Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless vs Beats Solo3 2018: Which Headphones Are Better? - RTINGS.com

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Tested using Methodology v1.4

Updated May 28, 2025 02:42 PM

Tested using Methodology v1.4

Updated May 28, 2025 02:44 PM

Beats Solo3 2018 Picture

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Picture

TypeOn-ear

EnclosureClosed-Back

Noise CancellingNo

WirelessYes

TransducerDynamic

MicYes

TypeOn-ear

EnclosureClosed-Back

Noise CancellingYes

WirelessYes

TransducerDynamic

MicYes

Our Verdict

Beats Solo3 2018

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless

The Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless are better mixed usage wireless on-ears than the Beats Solo3 2018. The Bowers & Wilkins have an easier-to-use and more comprehensive control scheme, are better-built, block out more ambient noise, and feature a companion app with more options. However, the Beats have a more neutral sound profile and last slightly longer on a single charge. They also offer full audio and microphone compatibility on a wired connection thanks to their 1/8" TRRS cable.

Variants

Solo3 2018 (Black)
Solo3 2018 (Gloss Black)

PX5 (Blue)
PX5 (Space Grey)

Review

See Beats Solo3 2018 Review

See Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Review

Check Price

Black

Solo3 2018

Blue

PX5

Gloss Black

Solo3 2018

Space Grey

PX5

Gloss White

Solo3 2018

Gold

Solo3 2018

Red

Solo3 2018

Rose Gold

Solo3 2018

Silver

Solo3 2018

Ultra Violet

Solo3 2018

Main Differences for

Mixed Usage

Threshold

0.10

Mixed Usage

0.0

0.0

JOIN NOW to see main differences

Full Comparison

Mixed Usage

0.0

0.0

Neutral Sound

0.0

0.0

Commute/Travel

0.0

0.0

Sports/Fitness

0.0

0.0

Office

0.0

0.0

Wireless Gaming

0.0

0.0

Wired Gaming

0.0

0.0

Phone Calls

0.0

0.0

Design

Style

Design Picture 2

Beats Solo3 2018 Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

Enclosure

Locked

Locked

Wireless

Locked

Locked

Transducer

Locked

Locked

Comfort

N/A

N/A

Comfort Picture

Beats Solo3 2018 Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weight

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Clamping Force

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Controls

N/A

N/A

Controls Picture

Beats Solo3 2018 Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

OS Compatibility

Locked

Locked

Ease Of Use

Locked

Locked

Feedback

Locked

Locked

Call/Music Control

Locked

Locked

Volume Control

Locked

Locked

Microphone Control

Locked

Locked

Channel Mixing

Locked

Locked

Noise Cancelling Control

Locked

Locked

Talk-Through

Locked

Locked

Additional Controls

Locked

Locked

Breathability

N/A

N/A

Breathability After Picture

Beats Solo3 2018 Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg.Temp.Difference

Lock °C

Portability

N/A

N/A

Portability Picture

Beats Solo3 2018 Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

L

Lock"

Lock"

W

Lock"

Lock"

H

Lock"

Lock"

Volume

Lock in³

Lock in³

Transmitter Required

Locked

Locked

Case

N/A

N/A

Case Picture

Beats Solo3 2018 Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

L

Lock"

Lock"

W

Lock"

Lock"

H

Lock"

Lock"

Volume

Lock in³

Lock in³

Build Quality

N/A

N/A

Build Quality Picture

Beats Solo3 2018 Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Stability

N/A

N/A

Stability Picture

Beats Solo3 2018 Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Headshots 1

Angled Picture

Beats Solo3 2018 Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Side Picture

Beats Solo3 2018 Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Headshots 2

Front Picture

Beats Solo3 2018 Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Rear Picture

Beats Solo3 2018 Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Top

Top Picture

Beats Solo3 2018 Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

In The Box

In The Box Picture

Beats Solo3 2018 In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sound

Sound Profile

Frequency Response

Beats Solo3 2018 Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Frequency Response Consistency

N/A

N/A

Consistency L

Beats Solo3 2018 Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Consistency R

Beats Solo3 2018 Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg. Std. Deviation

Lock dB

Lock dB

Raw Frequency Response

Raw FR L

Beats Solo3 2018 Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Raw FR R

Beats Solo3 2018 Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Bass

Beats Solo3 2018 Bass Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Bass Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

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

Mid Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Mid

Beats Solo3 2018 Mid Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Mid Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Treble

Beats Solo3 2018 Treble Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Treble Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Peaks/Dips

N/A

N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph

Beats Solo3 2018 Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Peaks

Lock dB

Lock dB

Dips

Lock dB

Lock dB

Imaging

N/A

N/A

Group Delay

Beats Solo3 2018 Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Phase Response

Beats Solo3 2018 Phase Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Phase Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weighted Group Delay

Lock

Lock

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Weighted Frequency Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Weighted Phase Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Passive Soundstage

N/A

N/A

PRTF

Beats Solo3 2018 PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)

Lock dB

Lock dB

PRTF Size (Avg.)

