A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If price is a major concern and you're looking for a lower midrange option, the Beats Studiobuds are a smart choice. They excel in music listening and are suitable for exercise but don't perform as well for gaming or watching TV due to latency issues. On the other hand, the JBL Live Beam 3 is a premium product with additional features like active noise cancelling, a Smart Charging Case with an LED touch display, and support for a high-quality LDAC codec which improves sound quality over Bluetooth. JBL's earbuds also offer better dust and water resistance, making them more durable. However, if you need a reliable earbud for calls, both offer good microphone quality. Choose the Beats if you prioritize cost and music listening during exercise; select the JBL if you want advanced features and can afford a higher price. 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 Studiobuds
- Good for phone calls
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the JBL Live Beam 3
- Very good for exercise
Key differences
Music
7.2
7.8
The JBL Live Beam 3 and Beats Studiobuds are both good for music, though the JBL Live Beam 3 is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
7.0
5.2
The Beats Studiobuds is good for phone calls, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.0
5.9
The Beats Studiobuds is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.5
8.3
The JBL Live Beam 3 is very good for noise reduction, while the Beats Studiobuds is only fair.
Battery
6.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Beats Studiobuds has 6 hours of battery life. The JBL Live Beam 3 has 12 hours of battery life.
Cost
$80
$216
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Beats Studiobuds has a price of $80 and the JBL Live Beam 3 costs $216.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.2
5.4
The JBL Live Beam 3 and Beats Studiobuds are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
5.6
5.6
The JBL Live Beam 3 and Beats Studiobuds are both poor for TV and video.
Build Quality
8.8
8.5
The Beats Studiobuds and JBL Live Beam 3 both have very good build quality.
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How the Beats Studiobuds and the JBL Live Beam 3 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Beats Studiobuds | JBL Live Beam 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$80 | $216 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Beats | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | June 1, 2024 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.2/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.2/10 | 5.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6 Hours | 12 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 0.9 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 24 | 36 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.9/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5 Grams | 8.8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Beats Studiobuds
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Chase Bernath | May 2023
"For less than the price of the AirPods, the Beats Studio Buds delivers a good fit, great sound, and active noise cancellation. This is also the first set of Apple-owned Beats earbuds to feature quick pairing with Android devices, albeit at the expense of some key features for Apple users."
Get a great deal on the Beats Studiobuds or the JBL Live Beam 3
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.
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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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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CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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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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