Best Beats Headphones and What Beats Says About Bass

Over the ear, the new Beats 360 at about $350. On the ear, the Beats Solo 4 at about $200. Among earbuds, the Studio Buds + at about $170 for every day, the Powerbeats Pro 2 at about $250 for the gym and the Solo Buds at about $80 for the least money.

None of those picks rests on bass, because nobody can honestly pick by bass from published figures.

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Which Beats have the most bass?

Beats does not say. It gives no bass measurements for any model, so any ranking by bass is opinion. People search for Beats and bass together, but the word Beats uses most today is “balanced”: “a powerful, balanced sound profile” on the Studio Pro, “powerful, balanced Beats sound” on the Solo 4, and “powerful, balanced sound” on the Powerbeats Pro 2 and Powerbeats Fit.

Bass gets a mention on some models. New venting on the Powerbeats Pro 2 improves it. The Solo Buds have “cleanly balanced tuning”, with laser-cut vents that Beats says improve bass performance. The Studio Buds + have a two-layer driver that Beats says gives cleaner bass. The Flex promises “accurate bass”, from a driver whose flexible outer layer “drives a high output of bass”. Beats calls the Beats 360 its best-sounding headphone so far and talks about power and precision across the range, with no bass claim. None of that says one model has more bass than another.

What Beats does tie sound to is fit. It says on the Powerbeats Fit page that a great fit means great sound, packs four or five sizes of ear tip with its earbuds, and offers a fit test for that model on iPhone and Android. So choose earbuds and use the right tip size, or an over-ear pair, and do not pay extra for a bass claim Beats does not make.

Turning the bass up is mostly out of your hands. Beats lists no bass control or adjustable equaliser on any product page. The Studio Pro has three fixed sound profiles, and only when playing over a USB-C cable. On an iPhone, Apple’s guide shows an EQ setting for the Music app under Settings, Apps, Music, which changes the sound of that app only.

Eight models by price and battery

Prices are from Beats’ US site, which sells through Apple, rounded up to the dollar.

The earbud figures are with noise cancelling off. With it on, Beats gives 8 hours and 36 with the case for the Powerbeats Pro 2, and 6 hours and 24 with the case for both the Powerbeats Fit and the Studio Buds +.

Headband pairs for flights, commuting and cables

Flights and commuting call for the Beats 360. Beats says it has up to 1.75 times the total noise cancellation of the Studio Pro, and it lasts up to 32 hours with that on. It is the first over-ear Beats with a sweat and water rating, IPX4. The ear and headband cushions come off and can be swapped, and Beats sells extra cushion kits. It weighs 294.5 grams and folds flat. Beats 360 on Amazon

The Beats Studio Pro is the older over-ear, and $50 less. It has noise cancelling and a transparency mode, with up to 40 hours of battery with both off and 24 with either on. What it has that the 360’s page does not list is wired listening: a 3.5 mm input, and lossless audio over USB-C through a built-in DAC. It weighs 260 grams. Pick it over the 360 if you plug in often or want the lighter pair. It and the 360 are the over-ear models now that the Studio3 has left Beats’ product list. Beats Studio Pro on Amazon

Get the Solo 4 if you listen by cable and can live without active noise cancelling: it is the only on-ear model and costs $100 less than the Studio Pro. Beats points to the passive isolation of the cushions instead. In exchange it has the longest battery in the range, up to 50 hours, and weighs 217 grams. It takes lossless audio over USB-C or the 3.5 mm cable, and Beats says the 3.5 mm cable works with no battery power at all. No headphone on Beats’ product list is wired only, now the Beats EP has gone. Beats Solo 4 on Amazon

Earbuds that stay in for running and the gym

The Powerbeats Pro 2, which replaced the Powerbeats Pro, are earbuds with hooks that go over the ear. Beats lists noise cancelling, heart-rate sensors for workouts, a volume rocker on each earbud, Apple’s H2 chip and a case that charges wirelessly. Battery is up to 10 hours per charge and 45 with the case. Powerbeats Pro 2 on Amazon

The Powerbeats Fit, about $200, suit anyone who dislikes ear hooks. Beats calls them the next generation of the Beats Fit Pro: a flexible wingtip tucks under the ridge of the ear. They have noise cancelling and the older H1 chip, and last up to 7 hours per charge and 30 with the case. Buds and case together weigh 61.3 grams against 77.7 for the Pro 2. The extra $50 for the Pro 2 buys the hooks, the heart-rate sensors and three more hours per charge. Powerbeats Fit on Amazon

Small earbuds, and the two cheapest Beats

The Studio Buds +, which replaced the Studio Buds, are small earbuds with noise cancelling, a transparency mode and an IPX4 rating. Up to 9 hours per charge and 36 with the case. Beats lists the same quick-pairing and find-my features for iPhone and for Android, which makes these the easy choice if your household has both. Beats Studio Buds + on Amazon

The Solo Buds are the cheapest true wireless Beats. They have no noise cancelling, and the case is only a case: Beats says it does not charge the earbuds. You plug the case into a USB-C cable to charge them. The earbuds themselves last up to 18 hours, the longest per charge of any Beats earbud. Beats Solo Buds on Amazon

The Flex is two magnetic earbuds on a cable that sits round the neck. Beats says the music pauses when you take them out and resumes when you put them back. Up to 12 hours, on Apple’s W1 chip. At $10 less than the Solo Buds, it only makes sense if you want earbuds that hang round your neck between songs. Beats Flex on Amazon

Beats on Android

Beats says every model works with iPhone and Android. On Android, the Beats 360, Studio Pro, Solo 4, Studio Buds + and Solo Buds get one-tap pairing and tracking through Google’s own tools, and the two Powerbeats models use the Beats app. Spatial audio that follows your head is the exception: Beats’ pages describe it working with an iPhone or iPad. Our guide to earbuds with spatial audio explains which phones each maker’s system needs.

For headphones from another maker, try the JBL headphones page.