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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Beats Solo 3 are closed-back, wireless, foldable, and offer a built-in mic, emphasizing portability and convenience suited for on-the-go use. They support longer battery life and are substantially cheaper, making them a good choice if budget and mobility matter to you. Focal Elex, on the other hand, are open-back, wired headphones with a more robust sound quality. They excel in comfort and soundstage but are considerably pricier and bulkier, which might limit their portability and casual use. The Elex lack a built-in mic, making them less ideal for calls, and they don't support wireless functionalities, so consider these drawbacks if you value versatility and ease of use. 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 Beats Solo 3
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Focal Elex
- Good for music
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
6.3
7.7
The Focal Elex is good for music, while the Beats Solo 3 is only fair.
Gaming
5.3
6.9
The Focal Elex is only fair for gaming, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.8
7.1
The Focal Elex is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
8.3
The Focal Elex is very good for TV and video, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3
2.5
The Beats Solo 3 and Focal Elex are both poor for noise reduction, though the Beats Solo 3 is somewhat better.
Battery
41.5 Hours
N/A
The Beats Solo 3 has 41.5 hours of battery life. The Focal Elex does not have a battery.
Cost
$117
$749
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Beats Solo 3 has a price of $117 and the Focal Elex costs $749.
Build Quality
8.0
9.0
The Focal Elex has excellent build quality, while the Beats Solo 3 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
4.7
4.3
The Beats Solo 3 and Focal Elex are both poor for phone calls.
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How the Beats Solo 3 and the Focal Elex compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Beats Solo 3 | Focal Elex |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$117 | $749 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Beats | Focal | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2016 | December 1, 2017 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.7/10 | 4.4/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.3/10 | 6.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 5.9/10 | 4.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 41.5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 4.2 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 5.4/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 5.7/10 | 8/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 213.1 Grams | 450 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
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."
Focal Elex
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Golden Sound
Golden Sound | October 2021
"The Focal Elex are an excellent pair of headphones for the money and a great all-rounder that will suit many tastes. They’re an easy recommendation for anyone looking for something comfortable, well built, that looks good, and will work with just about any genre."
Get a great deal on the Beats Solo 3 or the Focal Elex
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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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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