Lock dB

Lock dB

PRTF Distance

Lock dB

Lock dB

Openness

0.0

0.0

Acoustic Space Excitation

0.0

0.0

Virtual Soundstage

N/A

N/A

Virtual Soundstage

Beats Solo3 2018 Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Head Modeling

Locked

Locked

Speaker Modeling

Locked

Locked

Room Ambience

Locked

Locked

Head Tracking

Locked

Locked

Virtual Surround

Locked

Locked

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

N/A

N/A

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

Beats Solo3 2018 Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

WHD @ 90

Lock

Lock

WHD @ 100

Lock

Lock

Test Settings

Firmware

Locked

Locked

Power

Locked

Locked

Connection

Locked

Locked

Codec

Locked

Locked

EQ

Locked

Locked

ANC

Locked

Locked

Tip/Pad

Locked

Locked

Microphone

Locked

Locked

Isolation

Noise Isolation

N/A

N/A

Noise Isolation

Beats Solo3 2018 Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

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

Leakage

N/A

N/A

Leakage

Beats Solo3 2018 Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Leakage Audio

Overall Leakage @ 1ft

Lock dB

Lock dB

Microphone

Microphone Style

Integrated

Locked

Locked

In-Line

Locked

Locked

Boom

Locked

Locked

Detachable Boom

Locked

Locked

Mic

Locked

Locked

Recording Quality

N/A

N/A

Microphone Frequency Response

Beats Solo3 2018 Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Recorded Speech

LFE

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

FR Std. Dev.

Lock dB

Lock dB

HFE

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

Weighted THD

Lock

Lock

Gain

Lock dB

Lock dB

Noise Handling

N/A

N/A

SpNR

Beats Solo3 2018 SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Speech + Pink Noise

Speech + Subway Noise

SpNR

Lock dB

Lock dB

Active Features

Battery

N/A

N/A

Battery Type

Locked

Locked

Continuous Battery Life

Lock hrs

Lock hrs

Additional Charges

Lock

Lock

Total Battery Life

Lock hrs

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

Locked

App Support

N/A

N/A

App Picture

Beats Solo3 2018 App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

App Name

Locked

Locked

iOS

Locked

Locked

Android

Locked

Locked

macOS

Locked

Locked

Windows

Locked

Locked

Equalizer

Locked

Locked

ANC Control

Locked

Locked

Mic Control

Locked

Locked

Room Effects

Locked

Locked

Playback Control

Locked

Locked

Button Mapping

Locked

Locked

Surround Support

Locked

Locked

Connectivity

Bluetooth

N/A

N/A

Bluetooth Version

Locked

Locked

Multi-Device Pairing

Locked

Locked

NFC Pairing

Locked

Locked

Line Of Sight Range

Lock ft

Lock ft

PC Latency (SBC)

Lock ms

Lock ms

PC Latency (aptX)

N/A

Lock ms

PC Latency (aptX HD)

N/A

Lock ms

PC Latency (aptX-LL)

N/A

N/A

iOS Latency

Lock ms

Lock ms

Android Latency

Lock ms

Lock ms

Non-Bluetooth Wireless

N/A

N/A

Non-BT Line Of Sight Range

N/A

N/A

Non-BT Latency

N/A

N/A

Wired

N/A

N/A

Cable Picture

Beats Solo3 2018 Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Analog Audio

Locked

Locked

USB Audio

Locked

Locked

Detachable

Locked

Locked

Length

Lock ft

Lock ft

Connection

Locked

Locked

Analog/USB Audio Latency

Lock ms

Lock ms

PC / PS4 Compatibility

PC/PS4 Analog

Locked

Locked

PC/PS4 Wired USB

Locked

Locked

PC/PS4 Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Compatibility

Xbox One Analog

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Wired USB

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Base/Dock

N/A

N/A

Type

Locked

Locked

USB Input

Locked

Locked

Line In

Locked

Locked

Line Out

Locked

Locked

Optical Input

Locked

Locked

RCA Input

Locked

Locked

Dock Charging

Locked

Locked

Power Supply

Locked

Locked

Check Price

Black

Solo3 2018

Blue

PX5

Gloss Black

Solo3 2018

Space Grey

PX5

Gloss White

Solo3 2018

Gold

Solo3 2018

Red

Solo3 2018

Rose Gold

Solo3 2018

Silver

Solo3 2018

Ultra Violet

Solo3 2018

Beats Solo3 2018

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless

Comments

Comparison

• Posted 3 years ago

Beats Solo3 2018 vs Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless: Main Discussion

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