Both the Beats Solo3 and the Beats Solo Pro are wireless on-ear headphones ideal for casual everyday use, with the latter being the newest generation. The Solo3 headphones are standard Bluetooth headphones that cost less than $200, while the Solo Pro noise-canceling headphones cost over $300.
Choosing between the Solo3 and the Solo Pro will be difficult due to their large price difference and various advantages and disadvantages. We’ll compare their pros, flaws, and similarities in this head-to-head comparison to help you decide which Beats headphones are right for you.
Short Answer
The Beats Solo Pro Wireless is an improvement over the Solo3 Wireless. They have active noise cancellation, which is great for public transportation or at work. The Pro, on the other hand, maybe too snug for some, while the Solo3 is more comfortable. The Pro, on the other hand, feels more high-end and durable. Both have a similar sound signature, although the Pro is a little more neutral.
Beats Solo Pro Vs Beats Solo 3: A Comparative Discussion
Look at the table below to obtain a basic understanding of them before getting into my in-depth talk.
| Features | Beats Solo Pro | Beats Solo 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver Size | 40 mm. | 40 mm. |
| Battery Life | Up to 22 hours (with ANC).Up to 40 hours (without ANC). | Up to 40 hours. |
| Charging Time | 1 hour 45 minutes. | 2 hours. |
| Fast Charging Feature | 3 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge. | 3 hours of playback from a 5-minute charge. |
| Charging Cable Type | Lightning to USB-A. | USB-A to USB Micro-B. |
| Bluetooth Chip | Apple H1 chip. | Apple W1 chip. |
| Codec Support | SBC, AAC. | SBC, AAC. |
| Number of Microphones | 6. | 1. |
| Color | Black, Gray, Ivory. | Matte Black, Gloss Black, Siver, Citrus Red, Gloss White, Gold, Rose Gold, Mickey’s 90th-anniversary edition. |
| Weight | 9.4 ounces. | 7.5 ounces. |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Yes. | No. |
Let’s begin the detailed comparison piece by piece now that you have a general understanding.
What is the first thing that comes to mind while looking for a new headphone? It has to be the design and construction. Right? So, I’m going to start with it.
Design & Build: Beats Solo 3 Vs Beats Solo Pro
Starting with their physical characteristics, both are on-ear headphones that come in a variety of colors, as you can see on the table.
The Beats Solo 3 2018 Wireless and the Beats Solo 3 look almost identical. They have a smooth, curved appearance with no sharp edges.
Although this headphone is primarily made of plastic, it feels durable and high-end. Though the imitation leather cushioning appears comfortable to me, it has a rigid plastic shell that can shatter if bent.
The Beats Solo Pro headphone, on the other hand, is quite fashionable. Because of the metallic headband and matte finish, it feels and looks more premium than the Solo 3.
This headband is wide enough and maintains the Beats design legacy. Even though these headphones are on-ears, they are quite large and appear to be over-ears, especially if you have smaller ears or a smaller head.
It contains certain metallic pieces in its body, such as the spot where the headband and earcups meet, addition to the headband.
The design and build quality of the Solo 3 are adequate, but not good enough to compete with the Solo Pro.
So Beats Solo Pro is the winner of the first segment.
Beats Solo Pro Vs Solo 3 Comfort & Fit
Moving on to comfort, the two headphones will provide enough of it thanks to their thick and soft cushioning.
Furthermore, thanks to their readily adjustable headbands, you will receive the perfect fit. They have a strong clamping force that prevents them from readily falling off when the head moves.
When it comes to breathability, both are quite breathable thanks to their on-ear design. Under the ear cups, heat cannot be trapped. Airflow is adequate, allowing your ears to breathe more freely than with over-ear headphones.
In comparison, the Beats Solo Pro is quite hefty for on-ear headphones and at first appearance appears to be over-ear headphones.
Portability: Solo Pro Vs Beats Solo 3
Although the Beats Solo 3 is more portable than the Solo Pro, the difference is minor.
With its traditional on-ear headphones size, this headphone is more small.
When you put it in your bag, it takes up less room and looks more unobtrusive when worn around your neck.
The Solo Pro, on the other hand, is pretty hefty for on-ear headphones, but they are still not as burdensome to carry around as full-sized over-ear headphones.
Sound Quality: Beats Solo 3 Vs Solo Pro
Despite their comparable appearances, the sound characteristics of these two headphones are vastly different.
Starting with the Beats Solo 3, the sound is more bass-heavy, making it ideal for genres such as EDM and rap music.
It features a little overemphasized low frequency, resulting in snappy and boomy bass.
If you appreciate bass, you’ll adore this headphone, but if you like a more neutral sound, the Beats Solo Pro is the best choice.
I was blown away by how wonderfully this headset reproduced the deep notes while listening to Paul McCartney’s popular bass-heavy tune Coming Up.
In any case, the midrange sounds underemphasized, and the lead instruments and vocals may come across as muddy.
The highs are a little bland, but they’re still detailed. The good news is that harshness and sibilance will not be an issue when listening to records containing high-pitched singers and instruments.
On the other hand, the Beats Solo Pro offers a very neutral sound profile that is suited for a wide range of music genres, including classical music.
It does, however, produce the accentuated lows for which Beats headphones are known.
Although the bass is a little too strong, it is still accurate and does not sound muddy.
When comparing the midrange of the two headphones, the Beats Solo Pro comes out on top. Its mids are slightly more forward and accurate than the competition.
When it comes to Solo Pro’s highs, they’re crystal clear and well-detailed.
When listening to high-pitched singing and instruments, however, they may sound harsh and piercing.
