CNET

Beats Studio Buds: AirPods for Android users too! (Review)

Targeted at both Apple and Android users, the new noise-canceling $150 Beats Studio Buds are in many ways the stemless Airpods we’ve always wanted. They offer sound that’s slightly better than both the AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro, a comfortable fit and very good voice-calling capabilities. However, there’s one big problem. CNET’s David Carnoy explains…

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Targeted at both Apple and Android users, the new noise-canceling $150 Beats Studio Buds are in many ways the stemless Airpods we’ve always wanted. They offer sound that’s slightly better than both the AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro, a comfortable fit and very good voice-calling capabilities. However, there’s one big problem. CNET’s David Carnoy explains why Android users may be pleased but Apple users may not be thrilled with what got left out.

00:31 Price, colors
00:52 Design
02:18 iOS and Android
03:26 Missing features
04:48 Battery life
05:16 Performance
06:49 Alternative options
07:21 Conclusion

Read full review here:

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77 Comments

  1. Ridwan Agus Honiardi

    June 14, 2021 at 9:19 pm

    What about mic quality?

  2. Mr. Johnson

    June 14, 2021 at 9:24 pm

    All I see is 666 😱

  3. TheBigKing0

    June 14, 2021 at 9:28 pm

    No H1 and so so anc. At this price, I think you might as well go for Soundcore or jabra, they’d have multipoint

  4. The AJ Kid

    June 14, 2021 at 9:31 pm

    Why do they advertise these as studio headphones if they have too much latency to use in a studio or even watch videos? WHY?!

  5. Amit Kumar

    June 14, 2021 at 9:38 pm

    How does it fare vs Sony’s XM4 earbuds ?

  6. Med SAIB

    June 14, 2021 at 9:40 pm

    Seems like Apple had to do this so they can leave more features for the next AirPods pro

  7. Indy M

    June 14, 2021 at 9:45 pm

    Dealbreaker without the U1 chip features

  8. Steve

    June 14, 2021 at 10:03 pm

    As an android user, im fine without those features, although I will kind of miss that ear detection

  9. Jimmity Cricket

    June 14, 2021 at 10:13 pm

    If you look closely at those little red spiders they have the Beats logo on them lmfaooooooooo

  10. SavageSenzu

    June 14, 2021 at 10:23 pm

    What’s the talk time for the battery? Still 5 hours?

  11. Jason Chavez

    June 14, 2021 at 10:27 pm

    Kinda ticked it didn’t have the M1 chip tbh

  12. Carlos Garcia

    June 14, 2021 at 10:28 pm

    Wow! They seem pretty bad! They don’t have a lot of things

  13. TheMostHated420

    June 14, 2021 at 10:38 pm

    No H1 W1 Chip No Autoswitching Features 😔 Anc is Not Perfect No in Ear Detection Play pause feature No Wireless Charging
    Noice Cancelling Just worse im glad i got the Airpods Pro

  14. Antony M

    June 14, 2021 at 10:43 pm

    There is literally no reason for someone in the Apple ecosystem to buy these. Why Beats, why.

    • Brixan

      June 14, 2021 at 11:46 pm

      So that you’ll just buy Airpods

  15. Ron

    June 14, 2021 at 10:50 pm

    Is beats headphones still a thing, a lot of people stop buying beats brand.

  16. TheRealMrSymba

    June 14, 2021 at 10:58 pm

    Great review. Was going to replace my Powerbeats Pro but they lost me at no in-ear detection.

  17. Thetpaing Phyo

    June 14, 2021 at 11:01 pm

    Please,compare wf1000xm4 vs beat studio bud.

  18. Damian1977

    June 14, 2021 at 11:01 pm

    Very informative.

  19. Prajwol Poudel

    June 14, 2021 at 11:12 pm

    Haha, android users told to say Hey Siri😄 3:20

  20. Missle1001

    June 14, 2021 at 11:22 pm

    Looks like Apple hasn’t forgotten about Dre!

