Beats Studio3 vs Bose QuietComfort 35
Headphones are more than just an audio accessory. They are also expected to be gadgets with style, aesthetic value, functionality, and longevity. It is not only about the frequency response range of a headphone, but also about wireless connectivity, noise-cancellation capability, and long-lasting batteries.
Customers have plenty of choices these days and they want the very best. There are plenty of headphone manufacturers. Each of them has a range of different headphone models on offer.
Two headphone manufacturer names that stand out, in particular, are Bose and Beats by Dre. Bose is almost a household name known for making headphones and speakers that deliver the best-in-class audio quality. Beats, on the other hand, has the brand name of famous rapper Dr. Dre behind it. The Beats headphones are quite stylish and offer some excellent sound quality as well.
In this article, we will have a look at the Beats Studio Wireless Over-Ear headphones and the Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless headphones. Both are in a similar price range and have comparable features.
Audio Quality
The most important metric for any headphone is the audio quality that it offers. In terms of the frequency range, Beats Studio Wireless headphones have a decent range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Both the highs and the lows are covered well within this range.
The Bose QuietComfort 35, on the other hand, has a frequency range of 35 Hz to 15,000 Hz. So, the range is a little bit narrower than the Beats headphones. Beats are known for having excellent bass sounds. But, as per user tests, the QuietComfort 35 performs quite well at low frequencies.
At the end of the day, audio quality is quite subjective and one has to try out the headphones to be their own judge. But going by the numbers, Beats seems to edge out Bose.
+1 for Beats Studio3 Wireless
Noise-Cancellation
Headphone manufacturers in recent years are increasingly incorporating the noise-canceling functionality in their models. The feature has now become almost a default for higher-priced models and customers expect to see it if they are going to pay anything over $150 for a pair of headphones.
Both the Beats Studio Wireless headphones and the Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones use active noise cancellation technologies in their models. Bose is particularly well-known for its noise cancellation feature and it has been a pioneer in that area.
Users have suggested that the Beats Studio Wireless headphones have a hissing sound due to its noise cancellation feature. Bose does not have any such hiss along with the audio. Bose’s noise cancellation technology is considered world-class and we have given Bose the edge on noise cancellation.
+1 for Bose QuietComfort 35
Battery Life
Battery life is an extremely important metric when selecting headphones. Headphones need battery power for noise cancellation and wireless/Bluetooth functionality. People using headphones when outdoors or during a flight will appreciate a long-lasting battery.
The Beats Studio Wireless headphones have a battery life of 22 hours (in the Studio3 version). The first version of Studio headphones had a battery life of only 12 hours. So, the latest model offers a huge jump in terms of battery life.
The Beats headphone battery pack comes with fast charging technology which allows the battery to be charged in about 10 minutes for 3 hours of usage capacity.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones have a battery life of 20 hours. Fast charging technology allows 2.5 hours of discharge time for 15 minutes of charging. So clearly, Bose has a better battery life when compared to the old version of Beats Studio headphones. However, the Studio3 Wireless headphones have the highest battery life among all the Bose and Beats Studio models (old and new).
+1 for Beats Studio3 Wireless
Aesthetics
Since headphones are considered as a fashion accessory by some, the aesthetics of this audio gadget matters a lot. Headphones come with a variety of color options. In that department, Beats headphones win hands down. They have far more color choices than Bose.
In terms of the design of the headphones as well, Beats is perceived to be more stylish than Bose. Bose QuietComfort headphones also have a pretty decent design and they come in about 4 colors and some custom-designed options.
On the metric of aesthetics, we believe that Beats is the most “good looking” fashionable pair of headphones that has the influence of Dr. Dre himself.
+1 for Beats Studio3 Wireless
Ergonomics
If you are going to be listening to music for a few minutes or a few hours on the trot, then you want your headphones to be comfortable. You want them to fit your head correctly and not give you an aching ear. Headphones are meant to cover or “cup” your ears completely.
In terms of weight, the Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones weigh 235 grams whereas the Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones weigh 260 grams. So, the Beats Studio3 headphones are slightly heavier than the Bose QuietComfort 35.
