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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're considering the Beats Solo 3 versus the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick, think about your preferences for sound, comfort, and features. The Beats Solo 3 offer better noise isolation and are designed for over-ear comfort, making them suitable for air travel, but they may feel heavier and less portable. On the other hand, the Ear Stick has higher overall sound quality, better mic quality for calls, and a lighter design that might be more comfortable during long listening sessions, with the added benefit of a stem form factor. However, the open design means less noise isolation, which could be an issue in loud environments. Choose the Beats Solo 3 for immersive experiences and noise isolation, while the "Nothing" Ear Stick is great for everyday use with its user-friendly features and high sound quality for its price range. 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 "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Gaming
5.3
8.1
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for gaming, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Phone Calls
4.7
8.6
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for phone calls, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.8
8.4
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
7.5
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is good for TV and video, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3
2.5
The Beats Solo 3 and "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick are both poor for noise reduction, though the Beats Solo 3 is somewhat better.
Battery
41.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Beats Solo 3 has 41.5 hours of battery life. The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$117
$99
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Beats Solo 3 has a price of $117 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick costs $99.
Build Quality
8.0
9.0
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has excellent build quality, while the Beats Solo 3 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
6.3
6.1
The Beats Solo 3 and "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick are both only fair for music.
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How the Beats Solo 3 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Beats Solo 3 | "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$117 | $99 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Beats | "Nothing" Brand | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2016 | November 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.3/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.7/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.3/10 | 8.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 5.9/10 | 7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 41.5 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 4.2 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 22 | |
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 | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 5.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 5.7/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 213.1 Grams | 4.4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
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."
"Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | December 2022
"If the Ear (stick) fits your ears, its light weight means you can easily wear it until the unimpressive battery life totally drains. The IP54 rating of the buds lends some confidence that it’ll survive some light abuse too. Finally, for the person who only wears earbuds at their desk, the Nothing Ear (stick) with its decent microphone could offer a reasonable Zoom meeting solution."
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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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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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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