Apple Beats Studio Pro

The Beats Studio Pro has incredible ANC and solid battery life, but the sound quality and comfort are disappointing. It's worth buying only if noise cancellation is your top priority. For $250, most people can find a better all-around headphone.

The ANC is the star here. It's fully adaptive and ranks in the 98th percentile, so it crushes background noise on commutes and in offices. Battery life is also strong at 40 hours, with a 10-minute Fast Fuel charge giving you 4 more hours. But the sound is where things fall apart. It ranks in the 20th percentile, which means it's a weak spot compared to most over-ears in our database. The mic is mediocre too, landing in the 44th percentile. And comfort? It's in the 2nd percentile. That's one of the worst we've seen. The 912g weight doesn't help.

Against the Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B, the Beats Studio Pro wins on ANC but likely loses on sound and comfort. The Technics EAH-A800 is a strong alternative if audio quality matters more to you. The JBL Tune 670NC and TOZO HT3 are cheaper options that might offer better comfort and sound, though their ANC won't touch the Beats. The Sennheiser HDB 630 is another solid pick if you want balanced performance without the comfort penalty.

At $250, the value depends entirely on what you need. If you want top-tier noise cancellation and long battery life, it's a reasonable deal. But if you care about sound quality or comfort, you can do better for the same money. The included MightySkins customization code is a nice touch if you like personalizing your gear, but it doesn't fix the core issues.

The Beats Studio Pro is a weird mix. The ANC is genuinely top-tier, the battery life is solid, and the build feels decent. But the sound signature is a letdown, and comfort is a real problem. At $250, it's a headphone that nails one thing and fumbles others.

We dug through our database and the numbers tell a strange story. ANC lands in the 98th percentile, which is basically best-in-class. But sound quality sits at the 20th percentile. That's a huge gap. You're paying for silence, not for great audio.

Skip the Beats Studio Pro if you care about sound quality or comfort. The 20th percentile sound and 2nd percentile comfort mean you'll likely regret the purchase if you listen for hours or want detailed audio. Also skip it if you need a great mic for calls, since the mic is mediocre.

Buy the Beats Studio Pro if you need the absolute best noise cancellation and long battery life, and you don't mind a heavy, less comfortable fit. Commuters who prioritize blocking out the world will love it. But if you want great sound or all-day comfort, look elsewhere.