The Best Beats, Ranked: Every Earbud and Headphone Compared

We've now got the full Beats catalog on SIGNAL — thirteen products spanning earbuds and headphones, current and legacy. So which is actually the best? We compared them all and picked a winner in each category, plus one overall.

Best Beats earbud: Powerbeats Pro 2

Across the five Beats earbuds, the Powerbeats Pro 2 come out on top: the most secure fit, ANC, an H2 chip, a heart-rate sensor, and huge battery life. They're the most capable earbud Beats makes. The Beats Fit Pro are the value alternative and, for most people, the more sensible buy — smaller, cheaper, and nearly as good. (Full disclosure: the Beats Fit Pro are a personal favorite of SIGNAL’s author, so weigh our enthusiasm here accordingly.)

Best Beats headphone: Studio Pro

Among the eight Beats headphones, the Studio Pro win comfortably. The USB-C lossless DAC, three EQ presets, ANC, and Spatial Audio make them the most capable and flexible pair in the range — provided the fit works for you. The Solo 4 take the on-ear crown, but the lack of ANC keeps them out of the top spot.

The best Beats overall

If you want the single best Beats product to own, it comes down to what you need it for. For most people, the Beats Studio Pro are the most complete and versatile — they cover wired lossless, wireless, ANC, and travel in one package. But if your life is active, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are the more useful daily companion, and the Fit Pro remain the best value in the whole lineup.