Over the previous few years, a lot of the focus inside Apple’s Beats division has been on in-ear wi-fi earbuds, such because the ultra-affordable Beats Flex, Powerbeats Professional, and Beats Studio Buds. By all stories, these have been fairly profitable, main many to imagine that Apple had determined to place Beats’ on-ear and over-ear headphones out to pasture.
Actually, Beats has made some fairly weird selections lately concerning its full-sized headphones. In 2019, it launched the Beats Solo Professional, an upgraded model of the 2016 Beats Solo3 that packed in the identical H1 chip that was launched six months earlier in Apple’s second-generation AirPods. Within the case of the Beats Solo Professional, that meant assist for “Hey Siri” and higher lively noise cancellation.
Then, two years later, it summarily discontinued them. But, even after the Beats Solo Professional rode off into the sundown, the older Solo3 model remained in the marketplace. In the meantime, the Beats Studio3 that have been launched in 2017, stay the one over-ear headphones the model gives to this present day. Each fashions embody Apple’s older W1 chip used within the authentic 2016 AirPods however lack assist for Bluetooth 5.0.
It’s not exhausting to think about how Apple’s launch of the AirPods Max on the finish of 2020 could have dampened the corporate’s enthusiasm for releasing aggressive Beats-branded headphones. Actually, the demise of the Beats Solo Professional could possibly be laid on the toes of Apple’s premium over-ear headphones, however it’s additionally doable they simply hadn’t been promoting in addition to Apple anticipated.
The market definitely ought to have been sufficiently big for each units of headphones, because the Beats Solo Professional have been a extra light-weight set of on-ear headphones that starkly contrasted with the bulkier over-ear AirPods Max. Plus, they bought for about half the worth.
Nonetheless, many noticed this as an indication that Apple had nixed plans for any future Beats headphones. Whereas rumors of latest Beats Solo4 and Studio4 appeared on occasion, these have been sporadic and by no means appeared to achieve a lot traction from the remainder of the rumor mill.
Enter the Beats Studio Professional
As shocking as it could be after the demise of the Solo Professional, it does seem that Apple is engaged on a brand new, upgraded model of the Beats Studio3, which is able to doubtless be equally dubbed because the Beats Studio Professional.
New code and pictures found by 9to5Mac on this week’s launch of iOS 16.5 seemingly affirm the existence of the brand new headphones whereas additionally suggesting that they could possibly be launched very quickly.
The parents at 9to5Mac have additionally been in a position to affirm this with their sources, with further element ls suggesting that these might give Apple’s AirPods Max a run for his or her cash. The Beats Studio Professional are anticipated to characteristic higher noise cancellation than the Beats Studio3, plus a Transparency Mode and even assist for Personalised Spatial Audio.
As with most Beats merchandise, the Beats Studio Professional will stay as platform-agnostic as doable. In any case, that’s arguably one of many largest causes Apple retains the model round. On this case, which means a USB-C port for charging and a customized Beats chip as a substitute of Apple’s H1. That second level may additionally clarify why Beats Solo Professional didn’t match into Apple’s bigger imaginative and prescient for its Beats merchandise. Satirically, the USB-C port may even be an improve over the Beats Studio3, that are so outdated they really use a micro USB connector.
Whereas Apple has achieved its finest to make sure that its Beats earbuds stay distinct from its AirPods — the Beats Match Professional and Beats Studio Buds are way more workout-focused, and Beats Flex aren’t true wi-fi earbuds in any respect. Nevertheless, Apple might have a tougher time engaging in that with a set of over-ear headphones, which suggests these could are available in at the next value to keep away from competing with the premium AirPods Max.
The Beats Solo Professional have been a premium model of the Solo3, slightly than a successor, and due to this fact got here in with the next $300 price ticket. Though you’ll be able to simply discover them on sale for significantly much less, the Beats Studio3 formally promote for $349. If the Beats Studio Professional have been to comply with within the footsteps of their on-ear equal, that might see them arrive with a price ticket of $499 or extra.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]