots another wipe. Just make sure you don't use too much water because the Beats Solo3's aren't water-resistant.

For $8, you can pick up a 6-pack of MagicFiber MicroFiber Cleaning Cloths that should do the trick perfectly well, and give you enough of them, so you always have a clean one with you wherever you go. Throw one in your car, one in your desk at work, one in the backpack you carry around every day, and anywhere else you take your headphones, so you can clean them when necessary.

For pesky dirt spots try a cotton swab

If you've noticed after wiping the Beat Solo3's down with a cloth, and there's still a little dirt, grime, or smudge that still hasn't gone away, I find that a cotton swab will do the trick just fine.

Cotton swabs are cheap as heck, and you can get a lot of them at once, meaning you won't have to buy them very often, making them a very inexpensive and efficient way of cleaning your Beats Solo3's. The 500-pack of Q-Tips should do the trick just fine.

Don't use cleaners

Compared to what you may believe, cleaners of any sort can ruin the finish on your Beats Solo3 headphones, causing them to look dull or even damaging the color. You want to avoid using any aerosol, solvents, or anything abrasive to clean your headphones to ensure they stay looking as good as the day you bought them.

If you follow this guide and clean your Beats Solo3's often, they should stay looking as clean as the day you bought them and prevent any dirt, dust, or grime build up over time that could interfere with performance.

Our top equipment picks

A soft and gentle cleaning cloth like the MagicFiber MicroFiber Cleaning Cloths will ensure that you don't cause any damage to your Beats Solo3's as you're cleaning them.

You likely won't need to use a cotton swab on your Beats Solo3's every day, so the 500-pack will last you a long time and provide you with a solution for pesky dirt that a cleaning cloth can't handle.

The process for buying from a third-party seller on Amazon is the same as placing an order through Amazon itself. Just add the items to your cart and check out as you normally do. The amount you paid is disbursed to the third-party, but it never gets your personal information — that's safe with Amazon.

Most items sold by third-party sellers are still fulfilled by Amazon unless stated otherwise. That means if there are any issues, you can still go to Amazon customer service. When items are fulfilled directly by the sellers, the seller themselves will handle customer service. However, if there are any issues with contacting the seller, you may be eligible for the Amazon A-to-z Guarantee, which can help you get a refund.

When you view a product listing on Amazon, Amazon's price is shown by default. But if you click on the "New & Used from" link on an item, you see a full list of other sellers and the price they're selling the item for.

In the "Sold by" column, you're able to see the star rating (out of five stars) for the seller. It also informs you of their positive feedback percentage from the past 12 months, as well as the total number of ratings they've received in the seller's lifetime on Amazon.

You should always look for a high star rating and a high percentage of positive feedback before deciding to make a purchase. Clicking on a seller takes you to their storefront, where you can read customer feedback, return policies, shipping information, customer service contact information, and more.

Usually, if you want to get something for the cheapest price, you might have to make a small sacrifice. The cheapest option, depending on what the item is, may just be in "Used - Good" condition, so while it works fine, there may be some wear from previous use.

Amazon's list of item conditions goes from "Used - Acceptable" all the way to "New," so just make sure to take a look at the condition of the cheapest item before clicking on "Add to Cart."

For the cheapest Beats Solo3 headphones, you are looking at "Used - Good" condition. The better the condition they're in, the more the price creeps up.

What you need to know

• The new Camo Collection has landed.
• Both BeatsX and Studio3 get two new colors.
• The color options continue to grow.

Never ones to sit on stagnant color choices Beats has now updated a couple of its ranges. The BeatsX and Studio 3 Wireless have now gained new options.

Starting with the Studio 3 Wireless we have a new Camo Collection (via MacRumors). The new options are functionally identical to existing colors, meaning the W1 chip and 22 hours of battery life are present. The same $349 price point remains, too.

The Satin Collection is back in the Solo3 Wireless Headphones, too. Satin Silver and Satin Gold join the existing colors, the former of which is a personal favorite. You get the Apple H1 chip and a solid 40 hours of battery life for $199.95.

The BeatsX sees the return of the old Defiant collection with Black and Red available - no matter which color yuou go for they'll be costing costing $99.95.

Continuing the music theme Apple is also now selling a black Lightning to 3.5mm audio cable for $34.99. This is the first time that Apple has offered this kind of cable as a first-party option having previously stocked Belkin products instead.

What you need to know

• Beats Solo Pro arrive on Oct 30.
• They'll sell for $299.95.
• ANC and W1 chip are confirmed.

The evergreen Beats Solo headphones have a new upgrade. Welcome to Beats Solo Pro, complete with Pure Adaptive Noise Cencelling (Pure ANC) and Apple's H1 chip thrown in. They're the same on-ear design, but upgraded to look and feel a little more special.

SlashGear spent some time with the new headphones and say that while they're instantly recognizable as Beats, they have a new grown-up design. We can also expect special colors thanks to at least one partnership deal as well.

The new headphones fold, just like the older model. You get a carry case in the box to help with portability, too. Beats wants you to take these things wherever you go and battery life bears that out. We're told you can expect up to 22 hours on a single charge even when Pure ANC is active. That's hugely impressive and when you turn noise cancelling off that jumps to 40 hours. Just 10 minutes of charge gets you three hours of use, too. That'll be Apple's H1 at work, then.

It's early days to know for sure just how good that Pure ANC is at drowining out noise but SlashGear says that initial, limited testing was positive. What we do know is that Beats has gone for the mimimalist look, with buttons cut to a, well, minimum.

That "Hey Siri" feature is made possible by, you guessed it. The Apple W1.

The new Beats Solo Pro headphones go on sale on October 30 for $299.95 and they're available for pre-order now. We'll be waiting to try these things out before we can comment on their sound quality.

What you need to know

• A new Powerbeats Pro ad is up on YouTube.
• The ad, titled NBA Unleashed has multiple NBA players throughout.
• All available colors of Powerbeats Pro get some airtime.

Beats has a new Powerbeats Pro ad up on its YouTube channel, titled NBA Unleashed. The 30-second spot shows different NBA stars all wearing Powerbeats Pro while they go through their training routines on-court.

The ad manages to cram an impressive number of NBA ballers into such a short space of time, with some huge names involved. Those names include James Harden of the Houston Rockets, Draymond Green of Golden State Warriors fame, Anthony Davis from the Lakers, and Jayson Tatum from the Boston Celtics.

The video includes all four colors of Powerbeats Pro, showing off Black, Ivory, Navy, and Moss. The whole ad is backed by Travis Scott's "Highest in the Room" song, too.

What makes the Powerbeats Pro so interesting is the inclusion of Apple's W1 chip. That gives the earbuds the same functionality as its own AirPods. Powerbeats Pro are sweat proof, too, so they're more suited to being worn in the gym and while running in the rain and whatnot. I hear that's something people like to do.

Our very own iMore editor Lory Gil reviewed Powerbeats Pro and loved them. And really, that's the only endorsement you need, right?

To quote Apple directly:

In simple English, this means Apple will repair or replace your BeatsX headphones if the problem is a defect or issue with the headphones that was caused by the manufacturing process. This means if you cause the BeatsX to stop functioning or do physical damage to it, you won't be covered under the Apple One-Year Limited Warranty.

It's also important to note what the Apple One-Year Limited Warranty says about the battery of the BeatsX headphones:

Now, the rechargeable battery in the BeatsX shouldn't fail in the first year — if they do, there's clearly something wrong — but this clause could prevent you from seeking a replaceable just to get a shiny new battery before your coverage is over.

The good news is within one year you shouldn't experience any noticeable drop in battery performance, so none of this should matter in the grand scheme of things.

If you're used to buying other Apple products, such as iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks, you may be familiar with AppleCare+, which is an extended warranty. However, the BeatsX headphones aren't eligible for the AppleCare+ program.

Some credit card companies provide additional warranty protection when you make your purchase using their card. For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express will extend your warranty by a whole year, if the entire purchase is made on the credit card and so will the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

Each credit card company is different and has different warranty benefits for some states. Be sure you read and understand these benefits before you decide to rely on them entirely.

In our testing, the quoted eight-hour battery life of the BeatsX is very accurate, and we were even able to get the BeatsX to last slightly longer on occasion. It's important to mention that your mileage may vary depending on how you use your BeatsX headphones.

Your settings, environment, and usage will all affect how many hours of listening time you will see. If you're blasting the BeatsX at full volume every second you use, you'll likely see a dip in battery performance.

The same can be said for being too far away from your device. If your phone and the BeatsX are struggling to stay paired over Bluetooth, you'll likely burn through the battery power a little faster.

You can opt to get eight hours of playback with 45 full minutes of charging, or you could opt for Fast Fuel.

Fast Fuel is a feature that lets you quickly charge your BeatsX in five minutes for up to two hours of additional battery life on a low charge, meaning you won't have to wait the full 45 to listen to your tunes for a good chunk of time.

One more thing that can severely impact battery life is temperature. Lithium-ion batteries don't function properly when they are too cold or too hot, so avoiding leaving the BeatsX somewhere where it will be exposed to extreme temperatures.

While Beats and Apple worked together to make sure the BeatsX earbuds pair seamlessly with Apple devices containing Apple's W1 chip, BeatsX still work exactly the same as any other Bluetooth earbuds.

All you have to do is go into your Bluetooth settings on your Android device and pair it with the BeatsX like you would any other Bluetooth device.

Despite optimization for iPhone, the inline buttons on the BeatsX will also work with your Android device. You'll be able to play, pause, skip tracks, control volume, answer calls, and even activate Google Assistant without issue.

But the company does state that product compatibility depends on the device you're using it with. For full compatibility, make sure to double check their website.

If you have an Android phone, then you've likely experienced Quick Charge before, and it's a beautiful thing. Well, BeatsX also has a quick charging feature — charge it up for five minutes to get roughly two more hours of playback.