  21. Hang Nguyen

    June 14, 2021 at 11:55 pm

    As an Android user I appreciate the USB-C. That “Hey Siri” comment had me 🤣🤣.

    These or the Vista 2 🤔. I also want the new Sony WF-1000MX4 as well!

  22. Dan G

    June 15, 2021 at 12:17 am

    Guessing there’ll possibly be a studio beats plus/pro model announced with ear detection and U1 shortly. I myself couldn’t care less about those features, seems like a decent value product

  23. Gleison

    June 15, 2021 at 12:41 am

    No H1 or W1 chip? This is an auto pass.

  24. Youknow Who

    June 15, 2021 at 1:02 am

    I’m just here for the rooftop views

  25. dominion arts

    June 15, 2021 at 1:02 am

    Raycon much?

  26. Ratnanjay sarvate

    June 15, 2021 at 1:16 pm

    Sony’s 4th is better.

  27. BRIAN PATRICK REDDINGTON

    June 15, 2021 at 2:15 pm

    I love Apple and I’m not a fan of Android

  28. Sonu666

    June 15, 2021 at 2:42 pm

    hows sound quality compared to Galaxy Buds Live?

    • David Carnoy

      June 15, 2021 at 9:31 pm

      Better. But Live are open. These are noise-isolating, which helps bass performance.

  29. Olof Jeanty

    June 15, 2021 at 3:00 pm

    The buds plus are better. The buds live are better. The buds pro are better. These are not good at all compared to what Samsung provides. This is Logan Paul v Mayweather, waste of money.

  30. Jenna Jams

    June 15, 2021 at 3:06 pm

    You do know AirPods work with Android do you?

    • David Carnoy

      June 15, 2021 at 9:30 pm

      Yes. And Pixel Buds work with iPhone. In both cases you lose some features, however.

  31. Miguel A. Medina Perea

    June 15, 2021 at 3:11 pm

    I like the 3 sixes on the case and buds

  32. Dennis Bordok jr

    June 15, 2021 at 3:16 pm

    I buy the Beats….BECAUSE OF THE HOOK STYLE BECAUSE OF THE “GYM “

  33. air90air

    June 15, 2021 at 3:42 pm

    Can you review the Jaybird Vista 2?

  34. Avanne1

    June 15, 2021 at 3:48 pm

    Yeaaa I’ll stick to AirPods Pro.

  35. michael wal

    June 15, 2021 at 3:55 pm

    For all those who kept saying apple discontining beats..think again, fact is apple had cut back production of airpods…beats lives on

  36. Jaskirat Singh

    June 15, 2021 at 4:01 pm

    Sad iPhone user here who’s Siri went off twice back to back 🙁

  37. Kilo C

    June 15, 2021 at 4:35 pm

    No wireless charging?

  38. Antonio Lomeli

    June 15, 2021 at 4:50 pm

    Why? What’s the purpose of releasing something intended to be inferior

  39. misodiko

    June 15, 2021 at 5:02 pm

    Its texture and logo look a little bit… ‘Knockoff’ … And come without H1/W1? Is it really Apple official product?

  40. Juan Cruz

    June 15, 2021 at 5:03 pm

    Smart and strategic keeping the apple ecosystem intact and same time offering option to android users to entice them to hop onboard because their android selection won’t offer a full spectrum to what regular apple users have available. So some will be lure to get the full spectrum and not settle for less. 👍

  41. ah l

    June 15, 2021 at 5:17 pm

    Hands off from buds apple fanboys. Beats doesnt mean apple only. They are targetting android now, which is fairly normal but apple fanboys seem shocked.

  42. Talib Nunez

    June 15, 2021 at 5:48 pm

    those are so trash 🗑

  43. Charlie

    June 15, 2021 at 6:36 pm

    Good review….like the chess clock,on the shelf!

  44. Hot Gammiris

    June 15, 2021 at 7:32 pm

    Beats by apple for fandroids.

