Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The Beoplay Eleven looks incredible but performs below average in nearly every category we track. Sound, ANC, and call quality all land in the bottom third of our database. Unless you're buying purely for the design, save your money and get the Sony WF-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra instead.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Genuinely stunning design with premium materials
- Comfortable fit thanks to the soft silicone tips
- Decent battery life at up to 28 hours with the case
- Solid passive isolation from the snug in-ear seal
Cons
- Sound quality falls behind most competitors
- ANC performance is underwhelming for the price
- Call quality is a weak spot despite the marketing
- Connectivity scores near the bottom of our database
The proof
Performance
Here's the uncomfortable truth: the Beoplay Eleven scores below average in nearly every category we track. Sound quality sits at the 32nd percentile, which is disappointing for a pair of earbuds at this price. ANC is also 32nd, battery is middle of the pack at 49th, and build quality lands at 35th. The mic situation is worse, coming in at the 15th percentile, which makes the marketing claims about clearer calls feel a bit hollow. Connectivity is even lower at 14th. For a brand that charges luxury money, these numbers are a real letdown.
vs Competition
Stacked against the competition, the Beoplay Eleven struggles to justify its existence. The Sony WF-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra are the obvious benchmarks, and both crush the B&O in ANC and sound quality. The Technics EAH-AZ100 is another standout, offering excellent audio and call performance at a more reasonable price. Even the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, which isn't exactly a budget option, delivers better overall performance. The only area where the Beoplay Eleven wins is aesthetics, and that's a tough sell when the earbuds sitting next to it sound better and cost less.
| Spec | Bang & Olufsen 1241000 | Technics EAH-AZ100 EAH-AZ100-K | Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro | Sony WF-1000XM6 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra 896637-0010 | Apple AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | - | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear |
| Driver Type | - | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic |
| Wireless | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Battery Life Hours | - | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| Case Battery Hours | - | 28 | 26 | 24 | 18 | 24 |
| Water Resistance | - | IPX4 | IP57 | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP57 |
| Multipoint | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bang & Olufsen 1241000 | 32 | 14.6 | 35 | 31.5 | 49.4 | 29.5 | 13.6 | 10 |
| Technics EAH-AZ100 EAH-AZ100-K Compare | 97.5 | 97.5 | 81.4 | 99.1 | 82.9 | 73.3 | 99.2 | 80.7 |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro Compare | 97.5 | 97.5 | 98.9 | 93.6 | 77.8 | 94.6 | 99.6 | 89.8 |
| Sony WF-1000XM6 Compare | 97.5 | 99.8 | 81.4 | 89.2 | 80 | 73.3 | 99.2 | 80.7 |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra 896637-0010 Compare | 97.5 | 92.1 | 81.4 | 97 | 49.4 | 94.6 | 98.1 | 89.8 |
| Apple AirPods Pro 3 Compare | 97.5 | 84.3 | 98.9 | 91.5 | 80 | 94.6 | 99.6 | 99.4 |
Price
Value & Pricing
This is where it gets painful. The Beoplay Eleven ranges from $373 to a frankly absurd $106,437 across vendors, which tells me some sellers are just making up numbers. Even at the low end, you're paying a massive premium for the B&O logo and the aluminum case. The Technics EAH-AZ100, Sony WF-1000XM6, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra all deliver better sound, better ANC, and better call quality for less money. If you're spending this much, you should be getting best-in-class performance, not bottom-third scores.
Amazon.it 1 offer From €469
Price History
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Overview
Bang & Olufsen has always played the luxury card, and the Beoplay Eleven is no exception. You're getting aluminum, hardened glass, and a design that looks more like jewelry than tech. But pretty hardware doesn't mean much if the performance doesn't back it up, and that's where things get complicated.
The spec sheet sounds promising on paper. A 9.2mm driver, adaptive ANC, improved mics with wind filtering, and up to 28 hours of total battery with the case. But our database tells a different story. Almost every metric lands in the bottom half of the pack, and some are genuinely rough.
Common Questions
Q: How does the Beoplay Eleven compare to the AirPods Pro 3 for calls?
The AirPods Pro 3 is significantly better for calls. The Beoplay Eleven scores in the 15th percentile for mic quality, so while the wind filtering helps a bit, you'll still sound clearer on Apple's buds.
Q: Is the noise cancellation actually good?
It's fine, but not great. The ANC lands at the 32nd percentile in our database, which means it blocks out some background noise but falls well short of what Sony or Bose offer at similar or lower prices.
Q: Are these worth the premium price?
Only if design is your top priority. The materials and build are beautiful, but the sound, ANC, and call quality all trail competitors that cost less. You're paying for the B&O name and the aluminum case, not the performance.
Who Should Skip This
Skip these if you take calls regularly, need strong noise cancellation for commuting, or care about getting the best sound for your money. The mic quality is a real weak spot, the ANC is mediocre, and the sound signature doesn't justify the price. If you're an audiophile on a budget, look at the Technics EAH-AZ100. If you need calls and ANC, get the Sony WF-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra.
Verdict
Buy these if you care more about how your earbuds look than how they sound. The Beoplay Eleven is a fashion accessory first and an audio device second. If you want luxury design and you're willing to accept mediocre performance, go for it. But if you actually care about music, calls, or noise cancellation, there are at least five better options at this price point.
