Longest battery
Sony WF-C710N
- Up to 8.5 hours a charge
- Sony app on iPhone and Android
What buyers love: how it sounds.
Catch: Lets more chatter through
About a third cheaper
Cheaper alternatives to the Beats Studio Buds +
Three cheaper pairs that work on iPhone and Android, most with longer battery.
Updated November 5, 2026
Wireless charging
EarFun Air Pro 4
- Wireless charging case
- aptX Adaptive and LDAC
See-through style
Nothing Ear (a)
- Transparent, light design
- Strong quiet for the money
The original
Beats Studio Buds +
Worth it if: You switch between iPhone and Android
- Small, light buds with a snug fit
- One-tap pairing on iPhone and Android
What buyers love: how it sounds.
Not worth it if: You want wireless charging
Fairly priced
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What are you actually paying extra for with the Studio Buds +?
What the extra money buys
- Small, light buds with a snug fit
- One-tap pairing on iPhone and Android
- Real buttons, no accidental swipes
- Clear transparency mode
Worth it if
- You switch between iPhone and Android
- You want buttons, not touch controls
- You like the see-through version
Not worth it if
- You want wireless charging
- Sound quality is your top priority
Good to know
Why each one made the list, and our final recommendation.
Sony WF-C710N
The WF-C710N lasts more than two hours longer per charge than the Studio Buds+, and Sony's app works on both iPhone and Android. Tom's Guide found it comfortable for eight hours with strong quiet for the money. What Hi-Fi liked the musical sound but noted voices get past.
EarFun Air Pro 4
The Air Pro 4 adds two things the Studio Buds+ lack: a case that charges on a pad and hi-res codecs for Android. Android Central rated the comfort and lively sound highly. PC Gamer saw it handle gusts and engine hum, while sudden noises slipped through and the mic sounded thin.
Nothing Ear (a)
If you love the see-through Studio Buds+, the Ear (a) shows its insides too and costs under half. TechRadar ranked its noise canceling near the top of its price class and enjoyed the energetic sound. Expert Reviews found the controls fiddly and the EQ basic.
Final recommendation: For the longest battery on any phone, take the Sony WF-C710N. The EarFun Air Pro 4 adds wireless charging and hi-res codecs for about half. The Nothing Ear (a) keeps a see-through look for less. Stay with the Studio Buds+ if one-tap pairing on both iPhone and Android and real buttons matter most.
Side by side
Specs from each maker. Price levels come from shop prices we checked recently; tap through for today's price.
| Model | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price level | Affordable | Budget | Budget | Budget |
| Battery per charge, noise canceling on (claimed) | Up to 6 hours | Up to 8.5 hours | Up to 7.5 hours | Up to 5.5 hours |
| With the case, noise canceling on (claimed) | Up to 24 hours | Up to 30 hours | Up to 35 hours | Up to 24.5 hours |
| Weight per bud | – | 5.2 g (0.18 oz) | – | 4.8 g (0.17 oz) |
| Fit | Sealed, silicone tips (4 sizes) | Sealed, silicone tips | Sealed, silicone tips | Sealed, silicone tips |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX5 | IP54 (buds), IPX2 (case) |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Questions people ask
Do the Beats Studio Buds+ work well with Android?
Yes. The Beats app brings one-tap pairing, control settings and battery levels to Android, much as an iPhone gets them built in. That cross-platform support is one of their main draws.
Are the Studio Buds+ good at noise canceling?
Decent for the price. What Hi-Fi found train rumble and office chatter dimmed but not removed, while Tom's Guide noted a clear step up from the original Studio Buds.
Do the Studio Buds+ charge wirelessly?
No. The case charges by USB-C only. If you use a charging pad, the EarFun Air Pro 4 is a cheaper pair that supports it.
Related guides
How we reached this
We compared the Beats Studio Buds + with the alternatives most often recommended by independent reviewers, then checked each against the makers' own specs and current prices.
We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.
Sources: Apple: Beats Studio Buds +, What Hi-Fi?: Beats Studio Buds + review, Tom's Guide: Beats Studio Buds+ review, Sony Canada: WF-C710N specifications, What Hi-Fi?: Sony WF-C710N review, Tom's Guide: Sony WF-C710N review, EarFun: Air Pro 4, Android Central: EarFun Air Pro 4 review, PC Gamer: EarFun Air Pro 4 review, Nothing: Ear (a), TechRadar: Nothing Ear (a) review, Expert Reviews: Nothing Ear (a) review.