Review of Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless - wireless sports headphones from the famous brand

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Fashionable headphones that are not suitable for everyone.

Beats products have gained immense popularity through flamboyant advertising campaigns and Apple integrations. However, are her headphones really that good? Let's understand this issue using the example of the PowerBeats 3 Wireless model.

PowerBeats3 are positioned primarily as sports headphones. That is why they are equipped with comfortable earhooks, a waterproof case made of hypoallergenic material, they work for a long time and are quickly charged. However, these advantages will be appreciated not only by athletes, but also by all people who, in any circumstances, do not want to part with their favorite music.

Specifications

• Model: Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless.
• Connection: Bluetooth 4.2 (A2DP, AVRCP).
• Working distance: up to 10 m (in open space).
• Frequency range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz.
• Working time: up to 12 hours.
• Charging time: 1–1.5 hours.
• Weight: 25 g.
• Additional functions: microphone, earhooks.

Equipment

Powerbeats3 come in a small white box with a transparent cover, under which you can see the headphones themselves. The design and strength of the packaging indicate that we have a high-class product, the development of which did not spare money and effort.

There is a second bottom under the top white backing with headphones, where all additional accessories are hidden. These include three pairs of ear pads of different sizes, a black silicone case for carrying and storing the headphones, a charging cable, and three brochures with specifications, instructions for use and warranty. The manufacturer also included a cute logo sticker that you can place on your laptop to make everyone envy you.

Packaging and equipment of Powerbeats3 are fully consistent with their premium status. It can be seen that the manufacturer did not skimp on trifles and made the unpacking process not only simple, but also enjoyable. You can safely take such headphones as a gift: then you will definitely not be ashamed.

Appearance and ergonomics

The appearance of the Powerbeats3 has remained almost the same as the previous generation in this series. The body is quite large, especially when compared to some modern wireless models, which are difficult to see even in the ear. Perhaps this is due to the presence of a solid battery.

The company logo and model name are visible on the outside of the case. The spring-loaded rubber headband keeps the earbuds securely in place, even with vigorous movements. Due to its low weight, the Powerbeats3 are so unnoticeable in your ears that you almost instantly forget about their presence.

There is a charging connector at the bottom of the left earphone case. Despite the manufacturer's declared moisture protection, there is no rubber plug at the connector. Small splashes or drops of sweat won't hurt the Powerbeats3, but swimming in them, of course, is not worth it. The power button is located on the opposite side of the same earpiece.

There is a small remote control located on the left side to control playback. It contains three buttons. The center one is used to stop and resume playback, as well as switch tracks. Two hidden buttons located on the sides are designed to change the volume. Clicking on them is clear, with a well-felt click.

The cable between the headphones is flat and is reinforced with special rubber pads at all joints. There is a clip on the wire that allows you to adjust its length. Whether the cable is on the front or back, the earbuds sit equally comfortably.

Sound

Before sharing with you my impressions of the sound, I want to make a small theoretical digression.

The sound quality of wireless headphones is largely determined by the codec used. The simplest is SBC, which provides compression around the MP3 level - 192 kbps. It is everywhere, but no one likes it, because such a bit rate frankly spoils the sound.

Apple's AAC and Qualcomm's AptX are more modern codecs. They produce better sound, but are not supported by all headphones and not all smartphones. Since Beats is a division of Apple, of course AAC is used in its products. For iPhone users, this is great news: better playback quality is provided by default.

But for owners of Android devices, everything is not so simple. AAC support in the operating system appeared only with version 8.0 Oreo. However, the result of this codec is very different from what iPhone owners hear. I will not go into technical details, but I will immediately draw a disappointing conclusion: on some smartphones with a green robot, AAC sounds even worse than the ancient SBC. For those who have doubts, I recommend reading this article (in English) or its Russian-language adaptation.

I used an Android smartphone for testing, so it's no surprise that the sound of the Powerbeats3 didn't make much of an impression on me. Yes, the sound is clear. Yes, there are good lows and transparent highs. But the Powerbeats3 do not make any breakthrough, even when compared to the significantly less expensive headphone models. Again, this is all about Android. The owners of gadgets from Apple, judging by the numerous reviews and reviews on the forums, adhere to a completely different point of view.

Outcomes

Powerbeats3 headphones are a great choice if you already own Apple gadgets. Only in combination with them will they be able to reveal their full potential. Lovers of an active lifestyle should pay special attention to this model: I have never seen such a comfortable and reliable design for sports.

If you have Android in your pocket, then you need to think twice before buying. And the best thing is to arrange a preliminary audition or even a blind comparison with other models. It is far from a fact that Powerbeats3 will make friends with your device.

At the time of this writing, the cost of the Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless headphones is 7,474 rubles.