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The Best Beats Headphones for Your Playlists in 2024
Don’t know your Beats Flex from your Beats Studio? We’ve got you covered
You may have forgotten this, but back when Beats first arrived on the scene in 2008, it was a big deal. The brainchild of Dr Dre and record exec Jimmy Iovine, it injected some proper excitement into the portable audio world.
Beats was backed by musicians with a mission to bring better quality to consumers and with the simple statement that it was going to make your playlists sound better than the flimsy earphones Apple was shipping with its iPods at the time. Despite serious competition, the brand is still a major player. In 2024, Apple and Beats continue to dominate the headphone market, especially after the Cupertino-based tech giant snapped up its rival in July 2014.
Audiophiles may turn up their noses at the brand, but we recommend several Beats headphones for most people. These wireless earbuds and over-ears aren’t tuned for neutral listening and analytical sessions, but the in-ear buds are particularly good companions for powering through your next workout session or finding your inner zen during a well-deserved meditation session.
These days they’re also not as overwhelmingly bass-heavy as those original Beats models. The typical Beats sound is vibrant, dynamic and exciting. So, they’re fun? We reckon that’s a pretty good way to think about it. Sure, you can buy technically better-sounding cans for the gym or commute, but if you want everything to feel dramatic, punchy and entertaining, Beats is a great way to go.
Best Beats Headphones
And then there’s the fashion statement part of the whole equation. We all know Beats models are spotted on the heads and in the ears of celebrities and athletes. We wouldn’t say that’s an actual reason to buy them, but it’s undeniable that Beats offers more in the colour and style department compared to its key rivals.
Let’s be honest, most headphones still look pretty boring and come in either black or white plastic. Beats, by contrast, offers just that bit more personality – most of its models come in various bright shades, neutral tones and eye-catching metallic finishes.
Is Beats Really Worth It?
Nowadays, you can find excellent headphones at almost any price – we have favourites that go for as low as £50, top models that you can snap up for under £100 and ones that deliver excellent noise-cancelling for much less than the pricey Bose and Sony models that are commonplace on trains and flights. In general, Beats models cost over £100 and can go up to over £300. Accusations that they’re overpriced are frequent, and there’s never been more competition when it comes to headphones.
What Beats offers, though, is a distinct sound signature and a unique pairing with Apple devices (while still being compatible with Android) that you won’t find elsewhere. Apple limits how compatible its own AirPods are with Android phones, but Beats works with both while delivering the best features to the Apple faithful.
Outside of AirPods, these are the only headphones that give listeners hands-free Siri integration, seamless spatial audio tech, “Find My” support, instant iCloud pairing to all Apple devices and audio sharing so that multiple people can listen to the same songs from an iPhone as long as they have compatible headphones. Whether these extras are worth the price, though, is a decision you’ll have to make for yourself.
How We Test Beats Headphones
When testing headphones, we listen to a range of genres – everything from Jay-Z and Taylor Swift to Billie Eilish and the entire Oppenheimer film soundtrack. We evaluate the battery life and how long they take to recharge, how comfortable they are to wear, and the effectiveness of any active noise-cancelling (ANC) technology.
We also consider the build quality, how easy it is to take and make calls, as well as how straightforward it is to use all the controls. We have tested all the models in our list below.
Simon Cocks is Hearst UK’s Technology Ecommerce Editor, overseeing tech shopping content and strategy across a range of titles including Good Housekeeping UK, Esquire UK, Digital Spy, Men’s Health UK and Women’s Health UK.
Simon specialises in testing the latest smart gadgets, home entertainment gear, headphones, speakers, portable chargers, radios, ebook readers and smartphones. He's reviewed top tech products from brands including Google, Apple, Amazon, JBL and Bose.
A magazine journalism graduate from Kingston University in 2014, Simon also worked on the Discovery and Silkroad inflight magazines. He then gained experience writing about entertainment at SFX and Total Film. He also contributed reviews and interviews to TwitchFilm (later ScreenAnarchy), CultBox and Frame Rated.
He joined Good Housekeeping UK as the Editorial Assistant for Special Projects and was part of Good Housekeeping’s Consumer Affairs Team between 2014 and 2019. In this role, he conducted price comparison research, wrote detailed household and money-saving advice guides and edited thousands of in-depth reviews for the Good Housekeeping Institute.
He has focused on technology and gadgets since 2020, where he started by testing out power banks and instant cameras. He writes reviews, roundups, news articles and deals updates, and also covers top tech deals during sales like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
When not testing out the latest gizmos, you’ll find Simon either catching up with the newest releases at his local cinema or out shooting with his beloved compact camera.
You can follow Simon on Instagram at @simonrcocks, on Threads at @simonrcocks, and on Twitter/X at @simoncocks.
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