Beats Solo 2 vs Solo3 2018

Which Headphones Are Better?

Products

Beats Solo 2
Beats Solo3 2018

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated May 28, 2025 02:35 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.4

Updated May 28, 2025 02:42 PM

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Our Verdict

Beats Solo 2

Beats Solo3 2018

The Beats Solo3 2018 are slightly better headphones than the Beats Solo 2. While both headphones have a similar sound profile, the Solo3 have a noticeably better battery life with about 40 hours of continuous playback. They also take advantage of the W1 chip on iOS devices, which the Solo 2 don’t do. Design-wise, there isn’t much difference between the two models. 

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Variants

  • Solo 2 (Black)
  • Solo 2 (Blue)
  • Solo3 2018 (Black)
  • Solo3 2018 (Gloss Black)

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Black
Solo 2
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Black
Solo3 2018
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Gold
Solo 2
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Gold
Solo3 2018
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Red
Solo3 2018
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Rose Gold
Solo 2
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Rose Gold
Solo3 2018
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Silver
Solo 2
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Silver
Solo3 2018
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Blue
Solo 2
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Gloss Black
Solo3 2018
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Flash Blue
Solo 2
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Gloss White
Solo3 2018
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Shock Yellow
Solo 2
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Ultra Violet
Solo3 2018
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Siren Red
Solo 2
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Space Gray
Solo 2
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White
Solo 2
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 
 

0.0
0.0
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Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Design Picture 2  

Beats Solo 2 Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

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Type  

Locked
Locked

Enclosure  

Locked
Locked

Wireless  

Locked
Locked

Transducer  

Locked
Locked

Mic  

Locked
Locked
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Comfort 
 

N/A
N/A

Comfort Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Weight  

Lock lbs
Lock lbs

Clamping Force 
 

Lock lbs
Lock lbs
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Controls 
 

N/A
N/A

Controls Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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OS Compatibility 
 

Locked

Ease Of Use  

Locked
Locked

Feedback  

Locked
Locked

Call/Music Control  

Locked
Locked

Volume Control  

Locked
Locked

Microphone Control  

Locked

Channel Mixing 
 

Locked

Noise Cancelling Control  

N/A
Locked

Talk-Through 
 

N/A
Locked

Additional Controls  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Breathability 
 

N/A
N/A

Breathability Before Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Breathability Before Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Breathability Before Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Breathability After Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Avg.Temp.Difference  

Lock °C
Lock °C
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Portability 
 

N/A
N/A

Portability Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Portability Picture Sample

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Lock"
Lock"

 

Lock"
Lock"

 

Lock"
Lock"

Volume  

Lock in³
Lock in³

Transmitter Required  

N/A
Locked
Show Text 

Case 
 

N/A
N/A

Case Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Type  

Locked
Locked

 

Lock"

 

Lock"

 

Lock"

Volume  

Lock in³
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Build Quality Picture Sample

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Stability 
 

N/A
N/A

Stability Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Cable  

Cable Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Detachable  

Locked
Locked

Length  

Lock ft
Lock ft

Connection  

Locked
Locked
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Headshots 1  

Angled Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Angled Picture Sample

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Side Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Side Picture Sample

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Headshots 2  

Front Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Front Picture Sample

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Side Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Side Picture Sample

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Rear Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Rear Picture Sample

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Top  

Front Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Top Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Rear  

Rear Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Top  

Top Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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In The Box  

In The Box Picture  

Beats Solo 2 In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Sound

Sound Profile 
 

Frequency Response  

Beats Solo 2 Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Frequency Response Sample

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Bass Amount 
 

Lock dB

Treble Amount 
 

Lock dB
Show Text 

Frequency Response Consistency 
 

N/A
N/A

Consistency L  

Beats Solo 2 Consistency L Sample

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Beats Solo3 2018 Consistency L Sample

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Consistency R  

Beats Solo 2 Consistency R Sample

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Beats Solo3 2018 Consistency R Sample

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Avg. Std. Deviation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw FR L  

Beats Solo 2 Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Raw FR L Sample

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Raw FR R  

Beats Solo 2 Raw FR R Sample

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Beats Solo3 2018 Raw FR R Sample

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Bass Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Bass  

Beats Solo 2 Bass Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Bass Sample

SAMPLE

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Bass  

Beats Solo 2 Bass Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Bass Sample

SAMPLE

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Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Low-Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High-Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
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Mid Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Mid  

Beats Solo 2 Mid Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Mid Sample

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Mid  

Beats Solo 2 Mid Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Mid Sample

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Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Treble Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Treble  

Beats Solo 2 Treble Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Treble Sample

SAMPLE

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Treble  

Beats Solo 2 Treble Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Treble Sample

SAMPLE

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Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High-Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Peaks/Dips 
 

N/A
N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph  

Beats Solo 2 Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

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Peaks 
 

Lock dB

Dips 
 

Lock dB
Show Text 

Imaging 
 

N/A
N/A

Group Delay  

Beats Solo 2 Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Group Delay Sample

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Phase Response  

Beats Solo 2 Phase Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Phase Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Phase Error 
 

Lock°

Weighted Group Delay 
 

Lock

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch 
 

Lock dB
Lock

Weighted Frequency Mismatch 
 

Lock dB
Lock

Driver Mismatch (Phase) 
 

Lock°

Weighted Phase Mismatch 
 

Lock
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Passive Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF  

Beats Solo 2 PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

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PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.) 
 

Lock dB

PRTF Error 
 

Lock dB

PRTF Size (Avg.) 
 