The Quick Charging is perfect when you've forgotten to charge them before heading out for the day. Plug them in for five minutes, and you're good to go for your commute or workout.

The similarities between the BeatsX and Powerbeats3 headphones far outweigh the differences. Both pairs of headphones are equipped with the W1 chip, making the pairing process between your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and your headphones as seamless as possible, and both pairs of headphones even often different sizes of ear tip in the box so you can achieve the best fit possible.

When it comes to controlling the playback, the BeatsX and Powerbeats3 both have inline controls to pause/play and deal with volume control. Plus, both headphones come equipped with a mic for taking calls or using Siri.

A quick breakdown of the differences

The few key differences come down to battery life and charge time. While the BeatsX only has a quoted battery life of eight hours, it does get more playback time out of a quick five minutes of charging than the Powerbeats3 will. Plus, it's important to note that the Powerbeats3 come with a microUSB charging cable rather than a Lightning cable like the BeatsX, meaning you'll have to carry around an extra cord while you're on the go.

Frankly, the BeatsX and Powerbeats3 are so similar, that you could go with either option. The battery life is definitely something to consider, as on average, you will receive more time on the 12-hour battery of the Powerbeats3, even with the fast top-up capabilities of the BeatsX.

If you need a pair of earbuds that fit well, have some solid noise isolation, and aren't too worried about getting them sweaty, then the BeatsX will do you just fine. Of course, if you plan on working out a lot and need a product that's not going to crap out on you every time you hit the gym, the Powerbeats3 offers everything the BeatsX can and more.

Go for BeatsX if you want to spend less

The bottom line is you have to decide if the mild water resistance, the lighter neck cord, and all-around comfort the Powerbeats3 give you at the gym are worth an extra $20 because the BeatsX does a fantastic job of providing a similar experience for less.

Water resistance plus a longer battery might outweigh the lower price

However, if you plan on working out or are worried about getting the BeatsX wet, you might want to consider shelling out the extra money for the Powerbeats3.

A quick breakdown

Given that both these headphones are made by Beats and have Apple's W1 chip inside, the similarities far out way the differences. The Beats X and Beats Solo3 both have that signature bass-heavy sound that the brand is known for, and both products are designed to work hand-in-hand with your iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices.

The few key differences between these two products really come down to style preference. The BeatsX are customizable in-ear headphones that fit like a glove, whereas the Beats Solo3's are on-ear headphones that sit on your head with slightly adjustable, but plushy and comfortable ear cushions.

You can see in the table above that battery-life is a huge difference as well. The Beats Solo3 have a massive 40-hour quoted battery life that will keep you rocking for a long time between charges, and the Fast Fuel allows you to get up to three hours of battery in just five minutes of charging.

That's not to say that the 8-hour battery life of the BeatsX is terrible, in fact, for in-ear headphones of its size and price range, eight hours is pretty great. Plus, the BeatsX charge with a lightning cable, which means you don't have to carry around a microUSB cable with you.

The good news is if you're looking for a pair of Beats headphones that have Apple's W1 chip, both the BeatsX and Beats Solo3 are fantastic options. Your biggest deciding factor will probably come down to which style of headphones you prefer, and also if you want any amount of noise cancellation. The Beats Solo3 lack any noise isolation, which is unfortunate, while the BeatsX come with decent noise isolation. Neither offers complete noise-cancellation, but some might be better than none, depending on your preference.

Both the Apple and Beats websites don't mention an official IP rating; however, in Beats has confirmed in a marketing flier sent out to reviewers that the the PowerBeats Pro carry an IPX4 rating.

An IPX4 rating is officially validated for splashing water, to quote: "Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect."

An IPX4 rating in workout headphones is pretty normal since the most moisture you're going to get on your Powerbeats Pro is from sweat gentle dripping off your body, you're likely going to be just fine.

Obviously, water and electronics don't mix well, and even though the Powerbeats Pro comes with an IPX4 rating, you should avoid as much contact to moisture as you can.

Under no circumstances should you submerge the PowerBeats Pro in water. Devices that can withstand being dunked in water typically have a very high IP rating — IPX7 or higher — and are specifically tested to do so. Plus, it's probably a good idea to keep your Powerbeats Pro out of the rain, a particularly hard downpour could maybe do harm, so watch out for that.

If you're a little nervous to dish out $250 on a pair of headphones that only have an IPX4 rating, I don't blame you. If you want better water-resistance and debris protection, be sure to check out the Jabra Elite 65t, which are rated at IP55 (the first number in an IP rating is for dust and debris, the second number in an IP rating is for liquid. X means it hasn't been tested for dust and debris at all, so it has no rating).

I have been using the Jabra Elite 65t for my workouts for a while now and they have worked flawlessly even after sweat-inducing cardio.

They are completely wireless, feature a five hour battery life (plus additional 24 hours in the charging case), and they have onboard controls to control playback and summon Siri when you want.

Apple's AirPods — currently, the only other headphones with the H1 chip — only come in one color; white. Thank goodness Beats has launched its Powerbeats Pro line. You have your choice of four different colors, and they all come with the powerful H1 chip. Powerbeats Pro are up for preorder starting May 3 and the black version will be in stores May 10. The other colors are expected later this summer.

My favorite color

Out of all the colors available for the Powerbeats Pro I personally love the white ivory version. The simplicity of the earphones are so stylish and eye-catching but are also less common than a standard black shade. Plus, as someone who loves the crisp whiteness of the AirPods, the ivory white is a fantastic option for me, too.

While both AirPods and Powerbeats Pro are great earphones to have in your back pocket, the Powerbeats Pro are a great match for working out or an active lifestyle with their water-resistant and hooked design and have four striking color options to pick from.

No matter what you end up going with, there are plenty of different colors available for the new Powerbeats Pro headphones, which are available to preorder as of May 3. The black versions will be in stores May 10, but the remaining colors won't launch until sometime this summer.

Mere weeks after Apple launched the AirPods 2, its Beats division enters the market with new H1 chip-enabled wireless earbuds called the Powerbeats Pro. These aren't just an upgraded version of the old Powerbeats, but rather a complete redesign that offers better battery life, more snug and customizable fit, and better sound than the AirPods 2.

What's the latest on Powerbeats Pro?

According to a new report from 9to5Mac, pre-orders for the new Powerbeats Pro truly wireless earbuds will begin this Friday, May 3. The headphones will apparently hit stores the following week, on Friday, May 10:

While it appears that you will be able to pre-order any of the four color schemes of Powerbeats Pro with ordering starts, only the black models will initially be available at launch. The Ivory, Moss, and Navy models are set to ship later this summer.

Design

The new earbuds from Beats still feature an around-the-ear design that is bound to keep the earbuds on your head and not fall out even during the most rigorous workouts, but unlike the older model, the Powerbeats Pro headphones are completely wireless with no neck cord in sight.

The Powerbeats will ship with four different size ear tips that you can pop onto the earbuds, which should allow you to get the snuggest and most comfortable fit, and allow for the best sound isolation from outside noise so ensure you're hearing your tunes and not the outside world.

Functionailty

The Powerbeats Pro features the same H1 chip that the AirPods 2 have, meaning you're going to be able to enjoy the same speedy, almost instant, connection to any iOS device. Take the Powerbeats Pro out of the charging case and boom, just like that you're paired up and ready to go.

Not only does the H1 chip provide an awesome connection and power optimizations (more on that later), but it also allows for the Powerbeats Pro to have "Hey, Siri" compatibility, meaning you can invoke Apple's assistant easily and hands-free at any time to help you with many different tasks.

Unlike the AirPods 2, Powerbeats Pro have opted for physical controls on the earbuds to control playback, rather than having any touch gestures. The Volume buttons on the top of the earbuds (showcased in the image above on the left) and the "b button" (showcase in the image above on the right) are on both the left and right earbuds, to ensure that, if you're only using one bud at a time, you still have all the available controls to you. Plus, the sensor located on the inside of the earbud (showcased in the center image up above) can detect when the Powerbeats Pro headphones are in your ears or not, so audio will pause playback when you remove one earbud and resume playing once you put it back in your ear.

Battery life and charging case

Much like AirPods and other truly wireless earbuds, the Powerbeats Pro comes with a charging case that holds an additional 24 hours of charge for the earbuds. What's most impressive is that Beats is citing a 9-hour playback battery life on the earbuds themselves which is more than the AirPods 2, Jabra Elite 65t, and other competitors.

The charging case will charge with a Lightning cable and does not come with wireless charging; however, putting the earbuds into charging case will give you 1.5 hours of playback after just 5 minutes of charging and up to 4.5 hours after 15 minutes of charging, according to Beats.

Water and sweat resistant

Much like the other version of Beats, the company cites that the Powerbeats Pro earbuds are water and sweat resistant; however, they haven't provided an IP rating or any other official designation. They do make it clear that the Powerbeats Pro headphones are not meant to be submerged for any period of time, and have stated that the new design is "reinforced design for sweat and water resistance."

Cost and availability

The new Powerbeats Pro will cost you $249.95 and come in ivory, black, navy, and moss. They are scheduled to be released in May of 2019. As of right now, you can't pre-order the PowerBeats Pro.

If you're on the hunt for a versatile product that'll let you listen to tunes and rock out with your iPad, iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, iPod, and more, then look no further than the new PowerBeats Pro earphones.

Just like the AirPods, the PowerBeats Pro earphones can easily pair with a variety of Apple products. The main difference between the two? The PowerBeats are water resistant and aimed more at people who love to get their sweat on, while the AirPods are small and convenient and perfect for laying back with an audio book.

Apple's H1 chip allows you to pair your PowerBeats Pro to any Apple device that you're signed into with your Apple ID, making it ideal for anyone with a Apple Watch, Mac, iPhone, and everything in between. It allows you to quickly connect your earphones to any Apple device you want. It also makes them much more power efficient, so you can get more battery for your charge.

