The catch
Beats Studio Pro
Only with ANC and Transparency off does it reach the 40-hour figure. With them enabled, it is 24 hours.
Side by side
Beats Studio Pro vs Solo 4: Solo 4 is lighter on-ear, Studio Pro adds ANC
Quick verdict
Studio Pro is for you if you need active noise cancellation and pads that surround the ear. Solo 4 is for you if you want a lighter on-ear design for quieter places. Digital USB audio and a passive analog fallback come with both.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Ten hours is the like-for-like gain with ANC off
Against Studio Pro’s 40-hour ANC-off claim, Solo 4’s 50-hour claim is 25% higher.
Where this comes from
25% = (50 − 40) ÷ 40 × 100. Setting 50 against 24 would mix listening modes.
The catch
Beats Solo 4
It lacks both active noise cancellation and Transparency mode.
Beats Studio Pro
- Why pick it
- You cannot do without noise cancellation.
- Cushions that surround your ears suit you better than pads sitting on them.
- The catch
- Only with ANC and Transparency off does it reach the 40-hour figure. With them enabled, it is 24 hours.
Beats Solo 4
- Why pick it
- ANC is not needed, and you would like 43 g less weight.
- The longer stated wireless playback time is what you want.
- The catch
- It lacks both active noise cancellation and Transparency mode.
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What this page compares
ANC and over-ear pads come with Studio Pro. Solo 4 is the lighter one and has a longer wireless claim. USB and battery-free analog listening work on both.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
My commute is in a noisy cabin
ANC comes with Studio Pro. Solo 4 offers only the passive effect of its pads.
- Beats Studio Pro
- Better fit
- Beats Solo 4
- Caution
My office is quiet when I listen
In this setting, Solo 4’s lower weight and 50-hour claim may count for more than ANC.
- Beats Studio Pro
- Good
- Beats Solo 4
- Better fit
I need USB and analog cables alike
Digital USB and passive analog are supported by both, so this does not set them apart.
- Beats Studio Pro
- Similar
- Beats Solo 4
- Similar
I need to keep listening once the battery runs out
Passive analog listening is available on both. Keep the 3.5 mm cable with the headphones so that the backup can be used.
- Beats Studio Pro
- Good
- Beats Solo 4
- Good
In practice
Differences you will notice
Ten hours is the like-for-like gain with ANC off
Against Studio Pro’s 40-hour ANC-off claim, Solo 4’s 50-hour claim is 25% higher.
How we worked this out
25% = (50 − 40) ÷ 40 × 100. Setting 50 against 24 would mix listening modes.
Solo 4 weighs 16.5% less
Published figures show 43 g saved in weight.
How we worked this out
16.5% = (260 − 217) ÷ 260 × 100.
Basic wired listening survives a flat battery
A passive analog path is kept on both, so picking the lighter Solo 4 does not cost you the battery-free backup.
How we worked this out
Apple’s current operating guides confirm that Studio Pro and Solo 4 can both play over a 3.5 mm cable with no battery power. On Studio Pro, ANC still needs power.
Plug in your setup
Which headphones suit the way you listen?
Start with how you listen. Charging over USB is not the same as playing audio over USB, and some headphones need power even on a cable. These answers are placeholders until you apply your own.
Beats Studio Pro
Passes these checksPlays over Bluetooth.
Beats Solo 4
Passes these checksPlays over Bluetooth.
Battery figures are maker claims for the stated mode. They do not reflect measured travel time. Volume, codec, calls and battery age all change runtime. Closed earcups can still leak some sound. Weight alone does not predict comfort. USB audio needs a compatible source and cable. This check does not judge sound quality, mic quality or amplifier power.
Option A
Beats, Studio Pro
Studio Pro
This folding over-ear pair can be used three useful ways: over Bluetooth, over digital USB-C, or with a battery-free analog cable. Note that its USB sound profiles are a separate mode from noise-canceling Bluetooth listening.