Lock dB

PRTF Distance 
 

Lock dB

Openness 
 

0.0
0.0

Acoustic Space Excitation 
 

0.0
0.0

Correlated Crosstalk 
 

Lock dB
Show Text 

Virtual Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

Virtual Soundstage  

Beats Solo 2 Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

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Head Modeling 
 

Locked

Speaker Modeling 
 

Locked

Room Ambience 
 

Locked

Head Tracking 
 

Locked

Virtual Surround 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Weighted Harmonic Distortion 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted Harmonic Distortion  

Beats Solo 2 Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

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WHD @ 90 
 

Lock

WHD @ 100 
 

Lock
Show Text 

Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

N/A
N/A

Distortion  

Beats Solo 2 Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Distortion Sample

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Weighted THD @ 90 
 

Lock

Weighted THD @ 100 
 

Lock

Test Settings 
 

Firmware 
 

Locked

Power 
 

Locked

Connection 
 

Locked

Codec 
 

Locked

EQ 
 

Locked

ANC 
 

Locked

Tip/Pad 
 

Locked

Microphone 
 

Locked
Show Text 
Isolation

Noise Isolation 
 

N/A
N/A

Noise Isolation  

Beats Solo 2 Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

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Isolation Audio 
 

Overall Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Noise Cancelling  

Locked
Locked

Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Self-Noise 
 

Lock dB
Show Text 

Leakage 
 

N/A
N/A

Leakage  

Beats Solo 2 Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

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Leakage Audio 
 

Overall Leakage @ 1ft 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 
Microphone

Microphone Style 
 

Integrated 
 

Locked

In-Line 
 

Locked

Boom 
 

Locked

Detachable Boom 
 

Locked

Mic  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Recording Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Microphone Frequency Response  

Beats Solo 2 Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Recorded Speech 
 

LFE 
 

Lock Hz

FR Std. Dev. 
 

Lock dB

HFE 
 

Lock Hz

Weighted THD 
 

Lock

Gain 
 

Lock dB
Show Text 

Noise Handling 
 

N/A
N/A

SpNR  

Beats Solo 2 SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

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Speech + Pink Noise  

Speech + Subway Noise  

SpNR 
 

Lock dB
Show Text 
Active Features

Wireless 
 

N/A
N/A

Type 
 

Locked

Obstructed Range 
 

Lock ft

Line of Sight Range 
 

Lock ft
Lock ft

NFC 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Latency  

N/A
N/A

Base Latency 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

aptX Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

aptX(LL) Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Battery 
 

N/A
N/A

Battery Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs

Continuous Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs

Additional Charges 
 

Lock

Total Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs

Charge Time 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Power-Saving Feature 
 

Locked
Locked

Audio While Charging 
 

Locked
Locked

Passive Playback 
 

Locked
Locked

Charging Port  

Locked
Show Text 

App Support 
 

N/A
N/A

App Picture  

Beats Solo 2 App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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App Name  

Locked

iOS  

Locked

Android  

Locked

macOS  

Locked

Windows  

Locked

Equalizer 
 

Locked

ANC Control 
 

Locked

Mic Control  

Locked

Room Effects 
 

Locked

Playback Control 
 

Locked

Button Mapping  

Locked

Surround Support 
 

Locked
Show Text 
Connectivity

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth Version 
 

Locked

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked

NFC Pairing 
 

Locked

Line Of Sight Range 
 

Lock ft
Lock ft

PC Latency (SBC) 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

PC Latency (aptX) 
 

N/A
N/A

PC Latency (aptX HD) 
 

N/A

PC Latency (aptX-LL) 
 

N/A
N/A

iOS Latency 
 

Lock ms

Android Latency 
 

Lock ms
Show Text 

Non-Bluetooth Wireless 
 

N/A
N/A

Non-BT Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A

Non-BT Latency 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Wired 
 

N/A
N/A

Cable Picture  

Beats Solo 2 Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Beats Solo3 2018 Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Analog Audio 
 

Locked

USB Audio 
 

Locked

Detachable  

Locked
Locked

Length  

Lock ft
Lock ft

Connection  

Locked
Locked

Analog/USB Audio Latency 
 

Lock ms
Show Text 

PC / PS4 Compatibility 
 

PC/PS4 Analog 
 

Locked

PC/PS4 Wired USB 
 

Locked

PC/PS4 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Xbox One Compatibility 
 

Xbox One Analog 
 

Locked

Xbox One Wired USB 
 

Locked

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Base/Dock 
 

N/A
N/A

Type 
 

Locked

USB Input 
 

Locked

Line In 
 

Locked

Line Out 
 

Locked

Optical Input 
 

Locked

RCA Input 
 

Locked

Dock Charging 
 

Locked

Power Supply 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
Solo 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Solo3 2018
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gold
Solo 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gold
Solo3 2018
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Red
Solo3 2018
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Rose Gold
Solo 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Rose Gold
Solo3 2018
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Silver
Solo 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Silver
Solo3 2018
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Blue
Solo 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gloss Black
Solo3 2018
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Flash Blue
Solo 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gloss White
Solo3 2018
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Shock Yellow
Solo 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Ultra Violet
Solo3 2018
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Siren Red
Solo 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Space Gray
Solo 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
White
Solo 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 

Beats Solo 2

Beats Solo3 2018

Comments

  1. Comparison

Beats Solo 2 vs Beats Solo3 2018: Main Discussion

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