To pair your PowerBeats Pro earphones to your iPhone, just press the power button for one second next to your unlocked iPhone and follow the instructions on screen. If you want to know more about how to pair PowerBeats Pro to your device, check out our guide to pairing AirPods (it's pretty much the exact same!).

What devices are compatible?

To connect your PowerBeats Pro earphones, you're going to have to make sure your devices are up-to-date. With the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch models, you'll need to be running iOS 10 or later. Apple Watch models need watchOS 3 or later, and Mac models with macOS Sierra or later.

• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone X
• iPhone 8
• iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone 7
• iPhone 7 Plus
• iPhone 6s
• iPhone 6s Plus
• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6 Plus
• iPhone SE
• iPhone 5s
• iPhone 5c
• iPhone 5
• iPad Air (3rd Generation)
• iPad mini (5th Generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd Generation)
• iPad Pro 10.5-inch
• iPad (6th Generation)
• iPad (5th Generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd Generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st Generation)
• iPad Pro 9.7-inch
• iPad mini 4
• iPad mini 3
• iPad mini 2
• iPad Air 2
• iPad Air (1st Generation)
• 12-inch MacBook
• 13-inch MacBook Air with Retina display
• 13-inch MacBook Air
• 11-inch MacBook Air
• 13-inch MacBook Pro - Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)
• 13-inch MacBook Pro
• 15-inch MacBook Pro - Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)
• 15-inch MacBook Pro
• 21.5-inch iMac - Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)
• 21.5-inch iMac - Thunderbolt 2
• 27-inch iMac - Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)
• 27-inch iMac - Thunderbolt 2
• iMac Pro
• Mac Pro
• Mac mini - Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)
• Mac mini
• Series 4
• Series 3
• Series 2
• Series 1
  • Apple TV 4K
• Apple TV HD
  • iPod touch (6th Generation)

Just like AirPods, the Powerbeats Pro will let you keep one of the earbuds inside the charging case and use just one of the earbuds to listen to music, podcasts, or any other audio from your iPhone.

With nine hours of battery life per earbud, keeping one in the case would allow you to juggle between the two earbuds and stretch out that battery life to about twice as much. This could be quite handy in a pinch if you find yourself far away from power.

Plus, since the Powerbeats Pro fit so snugly into your ear canal, having only one in at a time will give you the ability to better hear the world around you, and let you carry on a conversation without struggling to hear.

The best part about only using one earbud if you choose to is that the Powerbeats Pro has all the same features on each earbud. The on-board physical playback controls work on either side and same with the ability to invoke Siri by using the Hey, Siri command. Since both earbuds have a sensor to detect when they are in your ear, the auto pause feature will still function with only one earbud.

PowerBeats Pro and BeatsX are both made by Apple's Beats. However, this is where their similarities end. Time has provided the former with better specs than the older product. Still, there's a considerable price difference between the two which many will consider.

Breaking down the differences

In one corner you have truly wireless earphones that share the same H1 chip as the recently released AirPods 2 earphones. In the other is a pair of headsets that rely on traditional inline controls and include a neck cord.

Despite its higher price, we recommend the more expensive and newer PowerBeats Pro over the BeatsX. Our decision is based on three factors: convenience, voice control, and battery life.

The PowerBeats Pro earphones are truly wireless in that they don't rely on cords to get the job done. In doing so, they are easier to use, as they wrap around your ears (like a hook) for a comfortable and secure fit. With no cords, the PowerBeats Pro offers a modest footprint when traveling in the chargeable carrying case. Speaking of that chargeable case, it provides 24 hours of combined playback courtesy. The BeatX only offers 8 hours in total and doesn't include a charging case. The BeatsX earphones are also comfortable and come with different sized ear tips, but because they include a Flex-Form neck cord, are much bulkier.

In recent years, Apple has put a lot of its resources into making Siri a better voice assistant. Part of this transformation has included adding the ability to activate Siri with only your voice on key products such as Apple Watch, AirPods 2, and now, PowerBeats Pro. Just say "Hey Siri" to get started. For this to be possible on the PowerBeats Pro, Apple has installed the new H1 chip that's also on the AirPods 2. This chip makes it quicker to pair the earphones with other Apple devices, maintain the Bluetooth connection, and more.

With the older W1 chip, the BeatX earphones can't do this. Activating Siri on the BeatsX means pushing a button on the inline controls, which is much less convenient.

Did we also mention PowerBeats Pro are sweat and water resistant, while the BeatX are not?

Beyond this, both products include similar features. Each product, for example, provides noise isolation and are available in multiple colors, although they are different. The PowerBeats Pro comes with ear tips in four size options, just like the BeatsX. Having different tip options allows for a customized fit.

Though neither the BeatsX or AirPods have official noise-cancellation technology, the BeatsX come closest to making noise cancellation a reality: Their super-customized silicone earbuds offer a variety of fits for small and big ears alike, and additional wingtip customization makes for a snug experience no matter your ear shape.

A big win for the AirPods is their Apple-specific features. While Beats has the W1 chip, making pairing easier, only the AirPods offer Auto Pause when you remove an earbud, and that same accelerometer technology lets the AirPods automatically connect when you remove them from their case. Plus, the new H1 chip in the AirPods 2 is more efficient and faster than the W1.

Key differences

The differences between the BeatsX and AirPods aren't too huge, as they both use Apple's custom chips to connect to your iPhone or iPad super fast. Neither pair of headphones has any sweat or water resistance, and both devices can charge up a couple of hours of battery life in mere minutes using fast fuel.

The main differences mostly lie in the functionality and battery life of each device. For example, the AirPods rely on Siri to turn up and down the volume, while the BeatsX has more traditional inline controls. Of course, this also means that the BeatsX aren't entirely wireless, so they do come with a neck cord. The BeatsX also lack the impressive and useful auto pause feature of the AirPods, and don't have a charging case that holds battery life.

For most people, the BeatsX is likely the better choice. While they may not have all the fanciest features of the AirPods, the BeatsX will fit your ears a lot better, and the customized fit offers more sound isolation to prevent outside noise from bleeding into your music. Plus, it's eight hours of battery life is nothing to scoff at — that should get you through the work day — and with only five minutes of charging giving you two hours of play time, that should be enough to get you through 99% of life just fine.

I'm not saying that the AirPods are bad. In fact, they're still probably the most elegantly designed and user-friendly product Apple has ever made. The auto pausing feature is a huge help in everyday life, and all you have to do is pull out one of the AirPods and your audio stops instantly, letting you carry out a quick conversation or phone call. While the five hours of battery life in each AirPod is less than the BeatsX, for long periods away from a power source, the charging case is incredibly handy and keeping your AirPods charged up and ready to go.

The bottom line is you have to decide if the extra functionality and elegance of the AirPods is worth an extra $40 — $80 if you're looking to get the wireless charging case — because the BeatsX do a fantastic job of providing a similar experience for less.

Break it down now...

When choosing between the Solo3 and Studio3, it's important to note that you're choosing between two classes of headphones on offer from Beats. If the Solo3 are Goku, then the Studio3 are Super Saiyan 1 Goku.

It's important to first note that the battery life discrepancy between these two pairs of headphones resides in the Studio3's active noise cancellation. That uses up a lot more battery than Bluetooth alone. The Studio3 also have slightly larger drivers, which require a bit more power.

The other aspects you'll want to explore are whether you prefer an on-ear or over-ear design, and whether or not you want/need active noise cancellation (ANC). For the comfort and longer periods of wear, the over-ear Studio3 is going to be the better option.

If you'll be wearing your headphones regularly while commuting, you'll want to seriously consider ANC. It helps to remove a lot of the buzz and hum of car engines, chatter, and ventilation systems. It does also, however, mean battery life takes a hit.

As it stands, these headphones are only $50 more if you buy them on Amazon, and I would say that the Studio3 are worth the extra money. Though the materials are still the same — and they're really not great — there is a bump-up in audio quality, the same flawless W1 chip pairing with Apple devices, and some stellar color options available.

For the extra $50, choose the Studio3. Your ears will thank you for it, both in music enjoyment and for the fact that they won't be sore after an hour of wear.

The breakdown

The major differences between the Beats Solo3 and B&O BeoPlay H8 come down to build quality, sound quality, and the coveted active noise cancellation that the Solo3 lacks and the BeoPlay H8i does quite well. Plus, the BeoPlay H8i have some super cool features that instantly make them a buy over the Solo3.

For all intents and purposes, the B&O BeoPlay H8i are just better headphones all the way around. The Beats Solo3 have been criticized for their brittle plastic construction, overemphasis on bass, and lack of comfort. While they do sound quite good, they don't sound $300 worth of great.

The BeoPlay H8i have an aluminum frame, which won't randomly snap after months of use, and the earcups are made from sheepskin, which is not only comfortable but durable as well. Transparency Mode, which lets ambient noise in, is easily activated at the touch of a button on the earcup. Playback controls are on there as well, making for an overall excellent design. The only issue we have is that the band is heavy, meaning it can fall off your head easily.

Though regularly $400, you can get the BeoPlay H8i on Amazon for $310. At that price ($10 more than the Solo3), they're a no-brainer. You get better sound, more features, more comfort, and simply better headphones. Active noise cancellation is a dream, especially if you commute by train, bus, or fly a lot — removing that annoying room/fan noise in the office is also wonderful.

The BeoPlay H8i also have proximity sensors, which are one of the coolest headphone features around. The headphones recognize when you take them off and your music automatically pauses, then plays again when you put them back on. It's something we didn't realize we needed.

Without a doubt, if you're going to be spending upwards of $300 on on-ear headphones, buy the BeoPlay H8i. Beats may have the brand recognition, but it doesn't measure up in quality to Bang and Olufsen.

The breakdown

Which of these two pairs of earbuds you should buy really, at the end of the day, comes down to whether or not you're an iPhone user. Sure, there's a difference in price of $30, but the extra $30 gets you customizable EQ with the Jaybird X4 and more fitting options in the form of extra ear tips and fins.

