Beats Studio Pro vs. Shokz OpenSwim
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...
Shokz OpenSwim
The Shokz OpenSwim is a set of bone conduction headphones designed specifically for swimming. Unlike regular earbuds, these don’t go inside your ears. Instead, they rest on your cheekbones and use vibrations to send sound directly into your inner ear. This means you can still hear what’s happening around you while listening to music. They don’t have Bluetooth because Bluetooth doesn’t work underwater. Instead, they come with 4GB of internal storage, so you load your own MP3 files onto them. The battery lasts about 8 hours, which is plenty for most swim sessions. They’re IP68 waterproof, meaning they can handle continuous submersion, though there’s usually a depth limit (often around 2 meters). At 30g, they’re lightweight and designed to stay in place while swimming. The package includes a USB charging cradle, a carrying case, and swimming earplugs, which help improve sound quality underwater. People who use them generally love the sound quality and find them easy to use, thoug...
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 2/16/2025
I bought my OpenSwim headphones in 2021 and four years later they are still serving me well. They survived multiple trips to Thailand and Greece, including both in the open sea and in swimming pools. They were fun to use for snorkeling. I love the sound quality, I was genuinely surprised how good they sounds underwater, it's like having your own sound system. I wish they had bluetooth that you could use when not submerged, and as far as I know the newer models do have that. With either model, you still need to load your own songs for underwater use though. Everyone uses streaming services these days so mp3 are actually kind of hard to find, which is something I didn't expect I'd struggle with when I first bought these. Except for a few drawbacks that really amount to nitpicking, these are excellent, reliable, sturdy, and high quality headphones.



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Lightweight | 1 | |
Come with Apple 'Find My' feature | 1 | |
Compatible with other Apple products | 1 |
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Feel cheap and plasticky | 1 | |
Ear pads are small | 1 | |
Your ears will get hot | 1 |
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Work underwater | 1 | |
Lightweight | 1 | |
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No blueetooth | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beats Studio Pro headphones are designed for general use with features like Active Noise Cancelling and a comfortable fit for long listening sessions. However, they are not suitable for swimming as they are not waterproof and do not function underwater. In contrast, Shokz OpenSwim headphones are specifically designed for swimming, utilizing bone conduction technology to deliver sound while being fully waterproof (IP68 rated). Therefore, for swimming activities, Shokz OpenSwim is the better choice.
Beats Studio Pro headphones are tuned for clear and balanced sound, making them suitable for a variety of environments, including outdoor use. They also feature Personalized Spatial Audio for an immersive experience. On the other hand, Shokz OpenSwim headphones provide good sound quality while allowing ambient sounds to be heard, which is beneficial for safety during outdoor activities like swimming. However, for pure sound quality in a variety of settings, Beats Studio Pro may have the edge.
Beats Studio Pro headphones are designed with soft ear cushions for comfort during extended use, but some users have reported that the ear pads can be small and may cause discomfort. Shokz OpenSwim headphones are lightweight and rest on the cheekbones, which can be comfortable for swimming but may not provide the same level of comfort for prolonged listening outside of water. Overall, comfort may vary based on personal preference and intended use.
Beats Studio Pro headphones are versatile for various activities such as commuting, working, and casual listening, thanks to their noise cancellation and compatibility with Apple devices. In contrast, Shokz OpenSwim headphones are specifically designed for swimming and are not suitable for general use outside of water. Therefore, for versatility across different activities, Beats Studio Pro is the better option.
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 Shokz OpenSwim include the ability to work underwater, being lightweight at just 30g, and having a battery life of about 8 hours, which is suitable for most swim sessions. The con is that they do not have Bluetooth functionality, as Bluetooth does not work underwater.
The Shokz OpenSwim is a set of bone conduction headphones designed specifically for swimming. Unlike regular earbuds, they rest on your cheekbones and use vibrations to send sound directly into your inner ear, allowing you to hear your surroundings while listening to music. They come with 4GB of internal storage for MP3 files and are IP68 waterproof.
Users generally report that the sound quality of Shokz OpenSwim is surprisingly good underwater, likening it to having a personal sound system. Many find it enjoyable for activities like snorkeling.
The battery life of Shokz OpenSwim lasts about 8 hours, which is considered sufficient for most swimming sessions. However, some users have mentioned mixed experiences regarding battery longevity over time.
The Shokz OpenSwim package includes a USB charging cradle, a carrying case, and swimming earplugs, which help improve sound quality while underwater.
No, Shokz OpenSwim does not have Bluetooth functionality because Bluetooth does not work underwater. Users must load their own MP3 files onto the headphones for use while swimming.