Noise Control: Beats Solo3 Vs Solo Pro
The Beats Solo Pro headphones come with active noise cancellation, whereas the Solo 3 headphones do not. Instead, they provide passive seclusion.
Let’s explore how well Solo Pro’s ANC performs against various sound frequencies.
While it may not be as good as some of the greatest noise-canceling headphones, such as the Sony WH-1000XM3 or Bose QC 35 II, it can still outperform the Solo 3.
This noise-canceling headphone is excellent at blocking out background sounds. It can reduce office noises such as background chatter and the humming of air conditioners.
You may even study while using these headphones because it blocks out the noise from your family members.
Furthermore, they can partially block out the sound of airline and bus engines.
Now we’ll move on to Beats Solo 3.
With its closed-back construction, it can passively isolate the surrounding sounds. To be truthful, this headset will not work well in a busy or noisy environment.
In this case, turning up the music volume will help to drown out the background noise. However, it is not a practical solution.
Otherwise, it won’t filter out any bass-range noise, such as bus engines, which is annoying when using these headphones when commuting.
It also has trouble reducing ambient chatter, which is in the middle range.
With higher-pitched sounds, such as the sound of an air conditioner, Solo 3 performs slightly better.
Microphone or Call Quality: Beats Headphone Solo Pro Vs Solo 3
Both the Beats Solo 3 and Solo Pro have embedded microphones, with the Solo Pro’s mic managing noise well.
Yes, there will be some background noise while you speak, but your voice will still be audible.
Even if you’re on a crowded street, the person on the other end of the line should be able to hear you clearly.
The noise management of the Solo 3 mic, on the other hand, is poor.
Even in fairly loud surroundings, it has trouble distinguishing your voice from the background noise. If you take a call in a noisy environment, your voice will be drowned out.
As a result, we have a clear winner for this part.
Battery Life: Beats Solo3 Vs Solo Pro
The Beats Solo 3 has a battery life of 40 hours, making it perfect for multi-day use. It will last an entire week on a single charge if you play it for a few hours each day.
The Beats Solo Pro, on the other hand, may last up to 40 hours when both the ANC and transparency modes are turned off. When ANC is engaged, though, they can last up to 22 hours, which is still impressive for noise-canceling headphones.
Both of these headphones have quick charging capabilities, taking less than two hours to fully charge.
In terms of battery life, it appears that the Beats Solo 3 outperforms the Solo Pro, but we must remember that the Solo 3 is not an ANC headset. And if you want anything nice, you’ll have to make some concessions.
Control System: Beats Solo Pro Vs Beats Solo 3
In terms of control systems, the two are comparable.
On the left earcup, you’ll find all of the playback controls and call management options.
The play/pause and answer/end call buttons on the left “b” button are clickable.
To skip a track, press it twice, then three times to go back to the previous one. You must push and hold this button to activate voice control.
The volume is increased by pressing the upper part of the “b” button, and decreased by pressing the lower part.
The only change is that the Beats Solo Pro includes a dedicated ANC or transparency mode button on the left earcup.
Anyway, one thing I should mention about the Solo 3 is that the included audio cord comes with a three-button remote that allows for rudimentary controls in wired mode.
How Is The Connectivity?
What is the difference in terms of connectedness between them?
Actually, it’s almost nothing.
Both headphones are equipped with class 1 Bluetooth technology that provides a long wireless range. They do not, however, support NFC or multi-device pairing.
In any case, pairing is simple and painless, especially with Apple devices.
The latency on iOS and Android devices is minimal, while the latency on PC is fairly significant.
Another advantage of the Solo 3 is that it has both wired and Bluetooth connectivity.
This headphone comes with a 3.5mm audio cable that allows you to convert to wired mode for a no-latency connection or when the battery is low.
You can use the Solo Pro in wired mode, but you’ll need to buy a Lightning to 3.5 mm audio connection to do so.
For this round, I was unable to designate a winner. Let’s do them both justice by declaring a tie.
Bluetooth Chip: Beats Solo 3 Vs Solo Pro
You are well aware that the Beats Solo Pro includes the H1 chip, which provides numerous benefits. You can easily connect to all of your iCloud devices and seamlessly switch between them.
Furthermore, when linked to an iOS device, the microprocessor ensures that the headphones last longer and provide better sound.
The Solo 3 also includes a W1 chip, which is the forerunner to the H1 chip. It accomplishes the same functions as the H1 chip, however, the H1 chip does everything better.
For example, both chips provide access to Siri, but the H1 chip allows you to summon Siri simply by saying “Hey Siri.” No prior button pressing is required.
So, for this round, I’m voting for the Beats Solo Pro basket.
Who Is The Winner?
Except for the tied portions, Beats Solo Pro has won the majority of the segments by this point.
As a result, I strongly recommend Beats Solo Pro over Beats Solo 3.
Winner: Beats Solo Pro
This headphone has a more durable design, greater sound, and more functionality.
Furthermore, Solo Pros are stronger at blocking out ambient noises in a crowded environment due to their improved isolation and ANC.
It also has the latest Apple H1 chip, which provides a more stable wireless connection.
Okay, I’ve finished my job by announcing the final winner. If you’re still perplexed and unsatisfied with any of them, the following section is for you.
Wrap-up
The Solo3 is a reliable pair of headphones that are ideal for casual use. They’re less expensive than the Solo Pro and have a longer battery life per charge, with a 40-hour battery life that’s among the finest among wireless headphones.
Furthermore, they come with an audio cable, letting you convert to wired mode when the battery runs out. However, because of their poor noise isolation, they are less ideal for listening to music in a noisy area. If you don’t care about active noise cancellation and would rather have more portable and long-lasting wireless headphones for regular usage, the Solo3 is a better deal than the Solo Pro.