Out of the box, the BeatsX and Jaybird X4 are quite comparable. They have decent sound, but nothing to write home about. They each have fairly customizable fits, though the X4 comes with fins as well. They also each have up to eight hours of playback, though many reviews indicate that the BeatsX don't live up to that promise.

For color options, you have black and silver for the BeatsX, and you have your choice of black/yellow tips, silver/blue tips, and green for the X4. Right there, Jaybird wins for me, since there's just a bit more fun to be had with different colors.

I'd like to note something about the BeatsX price: While you can often find them on Amazon for $100, they retail for $150 from Apple directly and on the Beats site. I would never pay that for them, while I would probably shell out the $130 for the Jaybird X4, simply because you can customize their sound to your liking.

If you're really stuck between the two, I'd go with the Jaybird X4. They fit great, have better sound capabilities than the BeatsX, and the W1 pairing method is really no more convenient than traditional Bluetooth, especially since the Jaybirds pair incredibly quickly and connect like lightning thereafter. However, the W1 pairing does make the BeatsX super easy to use if you have Apple products, so that might be enticing enough.

The short answer is the Beats Solo3's are a non-supported device on PS4. PlayStation makes official headsets for the PS4 that obviously work perfectly well, and there are some licensed third-party manufacturer's out there as well; however, Beats is not one of them.

There are a few dongles out there that claim to let you use any Bluetooth headset with your PS4, but these dongles are not licensed to work with the PS4, so trusting them to be reliable is risky.

If you do a quick Google search, you may see that some people claim to have Beats Solo3's to work as a headset for the PS4. However, it's very unclear whether or not it may work for you specifically.

Supposedly, the older DualShock 4 controllers would allow the Beats Solo3's to work just fine for both audio and microphone, but the newer DualShock 4 controller does not. On top of that, you have a lot of folks claiming newest update to the PS4 caused their Beats Solo3 to stop working even with the older controller. Remember, these are all just claims from consumers and nothing official.

If you already own a pair of Beats Solo3's you can certainly try to make them work with your PS4 — a quick search on Google or Youtube will show you a bunch of different people claiming to have a solution, which you can try at your own risk. However, if you're looking to buy a pair of Beats Solo3's and use them with a PS4, you're better off getting something else. That way, you know your headphones will work out of the box.

Sony offers two wireless headsets for its PS4 system, the Gold and Platinum, and the Gold offers just about everything the Platinum does for about $50 cheaper.

PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset is a large headset that Sony has designed with PlayStation VR also in mind. The ear cushions are huge, soft, and completely cover the ears, while the whole thing is nice and light so you can comfortably play for extended periods.

The party piece is the companion app on the PS4 that allows you to tune the headset specifically to certain games. You're getting 7.1 virtual surround sound, too, which for the price is astonishing. Just don't lose the USB dongle, because you can't buy a replacement.

When you're talking about 40 hours of wireless listening, it's not a bad question to ask. The real "magic" behind the battery life with the Beats Solo3 is Apple's proprietary W1 chip, which they describe as Class 1 Bluetooth. Basically, the W1 chip that works with iOS 10 and later, does a bunch of heavy-lifting and makes the Bluetooth connection more stable and efficient.

Of course, the Beats Solo3 can use a regular Bluetooth connection, but that would likely see a decrease in battery performance.

In our testing, the quoted 40-battery life of the Beats Solo 3 is accurate, but it's important to mention that your mileage may vary depending on how you use your Beats Solo3 headphones.

Your settings, environment, and usage will all affect how many hours of listening time you will see. If you're blasting the headphones at full volume every second you use, you'll likely see a dip in battery performance.

The same can be said for being too far away from your device. If your phone and the Beats Solo3 are struggling to stay paired over Bluetooth, you'll likely burn through the battery power a little faster.

One more thing that can severely impact battery life is temperature. Lithium-ion batteries don't function properly when they are too cold or too hot, so avoiding leaving the Beats Solo3 somewhere where it will be exposed to extreme temperatures.

If you are experience battery problems, Apple's battery service for its Beats headphones may be able to help you out.

In layman's terms, if within the first year of your purchase your Beats Solo3's are seeing significant problems with the battery, and you haven't damaged the headphones in any way, Apple will probably replace the battery for you.

The major differences

Both Bose and Beats have been in the headphone space for quite some time, and both companies have developed a signature sound for their devices. If you've ever used a pair of Beats headphones (or a speaker) you'll know that the bass is quite heavy, and for some, maybe even too heavy. Bose, on the other hand, keep its sound profile very balanced and pretty neutral. Basically, the Bose QC 35 II's are better for more types of music and other sounds than the Beats Solo3 out of the box.

When you're looking at a pair of over-ear headphones, most people want some sort of noise-cancellation, and in that category, Bose wins hands down. The Beats Solo3's offer no noise cancellation and the passive noise isolation isn't even that great. The QC 35 II's have three different noise canceling options you can use allowing you to choose how much of the outside world you want to hear or not.

The other significant difference that's going to affect most users is battery life. The Bose QC 35 II's have a decent 20 hours of wireless battery life, which will vary a little based on your usage, but in our testing mostly rings true. The Beats Solo3 has a whopping 40-hour battery life on wireless, and in our personal experience that quoted time is accurate. Plus, the Fast Fuel that Beats offers to mean when your battery does run low, you can get three hours of battery life with only five minutes of charging.

Without beating around the bush, the Bose QC 35 II's are the premium headphones you would expect from a company like Bose. If you're a true audiophile and want noise cancellation, you'll be much happier with the QC 35 II's if you're willing to dish out the cash.

So what do the Beats offer? Well, we've said it before and will repeat it: If you're an iPhone user, the W1 chip is just awesome. It takes away any hassle of pairing and connecting the headphones to your iPhone and other Apple devices and makes your pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless feel like an extension of your iPhone rather than a standard accessory. Of course, the Beats have a slightly poorer sound quality than the QC 35 II that favors low-end tones over highs, and it doesn't have noise-cancellation so you'll be hearing the world around you a lot.

The convenience of in-ear headphones is hard to deny. They're always a more convenient carry than an over-ear kit if you're limited in space, and eliminating the wired connection to your Mac, iPhone, or Apple Watch eliminates the awkward 10-second untangling dance anytime you want to listen to your favorite tunes. A lot of people complain about the in-ear headphones falling out of ears, but the BeatsX come with multiple tips and wings to ensure you get the best fit you can.

Don't forget that because the BeatsX fit so well, they also isolate sound by their design. Of course, this effect isn't as prominent as a pair of active noise-canceling headphones, but sticking the BeatsX in your ears and turning up the volume a little bit will make the noise of the outside world around you pretty dull.

The BeatsX headphones have an expected eight hours of battery life, but in our own personal testing, we've gotten even longer out of a charge. Plus, its two-hours-for-five-minutes Lightning quick charge has been a huge boon if you find yourself running low.

I will highlight Apple's decision to switch to Lightning for charging the Beats X; it's much more convenient to charge on the go than the PowerBeats or Beats Solo, which still use Micro-USB.

All Beats headphones are a tad bass-heavy: Such they have been since their very first appearance, and the Beats X are no different. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, it's just a fact. Beats made their brand name on its sound and they have stuck by it over the years. If you know you like the Beats sound, then the BeatsX won't let you down.

The Beats Solo3 aren't meant to be worn as workout headphones, as they have no sweat protection to speak off. If you sweat a lot while wearing a pair of Beats Solo3, over time it's entirely possible to damage the earpads and internal electronics.

If you're looking for a pair of wireless headphone that has the W1 chip and are safe to workout with, the Powerbeats3 is what you're looking for. Equipped with 12-hour battery life and the ability to charge up one hour worth of juice in five minutes, it's easy to pop the Powerbeats3 in your ears and forget about them!

Of course, the Powerbeats3 are in-ear headphones rather than the on-ear style of the Beats Solo3; however, that signature beats sound you've come to know and love — that sweet bass — is all still there!

If you don't plan on using the Beats Solo3 headphones to workout, you may not need sweat-resistant headphones! It's pretty common for on-ear headphones like the Beats Solo3 to cause you to sweat a little bit after wearing for a long period of time, or if in a hotter environment. This minimal exposure to sweat likely will be fine as long as you wipe it off with a cloth after use. It's exposure to a lot of sweat or often where you would need to be worried.

Apple's Beats headphones are a popular, increasingly solid choice for folks looking for good sound and good looks in their music-listening hardware. While less fashion-forward headphones may provide better overall sound, Beats continues to close the gap on that consideration. If you've been eyeballing a pair of wireless Beats headphones but aren't sure which to choose, you've come to the right place. Here's how the Beats Studio3 and Beats Solo3 headphones compare!

See at Apple

Colors

Yes, I'm starting with the fashion. Both the Beats Studio3 and Solo3 headphones come in a wide range of colors. Here's how they break down:

• Beats Studio3
  • Shadow Gray
  • Matte Black
  • Blue
  • Porcelain Rose
  • White
  • Red
• Beats Solo3
  • Matte Black
  • Matte Silver
  • Gloss White
  • Gold
  • Red
  • Matte Gold
  • Gloss Black
  • Rose Gold
  • Silver

W1 Chip

Both the Studio3 and Solo3 headphones include Apple's W1 chip. This wireless chip is the same one that's found in Apple's AirPods — it improves upon the battery life, connection, and pairing process.

Because of the W1 chip, you can expect quite a bit of battery life out of both these headphones. Both can provide up to 40 hours of playback* thanks to the low-power W1 chip. And, just like AirPods, pairing is a simple process wherein you bring your headphones close to your Apple device, tap to pair, and, well, there's no step three. Once you've paired, you'll also be able to switch audio listening between all your iCloud-registered devices.

