We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
The best cheap Beats headphones - Which ones should you buy?
Upgrade your ear-cans with the best that Dr Dre has to offer.
So you're looking for a new pair of headphones to make your music sound as good as it possibly can? Well there are plenty of brands to choose from, with Apple, Bose, Sennheiser, Sony, and Samsung all offering impressive devices that cater to gym-rats, audiophiles and commuters alike.
But we think there's no denying the impact that Beats has made on the music industry. Seven years ago, Dr Dre made the profitable switch from producing rap to manufacturing a $400 million audio brand that would go on to be snapped up by Apple.
Related: The best cheap headphone deals for 2021
And while the tech giant is still making its own products in the shape of the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, there's still an appetite for the bold design and deep bass you get from Beats.
At Digital Spy, we've tested loads of different headphones from all the top makers and have done our research to find the best deals on 'The Mechanic's' headphones.
What are the types of Beats headphones?
These devices are broken down into three types.
In-ear - The lightweight, little buds sit inside your ear just like the original Apple earphones, though modern ones can be either wired or wireless.
Beats offers dedicated sports headphones that are great for active workouts as they have a wire that connects the plugs together in a loop around your neck. These are typically sweatproof and have a reasonable battery life.
There are other models that don't have a wire, like the Beats Powerbeats Pro, which have a curved silicone hook at the top to fit around the contours of your ear so they stay in.
On-ear - If you prefer the more traditional headband-look, you can check out the Solo Pro or the Solo 3s. These have narrow, soft cups that sit on top of your ears and can be hooked up to your phone with a cable or via Bluetooth.
Over-ear - Those with sensitive ears like us can go for models like the Studio 3 that have cups that sit around your ears. They are largely similar to the on-ears, but might be a little more comfortable to wear over longer periods of time.
Why should I choose Beats headphones?
Well, if you have an iPhone but can't afford the mega-expensive AirPods Max, Beats could be an affordable alternative. Apple has put the same tech into both brands, so you can share audio from the same smartphone to two different pairs of headphones.
This is a great feature for travelling around with your buddy, as you can both connect to your iPad or iPhone and listen to the same music or binge-watch the same content even if one of you is wearing Solo Pros and the other is using AirPods.
Connecting to iPhones is also much simpler – just hold your cans near your handset to wirelessly link up – and you get further detection range and fewer drop-outs compared to other devices.
And even without that functionality, some of Beats' best devices have brilliant active noise cancellation (ANC), excellent audio quality, stylish designs, and affordable price tags.
If you're an Android user you'll still be able to use these headphones, but there won't be the same kind of utility available.
Key things to look for
Battery life: All the models below can be connected to another device through either a cable or wirelessly. Ditching the cable will drain the battery, as will using ANC or listening at high volumes. Our top picks will last anywhere between six and 40 hours on a single charge.
Active noise-cancellation (ANC): Audiophiles love this feature as it reduces the external noise that leaks into your headphones so you can focus on the music. This is great for commuting as you can turn it on to drown out the hum of the train and then switch it off to listen out for announcements so you don’t have to keep taking them off.
Controls: You can control many of the models below with touch controls on either the cans themselves or through voice control. As these are Apple products, Siri reigns supreme here, and you can answer calls, adjust the volume or change tracks by talking to your headphones.
Weight: If you plan on listening to music for long periods of time, you'll need to make sure your headphones are comfortable and lightweight. Obviously earphones will be considerably lighter than the on- or over-ear options, but all our favourites are under 400g. The smaller models can be as light as 16g.
ao Beats Solo Pro On-Ear Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
The latest headphones in the Beats catalogue are designed for those interested in active noise cancellation. Comparable in both price and capability to Bose's QC35 II, the Solo Pros have a single button to switch between ANC and transparency mode (allowing the headphones to amplify ambient sounds should you wish to hear the outside world).
You get a really long battery life on these – double that of the Bose variety – and you can charge them back up quickly, getting three hours back with just 10 minutes plugged in.
We also like that they automatically turn on and attempt to connect to your phone as soon as you unfold them from their travel case.
Choose from four colour options including ivory, grey, light blue, and black, and you can get a red number from some other retailers.
The cheapest you'll find these right now is with AO at £109 (though you can only get red and blue colours from here). They've been reduced by a massive £140 so check them out for a bargain.
You can get them for £30 more at Amazon (though you can enjoy free next-day delivery if you're a Prime member), or £50 more at John Lewis. For comparison, Beats has them listed for £269 on the official site.
Key Specs
Type: On-ear
Battery life: Up to 40 hours (reduced to 22 hours with ANC)
Active noise cancellation: Yes
Controls: Siri and touch controls
Weight: 267g
Beats Powerbeats Pro True Wireless Bluetooth In-Ear Sport Headphones
If you're after a top pair of earphones that can keep up with any workout, you should go for the Powerbeats Pro, which are among our favourite exercise-focussed buds we have used.
