The best Beats headphones: Which Beats play your beats the best?

The Beats Studio Pro are the most expensive headphones Beats produces, with an RRP of £349.99. And we think they're the best Beats headphones overall. They've improved upon the previous model, and offer excellent noise cancellation, call quality and wireless performance, while audio is particularly good if you like plenty of bass. Lossless audio is supported via USB-C. 

There are a few omissions that are disappointing – multipoint Bluetooth and wear detection are both missing. These are features we'd have hoped to see at this price point, and it does mean that options from brands such as Sony and Bose start to look more appealing. 

On the other hand, these are considerably cheaper than Apple's AirPods Max, while still delivering comparable audio performance. If you're an iPhone user, these look a lot more attractive as a result. Overall, if you're a fan of Beats cans, these are the best of the bunch.

The Beats Flex are the cheapest Beats you can buy, with an RRP of £69.99. They also stand out for their design, which is relatively unusual for having a neckband.

This has some benefits in terms of reducing the likelihood of losing them, although it does make them slightly less portable than true wireless earbuds. A magnetic connection helps to keep them secure when you don't have them in your ears. You also benefit from 12-hours of battery between charges, which is better than most wireless earbuds can offer. 

The noise controls are a step back from other Beats models, and there is no noise cancellation, but the audio quality is still great and suitable for most situations, plus we can't complain much for this price.

Even though the Beats Fit Pro have been around since 2021, they're still some of our favourite earbuds for the gym. The flexible silicone wing grips the inside of your ear to keep these secure, while an IPX4 rating means they are built to be water and sweat-resistant. They're similar to the Powerbeats Pro, but have an RRP of £219.99, a full £50 cheaper. They're also smaller and come with a few extra features – adaptive noise cancellation being a major example. 

Battery life is also slightly better, giving you six hours or so with ANC active, plus another 18 hours via the charging case. The Beats Fit Pro are also compatible with both Apple and Android devices, although Android users do miss out on one or two features – spatial audio and Siri voice assistant. For many, that won't be a deal breaker as these still work well on Android devices. But they are nice to have.

Secure fit, decent sound quality and water-resistance make these an ideal companion to the gym, while still being practical enough to wear beyond your weight and cardio sessions.

The Beats Studio Buds Plus are the best wireless earbuds made by Beats, offering a consistent package of good sound, decent ANC, and transparency mode. They're also some of the most stylish earbuds we've seen, with a transparent option which looks particularly appealing. At £179, these are a little more expensive than the original Studio Buds. But they are undoubtedly an upgrade as well.

ANC is better than before, while features such as one-touch pairing, device switching and 'Find My' functionality are available for both iOS and Android devices. Battery life is also solid, with around six hours on the buds, plus another 24 when using the charging case. Larger microphones help to improve call quality as well. If style is a factor, these earbuds are the best Beats has to offer.

The Beats Solo 4 is our pick as the best over ear headphones from Beats that isn't the considerably more expensive Beats Studio Pro. With an RRP of £199.95, these are considerably cheaper than the Studio Pro, and are undoubtedly aimed at someone who wants something lightweight - perhaps for their daily commute, for example. As with all Beats products, style is clearly a major consideration. These come in pink, blue, black, and there's even a Minecraft special edition, if it appeals.

Support for lossless audio is available via USB-C (but not via Bluetooth), and there's also support for Spatial Audio. Sadly, ANC is absent, and sound quality is so-so, rather than brilliant. But where these headphones shine is their impressive battery life, offering around 50 hours between charges. That's almost certainly enough for even the most frequent audiophile.

Coming out in June 2024, the Beats Solo Buds are some of Beats newest earbuds, as well as being some of the cheapest in the Beats line-up, with an RRP of £79.99. This is roughly half the price of other true wireless earphones from the brand. As well as being new and relatively inexpensive, they're also compact – Beats say this is the smallest case it has ever made. This also means the earbuds themselves are nice and compact, making them extremely comfortable – four different sizes of tips are included, to make sure you get the right fit.

The Beats Solo buds are compatible with both Apple and Android devices, although (as with most beats devices) iPhone users do benefit from greater integration between devices. For the price, it does mean some compromises have been made. There's no spatial audio or active noise cancellation, they aren't water resistant, and the case won't recharge your buds. For that, you'll need to use a power bank or wall charger. But battery life is pretty good – typical use will give you around 18 hours between charges, significantly more than most earbuds can manage.

Sound quality is decent, although these won't match the absolute best options on the market. But they're a great option for Beats fans who need something cheap, portable, and work well with both Android and Apple devices.

Sometimes, you just need a pair of headphones that are going to stay put. Maybe you're engaging in a spot of bouldering, or mountain biking, where falling headphones might never be found. Or maybe you're just sick of picking an earbud up off the gym floor. 

Whatever your motivation, for pure stickability, the Powerbeats Pro are the headphones to go for. Designed to be water and sweat-resistant, they're ideal for wearing while you exercise. The key is the hook that goes over your ear – this is adjustable to ensure a snug fit. 

These are an older model, having come out back in 2019. As a result, they lack many of the features of newer models. This includes active noise cancellation, for example. Battery life is also fairly average - you'll get around nine hours on a single charge, and up to about 24 hours with the charging case. And if you're an iPhone user, you can also enjoy Siri voice-assistant via the headphones.

As we said before, these are an older model, and with an RRP of £269.95, they won't be the best option for most people. But, if a secure fit is your number one priority, these are likely the best Beats for you.