Both headphones also offer a feature called Fast Fuel that gives you a sizable amount of playback after a short charge:

• Beats Studio3: 10 minutes of charging gives you three hours of playback.
• Beats Solo3: Five minutes of charging gives you three hours of playback.

*With active noise cancelation enabled, you can expect up to 22 hours of battery life while using the Beats Studio3 headphones.

You can read more about Apple's W1 chip here:

Why your next pair of headphones should include Apple's W1 chip

Active Noise Cancelation

Here's where the headphones differ. The Studio3 headphones tout active noise cancelation technology, while the Solo3 headphones do not. Apple's "Pure ANC" technology takes into account a number of conditions to provide active noise cancelation:

This means you're going to get a more true-to-sound listening experience regardless of your environment. It also means you're going to have less battery life than you will with the Solo3 headphones. With Pure ANC enabled, you'll get up to 22 hours of battery life.

Price

As you might imagine, active noise cancelation is going to make the Beats Studio3 wireless headphones a bit more pricey than their non-noise canceling counterpart. Here's the pricing breakdown:

• Beats Studio3 Wireless: $350
• Beats Solo3 Wireless: $300

Questions?

Thinking about buying a pair of Beats headphones? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the piece? Leave a comment or send me a Tweet!

Apple's always releasing seasonal colors for its iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, and more. If you love having a case or band for every season, then check out the latest below!

June 4, 2018: Beats 'Decades Collection', new Beats colors, and new summer iPhone case/Apple Watch band colors

If you're in the market for new headphones or a new iPhone case, Apple and Beats have made some bold color choices so that you, in turn, can make some bold color choices.

To mark its 10th anniversary, Beats has released the new "Decades" headphones, which are simply the classic color scheme with more red. You can grab the whole line (aside from Beats Pro) in the Decades colors, starting at $99.95 for the urBeats3.

You can also now grab Beats Solo3 Wireless and Powerbeats3 Wireless headphones in four very vibrant color combinations from its "Pop": Pop Indigo, Pop Magenta, Pop Blue, and Pop Violet. $299.95 for the Solo3 and $199.95 for the Powerbeats3.

See at Apple

Apple has released three new iPhone case and Apple Watch band colors for summer: Peach, Marine Green, and Sky Blue. These are soft, almost Eastery colors, and they're available for the silicone iPhone case for iPhone 7/8, 7 Plus/8Plus, and X, as well as the Sport Band for Apple Watch. Pricing starts at $35 for the iPhone 7/8 case and the Sport Bands are $49.

See at Apple

Apple has also released its now-yearly Pride Apple Watch band and companion Pride Watch face. The $49 watch band is Apple's Woven Nylon band featuring the Pride colors separated by bands of white.

See at Apple

Apple's W1 line of headphones have been on the market for over a year now, and even if you don't love the sound of the company's Beats line, it's hard to argue with extra-long battery life and the W1's convenience. It's why Apple's AirPods and Beats X headphones are staples in my bag wherever I travel — I largely leave my over-ear Bose QC35s at home with my Mac.

But on my most recent derby trip, I shook up my packing list and only brought a single set of headphones: Libratone's new in-ear Track+. With water resistance for the gym, a 8+ hour battery life, CityMix noise isolation, and Libratone's excellent reputation for sound, the headphones are a tempting all-purpose option — so much so that I've had my Beats X in a drawer for the last month.

• See at Amazon
• See at Libratone

Form, fit, and style

On first glance, the $199 Track+ look very similar to Apple's wireless in-ear Beats set: they're thin and light, with a cord that wraps around the base of your neck with two weighted battery packs (one with a micro-USB port, the other with headphone controls).

But where the Beats employ a flat cord all the way around, the Track+ swaps for a rounded cable between the batteries and your ears; it makes for a much nicer experience while in your ears or when putting them away in a small pouch.

The buds, too, have superior comfort over the Beats X and many other in-ear models I've tried: I've worn the Track+ for many 6-8 hour periods over the last month, and the only time I felt any ear fatigue or pain was with the optional ear-wings attachment (which I promptly removed).

That in of itself is also pretty special: I have an ear canal that despises traditional earbuds; it usually takes me fifteen minutes or more to tweak a setup with customizable buds that works for my ears, and wingtips are almost always required. With the Track+, I assumed the same would be the case, but I actually found the earbuds much more comfortable without wings or any silicone bud adjustment. I suspect part of this is due to Libratone's pill-shaped earbud: The rear plastic provides enough of a wedge and balance in my ears that I very rarely had issues with headphone slippage.

The one place where I considered installing wingtips: The gym. While the Track+ did admirably during runs, rows, and deadlifts, I had one earbud repeatedly fall out when doing torso-twisting motions like skater jumps.

Battery life has been about on par with Libratone's estimates in the last month, giving me 7-9 hours per charge. Like Apple's offerings, the Track+ communicates decreasing battery life with a series of beeps; it's not my favorite way of communication, personally, but it's effective enough (beeping at 20 and 10 percent, respectively). That said, I still wish more companies would implement Bose's system of speaking the battery percentage level when you turn the headphones on and at low levels.

Sound and noise cancellation

I've always personally liked Libratone's audio, and here again the company has delivered a top-notch experience in the Track+. In side-by-side tests with the Beats X, the headphones rated similarly, but I'd give the edge to Libratone for slightly richer mids and highs; the Beats have a tendency to get flat and tinny on more complex mixes. I have noticed the occasional bass over-vibration, but that may also have to do with my choice of equalizer settings (especially in Spotify).

In addition to solid sound, Libratone offers a version of its CityMix noise cancellation for the Track+, though in practice it provides more noise-isolation-like sound than pure cancellation (mostly due to how well the buds seal against your ears). That said, the addition is noticeable when compared to the Beats X and other in-ear headphones — it may not beat Bose's cancellation technology anytime soon, but it does help mute outside noise and hums. I used the Track+ in lieu of my QC35s or Beats X on two recent flights — one of which involved a propeller plane —  and while it didn't completely drown out the noise of the propeller, it made the cabin an infinitely more pleasant place to travel. (Like the Beats X, you should still expect music to be near-max for your best drown-out experience.)

The Track+ has multiple different CityMix options that you can toggle with the Power button, including an app-only pass through option (which mutes your music and routes the cancellation mic through your headphones, so you can hear the outside world). I especially love this last inclusion: It provides just a little more real-world sound than your traditional pause button. (You can activate it either from the app or by double-pressing the Power button.)

A mixed app experience

If I can pinpoint one flaw in the Track+ experience, it's the Libratone app: While it's well-designed, I frequently ran into issues where the Track+ wouldn't appear as connected — even when it was actively playing music through Bluetooth on that same device. It's a shame, because the headphones' Bluetooth switching works pretty seamlessly between iPhone, Watch, and Mac, but switching between devices seems to freak out the app; it often requires a complete re-pair to get it to "see" already-connected headphones.

It's here where I most miss the convenience of Apple's W1 chip: I like knowing my headphones are always going to work with no compromises or confusion. Even though the Track+'s Bluetooth works well, the lack of equally strong pairing in the app takes away some of the headphones' cooler features (including manually tweaking CityMix, using the pass through option, and changing the ambient EQ).

Updated May 9, 2018: Added more information about CityMix controls.

I've been a Bluetooth headphones convert for a few years now, thanks to Bose's QC35 headphones. But lately I find myself picking up headphones of a different sort: Apple's W1-chipped sets, which include the AirPods, Beats X, Beats Studio, and PowerBeats.

Why are Apple's W1-chip headphones so great? Let me count the ways.

Instant pairing

The best thing about headphones like AirPods? I don't have fiddle around in my settings to get them to appear. While certain Bluetooth headphones will appear in your sound options if you keep them paired with one device, Apple's AirPods will automatically connect and transfer audio as soon as you open your case near your unlocked iPhone or iPad.

Better battery life (and connection)

Apple's W1 is custom-built to help its headphones achieve staggeringly long — and crisp — connection ranges. You can listen to music on your AirPods or Beats X for over 100 feet, and the over-ear models (Beats Solo and Studio) have seen testing ranges in excess of 200 feet without major stutters or drops.

This power also lends itself to battery management and control — the Beats Studio headphones, for example, offers 22 hours of ANC, and a full 40 hours without.

System-level integration

The pairing process is simple on an iPhone or iPad because W1 headphones were built with these devices in mind: It starts with the auto-pair screen that appears whenever your device is nearby, and continues with a custom UI to display battery life (in Notification Center's Today view). Though they're small tweaks in comparison to how Bluetooth headphones work, they're welcome ones.

Connect across all your devices

If you own a Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Apple TV, the W1 headphones aren't just supported — they're designed for those devices. Thanks to the headphones' iCloud pairing, after you first connect a set to your phone or TV, that set is now available to connect on every other device you own. Forget worrying about pairing the same headphones with two computers and your iPhone — the data is already there, just waiting for you to connect.

What do you think about W1 headphones?

Let me know in the comments.

Like a lot of in-ear headphones, the Beats X and Powerbeats are fantastic for when you're on the move. Both sets of headphones are light, easy to store, and deliver some pretty great sound in a small package; however, for some people, wearing in-ear headphones for long periods of time can cause soreness. Plus, in-ear headphones are often billeted as one size fits all, and that couldn't be further from the truth.

If you're looking to keep your Beats X or Powerbeats in your ears more securely and comfortably, here are my top picks for extra tips you can purchase.

• Comply Sport Pro
• Make your own with Sugru

Comply Sport Pro

When it comes to foams tips for headphones, the top product almost everyone recommends is Comply, and its Sport Pro foam tips are made to fit the Beats X and Powerbeats perfectly.

The tips are made from memory foam, making it will mold to the inside of your ear, each time you put them in giving you a comfortable and secure fit every time. Plus, the memory foam will also help block out outside noise, allowing you to hear your music more clearly if you're in a loud location.

