Difference Between Beats Solo 2 and Solo 3

We’ll state the obvious here: Beats makes some excellent audio products. As far as sound quality and battery life go, it’s difficult to “beat” the value that Beats is offering in many of their headphones — full-size and their earbuds. So, because sound quality and battery life is already so good in their headphones, it can be difficult to spot the differences in new models launched by Apple’s audio maker. You might have a pair of Beats Solo 2’s, tried a Solo 3, and just couldn’t tell the difference between the two.

That’s largely why we constructed this guide for you — to show you the exact differences between the Beats Solo 2 and Solo 3, even if they are pretty minimal. This should help you decide whether it’s worth purchasing the latest and great headphone model from Beats, or if you should save your cash by purchasing the last generation.

So without further ado, here is the big difference between Beats Solo 2 and Solo 3:

 

Beats Solo 2

Don’t get us wrong, the Beats Solo2 headphones sound excellent. If you’re an audiophile, you might notice just a slight quality difference between the Solo 2’s and the Solo 3’s, but that’s because the Solo 3’s come equipped with some overall improved drivers for higher quality sound.

The Beats Solo 2 are primarily wired headphones — wireless models are hard to come by.  That said, plug in the 3.5mm audio jack into your output device, and then you’ll be able to get crisp and clear sound delivered right to your headphones. And, with them being wired, you don’t ever have to worry about battery life — just whenever you’re ready to listen, plug them in.

Just like the Beats Solo 3’s, these do take on an over the ear style for maximum comfort. It makes it a whole lot easier to manage longer listening sessions, but on top of that, the over-the-ear style also adds a level of noise cancellation that you wouldn’t get with on-ear style headphones.

Since you’re using the 3.5mm audio jack with these headphones, they do have an in-line remote which enables you to make and take calls. You can adjust volume from here as well, and even play and pause your music. Of course, it’s a great way to prompt Siri so that you can tell her to do things hands-free, such as “Hey Siri, play x playlist” or “Hey Siri, call mom.”

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Beats Solo 3

The Beats Solo 3 are an upgraded and more improved version of the Beats Solo 2, though actual sound quality and battery differences will all depend on how much of an audiophile you are, as well as how much you use your headphones.

That said, if you want to take your sound quality to the next level, the Beats Solo3 come with a number improvements to the drivers and hardware inside. These full size headphones are able to transform your normal, poor sound quality into something heavenly. The sound is rich, clear, and you get some deep bass with these headphones. As usual, explaining “sound” with words is difficult — but trust us when we say that the Solo3’s are one of the most heavenly experiences out there.

Where the Beats Solo3’s really different from the Solo2’s is in design. You get the overall same structure, but Beats is using different textures and more comfortable material this time around — that enables you to be able to listen to your music or audio clip of choice for longer, without any discomfort.  These have an over the ear style, so these headphones stay comfortable during longer listening sessions, and also support a level of noise-cancelling tech.

Battery life is phenomenal in the Beats Solo3’s — a full charge will get you upwards of 40 hours of straight wireless playback time. And when you’re low, just five minutes on the wire gets you an additional three hours of listening time. Alternatively, you can plug in the included 3.5mm audio jack to listen without the wireless battery. Not only that, but that 3.5mm jack comes with an in-line remote that allows you to make calls without pulling out your smartphone.

The Beats Solo3’s can be controlled with the on-ear functions, and they actually make it really easy to access Siri so that you can use voice controls. For example, “Hey Siri, skip this song” or “Hey Siri, call x person”.

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Verdict on the difference between Beats Solo 2 and Solo 3

As you can see, the differences between the Solo 2 and Solo 3 are pretty minimal — the biggest noticeable difference up front is the change in design. There are some slight improvements to the sound quality in the Solo 3’s, though not necessarily enough to justify a high price increase, let alone a hefty overall price.

What pair are you picking up? Let us know in the comments section below.