Beats by Dre unveiled the new Beats Studio 3 Wireless Skyline Collection last week, and today the three new colors of the Bluetooth over-ear headphones are available to purchase. We’ve got a hands-on look at the new Desert Sand version to share.
The new Skyline Collection includes four finishes — Midnight Black, Crystal Blue, Desert Sand, and Shadow Gray — each with a splash of gold on the signature ‘b’ logos and metal bands. The new colors will be in stores soon and ship from Apple.com by the end of the week (with the exception of Shadow Gray which was one of the original launch colors and is readily available).
The new Midnight Black color pairs black and gold with a leather-like shade of brown. The other three versions have lighter tan interior colors paired with blue, gray, and a nearly matching sand color.
That’s the version we tested — Desert Sand — which mixes flashy metallic yellow gold with a soft creamy color.
While the new Skyline Collection refreshes the Beats lineup for the holidays, the latest Studio 3 Wireless headphones include the same features as other collections:
- Pure Adaptive Noise Canceling for blocking external noise
- Apple’s W1 chip for instant pairing and fast-switching between devices with iCloud
- 22 hours of battery life with ANC, 40 hours of battery life without noise cancelling
Apple’s W1 chip is what allows Beats Studio 3 Wireless to pair and switch between devices as easily as Apple’s AirPods.
Beats Studio 3 Wireless feature a built-in mic for voice input and onboard controls for playback, phone calls, and Siri. Beats also includes an audio cable for wired playback on hardware with a headphone jack, and these still charge over Micro USB — no Lightning or USB-C.
In terms of audio quality, Beats Studio 3 Wireless headphones are in the same league as Bose QC 35 II. The difference may come down to sonic and stylistic preference, but iPhone users will appreciate the integration provided by the W1 chip.
Beats Studio 3 Wireless, priced at $349.95 from Apple.com, are also available in Red, White, Blue, Matte Black, Defiant Black-Red, and Porcelain Rose.
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