The Comply Port Pro comes in small, medium, large, and extra large sizes and costs about $19.99.

See at Amazon

Make your own with Sugru

What the heck is Sugru?

Simply put, Sugru is a moldable glue — that looks and feels like sticky tack — which will take on any shape you mold it into. It has a lot of potential practical applications, one of which gives you the ability to make a molding of the shape of the inside of your ear that you can apply to a pair of in-ear headphones or earbuds.

Read: DIY: Make Your Earbuds Fit Perfectly with Sugru

I have used Sugru on two different pairs of in-ear headphones and I love the way both have turned out. Not only has it decreased my frustration during workouts and other rigorous activity, it has increased the comfort level of wearing my in-ear headphones for extended periods of time. That's a win-win in my book!

For three packets of Sugru, you're looking to spend $12 plus an addition $3 for shipping (if you don't get free shipping), making the entire cost for this solution about $15. Plus, the time it takes to complete the task of "installing" the Sugru is about 10 minutes, which means the most timec-onsuming step in the process is the recommended 24-hour wait period for the Sugru to set and dry.

See at Amazon

Which foam tips do you use?

Let us know in the comments below!

Apple has slowly updated its Beats wireless headphones line over the last two years to include the company's auto-pairing W1 chip: We have the sport-based PowerBeats 3, on-ear Beats Solo 3, in-ear Beats X, and now, the over-ear Beats Studio 3 Wireless has arrived to complete the line.

I've been eagerly awaiting Apple's revision to its top-tier Beats product, especially once I heard that the Studio 3 would include active noise cancellation (ANC). The headphones supposedly weren't shipping until later in October, but when I visited iMore editor-at-large Rene Ritchie's local Apple Store, I found a pair of the matte black Studio 3 Wireless hanging out on the shelves.

See at Apple

Unboxing the Beats Studio 3

Needless to say, I immediately picked up a pair — even if I did have to avert my eyes from their bank-account-crushing $349.95 USD/$399.95 CAD price tag — and unboxed them right at the mall, for your (and my) viewing pleasure.

After unboxing, I took the Beats Studio 3 home with me; I've been testing them for about a day now and wanted to quickly jot down some observations. This is a living review, so I'll be updating this article as I spend more time with the headphones and get to know them a bit better.

Fit and finish

First and foremost, they're comfortable. They should be, for their price, but it's a nitpick I've had with both the PowerBeats and the Solo 3 — the Beats line has often sacrificed padding for good looks, and I'm happy to say that isn't the case here. The ear cups are large and encompassing without feeling bulky or pinching larger ears against your skull, and the padded headband is slim but functional.

They still don't quite have the "soft-as-a-cloud" embrace the QC35 does so well, but they're not far off. (Neither headphones set, sadly, has a perfect solution to headband padding — I usually get top-of-skull fatigue before ear pain when wearing just about any set of over-ear headphones.)

The padded ear cups on the Studo 3 are quite nice, though its folding mechanism tends to catch my hair (like pretty much all other folding headphones).

Like most of the larger headphones I've purchased, the Studio 3 folds up for an easier packing experience, stacking one ear can atop the other. Unfortunately, the nature of this process means that there are plenty of hinges for long hair to get stuck on or tangled in – Like the QC35s, these are headphones that might be better off hung on a stand than around your neck when you're not using them if you plan on keeping your hair on your head.

The hard shell packing case for the Studio 3 is significantly nicer than its Solo 3 counterpart, though I don't love that Apple ships the same shoddy carabiner for clipping it to a bag; I've bought better clips from a convenience store, and if Apple wants to keep the carabiner look as part of the Beats line, it should ship something that won't break off your bag and ditch your $300 headphones in the first week.

If only that case came with a carabiner that wasn't so thin and rickety, I might actually use it on my bag.

Speaking of shoddy: The headphones ship with a perfectly functional cord if you choose to use them wired, but I'm less impressed with the inline remote. It's a little thicker, but it feels about as plasticky and the buttons as responsive as the default Apple EarPods cable. It feels like either an oversight or a cost-cutting measure (because, hey, who's going to use our awesome wireless headphones while wired?) but whatever it is, I'm not fond of the decision. (Additionally surprising: The Studio 3's built-in volume and music controls remain physical buttons, rather than touch-sensitive controls.)

And since I'm on a complaining streak here: Micro-USB charging over Lightning?! Really? I'd hoped that the Beats X and AirPods having Lightning chargers would usher in Lightning across all Apple's wireless headphones, but no luck.

Beats Studio 3 (left) vs Bose QC 35 (right).

Pairing and noise-cancellation

Okay, having gotten the nitpicks out of the way, pairing is where these headphones shine. The W1 chip (an unsung masterpiece from Apple's silicon team) helps power and extend the Studio 3's Bluetooth connection; Between its instant pairing to the iPhone, automatic sync via your various iCloud devices, and almost 100-foot range, it's hard not to give the Studio 3 anything but acclaim here. Of course, this is also true for any of Apple's other W1-chip headphones — so you don't have to pony up for a giant set of over-ear headphones if that's not your style.

Once paired, I was able to immediately tune in to the Studio 3's noise-cancelled environment. Unlike the Bose, the Studio 3 gradually brings you in and out of the noise-canceling bubble — it feels a bit like falling in and out of a music trance, rather than a punch in and out of reality.

And let's be frank: Apple's "Pure Adaptive Noise Cancelling" (Pure ANC) experience is a great one. There are a lot of companies who try to provide solid noise canceling experiences, but Bose has long reigned supreme; Apple won't steal that crown with the Studio 3s, but the company has made a strong entry into the field.

In my early testing, which involved listening to several songs on both the Bose QC35s and the Studio 3s and a song played simultaneously into both headphones at once, the Studio 3 definitely has warmer mids than the QC35s, but loses some of that magic on quieter songs. It does best on loud rock and rap, unsurprisingly — I've listened to the QC35s at top volume before, but I don't think I'd ever want to do that with the Studio 3s unless I wanted to try and blow an eardrum.

I haven't yet done a ton of testing outdoors with the Studio 3, but in limited wind tests, it suffers from the same occasional "whistling" the Bose QC35 (and other ANC headphones) receive when walking quickly somewhere or moving through a windy environment.

Battery life

Apple estimates about 22 hours of listening with ANC enabled, and a full 40 with it disabled. I haven't run against either limitation, though I'll note that the sound quality of played audio is relatively similar in either ANC or regular W1 Bluetooth mode. You mostly notice outside noises; for instance, with ANC enabled at my desk, I can't hear my typing, but disabling it allows me to hear the clicks of the keyboard through the music.)

I will note that Apple appears to require the headphones to be powered on to use in either ANC, non-ANC, or wired mode — unlike the Bose QC35s, if you run out of battery, you'll either need to use a 10 minute Fast Fuel charge over USB to give them extra time, or go without.

I've so far done very little testing with video and audio, though I saw minor delays in both watching TV and recording audio. They shouldn't be enough for most people to find them noticeable, but I wouldn't use these headphones when podcasting, for example.

Apple-owned Beats has introduced four new colors of its Solo3 Wireless headphones. The colors, Asphalt Gray, Brick Red, Break Blue, and Turf Green are not yet available from Apple, however, they are in stock at UK retailer John Lewis. The headphones will also reportedly be situated in the menswear section of Target retail stores in the United States.

According to MacRumors, these headphones will be available in Apple Retail Stores at some point:

The Beats Solo3 Wireless debuted in fall 2016 and were one of three sets of Beats headphones to include the W1 wireless chip, which allows the headphones to be easily paired with an iPhone running iOS 10 or later.

See at John Lewis

Apple has launched it's Back to School promotion for 2017, and this year's promotion offers free or discounted Beats headphones with the purchase of a qualifying iPad Pro or Mac. Apple is currently offering three models of Beats as part of this promotion: Beats Solo3 Wireless, Powerbeats3 Wireless, and BeatsX.

From Apple:

Macs eligible for the promotion are the MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac Pro. The 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro are the only iPads eligible for the Back to School promotion.

When you purchase a qualifying Mac, you'll be able to get any of the eligible Beats headphones for free thanks to promotional savings of up to $299.95. iPad Pro purchase will see savings of $149.95, or the price of a pair of BeatX earphones. If they wish, iPad Pro customers can apply those savings to either the Powerbeats3 or Solo3 Wireless in order to get discounts on those more expensive headphones when they make their purchase.

Apple's Back to School promotion runs through September 25.

Update August, 2017: Apple has expanded this promotion to education customers in Europe.

So spake Tim Cook during Apple's Q2 2017 financial results call. It's a bold statement but also a necessary one. Despite last quarter making it time to admit Apple Watch is a success, last week media and financial hot-takers were once again tripping all over themselves and their logic to declare Apple Watch once again beleagured. Or doomed. Or whatever else fit their narrative.

Meanwhile, Apple was not only enjoying twice the Apple Watch sales success as last year, the company was building on its wearable products like with the newly-released AirPods and the newly updated Beats wireless headphones.

Here's Cook's full statement from the call:

The survey suggests people not only love their AirPods, but love them so much they want to tell all their friends about them;

AirPods are also a gateway to augmented reality. Most people talk about visual AR, but audio AR could be here in faster and be a lot less obtrusive than glasses or spectacles, taking commands and overlaying information through sound.

It's anyone's guess when the pundits will wake up their tired narratives and realize it, but wearable technology is an incredibly important space and right now it seems like Apple isn't just ahead, but accelerating.

"Ooo, shiny."

After two months with Beats's Solo3 headphones, this is still my first reaction when pulling the company's on-ear wireless headset from my bag. The headphones I bought for this review are bright, almost fluorescent violet, with white highlights; they catch both light and eyes almost everywhere they go.

For good reason, too: The Solo headphones made the Beats brand famous, and while they haven't quite reached the iconic heights of Apple's white earbuds, they're still instantly recognizable.

