Beats Studio Pro vs Apple AirPods Max (USB-C): The Real 2025 Comparison
When it comes to Apple’s audio lineup, things get weird. Their earbuds — like the AirPods Pro — are amazing. But when it comes to headphones, something always feels off. The AirPods Max are expensive and polished, but they’re also heavy and kind of impractical for their price. On the other side, Beats Studio Pro are marketed as “premium ANC” headphones but feel more mid-tier in real-world use. So today we’re comparing them head-to-head — comfort, sound, ANC, battery, features, everything — to see which one actually makes sense in 2025.
Design, Build & Comfort
Visually, both look great — but comfort and practicality are a different story.
The Beats Studio Pro are lighter (260 g) and can fold up, which instantly makes them more portable. The AirPods Max, at 384 g, feel like gym weights for your head. Apple used stainless steel and anodized aluminum — super premium, but heavy. Beats, meanwhile, are mostly plastic but easier to wear around your neck or travel with.
Now, let’s talk about fit. Both clamp hard. The Beats have a tight fit that’s not big-head-approved and their earcups have limited range of motion, so the pressure lands unevenly on your ears. The AirPods Max also clamp, but their mesh headband and swivel-friendly earcups spread the weight better — they feel more evenly balanced. Still, after an hour or two, you’ll notice that weight.
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The earpads are another story. Beats’ leatherette pads are shallow, pressing on your ears after about 30 minutes. AirPods Max pads are deeper and feel more open, but their mesh fabric can get itchy in warm weather. Neither wins comfort-wise — it’s like choosing between slightly sore ears and a slightly sweaty head.
And then the cases — both miss the mark. The Beats come with a soft-shell pouch, which is disappointing at this price. The AirPods Max case is even worse — it doesn’t protect the headband at all. For headphones that cost $550, it feels like a joke.
Battery Life & Charging
Here, Beats Studio Pro clearly take the win. With ANC on, they last up to 24 hours; with ANC off, you can push 40 hours. The AirPods Max, meanwhile, offer only about 20 hours regardless of ANC or Spatial Audio. That’s below average for premium ANC headphones in 2025.
Charging is also more flexible on Beats — they use USB-C and even support wired playback through the same port. You can also plug in via a 3.5 mm jack (and the cable’s included). Apple? Lightning port. No 3.5 mm jack. If you want to use them wired, you’ll need to buy Apple’s special Lightning-to-audio cable separately. It’s classic Apple: elegant but restrictive.
Sound Quality
This one’s interesting. The Beats Studio Pro lean toward a bass-heavy, fun sound profile. You can tweak between three preset EQ modes when using USB-C wired playback, but not over Bluetooth. The bass is punchy and satisfying, and while mids and highs are clear enough, they’re not the most refined.
Also Read: Beats Studio3 vs Sony WH-1000XM4
The AirPods Max, on the other hand, sound cleaner, wider, and more open. There’s better instrument separation, a more immersive soundstage, and an overall richer texture. Apple’s computational audio and adaptive EQ really do their job. The highs sparkle more, and vocals stand out better. If you listen to orchestral, acoustic, or spatial audio content — AirPods Max easily outperform the Beats.
Still, for everyday pop, hip-hop, or electronic music, most people will find the Beats enjoyable enough — especially if you prefer that punchy low end.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) & Transparency
Until Sony’s WH-1000XM5 came along, the AirPods Max were the gold standard for ANC. Even today, they’re still near the top. They create that classic “cabin pressure” feel but block out nearly everything — engines, chatter, AC noise. The transparency mode is equally impressive; it feels like you’re not even wearing headphones.
The Beats Studio Pro, however, perform more like mid-tier ANC headphones. Their ANC is fine for office noise or basic travel, but they can’t touch the Max in terms of total noise suppression. Their transparency mode is decent but nowhere near as natural or clear.
Neither pair has a dedicated “conversation mode” (like Sony’s Quick Attention or Bose’s Conversation Mode), which is a missed opportunity in this price range.
Connectivity & Smart Features
If you’re deep in Apple’s ecosystem, the AirPods Max are hard to beat for convenience. They use Apple’s H1 chip, allowing instant switching between iPhone, iPad, and Mac. They support Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking and auto-pause when you take them off.
The Beats, while technically Apple-owned, don’t get the H1 chip treatment. They use standard Bluetooth 5.3 (vs. Bluetooth 5.0 on the Max), which is newer and more efficient, but they lack that seamless device-switching magic. Still, they connect easily to both Android and Apple devices — and have support for Google Fast Pair and multi-device pairing.
Both offer “Hey Siri” support, but the Beats add USB-C audio and better Android compatibility. For power users across multiple platforms, Beats feel more flexible.
Microphone Quality
When it comes to call quality, Apple is always great, and the AirPods Max are no exception. Your voice comes through clearly and sounds very natural, while the mics do an excellent job of blocking out background noise. The Beats Studio Pro are also good for calls—they effectively cut out things like other people talking or traffic sounds. But overall, the AirPods Max still have the edge, with a slightly clearer and more balanced sound.
If you’re taking calls or recording voice notes often, AirPods Max are the safer bet. For casual Zoom calls or phone chats, the Beats are more than fine.
Controls & Usability
Both rely on physical controls, which I actually prefer over touch panels. On the Beats, though, the buttons are placed awkwardly on the left earcup — pressing them can feel like you’re jamming the headphones into your head. The AirPods Max use Apple’s Digital Crown on the right side — smooth, precise, and much more comfortable. It’s a small detail that makes daily use nicer.
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The AirPods Max also have wear detection sensors (auto-pause / resume), while Beats skip that entirely.
Price & Value
Here’s where both struggle a bit. The AirPods Max still sell around $550, while the Beats Studio Pro retail for $350. Neither is exactly cheap — and both are hard to justify given the competition. You can find Sony WH-1000XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, or Sennheiser Momentum 4 for less money, and they outperform both in comfort and noise cancellation.
That said, if you’re deep in Apple’s world, the AirPods Max have unmatched integration, beautiful design, and top-tier sound. But if you just want solid audio, flexible connectivity, and lighter weight — the Beats Studio Pro make more sense.
Quick Specs Recap
| Feature | Beats Studio Pro | AirPods Max (USB-C) |
| Weight | 260 g | 384 g |
| Battery (ANC On) | 24 hours | 20 hours |
| Battery (ANC Off) | 40 hours | ~20 hours |
| Charging | USB-C + 3.5 mm | Lightning |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 (H1 chip) |
| ANC | Good (mid-tier) | Excellent |
| Transparency | Decent | Best in class |
| Foldable | Yes | No |
| Audio Profiles | 3 EQ presets | Adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio |
| Mic Quality | Good | Excellent |
| App Support | Beats App (Android/iOS) | Apple Settings / iCloud |
| Price (2025) | ~$349 | ~$549 |
Verdict: Which Should You Choose in 2025?
If you want the best noise cancellation and sound quality and don’t mind the weight (or the price), the AirPods Max still hold their place as one of the top premium ANC headphones. They look and feel luxurious, sound phenomenal, and their transparency mode is unmatched. But they’re heavy, expensive, and not the most travel-friendly.
The Beats Studio Pro, on the other hand, are the more practical pair. They fold, charge with USB-C, work easily with both Android and iOS, and last longer on a single charge. Their ANC and comfort aren’t perfect, but they’re decent enough for most users.
If you want Apple ecosystem magic and don’t mind paying for it — go for the AirPods Max.
If you want flexibility, lighter weight, and more value — go for the Beats Studio Pro.
Either way, both need to step up their comfort game and give us proper hard-shell cases next time.
