Apple’s Beats by Dre subsidiary has launched Beats Studio Buds+ with improvements to Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency modes, as well as the addition of a transparent color option.
According to AppleInsider, Beats Studio Buds the first generation came out in June 2021, which means the company needs almost two years to roll out an updated version of the product that delivers some improvements. Still like a compact in-ear model with a silicone tip placed in the ear canal, Beats Studio Buds + has the same operation as Apple’s AirPods Pro. It’s also housed in the charging case, which is currently available as a transparent option
The ANC and Transparency features on the headphones allow the user to reduce ambient sound or let some of the sounds from the outside world pass through. Beats says these modes are improved by 1.6x and 2x respectively compared to their predecessors thanks to 3x larger microphones.
Apple still equips the headphones with its proprietary Beats processor, a different chip from the H2 used in the AirPods Pro. The chip also lacks some built-in Apple ecosystem features to support AirPods Pro-like special capabilities when working with Android and Apple devices.
The headset offers a battery life of 5 hours with ANC mode or 8 hours with ANC turned off. These are the same numbers as its predecessor. In addition, users can also extend the headset’s battery life up to 36 hours through the included charging case.
Beats Studio Buds+ officially hit shelves on May 17 with a retail price of $169.95, including transparent, black, or ivory-white options