Apple's W1-chip upgrade has brought easy wireless connectivity and new colors to the Solo line, but is it enough to warrant upgrading from an older on-ear option? Read on.

See at Apple

The music is the message

Beats's reputation and style carries these headphones: While I'm no audiophile, I can appreciate the overall sound of these cans, though they do have the heavier bass tones distinctive of the Beats line. It's an easy tweak in Apple's EQ settings for those who are not all about that bass, but something to be aware of.

Otherwise, the headphones have been largely unremarkable for everyday listening and video conferencing: I've listened to my usual array of work music, chatted on Google Hangouts, and even played the occasional podcast or two. I like my headphones to just give me my tunes and tracks without too much interference, and on that front, the Beats Solo work like a charm.

Battery life for days (literally)

The Solo3, like its fellow W1-chip headphones, provides an incredibly easy connecting experience to all iPhones, iPads, and Macs — once you pair, you're good to go on any device you have connected to your iCloud account. Having used my AirPods and Beats X pretty much everywhere, it feels utterly natural on the Solo3. Many third-party headphone manufacturers have apps these days that will let you quickly switch between devices, but even the best don't come close to the seamless switching experience of the W1-chipped headphones.

The battery life on these things is ridiculous — even moreso than Bose's QC35s. Apple estimates a whopping 40 hours; in real time, I used these at a café for an entire week without dropping into the 20% range. I do wish that, like the Bose, the Beats Solo gave you a voice estimate of your percentage when you first turned them on, but it's easy enough to check on your iPhone or iPad.

I will note one downside: When you finally do need to charge, the Beats Solo still uses micro-USB charging rather than the Lightning-equipped charging options found in the Beats X and AirPods. It's not a huge nitpick, but it does mean one more cord to bring along when traveling.

Fit and finish

I've spoken at length above about the "shiny" factor of the Beats Solo headphones, but I'll add just a little bit more here: It's the fashion-conscious who will fall head over heels for this model. I'm not even that much of a style geek, but the Product RED and violet models of the Solo had me wishing my Bose headphones had just a bit more flair to their utilitarian design.

Apple's color process is, quite simply, fabulous. I had a chance recently to see Product RED headphones with the Product RED iPhone 7, and the two devices look absolutely stunning together.

I also appreciate how solid these headphones feel both on your head and in your bag — Despite having plastic components, the Solo3 doesn't feel plastic, and it hides it well. The ear cups and headrest are both quite well-padded, with the cups fitting almost entirely around my ears; save for some light pressure after multiple hours of use, they don't feel like on-ear headphones at all.

My only regret is that Apple didn't also anodize the metal rails that provide ear-cup extension for larger heads: They remain silver. It's not a bad look, and was probably done to prevent any sort of color flaking on slide. That said, pulling the headrest up only to see more bright violet would be a dynamite look, no?

Wishing for noise-cancellation

Here's where the Beats Solo3 really fall flat for me: I've gotten spoiled by noise cancellation on pretty much every wireless on-ear and over-ear option I've used; without it, I have to crank up my music (or deal with the sounds of my fellow Starbucks patrons).

The Solo3 claims noise isolation, but it's not nearly as effective as its in-ear Beats X sibling: Listening to a conference call or a podcast is a complete no-go in a noisy environment — these headphones have great mids for vocal tones, but there's just too much miscellaneous background noise to focus.

For some, this may not be an issue. Heck, I dealt with headphones lacking active noise cancellation for years without issue. But I use them so often now that any option lacking noise isolation or active cancellation stands out as "less" than the competition: Even if the sound is superior, the fact that I can hear a blender or dog barking during a video editing session keeps me too distracted to notice.

For the last month, I've been actively testing all of Apple's W1-chip wireless headphones: The AirPods, PowerBeats 3, Beats Solo, and Beats X. Each of Apple's headphones aims to fix a different problem in the wireless music industry — the AirPods are perfect for easy on-the-go music, no strings attached; the PowerBeats provide sweat-and-water-resistant tunes for heavy workouts; and the Beats Solo targets the over-ear wireless market.

And then there's the Beats X headphones: On the surface, they seem to aim for the same entry-level Bluetooth headphone market as the AirPods — I've found myself constantly comparing the two over the last few weeks on various trips and excursions.

Like the AirPods, they're small in-ear buds, but they have the customizable fit of the PowerBeats lineup, leading to significantly better noise isolation. They boast superior battery life, too, with 8 hours (or more) of listening time and a two-hour boost from just five minutes of charging (compared to just one hour's listening for the AirPods in the same amount of time).

But I recognize that my situation is somewhat unique: Not everyone gets to tote around both a set of AirPods and Beats X headphones for every situation. If you can only buy one, here's what makes the Beats X worth your cash.

See at Amazon

Fit and finish

I'm going to preface here with a bias: I really dislike in-ear headphones; I have since the earliest iPod earbud days. My listening hardware of choice for many years was a wired pair of Bose headphones, and wireless QC35s after that. In short: I like my ears covered and immersed in sound.

But the convenience of in-ear headphones is hard to deny. They're always a more convenient carry than an over-ear kit if you're limited in space, and eliminating the wired connection to your Mac or iPhone eliminates the awkward 10-second untangling dance anytime you want to listen to your tracks.

The AirPods were the first of Apple's in-ear headphone options I tried, and I was grateful to find that they weren't nearly as annoying as I remember Apple's EarPods (largely because of the lack of wires). The AirPods slid into my ears better than I thought they would — they didn't ever fall out when I exercised or skated, which is pretty darn important to me — but when you come down to it, the fit was merely "acceptable."

In contrast, the Beats X come with the same multiple ear cup options as Apple's workout-based PowerBeats, allowing for one of the nicest in-ear fits I've ever had. The medium-size ear cups I selected (along with tiny rubber winglets to keep the buds from twisting inside my ears when turning my head or otherwise moving) fit snugly in my ears without feeling like I've jammed something foreign and awkward in there; after a few minutes, I barely even notice I'm wearing them — especially vital given the Beats X's other marquee feature, its white neck cord.

If there's one thing I dislike more than in-ear buds, it's hanging cords. Between my various extracurricular sports activities and other weird movements throughout the day, I have a long history of yanking buds out of my ears at the worst possible time.

But the Beats X's flat rubber cord is surprisingly comfortable, minus the occasional microphonic "scratch sound" issue when laying against the couch. Two equally-sized battery packs weight the cord to your collarbone, allowing the buds themselves to arc forward of your face into your ears. In a perfect world, of course, those battery packs would be inside the Beats X earbuds themselves and there'd be no cord at all, but this works as an effective in-between while Apple perfects battery miniaturization technology.

The two earbud cords aren't completely symmetrical: The one on the left has a full play/pause/skip/volume remote. It doesn't add any measurable weight to the cord, but it does let you have vastly more control over your music than the tap-controlled AirPods.

As with the AirPods, the general fit and finish of the Beats X are excellent: Even actively using the white model, I've been unable to attract dirt or other scuffs and scrapes on the headphones. The rubber rear cord is thin without being flimsy, and the two battery packs provide great counterweights without being any sort of millstone around your neck.

About the only thing I don't like about the Beats X is its awkward, dust-collecting neoprene carrying egg: I used it precisely once in my pet-fur-covered home, and have since just stuffed my Beats X wherever they'll fit (pockets, fanny packs, backpack pockets, and the like).

Overall, after a month with the Beats X, I've found myself largely indifferent to the semi-corded wireless life. In an ideal world, I'd prefer an AirPods-like approach, but the cord hasn't detracted from my daily experiences with the headphones — and remote controls are a welcome presence.

General music quality

All Beats headphones are bass-heavy: Such they have been since their very first appearance, and the Beats X are no different. The in-ear models made the tinny treble particularly noticeable, especially to me, but a quick visit to the iPhone's equalization settings fixed most of my personal issues with the sound.

Are the Beats X the best-sounding in-ear buds you can buy? Not by a long shot, and they're in no way priced for that. You can't fit the kind of sound driver you'd need for top-tier sound in the Beats X's small package without adding another $100 or $200 to that price tag, and even then, physics might want a few words with you.

But for the majority of users, I suspect the Beats X will suit their sound needs just fine. If you're skeptical and have an Apple Store nearby, go down to try a pair out yourself; if you don't have that option, I also recommend buying a pair and relying on Apple's 14-day return policy to fully test them out.

Noise-cancelling without the baggage

The Beats X aren't officially noise-cancelling — none of Apple's headphone options are. They won't hold a candle to Bose's options, and they're not priced to. But their in-ear fit might otherwise fool most users into thinking otherwise, especially when used with louder music.

On multiple occasions, I've brought the AirPods and Beats X into a noisy cafe environment with background music and nearby conversations. Even at max volume, the AirPods can't effectively drown out background noise in my ears; the Beats X are almost the complete opposite.

Just this week, I sat in a cafe next to a group of people and was able to almost completely drown out their conversation (save for the occasional low-muffled noise) with the Beats X at 65% volume. The same test with AirPods required the volume at max to achieve a fraction of the same effect — and even then, I could still make out most of the conversation.

I tried a similar test on a recent flight to Dallas, TX for a derby tournament: The nature of my trip meant that taking a pair of over-ear noise cancellation headphones was next to impossible, so I decided to take the Beats X and AirPods for my airplane listening.

I gave up on the AirPods after a minute on the plane. At max volume, they were both too loud for my ears and failed utterly at drowning out the drone of the plane.

To the Beats X I went, and found myself pleasantly surprised: They won't beat a comparable Bose system, but I again only had to crank up my music to 65% to effectively mute the general airplane noise. I was even able to watch an episode of Legion at 85% volume without losing dialogue or resorting to closed captions.

And though this is a situation few may encounter, I also found them remarkably good to sleep in: In a room with three roommates on a tournament weekend, having good noise-isolating headphones is a must — and I especially appreciate ones that won't wake you up in the middle of the night because they've tried to strangle you in your sleep.