- Best for
- A single pair that covers wireless listening plus two cable types
Facts we checked
- It weighs 260 g.
- With ANC or Transparency on, the rating is up to 24 hours, and with both off it is 40 hours.
- Digital USB-C audio and 3.5 mm analog playback are supported.
- Battery power is not required for analog playback.
Option B
Beats, Solo 4
Solo 4
Solo 4 is the pick for a compact on-ear pair that connects wirelessly, over USB-C and through a battery-free analog cable. If noise cancellation is part of what you need, Studio Pro is the better choice.
- Best for
- A folding on-ear pair that takes either a USB or an analog cable
Facts we checked
- It weighs 217 g.
- The rating is up to 50 hours of Bluetooth playback.
- Digital audio and charging both work over the included USB-C cable.
- No battery power is needed with the included 3.5 mm cable.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Beats Studio Pro | Beats Solo 4 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fit | Over-ear | On-ear | Where the pads sit is a matter of personal fit and does not make a universal comfort ranking. |
| Active noise cancellation | Yes | No | The ANC requirement is met by Studio Pro alone. |
| Weight | 260 g | 217 g | Solo 4 weighs 43 g less. |
| Wireless claim with ANC | Up to 24 hours | No ANC mode | Solo 4’s longer figure should not be described as a like-for-like ANC result. |
| Wireless claim without ANC | Up to 40 hours | Up to 50 hours | This comparison of stated modes is the closer match. |
| USB audio | Yes, with three USB sound profiles | Yes | Digital audio over USB-C works on both. If you also need ANC at the same time, check the current mode restrictions. |
| Powered-off analog | Yes | Yes | Without battery power, both can play from a 3.5 mm source. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Beats Studio Pro
- Listening over USB uses its own sound profiles. If you need USB audio and ANC together, verify which noise modes are available.
With Beats Solo 4
- Because the pads rest on your ears, low weight alone does not ensure the fit you like.
Decision guide
How to decide
Get Studio Pro when active noise cancellation and around-the-ear pads are a requirement. Get Solo 4 when you would rather have a lighter on-ear design for quieter places. Either way, you have digital USB audio and a passive analog fallback.
Start with where the pads rest
Solo 4 sits on the ear, whereas Studio Pro goes around it. For glasses, pressure and long-session preference, that matters more directly than a small styling change. Try the form factor and do not assume lower weight guarantees better comfort.
Compare using the right battery numbers
Studio Pro’s 24-hour claim applies with ANC or Transparency on, and its 40-hour claim with both off. Since Solo 4 has no ANC, 50 against 40 is the more useful comparison without ANC. Solo 4’s longer figure does not make it an equivalent noise-canceling travel pick.
Think of USB audio as a setup of its own
Digital USB audio works on both, so the port does more than charge. Studio Pro also has three USB sound profiles chosen with its system button. If you need noise cancellation while connected over USB, verify that combined mode before you buy. Two features advertised separately do not always run together.
What this page can’t tell you
- Measured passive isolation is not compared.
- Treat wireless playback figures as maximum claims, since volume and usage change them.
- The manufacturer pages reviewed, which are current, do not explicitly confirm that Studio Pro can run USB audio and ANC together. This page makes no promise of that combination.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the headphones we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
Only 2 of the 60 models checked meet every need here: “I want to get audio over a USB-C cable”, “I want music even with a dead battery”, “My bag has no space left”, and “I want a pair that weighs 250 g or less”.
2 models fit, out of 60 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “I want to get audio over a USB-C cable”, “I want music even with a dead battery”, “My bag has no space left”, and “I want a pair that weighs 250 g or less”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beats Studio Pro |
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| Beats Solo 4 |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Beats Studio Pro
You cannot do without noise cancellation.
See price & reviews on AmazonBeats Solo 4
ANC is not needed, and you would like 43 g less weight.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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