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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If you prioritize overall sound quality and versatility for different environments including exercise and travel, the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX would be a great choice; they offer excellent sound quality, active noise cancelling, low latency for gaming and TV, and are sweatproof, dustproof, and come with app customization options. However, they come at a premium price. If you are more concerned about cost and prefer the feel of over-ear headphones, the Beats Solo 3 are more budget-friendly. They have very good build quality and offer significantly longer battery life but lack features like active noise cancelling, sweatproof certification, and lower sound quality across different content types. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX
- Good for music
- Excellent for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for exercise
Advantages of the Beats Solo 3
- The Beats Solo 3 has no clear advantages over the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX.
Key differences
Music
7.9
6.3
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is good for music, while the Beats Solo 3 is only fair.
Gaming
9.3
5.3
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is excellent for gaming, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.3
4.7
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX and Beats Solo 3 are both poor for phone calls, though the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is somewhat better.
TV and Video
8.9
5.6
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is very good for TV and video, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3
5.3
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is very good for noise reduction, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Battery
6.5 Hours
41.5 Hours
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Beats Solo 3 has 41.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$399
$117
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has a price of $399 and the Beats Solo 3 costs $117.
Build Quality
10.0
8.0
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has best in class build quality, while the Beats Solo 3 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.1
5.8
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX to be only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
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How the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX and the Beats Solo 3 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX | Beats Solo 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$399 | $117 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bang and Olufsen | Beats | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | October 1, 2016 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.4/10 | 4.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.3/10 | 5.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 9/10 | 5.9/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6.5 Hours | 41.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 4.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 22 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 5.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 6 Grams | 213.1 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX
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Dig into reviews and images
Leaf and Core
Danielle | January 2023
"If you’ve wanted truly wireless headphones, but couldn’t pick them up because they sound terrible, these will be the headphones that win you over. If you’re the kind of person who would consider spending $400 on headphones, these are the right truly wireless headphones for you."
Beats Solo 3
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz | May 2023
"The Beats Solo3 Wireless is an old set of headphones but still works reliably well with iPhones, due to W1 chip integration and AAC support. The Beats Solo3 Wireless holds up well today with just a few features showing its age."
Get a great deal on the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX or the Beats Solo 3
About Bang and Olufsen
Bang and Olufsen is an almost century-old electronic goods manufacturer based in Denmark with a very special focus on design. Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen created the first AC radio in 1925 and went on to develop televisions, telephones and, of course, headphones and loudspeakers. Today, they are partnered with several companies, like Audi, BMW and Aston Martin, to provide very high-quality audio solutions.
About Beats
Beats is an American, consumer-focused, audio products manufacturer. Founded originally by American rapper and producer Dr Dre, the company is now a subsidiary of Apple. Beats sells a wide range of audio products, including several models of headphones, earbuds and speakers as well as full car audio systems.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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