Sports usage

The Beats X aren't water-resistant, and thus aren't going to be a great pick for your sweat-filled Crossfit workouts or lifting sessions. But walking, general exercise, warmup skating, and most other light-to-medium workouts should be just fine.

I've done short lifting sessions with the Beats X, worn them on walks and short runs, done an hour of yoga, and used them multiple times during the aforementioned Dallas tournament for warmups. (Bonus for full contact sports players: Like the AirPods, the Beats X fit underneath helmets! Hooray!) I've also stored them (several times) in my sometimes disgustingly-wet gear bag after a game, without any negative effects. (So far.) While I wouldn't advise this last course of action as part of your regular use case, I think that for most non-intensive activities, the Beats X should do you just fine.

For those that need a more heavy-duty sports and exercise option, however, the Beats X aren't the headphones for you. If you're looking for a similar style of buds, I've just started testing the Jaybird X3, which I'm pretty enthused with so far.

Battery life and quick-charging

The best part of the Beats X and battery life? I don't notice it. The headphones have pretty much always exceeded my expected 8 hours of battery life, and its two-hours-for-five-minutes Lightning quick charge has been a huge boon whenever I've found myself in need of a charge.

In writing this review, I started with the Beats X at 36% battery life; two and a half hours of solid music listening later, it's only at 15%. I walked out of my house without a charging cable for my Beats X or my MacBook Pro, with no concern that either would die on me during my review writing — and that's the true beauty of Apple's headphones battery technology.

I will highlight Apple's decision to switch to Lightning for charging the Beats X; it's much more convenient to charge on the go than the PowerBeats or Beats Solo, which still use Micro-USB.

Pricing and availability

Here's the biggest differentiator between the Beats X and AirPods: You can pick up a set of Beats X buds today from just about any Apple Store or on Amazon — and for $10 cheaper than the AirPods. In contrast, Apple's truly wireless buds are at least six weeks backordered; you can get lucky by showing up at an Apple Store when they get in new stock (usually Thursdays), but it's hard to properly time.

If you want a great set of W1 in-ear headphones right now, it's hard to argue against the Beats X.

Bottom line

The Beats X aren't a perfect pair of wireless headphones — but at $149, there's nothing else in its pricing category that can compare. They have Apple's new W1 chipset and all the ease-of-use that come with it. They fit well, have decent (if not spectacular) sound quality, isolate most outside noise, and keep rocking long past their supposed battery life limit.

I still slightly prefer the AirPods for day-to-day usage, but that's only because of the Beats X's cord: When I'm going anywhere that requires noise isolation and I don't want the hassle of over-ear headphones, the Beats X are my buds of choice. For people who don't want to wait for a set of AirPods or need to drown out outside noise, I'd recommend the Beats X whole-heartedly.

See at Amazon

Updated February 2017: Updated with a full writeup comparison of the three in-ear W1 headphones, including the Beats X.

Apple has now updated its entire wireless headphone line to take advantage of the company's new W1 chip: It simplifies the pairing process between your iPhone, Mac, and your headphones, automatically connecting to your devices when powered up.

As a longtime Bluetooth headphones user, I love the simplicity of the W1-chip headphones. Pairing is a snap once you initially connect the headphones to your iPhone, thanks to the iCloud sync technology, and lag is almost always nonexistent. Now that Apple has several in-ear options on the market, however, it's time to pick which one makes the most sense for me (and you). Which one is best for your needs and wallet? Read on.

Apple's three headphone offerings — its AirPods along with the Beats-branded Beats X and PowerBeats 3 — are separated by a maximum of just $50, but each headphone's feature set ranges depending on your needs.

Why the AirPods are the best overall W1 in-ear headphones pick

Apple's AirPods are as popular as they are controversial: If you want a set of these buds, be prepared to wait up to six weeks for them to ship — or you can try to snipe one at an Apple Store after a restock. But because of their limited availability to try out, there have been major concerns about the AirPods's fit: Unlike the Beats X and PowerBeats, the AirPods ship only with their default earbud configuration — there are no silicone sleeves or earwings you can use to augment their fit. They also only currently ship in white — sadly, you can't get black AirPods to go along with your black iPhone.

The good news: Even for people whose ears have never loved the EarPods fit (hi), the AirPods are surprisingly snug. They don't always feel that way because of the way they hang in the ear — the first two weeks I owned the AirPods, I was constantly in fear that they'd fly out while I was doing yardwork or exercising — but I have yet to shake one loose in my adventures. (That includes skating at high speeds.)

I imagine the big fear over "losing" an AirPod comes from their design: The diminutive wireless buds kill wired connections in favor of two tiny earpieces. No strings hold these sound machines down — and while it may make some fear that they'll be prone to loss, in reality the lack of wires keep the AirPods from being accidentally tugged from their perch after an awkward twist of the head. (Or, in my case, ball slam burpees.)

Their wireless nature also makes for a great charging and interactive experience: Each bud sports a 5 hour battery life, but as you get toward the end of that charge, you can pop a single bud back into the rechargeable case to get three more hours in just 15 minutes — all while continuing to groove out to your music in the other bud. When you're finished charging the one bud, just swap them out in the charger. The case supports up to 24 hours of extra charge on top of the initial five hours — enough to get through any lengthy flight, conference, or other activity.

I also love the freedom of offering a friend an earbud if you want to invite them into your music or movie party (though I might use an antibacterial wipe first).

Unlike the PowerBeats 3, the AirPods aren't water- and sweat-resistant. But unless you find yourself regularly shorting out regular headphones while you work out, you shouldn't have anything to worry about when exercising with the AirPods: I've taken them skating and weight lifting, subjected them to rainy runs and high-intensity burpees, and walked through a snowstorm — all with no adverse effects.

This is all personal experience, of course; your mileage may vary depending on your exercise routine, and there's a reason why Apple doesn't advertise the AirPods as water-resistant. But for most everyday workouts and activities, you should be fine.

The other big win for the AirPods is their Apple-specific features. Every Beats and Apple wireless headphone now has the W1 chip, making pairing easier, but only the AirPods offer Auto Pause when you remove an earbud, and that same accelerometer technology lets the AirPods automatically connect when you remove them from their case — both the Beats X and PowerBeats 3 require you to press a button before they'll connect.

Apple's option is also the only one to offer tap-to-call-Siri and beam-forming microphones, which dramatically improve both the Siri experience and phone calls. (I do wish there was some way to change volume without relying on the companion device or telling Siri to lower the volume, however.)

The AirPods aren't perfect: They are dramatically less effective at sealing you inside a music bubble and drowning out surrounding noise than both the Beats X and PowerBeats because of their fit. Depending on your ear shape, this may be a minor problem or a major one, but either way, I wouldn't recommend the AirPods as an airplane companion.

I'd also love some sort of fit adjustment in future models. Because you're limited to one earbud shape, the AirPods can never be the perfect headphone for everyone — and though I've seen them fall out of very few ears, giving their user a perfect sound experience is a harder bar to clear.

But if your ears work with the AirPods, they're the best everyday carry wireless headphones on the market right now — if you can actually snag a pair.

Why the Beats X are the best W1 headphones for noise cancellation

Though none of Apple's W1 headphone options have official noise-cancellation technology, the Beats X come closest to making noise cancellation a reality: Their super-customized silicone earbuds offer a variety of fits for small and big ears alike, and additional wingtip customization makes for a snug experience no matter your ear shape.

Both the Beats X and the PowerBeats have a more concentrated sound than the AirPods because of this fit: You'll hear a stronger (but not overpowering) bass line, while the highs and mids have a more tinny, direct push. Podcasts and voices in videos come across clearly and crisply, with no major distortion.

The downsides to the Beats X are mostly individual preference: The Beats X have a rather lengthy neck cord and two "weights" (which — spoiler — probably have tiny lithium-ion batteries in them), which sport the On/Off button and Lightning port, respectively.

In daily use, this cord is fairly comfortable and not too distracting to wear, but exercising can be far less enjoyable due to the cord's microphonics: If you bump the cable against your shirt or other object, you can get an annoying rustle that can distract from your music, podcasts, or other daily activity. You also have to be careful about how you put on the headphones: If the cord gets twisted, the Beats X can easily pop out of your ears as you move your head or body.

The cord's built-in remote and mic provide for easy volume controls, but the Siri and phone call experience isn't quite as good as the AirPods — Siri would frequently mishear words during dictation, and my callers told me the conversation wasn't as crisp as prior (AirPods-equipped) conversations.

Why the PowerBeats 3 are the best W1 headphones for exercise

I use my AirPods almost every day when I exercise, but if I was heading out for a marathon or a sweat-inducing workout, I'd take the PowerBeats 3: These Beats-themed headphones are primarily marketed for heavy-duty exercise users, and they hold up. I've taken the PowerBeats 3 through power yoga sessions and cardio murder hours and they've held up like champs, streaming music and keeping my head in the game — even if my body is steaming like a sauna.

The PowerBeats 3 feature an adjustable neck cord to keep the microphonics (rustling cord) effect from bothering you during exercise, and ear hooks to lock your earbuds in place during the fiercest of workouts. Both of these features work as advertised, though I personally hate ear hooks — I find them more distracting (due to how they push on the back of my ears) than helpful when I work out.

The PowerBeats feel bulky in the hand, but the headphones' large size does somewhat disappear as you fall into the exercise groove. They might look a little silly to outside users, but they do their job. I do personally have a problem with using them while I skate, as they won't fit under my helmet — if I'm doing skating warmups, I'll take my AirPods any day.

Conclusion

Though the Beats X and PowerBeats are great headphone picks for specific uses, the AirPods remain the top overall in-ear W1 headphones for me and, I'd wager, most people. They sound great for their minuscule package, get fantastic battery life, and work in just about any situation outside of an airplane or heavy-duty exercise session.