Revisiting the Beats Studio Pro (Kim Version): Style Eclipses Performance Capabilities
Introduced in 2023, the Beats Studio Pro headphones underwent a revamp with the Kim Kardashian special edition in August of 2024. Priced at an identical $350/INR 37,900, they're less expensive than the Apple AirPods Max but confront stiffer competition compared to 2023.
Following the 2022 launch of the Kim Kardashian special-edition Fit Pro, available on Apple.com, which quickly sold out, the new Beats headphones make their appearance at a challenging time. The 2023 model is now selling for $200 on Amazon, and holiday sales have further reduced the price.
Considering competitors such as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Sonos Ace, and Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, all priced similarly or cheaper, is the Beats Studio Pro still a worthwhile purchase?
Fashionable Design and Commendable Controls
The 2024 Beats x Kim Studio Pro headphones introduce Kim Kardashian's preferred color options: Moon, Dune, and Earth, all showcasing a neutral palette. I possess the Earth variant, offering a chocolaty appearance, while Moon and Dune have a lighter and medium tone, respectively. In addition to this makeover, the design remains the same. The accessories, including a soft carrying case and two charging and wired listening cables, also match the headphones' color scheme.
One of the few flagship headphones with foldable earcups, the Studio Pro Beats are not affected by the single-hinge design, which unfortunately prevents the headphones from folding entirely flat. There's a noticeable clicking sound when folding, detracting from the overall premium feel.
Comparatively, the Bose, Sony, and Sonos headphones boast a more refined build, with the Sonos Ace standing out as the most captivating in white. Furthermore, the Sonos and Bose headphones prove more comfortable on my ears, while both the Sony and Beats earpads tend to heat up quickly.
The Studio Pro Beats headband', while comfortable and not overly tight, exerts less clamping force than the Sony XM5s. However, they can become uncomfortable after an hour of wear. Wearing them in colder climates would likely enhance the experience.
Physical buttons instead of gestures are preferred by me, and these headphones offer control buttons. The left earcup features a large "b" button for play/pause and voice assistant activation, while volume controls are positioned above and below this button. The right earcup contains a multi-functional button for power, pairing, and Active Noise Cancellation control. Connecting to a PC is possible through the Type-C port, and the headphones also come equipped with a classic 3.5mm headphone jack.
Beats Studio Pro Enhanced but Lacking Essential Feature
The Beats Studio Pro cater to both Android and iOS, implementing a custom Beats chip instead of Apple's H1 or H2 chips. The headphones support Google's Fast Pair, multipoint connectivity, and Bluetooth 5.3.
Pairing with Android devices is a seamless experience, so long as you're signed into the same Gmail account across devices. On iOS, the headphones link to your iCloud account, but lack automatic device switching, unlike the AirPods.
While Find My is compatible across both platforms, Spatial Audio and hands-free Siri are exclusive to iOS. Android voice assistants activation requires a more prolonged press of the "b" button, as Google and Gemini voice commands remain unsupported.
Perhaps the most significant omission is the absence of on-ear detection sensors, meaning music doesn't pause when taking off the headphones – a feature expected at this price point, featured by all major competitors.
Beats Studio Pro Performance
The Beats Studio Pro incorporate 40mm drivers with dual-layer technology, enhancing sound quality over their predecessors. They deliver a more pronounced sound profile than Sony, Bose, and Sonos headphones.
The Studio Pro offer aggressive bass and strong highs, which might feel excessive at times. The midrange is relatively weak, lacking depth in instrument separation. Instrumental clarity may not be top-tier, but it remains acceptable. Compared to the Sonos and Bose headphones, the vocals and instrument separation are superior, while Sony caters to a broader spectrum of features.
Switching to USB-C mode improves audio with 24-bit/48-kHz support on Apple Music and Tidal, enhancing the listening experience. Spotted Spotify tracks also sound better in this mode, and three EQ presets – Beats Signature Sound, Entertainment, and Conversation – are available in USB-C mode.
The headphones come with six microphones, aiding noise cancellation and voice calling, with an impressive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) performance but appearing lackluster in comparison to Sony, Bose, and Sonos headphones.
Battery life is rated at 24 hours with ANC on and 40 hours with ANC off, which is decent but not best-in-class.
Beats Studio Pro (Kim Edition) Review: Conclusion
At $350/INR 37,900, the Beats Studio Pro can be considered expensive, lacking distinctive advantages while fulfilling majority features. The absence of auto-pause is an apparent drawback, and the ANC performance fails to match the competition.
If you're on the hunt for the finest-sounding and most comfy headphones, consider the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Sonos Ace. For supreme noise cancellation, opt for Bose or Sony WH-1000XM5, and consider the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones for a more harmonious sound.
However, if you're in need of Bluetooth headphones that work with both Apple and Android, provide decent sound quality, excellent noise cancellation, and crystal-clear call service, the Beats Studio Pro deserve your attention. The USB-C mode boosts the sound performance, and the Earth version of the Kim Edition adds a trendy touch.
Advantages:
- Outstanding call performance
- Great sound in USB-C mode
- Hands-free Siri and spatial audio for Apple devices
- Design featuring foldable earcups
Disadvantages:
- Lacks an auto-pause feature
- On the pricier side for its features
Despite being less expensive than the Apple AirPods Max, the Beats Studio Pro headphones face stiff competition from other brands like Bose, Sonos, and Sony, all of which are priced similarly or cheaper. However, the new Beats x Kim Studio Pro headphones, introduced in 2024, offer a fashionable design and commendable controls with the option to choose from Kim Kardashian's preferred color options, including Moon, Dune, and Earth.
The 2024 model boasts foldable earcups and physical buttons for control, making them a viable option for users who prefer these features over the advanced gesture controls found in other headphones. While the Beats Studio Pro headphones deliver a pronounced sound profile with aggressive bass and strong highs, they lack on-ear detection sensors, which is a feature expected at this price point and is offered by their competitors.
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