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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're concerned about sound quality and microphone performance, the Marshall Major IV outperforms the Beats Solo 3 and also offers exceptional battery life. The Marshall's are also lighter, which might be more comfortable for long listening sessions. However, if you plan to use your headphones for exercise, the Beats Solo 3 is more suitable, as it has a secure fit that's important for such activities. Moreover, the Beats have a slight edge for air travel as they provide a slightly better noise isolation. Both headphones support wired and wireless modes but neither has active noise cancelling. The Beats are optimized for Apple devices, which could be beneficial if you have other Apple products. Lastly, if portability is crucial, consider the foldability of the Beats Solo 3, which makes them slightly more travel-friendly compared to the Marshall Major IV. 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
- The Beats Solo 3 has no clear advantages over the Marshall Major IV.
Advantages of the Marshall Major IV
- The Marshall Major IV has no clear advantages over the Beats Solo 3.
Key differences
Phone Calls
4.7
5.8
The Marshall Major IV and Beats Solo 3 are both poor for phone calls, though the Marshall Major IV is somewhat better.
Battery
41.5 Hours
80.0 Hours
The Beats Solo 3 has 41.5 hours of battery life. The Marshall Major IV has 80 hours of battery life.
Cost
$117
$100
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Beats Solo 3 has a price of $117 and the Marshall Major IV costs $100.
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Key similarities
Music
6.3
6.6
The Marshall Major IV and Beats Solo 3 are both only fair for music.
Gaming
5.3
5.4
The Marshall Major IV and Beats Solo 3 are both poor for gaming.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.8
6.1
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Marshall Major IV to be only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
5.7
The Marshall Major IV and Beats Solo 3 are both poor for TV and video.
Noise Reduction
5.3
5.6
The Marshall Major IV and Beats Solo 3 are both poor for noise reduction.
Build Quality
8.0
8.5
The Marshall Major IV and Beats Solo 3 both have very good build quality.
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How the Beats Solo 3 and the Marshall Major IV compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Beats Solo 3 | Marshall Major IV |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$117 | $100 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Beats | Marshall | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2016 | October 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.3/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.7/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.3/10 | 5.5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 5.9/10 | 6.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 41.5 Hours | 80 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 4.2 | 5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 5.4/10 | 9/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 5.7/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 213.1 Grams | 165 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
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."
Marshall Major IV
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Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | September 2023
"The Marshall Major IV shares quite a bit in common with its predecessor, but a key upgrade appears to be softer ear cushions. They make upgrading worth it. As a set of basic wired or wireless headphones the Major IV ticks most boxes by remaining easy to use, and fairly comfortable (at least, as on-ear headphones go)."
Get a great deal on the Beats Solo 3 or the Marshall Major IV
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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