I used Apple’s new see-through Beats Studio Buds+ earbuds for a week… and this is what I think

The new Beats Studio Buds+ took the internet by storm when the earbuds launched in May, but I must admit I wasn’t a fan at first glance.

The see-through design looked bizarre compared to the brightly colored Beats Studio Buds that stand out from the crowd.

However, my distaste for the transparent look immediately faded when I opened the gray box. What I found strange took me back to my childhood when see-through phones and computers were all the rage.

Not only did I fall in love with the design, but the sound quality and Active Noise Canceling (ANC) surpassed previous models Beats released in recent years.

Apple-owned Beats is offering the Studio Buds+ for $169.99, but the transparent design is the latest to join two other colors: black and ivory.

I recently used the Beats Buds+ for the past week to see if the earbuds live up to the hype, and here are the results.

How long does the battery last?

I put the earbuds in the moment I opened the box and started using them, which was great to have a fully charged pair on my commute.

The Beats Studio Buds+ last just over six hours with ANC enabled, a feature known to drain the battery, but without ANC the device lasts nine hours.

When the charging case is fully charged, you can enjoy 36 hours of playback time.

This compares to Apple’s third-generation AirPods, which provide up to 30 hours of listening with the charging case, six hours without ANC, and five hours with.

Like other Beats earbuds, these include fast charging that gives them an hour of playback in just five minutes.

The hours of power are major upgrades from the Beats Studio Buds, the first true wireless pair, which had up to 24 hours of battery life.

This is probably because the housing is 50 percent larger and the batteries in the earbuds are 16 percent larger.

How is the sound quality?

Sound quality is at the top of the must-haves when looking for earbuds.

The Beats Studio Buds+ sound almost the same as the AirPods Pro.

The technology automatically plays spatial audio for available tracks mixed in Dolby Atmos for multi-dimensional sound and clarity.

Beats states on its website that the Studio Buds+ use a dual-layer speaker design, which provides balanced bass levels with less distortion.

And it is claimed that ‘three new acoustic vents improve sound precision and gently relieve pressure for a more comfortable fit all day long.’

I’ve heard other owners of Studio Buds+ think the bass isn’t up to what they’ve come to expect from Beats, but it’s an upgrade over the company’s previous earbuds.

Beats offers Studio Buds Fit Pro, designed to endure tough workouts, while the transparent Studio Buds + are made for plain listening.

I notice that the sound muffles when I run on a treadmill – like I’m in a wind tunnel.

Voice calls sound very clear though, which is great for chatting while walking around New York City.

How does active noise canceling work?

I have to admit I’m a newcomer to ANC, so the first Beats Studio Buds were like a dream when I first tested the feature.

The Studio Buds+ have improved ANC, ideal for a busy commute through Manhattan, but the feature doesn’t block everything.

However, this may not be too bad for people living in a city – you should hear cars honking at you as you cross streets.

I appreciate how easy it is to switch between ANC and transparency. You only need to hold the side of the earbud.

Beats states that Studio Buds+ delivers up to 1.6 times more powerful ANC and up to two times better transparency than its predecessor – and it shows.

However, unlike the sound quality, the ANC and Transparency don’t match Apple’s AirPod Pros offering.