'Bye, AirPods': These Beats buds rival AirPods in a lot of ways — and they're 40% off

Need some new earbuds? Sure, AirPods get a lot of love and they do sound great, but they're not cheap: the Pros ring in at $200. Well, there's another pair quietly winning over shoppers' hearts, and ours too, for that matter: Beats Studio Buds. Why? The fun colors, the cute, compact design and, of course, the impossibly crisp audio. These guys offer an incredibly immersive experience, so they're awesome for gamers and movie fans who want to truly live inside their content. And lucky you, right now they're on sale for $90, a sweet $60 off. Scroll to see all the reasons we're sold on them. There are also other kinds of Beats on sale that are worth checking out, too.

Beats

Beats Studio Buds

$90$150Save $60

Spatial Audio. Active Noise Cancelling. Transparency Mode. That's a lot of trademarked, capitalized functions for one product to boast. Take the hint and snap these up while they're on sale.

$90 at Amazon

Superior sound

One place where Beats Studio Buds indisputably rule the roost? It's all about that bass. Yep, many earbuds fall flat when it comes to bass, but these have such a punchy sound you'll think you're wearing pro-style over-ear headphones rather than tiny little buds.

Each pair comes with three ear tip options so you're sure to find a comfy fit. The snugness also creates an acoustic seal, which prevents sound from leaking out. This gives you a better listening experience overall.

Another reason these buds rule? Spatial audio, which makes you feel like you're in the middle of the action. The sound moves with an almost Doppler-like effect as you turn your head. It's fantastic for watching movies (although you might want to keep the lights on during horror flicks).

Beats

Beats Studio Buds

$90$150Save $60

On-bud controls allow you to adjust the volume, choose listening modes and engage voice assistance.

$90 at Amazon

Easy pairing and AirPod-equivalent features

The Beats will of course, rock any Android device, but they'll also automatically pair with anything in the Appleverse; iPhone users can even enjoy hands-free activation with Siri. Active Noise Cancelling lets you completely shut out the world. But should you want, or need, to stay somewhat engaged, opt for Transparency Mode; two small, front-facing mics will keep you aware of your surroundings. Call it a safety feature, call it an ingenious option — either way, it's good to have. The Beats Studio Buds are pretty similar to the most recent AirPod Pros in that respect, but $80 less.

Also good to have? Power that won't quit. The Beats will run for eight hours on a single charge, and 16 more when stored in the juiced-up case. That's a total of 24 hours of listening time. Sure, the AirPod Pros claim a total of 30, but they only last for six hours at a time. Note-for-note, the Beats can keep you jamming out for longer per charge.

Beats

Beats Studio Buds

$90$150Save $60

Noisy neighbors? These noise cancelling wonders will do the trick.

$90 at Amazon

That's a lot to love, right? Is it any wonder, then, that more than 49,000 Beats owners have sung the pair's praises? Herewith, a few of those five-star reviews:

"I'm not an audiophile by any stretch, but love my music. In my opinion, the sound quality is excellent with deep bass and clarity," related a once-stingy shopper. "I had been buying cheaper earbuds (in the $35 range) for years, not wanting to spend the money that higher quality earbuds demand, but I'd have to buy a couple of pairs each year with nothing but issues..."

That trend continues with this user who doesn't just compare the Beats to AirPods Pro, but insisted they're better. "The sound quality competes with Apple...and there are features even Apple AirPods Pro doesn't have. I definitely recommend the switch over if you are considering."

This customer feels it's no contest: "They do the job just as good, probably even better than Apple. I feel like AirPods are overrated, honestly; the magnet on these is strong, the battery life amazing and the sound quality fire! Bye, AirPods, LOL."

More Beats!

Beats

Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds

$150$250Save $100

If you struggle to keep buds in your ears, the Powerbeats Pro might be the solution you seek.

$150 at Amazon

The hooked ear mounts of the Powerbeats Pro promise a snug and comfortable fit, even while working out. Also great for working out: These babies are sweat- and water-resistant. Right now, you can save $70 on them — they're almost 30% off.

"There isn’t a single thing about these headphones that I don’t love," said a shopper who left a five-star review. "My job is pretty physical and I’m outside all day long so I needed something hands-free and durable. I love that it wraps around my ear which gives me the extra relief of knowing they won’t fall out... My favorite feature about them is that while my earbud is in, my phone will read my notifications to me, and allow me to respond without having to actually take my phone out. They’ve really become an absolute necessity in my day-to-day routine and I can’t believe I waited so long to try them."

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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