Beats Studio Buds: features, ANC, special editions, price, more
Beats launched in June 2021 its new earbuds Beats Studio Buds, a new true wireless brand as another option for users apart from the Powerbeats Pro introduced in 2019. Apple calls them the “fast-selling” Beats product to date. Here’s everything about them.
Table of contents
Design
The new Beats Studio Buds feature a lightweight and compact design. With a similar look to the AirPods Pro charging case, its downside is that it doesn’t have wireless charging support.
Originally, it was only available in Black, White, and Red. In 2022, Beats released three new colors Moon Gray, Ocean Blue, and Sunset Pink. Check them here.
The Beats Studio Buds don’t feature a stern, and have a dial-like shape, with a ridge on the outside that features the Beats logo. Like the AirPods Pro, it features three different replaceable silicone tips.
Beats earbuds in the wild before release
Beats Studio Buds have been spotted in the wild a few times, mostly thanks to the basketball star LeBron James.
LeBron posted in his Instagram a few shots with mysterious earbuds, which you can see here.
By the end of May 2021, NBA’s Twitter account posted a few more photos of the star where you can see with the Beats logo. As you can see in the images below, the earbuds match our findings on the unreleased Studio Buds.
In June, the unreleased earbuds have made a cameo appearance in Roddy Ricch’s new music video “Late at Night.” The shots leave no doubt that these are the new Beats earbuds. You can have a glimpse of them starting at 29 seconds here.
The earbuds were also found another two times in the wild. TikTok star Dixie D’Amelio was seen wearing a pair in a new video. Also, the US soccer star Alex Morgan has been seen with the white variant of the Beats Studio Buds:
Features: ANC, Transparency Mode, and more
For the first time, Beats earbuds feature Active Noise Canceling as well as Transparency Mode. With six microphones, these earbuds can isolate the exterior sound or make it feel like you’re not wearing earbuds at all.
Different from the Powerbeats Pro or other Beats headphones, this one doesn’t feature Apple’s H1 or W1 chip. It means that although you can easily pair these earbuds with your iPhone and iPad, you do need to pair them with each device at a time. Features as in-ear detection don’t exist in these earbuds.
With Bluetooth 5.0, it has a stable and consistent connection. There’s also support for Spatial Audio in Apple Music.
Beats Studio Buds also feature integration with Apple’s Find My application. When paired via Bluetooth, this allows you to locate your lost Beats Studio Buds using their last known location or by playing a sound.
Tactile controls
Beats found a clever way to turn the tops of each bud into physical buttons for playback control. Here are the details on how this works:
- Press once for play, pause, or answer a phone call
- Press twice to skip forward
- Press three times to skip back
- Long Press to cycle between ANC ON (default), Transparency Mode, and ANC OFF.
You can customize the control for the “press and hold” trigger to activate Siri as well. For instance, pressing and holding on the right earbud could cycle between ANC and Transparency mode, while pressing and holding on the left earbud could activate Siri. But again, there is also support for “Hey Siri,” so physical controls to access the voice assistant aren’t necessarily required.
Sound quality
Since it’s a Beats earbuds, it has a prominent bass, although this time the sound feels more balanced than ever, similar to the original AirPods. Here’s what Beats says about Beats Studio Buds sound quality:
Studio Buds were designed and engineered to prioritize high-quality audio playback and overall comfort — no matter if you’re listening to music, streaming a movie or chatting with a friend. The ergonomically tilted acoustic nozzle features a laser cut micro-vent to ensure pressure relief on the eardrum.
Its powerful, balanced sound is driven by the proprietary 8.2mm, dual-element diaphragm driver, which features a central rigid piston with a flexible outer surround. Coupled with a two-chamber acoustic design, Studio Buds achieves outstanding stereo separation and low harmonic distortion across the frequency curve so you hear every note.
Beats Studio Buds special editions
As it’s recurring for Beats products, the company releases every now and then special version of its products.
Union’s 30th anniversary
In November 2021, the wireless earbuds got their first limited-edition design in partnership with Union. This new version celebrates Union’s 30th anniversary. The Studio Buds feature a bold red, black, and green design and packaging, drawing inspiration from the Pan-African flag and paying tribute to Union’s roots as a Black-owned business. The case also features Union’s historic frontman logo as an ode to the brand’s legacy.
