More details have emerged about the rumored Beats Studio Pro, which could offer longer battery life than Apple's AirPods Max and other Beats by Dre headphones.
Early rumors regarding the new headphones first surfaced in May, then showed up again in an FCC filing in June as well. An earlier leak on Wednesday seems to reference the same documents discussed below, which suggested a July 19 release.
According to a report from 9to5Mac, based on the "full spec sheet," the Beats Studio Pro are going to boast several features that will make them a worthwhile option for anyone looking to buy new over-ear cans. That includes a major boost in overall audio quality, plus some Apple-specific features.
That improvement to audio quality will come thanks in part to 40mm drivers that are, according to an unnamed source speaking to the publication, capable of delivering "near-zero distortion even at high volume."
For audiophiles who want the most distinct sound possible, with headphones that can promote even the subtlest of sounds, the Beats Studio Pro will allegedly feature a new integrated digital processor that "optimizes the final frequency response for a powerful, yet balanced sound profile." This should create a more balanced sound profile, making it possible to hear even more from the music, no matter the genre.
Some of the more familiar elements will be present, including Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode. The new Beats-branded over-ear headphones will also feature Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos.
Spatial Audio will reportedly support dynamic head tracking and Personalized Spatial Audio, which is currently available on Apple's third-generation AirPods, the AirPods Max, and AirPods Pro. Personalized Spatial Audio will still require an iPhone with a TrueDepth camera to create a personal listening profile for the individual.
There will be a dedicated button on the side of one of the ear cups that will make it easy to switch between Transparency Mode and Active Noise Cancellation while also baking in other features as well.
"Fully adaptive Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) continuously monitors the noise around you in real- time, then creates a precisely-tuned filter to cancel it out," Beats explained in the document. "Easily switch to Transparency mode to let the sounds of your environment mix seamlessly with your music when you want to stay present and aware."
Call quality should be improved with the Beats Studio Pro as well, with a 27 percent improvement when compared to the Beats Studio3 headphones. This will be possible thanks to new voice-targeted microphones, which will be able to filter out background noise.
Beats Studio Pro rumored design
The Beats Studio Pro will reportedly look similar to the Studio3 headphones, featuring "UltraPlush" cushions over the ears, which are now engineered with leather for additional comfort. They'll feature metal sliders for adjustment purposes, and they'll be lightweight for comfortable listening.
The leaked images show a basically identical design to Beats Studio3.
The report says they'll weigh just 9.17oz, which is significantly less than Apple's AirPods Max, which weighs 13.6oz. Beats will keep things colorful, though, with the Beats Studio Pro coming in four colors: deep brown, sandstone, navy, and black.
Beats Studio Pro — Long-lasting battery
One of the more interesting comparison points comes from battery life, which the Beats Studio Pro will have plenty of. The report states the new headphones will feature up to 40 hours of listening time when ANC and Transparency Mode are disabled and up to 24 hours when either one of the features is kept on.
With Fast Fuel recharging, the Beats Studio Pro can get up to four hours of playback with just 10 minutes of charging.
Meanwhile, AirPods Max offers around 20 hours of listening time when ANC or Transparency Mode is activated.
Beats Studio Pro expected to have both iOS and Android support
Beats Studio Pro will connect easily to Apple's iOS and macOS devices, but Android integration is a primary feature as well. To that end, the company is relying on its own proprietary chip inside the headphones, just like they did with the Studio Buds+.
For Android, that means the Beats Studio Pro will support things like Google's Fast Pair, Audio Switch, and Find My Device.
Meanwhile, iOS users also get one-touch pairing, "Hey Siri" support, standard over-the-air updates, and Find My support.
The headphone jack is sticking around
Beats is including the 3.5mm headphone jack, along with a USB-C port. There are some auditory perks when choosing to listen to music while connected with the latter option, which come in the form of audio profiles.
Choose from three audio profiles:
- The Entertainment profile automatically boosts certain elements within the audio spectrum, which should increase the overall experience when watching movies or playing games.
- The Beats Signature profile focuses on a more tonally balanced listening experience, which should be the go-to option for listening to music.
- The Conversation profile should boost phone calls and podcast audio.
Beats by Dre hasn't confirmed anything about the Beats Studio Pro. They are expected to launch on July 19 and will cost the same $349 as the previous pair.
2 Comments
27% better call quality? WTF?
Maybe we can expect a upgraded AirPod Max V2 (USB-C, improved carrying case etc.) soon as well...hopefully.