Headphones / Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 vs Beats Studio Pro
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 vs Beats Studio Pro
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
The best-sounding headphone here, with replaceable pads to make it last.
Wins overall by 0.4 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.4-point gap makes the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 the straightforward choice here. The best-sounding headphone here, with replaceable pads to make it last.
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Beats Studio Pro are both closely matched headphones models, and the Beats Studio Pro is $129 cheaper than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 ($349.99 vs $479). On Sound Quality, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads (9.5 vs 7.8/10) — driver performance, tuning, and detail. On Durability, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads (8.5 vs 7.0/10) — build materials, hinge quality, and reported longevity. On Comfort, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads (7.8 vs 7.0/10) — clamp force, padding, and weight for long sessions. Overall, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores 7.8/10 across our 10 scoring categories versus 7.4/10 for the Beats Studio Pro. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 | Beats Studio Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $479.00 | $349.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2023 |
| Battery Life (hrs) | 30✓ | 24 |
| Battery (ANC off) (hrs) | Bowers & Wilkins quotes only the 30-hour figure | 40 |
| Quick Charge (min for 3hrs) | 6.4✓ | 7.5 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Weight (g) | 300 | 260✓ |
| Driver Size (mm) | 40 | 40 |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Advanced adaptive ANC using 8 microphones, with a Pass-Through mode | Fully Adaptive Active Noise Cancelling with real-time environment sampling, plus Transparency mode |
| Multipoint Pairing | Yes | Yes, but on Android and ChromeOS only |
| Microphones (mics) | 8 | Not published by Beats |
| Foldable | No | Yes |
| Water Resistance | None | None |
| App EQ | Yes | Three fixed profiles over USB-C; no free-form EQ |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Anthracite Black, Indigo Blue, Canvas White | Black, Deep Brown, Navy, Sandstone |
Category Scores
Battery
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on playtime, standby, and charging speed. If that is what you are buying for, the Beats Studio Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Noise Cancelling
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on how well ambient noise is blocked. If that is what you are buying for, the Beats Studio Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Comfort
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads clearly here, 7.8 against 7.0 — a 0.8-point margin on clamp force, padding, and weight for long sessions. If that is what you are buying for, the Beats Studio Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Sound Quality
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.8 — a 1.7-point margin on driver performance, tuning, and detail. If that is what you are buying for, the Beats Studio Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Call & Mic Quality
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Beats Studio Pro are level here, at 7.5/10 each. voice clarity and background noise rejection on calls is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Travel
The Beats Studio Pro leads clearly here, 7.5 against 7.0 — a 0.5-point margin on foldability, case, ANC on planes, battery for long trips. If that is what you are buying for, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Gaming
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Beats Studio Pro are level here, at 7.0/10 each. latency, low-lag mode support, and soundstage is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Value
The Beats Studio Pro leads clearly here, 7.5 against 7.0 — a 0.5-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Durability
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.0 — a 1.5-point margin on build materials, hinge quality, and reported longevity. If that is what you are buying for, the Beats Studio Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Beats Studio Pro are level here, at 7.5/10 each. app ecosystem, multipoint, spatial audio, extras is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Best For
Choose the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 if…
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores 9.5/10 here (driver performance, tuning, and detail).
- • Durability matters most to you — the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores 8.5/10 here (build materials, hinge quality, and reported longevity).
- • Comfort matters most to you — the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores 7.8/10 here (clamp force, padding, and weight for long sessions).
- • Battery matters most to you — the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores 8.0/10 here (playtime, standby, and charging speed).
- • Noise Cancelling matters most to you — the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores 8.0/10 here (how well ambient noise is blocked).
Choose the Beats Studio Pro if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $129 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is commute or students.
Pros & Cons
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
Pros
- +The best pure sound quality of any headphone here
- +aptX Lossless with a dedicated discrete amplifier
- +Earpads and headband padding are user-replaceable, which extends its life considerably
- +Both 3.5mm analog and USB-C digital wired listening
Cons
- −Does not fold, so the case is bulky
- −300g and you notice it
- −ANC is good but clearly behind Bose and Sony
- −The most expensive non-Apple option here
- −No LDAC
Beats Studio Pro
Pros
- +One of very few headphones that pairs natively on both iOS and Android
- +USB-C lossless audio
- +Folds properly for travel
- +Street price is routinely far below the $349.99 list
Cons
- −No wear detection, so it will not auto-pause when you take them off
- −Multipoint works on Android but not on Apple devices — you cannot have both multipoint and Spatial Audio
- −AAC and SBC only, no LDAC or aptX
- −Earpads are not user-replaceable
- −Runs warm over long sessions
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 or Beats Studio Pro better overall?+
Based on our 10-category scoring, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Sound Quality, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 or the Beats Studio Pro?+
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores higher on Sound Quality (9.5/10 vs 7.8/10) — driver performance, tuning, and detail.
Which is better for Durability, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 or the Beats Studio Pro?+
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores higher on Durability (8.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — build materials, hinge quality, and reported longevity.
Which is better for Comfort, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 or the Beats Studio Pro?+
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores higher on Comfort (7.8/10 vs 7.0/10) — clamp force, padding, and weight for long sessions.
Which is better for Battery, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 or the Beats Studio Pro?+
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores higher on Battery (8.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — playtime, standby, and charging speed.
Is the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 worth the price difference over the Beats Studio Pro?+
The Beats Studio Pro is the cheaper option at $349.99 versus $479. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Sound Quality.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 is the better fit if you mainly care about professionals. The Beats Studio Pro is the better fit for commute or students.
What's the warranty on the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 vs the Beats Studio Pro?+
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 ships with a 12-month warranty; the Beats Studio Pro ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 — $179.00
Premium Option
Apple AirPods Max 2 — $549.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.