This article is part of our series Battle of the Brands, in which we compare category-leading products to their counterparts to determine which are actually worth your money.
You were just gifted the new iPhone and want some top-tier headphones to pair with it. While any of the best over-ear headphones are solid choices, you’re likely eyeing first-party models that are tied to Apple’s flawless ecosystem. I’m referring to the AirPods Max and Beats Studio Pro.
Both sets of wireless cans boast similar features, including active noise cancellation, instantaneous connectivity with all Apple devices and Personalized Spatial Audio, just to name a few. They’re also notably different in key areas such as battery life, call quality and design.
We’ve spent the past several weeks testing these rivals to determine Apple’s true flagship offering. Which is it? Continue scrolling to find out.
Beats Studio Pro vs. AirPods Max at a glance
The latest entry in the Studio series offers fantastic battery life, resonant sound and a wide range of features that can be utilized across multiple platforms.
The AirPods Max serve as an excellent pick for devoted iPhone and Mac users wanting effective ANC and sound in an ultra-modern design.
Quick comparison
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Beats Studio Pro
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|---|---|
| Active noise cancellation | Yes |
| Ambient noise | Yes (transparency mode) |
| Battery life | 24 hours (ANC on), 40 hours (ANC off) |
| Fast charging | 10-minute charge = 4 hours |
| Wired support | Yes (3.5mm to 2.5mm audio cable) |
| Weight | 9.17 ounces |
| Colors | Black, Deep Brown, Navy, sandstone |
| Charging port | USB-C |
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Apple AirPods Max
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|---|---|
| Active noise cancellation | Yes |
| Ambient noise | Yes (transparency mode) |
| Battery life | 20 hours |
| Fast charging | 5-minute charge = 1.5 hours |
| Wired support | Yes (3.5mm to 2.5mm audio cable) |
| Weight | 13.6 ounces |
| Colors | Pink, green, silver, Sky Blue, Space Gray |
| Charging port | Lightning |
Beats’ dynamic soundstage is overshadowed by Apple’s superior 3D audio
Beats’ equipped its headphones with advanced digital processing, fully custom 40mm active drivers and a second-generation processor optimized for iOS/macOS and Android. You’ll enjoy vibrant, full-bodied sound with minimal distortion, and if you go wired via USB-C, you’ll gain access to built-in EQs: Conversation, Entertainment and Signature. These settings are beneficial for select content, though using them disables active noise cancellation. The silver lining is that USB-C audio opens the door to true lossless playback, a feature that Apple promotes heavily, yet that somehow remains unavailable on all AirPods models. The Studio Pro’s virtual soundstage is sufficient for immersive listening.
The AirPods Max come with 40mm drivers that produce rich bass, precise mids and crisp highs. Apple’s older H1 chip boosts audio processing for clean-sounding performance on Apple Music. Harmonic distortion is nonexistent when listening at max volume. As favorable as the Studio Pro’s boom-filled delivery is for music, the AirPods Max’s spatial audio is much better for all media. Apple’s headtracking technology demonstrates accurate sound placement and motion response, which gives surround sound a more engaging presence.
TL;DR: Select the AirPods Max for spatial audio or the Studio Pro for standard listening.
The Studio Pro carry stronger features and battery life
These models share many of the same features: adaptive ANC, automatic switching, audio sharing, Find My Device support, “Hey Siri” voice activation, Live Listen and spatial audio. However, the Studio Pro have a few more perks that are unavailable on the AirPods Max. As previously mentioned, Beats engineered the Studio Pro for wired listening (3.5mm, USB-C) as well as lossless audio. This functionality even extends to Android devices through the Beats app and one-tap Google Fast Pair.
Battery life is another area where Beats has the upper hand. A full charge gives the Studio Pro 24 hours of ANC use and up to 40 hours with ANC off. Not only is the AirPods Max’s play time underwhelming at 20 hours but you can’t disable noise cancellation. Fast Fuel charging is also more powerful on the Studio Pro.
TL;DR: The fact that you can turn off ANC on the Studio Pro for longer play time gives them the operational edge.
Equally satisfying ANC with Apple providing the better transparency mode
Expect quality noise cancellation from either product. Beats implemented several upgrades on the Studio Pro, from feed-forward/back and MEMs mics with enhanced signal-to-noise ratio to playback correction for removing unwanted sounds. The Studio Pro can eliminate a high number of environmental distractions for peaceful listening. Unfortunately, like their sibling, they struggle with high-frequency sounds.
Where the AirPods Max outperform the Studio Pro is ambient listening. As good as Beats’ transparency mode is for easily communicating with people and increasing situational awareness, Apple’s version sounds more natural.
TL;DR: ANC excels on both models, but Apple has Beats beat on ambient listening.
Attractive designs, but Apple’s is more distinctive
Beats’ design pedigree is iconic, and the Studio Pro do a terrific job of reviving the brand’s legacy headphone series with modern elements. Many details remain intact such as the sleek over-ear silhouette, sturdy plastic frame and trademark “B” logo that doubles as a multifunctional button on the left earcup. The brushed metal hinges and small LEDs underneath the right earcup are nice touches. UltraPlush memory foam provides adequate ear comfort. These headphones also collapse for convenient portability. Sadly, their construction is a bit flimsy. The metal hinges feel like they could snap at any time and the woven carrying case could have been better designed.
Apple put serious effort into developing the AirPods Max, which shows in the final design. The mesh headband, metal yokes and aluminum earcups with removable memory foam pads are all beautifully crafted. Other elements like the Digital Crown and multiple built-in mics grant seamless functionality. For all the hell I give Apple’s purse-inspired Smart Case, it is the more practical and uniquely designed accessory and preserves power whenever storing the headphones.
Let’s discuss the huge price difference
Three years on the market and the AirPods Max are still being sold at their launch price of $549 at Apple and usually hover around $480 at other retailers. Meanwhile, the Studio Pro hit store shelves with a $349 MSRP and are currently on sale for $180 at Amazon. It doesn’t take a mathematician to see which is the more attainable headphone.
TL;DR: Beats’ newest headphones offer more performance for nearly half the price of Apple’s first-generation model.
Bottom line
The Studio Pro are basically the AirPods Max with a Beats aesthetic and updated specs. Beats’ proprietary technologies play well with both Apple and Google operating systems. Lengthy battery life, outstanding sound with impressive 3D audio and terrific call quality that leverages intelligible ANC architecture bring everything together in an alluring package.
It’s still surprising to see the AirPods Max perform at such an elite level considering their age. Apple’s commitment to keeping all AirPods updated with new features via iOS updates certainly helps. Ambient listening and spatial audio are on point. Then there’s their gorgeous craftsmanship. It’s just unfortunate that their play time is some of the category’s worst and pricing is unjustifiably steep compared to the market’s best noise-canceling headphones.
With that said, the Studio Pro stand out as the greater value. However, a significant price drop would make the AirPods Max an enticing pickup for iPhone 15 owners. That is, until the AirPods Max 2 inevitably debut sometime in the future.