Apple subsidiary Beats (having acquired Beats in 2014) has launched TWS earphones – Studio Buds, and this model is a transparent and see -through one.
This is the successor to Beats Studio Buds which was introduced back in 2021.
Past iterations
Apple had tinkered with a similar product which offers a range of features.
This inspired Nintendo to launch translucent Gameboys.
However, this didn’t see much success.
Nothing
In recent times, another consumer tech firm that attempted to repopularise the trend is Carl Pei’s Nothing with its Nothing Buds and also Nothing Phone (1).
It flaunted a see-through back panel with glyph lighting attached to it.
The latest model brings several improvements from the predecessor including a better fit, improvements to Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Transparency mode, better microphones, longer battery life, and more.
Beats Studio Buds+
The latest unveiling features a striking transparent appearance inspired by initial mockups created by Beats, aimed at showcasing the internal components of their products.
According to Apple, 95% of the internal parts are brand-new, including 3x larger upgraded voice-targeting microphones for a high-quality call performance.
These retain IPX4 sweat and water-resistant ratings.
What’s new?
The latest product delivers up to 1.6 times more powerful Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).
It also supports Google Fast Pair which allows automatic pairing with all Android devices in a single tap along with Find My Device.
Audio support
It also has Spatial Audio support for Dolby Atmos on Apple Music, but lacks head-tracking present in the Beats Fit Pro and several AirPods models.
Battery
Coming to battery life, users can enjoy up to 36 hours of usage, with 27 hours provided by the charging case and nine hours offered by each earbud.
It offers fast charging which offers 1 hour of battery life with 5 minutes of charging, but it lacks wireless charging.
Switch modes
You can switch between Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and Transparency mode with a switch of a button.
These are 1.6x and 2x better, respectively, compared to the Studio Buds, thanks to improvements in ANC processing and a revised vent design.
Other proprietary features
It uses “Beats Proprietary Platform” for “Hey Siri” and Find My and also supports Google Fast Pair, Audio Switch to switch between your Android, Chromebook, and other compatible devices and Google Find My Device.
Price, availability
It retails for £179.99 in the UK and $169.99 in the USA.
Qside from the hyped Transparent option, the Beats Studio Buds+ comes in Black / Gold and Ivory colours.