Music is the lifeblood of our store, so when Beats approached us, we were excited to work with them on these Buds. Collaboration is almost as important as music,” said Union founders Chris and Beth Gibbs. “It feels great to have worked with Beats on this project and to have collaborated with Vince Staples, a longtime friend of the store, to bring our vision to life.
Lunar New Year
By the end of 2021, Apple released a Lunar New Year edition for the Beats Studio Buds. The special edition features a red and gold design.
The gold stripes represent tiger print accents, as 2022 will be the “Year of the Tiger.” According to the company, the product will be available in stores starting January 1, 2021.
We’re celebrating the Lunar New Year with our special-edition Beats Studio Buds. As a tribute to the Year of the Tiger, the Buds feature an all-red design with gold tiger print accents. Out on January 1st!
Daily Paper
The third special edition was in partnership with the Amsterdam clothing brand Daily Paper. In this version, the Buds have a graffiti-looking case with white earbuds and a Daily Paper sign in red.
“Music is one of the most important brand pillars for us as it brings our community together,” said Abderrahmane Trabsini, Co-Founder and Design Director of Daily Paper. “Working with Beats has always been on our wish list of collaborations. It’s also an extension of the current SS22 collection which is inspired by hip-hop culture.”
NICKEMERCS
By the end of July 2022, Beats announced a new edition in collaboration with Twitch streamer NICKMERCS Kolcheff.
Each earbud features the letters MFAM (Mercs family), paying tribute to his loyal Twitch community, and the Spartan crest designed on the charging case, referencing his Greek heritage surname.
“The Beats Studio Buds are the earbuds I use every day,” NICKMERCS said. “I’ve been working out and traveling with them for a while now and I’m super excited and proud to collaborate with Beats to produce the MFAM Beats Buds that my community around in the world can wear it with pride anywhere.”
FUTURA
Also in July 2022, Beats partnered with Futura Laboratories, a design studio created by graffiti artist FUTURA to launch a special edition of the Beats Studio Buds. These wireless earbuds will go on sale this Saturday and feature a graffiti-like look.
Different from the edition announced last week, this one is all-black with some graffiti on the earbuds and the case as well.
Beats Studio Buds firmware update
On January 25, 2022, Beats Studio Buds got its first firmware update. Version 9M6599 shows the battery status of the wireless earbuds on iOS devices every time the charging case is open and nearby, similar to the experience AirPods users have.
Another welcome change is that it now supports instant pairing via iCloud. Apple has also enabled new physical controls using the “b” button on the earbuds. Users can now enable an option to change the volume level of the Beats Studio Buds just by pressing their side buttons. The company says that this feature works with iOS, macOS, and even Android devices.
When will the Beats Studio Buds be released?
Beats Studio Buds was announced on June 14, 2021. It started to be sold on the Apple Store on June 24.
How much do the Beats Studio Buds cost?
At Apple, the Powerbeats Pro usually costs $249.95 but Apple is offering a $50 discount. This is also the price of the AirPods Pro.
Beats Studio Buds costs $149. Its lower pricer point is due to the lack of a wireless charging case and an H1 or W1 chip.
Lower prices may be available from Apple’s official Amazon Store.
Beats Studio Buds Review
At 9to5Mac, we already reviewed the Beats Studio Buds. We praised these earbuds for its price and sound quality:
With Beats Beats Studio Buds, you get ANC support, Transparency mode, fast pairing with Apple devices, stellar sound quality, and a versatile in-ear design, all packed into an incredibly compact form factor. There are limitations, such as the lack of in-ear detection and wireless charging, and no H1 or W1 chip, but the value is there with a $150 price point.
Ultimately, the Studio Buds are proof the Beats brand is alive and stronger than ever, and certainly not going anywhere anytime soon. There are compromises to hit the $149.99 price point, but the pros more than outweigh the cons if you don’t already have AirPods Pro or Powerbeats Pro.
Beats Studio Buds, AirPods, or AirPods Pro?
If you like the stemless design, the option for black and red, and an in-ear fit with ANC, the Beats Studio Buds are a great way to get most of the AirPods/AirPods Pro features at a reasonable price. But that’s as long as you don’t mind missing out on a wireless charging case, auto device switching, and ear-detection/auto-pause and play.
Deals
Over at 9to5Toys, you can find the best deals on the Beats Studio Buds and other Apple products. Download the 9to5Toys iPhone app to receive push notifications for new deals as well.
