Beats Studio Pro vs. AirPods Max
Beats Studio Pro
The Beats Studio Pro are over-ear headphones made for people who want solid sound and noise cancellation. They come in several colors like black, deep brown, navy, and sandstone. The design is pretty simple—nothing flashy—but they’re built to be comfortable with soft ear cushions that you can wear for hours. They’ve got Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), which helps block out outside sounds—good if you’re on a plane or somewhere loud. There’s also a Transparency Mode, so you can hear what’s going on around you without taking them off. Battery life is impressive—up to 40 hours with regular use, and if you forget to charge them, a quick 10-minute plug-in gives you about 4 more hours of playtime. Sound-wise, they’re tuned to be clear and balanced, not overly bass-heavy like older Beats models. There’s a feature called Personalized Spatial Audio, which makes it feel like the sound is coming from all around you—nice for movies or certain songs. If you’re into wired listening, you can conn...
AirPods Max
The AirPods Max are Apple's high-end wireless over-ear headphones, first released in 2020. They stand out for their premium build, active noise cancellation (ANC), and spatial audio that creates an immersive, theater-like sound experience. Design & Comfort The AirPods Max have an aluminum body, a mesh canopy headband, and memory foam ear cushions for a snug yet breathable fit. They come in multiple colors, and the ear cushions are swappable for a custom look. Sound & Features Inside, each ear cup has Apple’s H1 chip, enabling adaptive EQ, transparency mode, and computational audio that adjusts sound in real time. The Digital Crown (like the Apple Watch) lets you control volume, skip tracks, answer calls, and activate Siri. Battery & Charging They offer up to 20 hours of listening time with ANC and spatial audio on. A quick 5-minute charge provides 1.5 hours of playback. The 2024 model switched from Lightning to USB-C for charging and wired audio.
Reviews
Reviewed on 2/22/2025
I really wanted to like these headphones because I love using Apple products. When my AirPods Max died, I first ordered a pair of Beats Studio Pro as a replacement and went to the Apple Store to try them out. Sadly these headphones were underwhelming, especially given their price, and I ended up returning them. The main problem is that the ear pads are some of the smallest on the market. My ears were constantly touching the sides of the pads, which was annoying, and with so little space inside the headphone they got warm very quickly. The second problem is that these headphones somehow feel cheap and low quality, very much in contrast to most other Apple products I've used. For example, they have this large button on the side that you use to control the headphones, and it gives off these loud plasticky clicks when pressed. I'm really not sure who I would recommend these headphones to. Maybe if you really like the Apple ecosystem and happen to have tiny ears, these are the headphones for you. Otherwise, there are so many other quality headphones on the market that cost less. I ended up with Bose QuietComfort and I'm very satisfied with that choice.
Reviews
Reviewed on 2/15/2025
I'm giving these headphones three stars because I loved using mine but they broke just months after my Apple Care had expired. I also struggled to have them turn on automatically and had to hard reset them and re-pair with my iPhone on a regular basis. On the other hand, when they did work you forgot they were even there, as most Apple products they didn't get in the way. I use my headphones for calls and I had a hard time finding a replacement pair of headphones with noise cancellations and the microphone as good as those of the Airpod Max.
| Item | Votes | Upvote |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight | 1 | |
| Come with Apple 'Find My' feature | 1 | |
| Compatible with other Apple products | 1 |
| Item | Votes | Upvote |
|---|---|---|
| Feel cheap and plasticky | 1 | |
| Ear pads are small | 1 | |
| Your ears will get hot | 1 |
| Item | Votes | Upvote |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds quality | 1 | |
| Noise cancellation | 1 | |
| Sturdy feel | 1 | |
| Microphone | 1 |
| Item | Votes | Upvote |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy | 1 | |
| Occasional problems turning on | 1 | |
| Expensive | 1 | |
| The case is weird | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The AirPods Max are generally considered to have superior sound quality compared to the Beats Studio Pro. They feature advanced audio technologies like adaptive EQ and computational audio, which enhance the listening experience. In contrast, while the Beats Studio Pro offers clear and balanced sound, they are not as highly regarded for audio fidelity as the AirPods Max.
The AirPods Max provide better noise cancellation compared to the Beats Studio Pro. They utilize advanced active noise cancellation technology that effectively blocks out external sounds, making them ideal for immersive listening. The Beats Studio Pro also features Active Noise Cancelling, but users have reported that it does not perform as well as that of the AirPods Max.
The AirPods Max are designed with memory foam ear cushions and a breathable mesh canopy, providing a snug and comfortable fit for extended use. In contrast, the Beats Studio Pro have been criticized for their small ear pads, which may cause discomfort during long listening sessions, especially for users with larger ears.
Yes, the Beats Studio Pro are more affordable than the AirPods Max. The Beats Studio Pro are priced lower, making them a more budget-friendly option for users looking for quality headphones. The AirPods Max, on the other hand, are positioned as a premium product with a higher price tag, reflecting their advanced features and build quality.
While both the Beats Studio Pro and AirPods Max are compatible with Apple devices, the AirPods Max are specifically designed to integrate seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem, offering features like spatial audio and easy pairing. The Beats Studio Pro also works well with Apple products but may not provide the same level of integration and advanced features as the AirPods Max.
The pros of Beats Studio Pro include being lightweight, coming with the Apple 'Find My' feature, and being compatible with other Apple products. However, the cons are that they feel cheap and plasticky, the ear pads are small, and your ears may get hot during use.
Beats Studio Pro offers impressive battery life of up to 40 hours with regular use. Additionally, if you forget to charge them, a quick 10-minute plug-in provides about 4 more hours of playtime.
Beats Studio Pro features Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) to block out outside sounds, a Transparency Mode to hear your surroundings, and Personalized Spatial Audio for an immersive listening experience. They also support wired listening via USB-C for higher-quality audio.
While Beats Studio Pro are designed for comfort and sound quality, some users have found them underwhelming compared to other brands. For instance, one user noted that the ear pads are small and can cause discomfort, and the overall build quality feels cheap compared to other Apple products. Alternatives like Bose QuietComfort have received higher satisfaction ratings from users.
Yes, Beats Studio Pro are compatible with both Apple and Android devices, allowing for quick pairing and easy use across different platforms.
The pros of AirPods Max include their excellent sound quality, effective noise cancellation, sturdy feel, and high-quality microphone. However, the cons are that they are relatively heavy, can have occasional problems turning on, are expensive at $549, and the design of the case has been criticized as being weird.
AirPods Max are known for their premium sound quality, featuring adaptive EQ and computational audio that adjusts sound in real time. They provide an immersive listening experience, making them ideal for music lovers and those who appreciate high-quality audio.
AirPods Max are designed with memory foam ear cushions and a mesh canopy headband, providing a snug yet breathable fit. This design helps enhance comfort during long listening sessions, although some users may still find them heavy after extended use.
AirPods Max come with several advanced features, including active noise cancellation (ANC), transparency mode, and spatial audio for an immersive sound experience. They also have a Digital Crown for easy control of volume, track skipping, and Siri activation.
AirPods Max offer up to 20 hours of listening time with active noise cancellation and spatial audio enabled. Additionally, a quick 5-minute charge provides approximately 1.5 hours of playback, making them convenient for users on the go.
The Smart Case for AirPods Max is designed to put the headphones into a low-power mode when not in use. However, its unique purse-like design has received mixed reviews, with many users finding it odd and not very practical.
