The Beats Studio Buds Plus were officially launched on May 17. The original Studio Buds were released in 2021, and a lot has happened in the world of the best wireless earbuds in that time – so an update makes sense.
Not that Beats Studio Buds Plus need to be a revolution – we still stand by our Beats Studio Buds review even now. We previously said that they're a really well-priced pair of earbuds considering the number of features involved for both iPhone and Android.
And sure enough, early reviews of the Studio Buds Plus reveal that there has been some significant upgrades to the earbuds. The new buds offer better noise cancellation than the previous version – Beats says that it is 1.6 times better – thanks to an improved Transparency mode. They also have a longer battery life and a new smaller ear tip option, like the AirPods Pro 2.
Evidence of the Beats Studio Buds Plus first appeared in iOS 16.4 – they were also spotted in the FCC's database leading up to the announcement – which stoked rumors in the weeks leading up to the debut.
We haven't yet got our hands on them but here's what we know so far about the Beats Studio Buds Plus.
Beats Studio Buds Plus are finally here
There was no official announcement for the Beats Studio Buds Plus. In fact, it wasn't too long after the rumors had began circulating that the earbuds made their big debut on May 17. On the other hand, the original Studio Buds were announced on June 14 2021, and were released 10 days later.
As for the price, they're $10 more than what the originals cost at launch two years ago, with a price tag of $169 / £179 / AU$269. The original model has mostly been found for around $99 / £119 / AU$179 for the last year though. Beats seemed to recognize (accurately) that the prices of mid-range noise-canceling earbuds were getting pushed down by more cheap competition, and basically cut the price.
Although Beats has decided to launch the Studio Buds Plus at a higher price for those willing to pay it, it has done a smart thing by keeping the original non-Plus version at $99, especially when you can get the phenomenal Sony WF-C700N for the same price.
Beats Studio Buds Plus: features
The Beats Studio Buds Plus have had quite a few upgrades compared to their predecessors, most of which bring them more closely in line with the features of the AirPods Pro 2.
The new buds have "Hey Siri" support, which the originals lack, meaning you can say "Hey Siri" to trigger Apple's voice assistant if you're using them with an iPhone. They also offer audio sharing with other Beats and AirPods, and auto-switching between Apple devices that are signed into your Apple ID, all of which is standard for most Apple-made headphones, but we did miss from the original Studio Buds. Well, not "Hey Siri", but the other stuff.
The earbuds have improved Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes too, with Beats claiming that the noise cancelling is 1.6 times better than the previous model.
As far as the design goes, the new buds come in three new looks. There's black and gold, ivory as well as a transparent option that looks like Nintendo's Game Boy Color from the late '90s., which has attracted a lot of attention.
Initial reviews of the Beats Studio Buds Plus have been largely positive, with many highlighting improved voice calls, battery life and sound quality. It's clear they're a hit – or are they really? Read our initial hands-on take of the Beats Studio Buds Plus to see where our thoughts on the subject are heading.