  45. Stefan Ilic

    June 15, 2021 at 8:13 pm

    My 50$ Beats Flex have H1

  46. LGNEWS

    June 15, 2021 at 8:17 pm

    I am an audiophile, I’m not downgrading.

  47. Elena PF

    June 15, 2021 at 8:45 pm

    Dealbreaker

  48. sagar

    June 15, 2021 at 11:12 pm

    Beats need make better tips cushions I have the ones with beats ear clip ones , I like them for workout and outdoor but tips are not as soft as apple ones

  49. Superman Steve

    June 16, 2021 at 12:44 am

    That was an awesome review. I love the RED. Definitely going to get a pair.

  50. Omar Vargas

    June 16, 2021 at 1:28 am

    Which are better in your opinion, these or the AirPods Pro?

  51. M Q

    June 16, 2021 at 4:42 am

    4:35 he’ll be like, I really love my job lol

  52. SYukimi

    June 16, 2021 at 4:47 am

    Instant hard pass without the chip.

  53. Brownboi Bliss

    June 16, 2021 at 5:24 am

    Does the case have wireless charging?

  54. Tuntalunta

    June 16, 2021 at 6:44 am

    beats is owned by apple and airpods work with android im confused

  55. Conor.

    June 16, 2021 at 7:00 am

    Literally just bought Powerbeats 😠

  56. ThatGuyRainz

    June 16, 2021 at 7:41 am

    SkullCandy, all I gotta say.

  57. SAI KHUN

    June 16, 2021 at 8:56 am

    The ‘b’ is now ‘6’. 😀

  58. Raulph Raulph

    June 16, 2021 at 9:45 am

    Wen are they released?

  59. Anil Sardiwal

    June 16, 2021 at 10:22 am

    See, Airpods already works well with Android already.

  60. SixSilverStones Gaming

    June 16, 2021 at 2:54 pm

    Apple AirPods do work with android, just with limited features

  61. Bolin Volovan

    June 16, 2021 at 3:44 pm

    He plays chess

  62. We Hack

    June 16, 2021 at 4:19 pm

    A lot of guys disappointed with it not having H1/W1 chip….Would you say they are a good buy if you are an android user?

  63. Dody Widodo

    June 16, 2021 at 4:35 pm

    Will it support lossless & dolby atmos?

  64. _MTM

    June 16, 2021 at 5:10 pm

    It feels as if Apple is slowly killing beats, still releasing but removing features which will make them less and less popular…. To the point no1 cares about beats anymore.

  65. _MTM

    June 16, 2021 at 5:12 pm

    Apple know if they gave the beats all the features AirPods Pro has it would easily be more popular.

  66. Mtn Drew Stevens

    June 16, 2021 at 5:33 pm

    Chip was a deal breaker😔

  67. aksha y

    June 16, 2021 at 5:42 pm

    Am so happy with my freepods

  68. elgaen555

    June 16, 2021 at 5:51 pm

    As an Apple user, I’m not interested in these due to the functionality that wax as compared to my AirPods Pro or Powerbeats pro

  69. Davin Eaton

    June 16, 2021 at 6:20 pm

    Beats should be universal, unlike airpods are made for iphones and galaxy buds are for samsung. Keep them separate.

  70. Tyrone B

    June 16, 2021 at 7:08 pm

    They look a pair of replica Beats I ordered from Wish

  71. Stephen Jim

    June 16, 2021 at 7:18 pm

    Great 👍 true wireless headphones

  72. dkahmedkhalaf

    June 16, 2021 at 8:47 pm

    Does it have bass????

  73. TheMr3742

    June 16, 2021 at 9:44 pm

    Damn, I could watch this daddy do reviews

  74. BERRY The BERRY

    June 16, 2021 at 11:39 pm

    I’m honestly fine with no h1 or w1 chip because The only apple product I have is my IPhone 11….

    These are perfect for me! But I can definitely see why REAL apple users may dislike these.

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