The Beats headphones are also tighter against the ears. The good thing about being tighter is the fact that they will not fall off easily if you are moving. However, the tighter the headphones, the greater the possibility of feeling like your ear is being pressed against the cans of the headphone set.
So, in terms of comfort, we found the Bose QuietComfort 35 to be a little bit more gentle and lighter than the Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones.
+1 for Bose QuietComfort 35
Connectivity
Wireless connectivity has become a very useful feature in newer headphone models that are wireless. The connectivity is normally established via Bluetooth. The Beats Studio3 has Bluetooth connectivity and Apple W1 chip connectivity which can allow the user to connect to Siri and iCloud.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 has Bluetooth and NFC connectivity. The NFC chip is used to enable Bluetooth pairing. Another added benefit of Bose QuietComfort 35 is the connectivity that it offers with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Connectivity with both of them is built-in.
The coolest part about Bose QuietComfort 35 is that it can be paired with 2 devices simultaneously. So, for example, if you are watching a video on your iPad and your phone rings, then the headphone audio can switch over to the phone call.
Both headphone brands have USB connectivity for charging.
+1 for Bose QuietComfort 35
Price
In terms of the pricing, both the Bose QuietComfort 35 and the Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones are in a similar range. In fact, both of them cost about $349. So, they are pretty much equal.
The customized versions of the Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones cost $50 extra and will bump up your bill to almost $400. Beats by Dre does not have any such customizable option and all colors cost the same ($349). So, in terms of pricing, the Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones have a little bit of an edge.
+1 for Beats Studio3 Wireless
Strengths of Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones
- Better audio quality with a wider frequency range
- Better aesthetics and more color options
- Slightly lower price in custom color options
- Long battery life of 22 hours
Weaknesses of Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones
- Tight fit could cause minor discomfort to the ears/head
- Hissing sound when noise cancellation is turned on
Strengths of Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones
- Lightweight and more ergonomic design
- Bluetooth and NFC connectivity with 2 devices simultaneously connected
- Excellent noise-canceling performance
Weaknesses of Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones
- High price for customized color options
- Frequency range slightly lower than Beats
- Lesser color options
- Slightly shorter battery life
Total scores
Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones: 4
- Audio Quality
- Battery Life
- Aesthetics
- Price
Bose QuietComfort 35 Headphones: 3
- Ergonomics
- Connectivity Options
- Noise-Cancellation Technology
Specifications Table
| Bose QuietComfort 35 Headphones | Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 7.1 in (H) X 6.7 in (W) X 3.2 in (D) | 7.2 in (H) |
| Weight | 235 grams | 260 grams |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (full charge) | 22 hours (full charge) |
| Fast Charging | 15 minutes for 2.5 hours | 10 minutes for 3 hours |
| Frequency Range | 35 Hz to 15,000 Hz | 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, NFC, Alexa, Google Assistant | Bluetooth, Apple W1, Siri, iCloud |
| Price | $349 to $399 | $349 |
| Colors | Rose Gold, Silver, Black, Midnight Blue, Customized Combos | Blue, Defiant Black-Red, Gray, Matte Black, Red, Shadow Gray, White, Desert Sand, Crystal Blue, Midnight Black, 76ers Blue, Celtics Black, Lakers Purple, Raptors White, Rockets Red, Warriors Royal, Neymar Jr. |
Which one should you buy?
As seen from the metrics above, the Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones are slightly ahead of the Bose QuietComfort35 headphones. So, does that mean you should buy the Beats headphones?
The answer to that question depends on what your priorities are. If you want great sounding headphones that look cool, then Beats wins hands down. However, you should be willing to accept the hiss that Beats’ noise cancellation technology creates.
If you are not too fussy about the looks and want excellent audio quality and world-class noise cancellation performance, then Bose offers the strongest proposition. The Bose QuietComfort35 also has great connectivity features. The one compromise then is the battery life, which is 2 hours short of what Beats Studio3 offers.
Good luck shopping for your new headphones!