Our Verdict
Decent for mixed usage. The Beats Powerbeats 3 Wireless have a better and more accurate sound than the previous Powerbeats2 that critical listeners will enjoy. They don't have the best isolation performance but they don't leak, which is useful for commuting and at the office for blocking out more noise. The in-ear fit might not be ideal for everyone, especially for long periods of time. On the upside, their ear-hook design offers great stability for sports, and they are breathable and portable to bring to your workouts. Unfortunately, their latency may be a bit too high for watching TV and gaming, and their microphone performance is sub-par for online multiplayer games.
- Stable and portable design for sports.
- Above-average sound quality.
- Good battery life.
- Lack of customization options.
- Poor noise isolation performance.
Above-average for neutral listening. These headphones have a powerful and deep bass, a well-balanced mid-range and a great treble. However, their bass may sound a bit thumpy, which some will prefer. There is also a small bump in the mid-range that will affect the projection and intensity of vocals and instruments, while treble is underemphasized throughout the range which will make sibilances (S and T sounds), vocals, and leads lack a bit of detail and brightness. They are versatile for a wide variety of music, but the in-ear fit will not be comfortable for long listening sessions.
Decent for commuting and traveling. They don’t passively isolate lower frequencies, so you’ll hear engine rumbles during your commute. However, they are very portable and easy to carry around. Their battery life will last you even for long flights, but you may feel ear fatigue after long listening sessions.
Great for sports. The ear-hook design is great for added stability during physical activities, and the in-ear fit is very breathable. Also, they are very portable and can fit in most pockets and bags, meaning you can bring them to work out about anywhere. Due to the great wireless range, you’ll also be able to leave your source nearby if you don’t like working out with a phone in your pockets.
Decent for the office. The Beats Powerbeats 3 Wireless isolate a decent amount of ambient chatter, and they don’t leak too much so you’ll be able to raise your volume a bit without distracting others around you. On the upside, their 12-hour battery life will last you a full workday. Unfortunately, they don’t support multi-device pairing for you to use them with your phone and PC, and the in-ear fit might not be comfortable enough for a whole shift.
Sub-par for gaming. These headphones are sports-oriented and shouldn’t be used for gaming due to their high latency and mediocre microphone. Even if you don’t play online and don’t need a mic, these headphones won’t be a good option for this use case.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 01, 2019: Review published.
- Updated Jan 30, 2019: Early access published.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Beats Powerbeats3 are great sports-oriented headphones that are also fairly versatile for everyday casual use. They come in a variety of different colors to suit your preferred style and have a way better sound quality than the previous Powerbeats 2 Wireless. They have great battery life for wireless in-ears and perform quite well against similar sports headphones. See our recommendations for the best wireless earbuds for running, the best wireless earbuds under $100, and the best earbuds and in-ears.
The Jaybird X4 Wireless and Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless perform similarly, but the Jaybird have the edge thanks to their app that lets you EQ the sound to your liking. Also, the Jaybird have better isolation performance and you’ll be able to use these on the bus or at the office without a problem. However, the Beats have longer battery life that will last you a full workday, and some may prefer the ear-hook design for more stability during physical activities.
The Beats BeatsX are more versatile headphones than the Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless, but the Powerbeats3 are better sports headphones. Due to their typical in-ear design, the BeatsX create a tight seal inside your ears and block a good amount of ambient noise, making them suitable for commuting and at the office. However, they have a neckband design that not everyone will like. On the other hand. The Powerbeats3 are typical wireless in-ears and their ear-hook design is more stable for sports. They are also a bit more comfortable since they don’t enter your ear canal as deeply.
The Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless are a good upgrade over the previous Beats Powerbeats2 Wireless model. While the design is fairly the same, a few performance adjustments were done. The in-line remote now offers decent feedback and buttons are now easy to push. They also have a more neutral-sounding sound with a small bass overemphasis, instead of having a really boomy and cluttered sound profile. The Powerbeats3 also have more than double the Powerbeats 2’s battery life, and take less time to charge fully.
For the cost, the Anker Soundcore Spirit X Wireless might be a better choice for most consumers than the Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless. The Beats are better headphones than the Anker since they have a slightly more neutral sound signature and feel more solid due to thicker cables. On the other hand, the Anker are more comfortable and come with a nice solid case. Unfortunately, the Anker don’t have the great wireless range of the Beats, but if you keep your phone on you during your workouts, this shouldn’t be an issue.
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