They are individual buds (so they're completely wireless) and stay in your ear with an adjustable, curved hook that loops over the back of your ears. We rarely found ourselves disrupting our HIIT workouts to nudge them back in when jumping around.
And if you're into bass-pumping music to keep you motivated during your gym sessions, the Powerbeats Pro have a low, rich range that emphasises those deeper tunes in your playlist.
We loved that they can be used for any workout, and we regularly took them out for our winter running sessions – they are water and sweat-proof so persevered through the bitterest of British weather – and we found they could keep up with a week-long schedule thanks to the 9-hour battery life. This can be pushed up to 24 hours with the charging case.
You can use Siri to navigate your playlist, and they have buttons on either bud to control volume or answer a call.
They cost £219 from the Beats website which is a smidge cheaper than Apple's AirPods Pro, which could tempt you over. You can get them cheaper though.
For example, John Lewis is selling this yellow edition of the buds for £139. The retailer is dropping prices by £80 on selected colours so you can definitely find a bargain there. You can find them on Currys for £149 or buy them for £159 on AO.com.
There are "non-pro" versions of the Powerbeats that have a connecting cable that holds the two buds together. This is a slightly cheaper option at £129.
Key Specs
Type: In-ear
Battery life: Nine hours (up to 24 hours with charging case)
Active noise cancellation: No
Controls: Touch controls
Weight: 22g
Those of you after a top-quality over-ear pair should look no further than the Studio 3, which offer similar features to the Solo Pro above, but for a slightly lower price. You get the same ANC capabilities and battery life in a closed-back design that we think looks brilliantly bold.
Beats offers seven different colour schemes, though we think they are all quite dark and moody, so if you want some bright colour in your life, go for the Solo range.
You can control your headphones either by pressing the on-headphone controls or by using the in-line controlpad on the wire. You can also use the Siri activation button to bark orders if you're feeling lazy.
Because these come with a cable, we'd only recommend buying them if you've got a slightly older iPhone (iPhone 11 or before) as you'll need a 3.5mm jack port if you want to plug it in. The later iPhones come with an adaptor to turn the lightning port into a headphone jack, but that's an additional expense so just keep it in mind.
They are currently £299.95 from Beats, though we have found cheaper prices at other retailers.
You can pick one up for £169 from Currys, John Lewis, and AO right now
Key Specs
Type: Over-ear
Battery life: Up to 40 hours (reduced to 22 hours with ANC)
Active noise cancellation: Yes
Controls: Touch controls (Both on the wire and on the headphones)
Weight: 260g
Beats by Dr. Dre New Beats Flex Wireless Earphones
Looking for a more affordable pair of Beats earphones? The Flex buds are just under £50 and offer great quality and value for money if you're in need of something cheaper.
They are lightweight and wireless (though they do have a connecting cable that holds the two together around the back of your neck) and have tips that look like the traditional earphones of old.
You get four different sizes in the box to make sure you get ones that fit, but they still might slip out if you’re moving around a lot so be wary.
When they aren't in use though, they have magnets behind each bud to lock them around you like a necklace.
The audio is also surprisingly good for the price you pay. Our tests highlighted a rich, deep bass and decent mids across our favourite genres, and vocals sound crisp if you're into your podcasts.
These are among Beats' cheaper earphones, and you won't often find them lower than £49.99.
The official website has them at that price, as does John Lewis, Amazon, and Currys. Each retailer will offer the same four-colour choice of yellow, blue, black, and grey.
Key Specs
Type: In-ear
Battery life: 12 hours
Active noise cancellation: No
Controls: Touch and voice
Weight: 18g
Beats by Dr. Dre Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones
If you want a solid pair of long-lasting, good-looking headphones and you're not too fussed about the ANC, you should go for the Solo 3, which is a more affordable edition of the Solo Pro above.
To get the lower price, you'll be losing out on the noise-cancelling capabilities, but you'll still get great audio quality and a huge range of colour options if that's your thing.
The official Beats website only lists three colours but we have seen all kinds of options from pink and bright yellow, to electric blue and red from other retailers.
There's also an incredibly long battery on these, which goes even further than the industry-favourites, the Sony WH-1000XM4, and you can get three hours charge by plugging them in for just five minutes.
They are great for travellers who have long flights or train journeys, and you can pop them in the carry case to protect them when you're not listening to them.
You can get them for £179 on the Beats online store right now, but they are definitely more affordable elsewhere.
Buying from Currys will save you £60, meaning they will cost £119, and they're at the same price at John Lewis and AO, if you'd prefer to shop with them.
Key Specs
Type: On-ear
Battery life: 40 hours
Active noise cancellation: No
Controls: Touch controls (Both on the wire and on the headphones)
Weight: 215g
Where to buy Cat Deeley's outfits on This Morning
The best Mandalorian & Grogu merchandise to buy
Best Amazon Kindles in 2026
Save £16 on Pragmata with this deal
