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Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless

Beats · Powerbeats

Powerbeats3 Wireless

Released November 2016

Wireless workout earphones with flexible ear hooks, a cable joining the earpieces and Apple's W1 chip.

Model history · 3 models, 2010–2016
  1. 2010Powerbeats (2010)Compare
  2. 2014Powerbeats2 WirelessCompare
  3. 2016Powerbeats3 Wireless
Type
In-ear
Noise cancelling
No
Battery
12 h
With case
–
Best codec
AAC
Weight
–

What reviewers say

Reviewers praise battery life, sturdy construction and mostly dependable wireless range, but find the launch price high. Bass can obscure finer details, and the ear-hook design does not guarantee a tight seal. SoundGuys reports awkward Android reconnection; TechRadar finds the flush power button difficult to use with gloves.

From soundguys.com and techradar.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Sound

Type
In-ear
Noise cancelling
No
Bluetooth codecs
SBC and AAC
Chip
Apple W1
Audio features
SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs; no active noise cancellation (SoundGuys model comparison)

Battery

Listening time (maker's claim)
Up to 12 hours
Battery life detail
Maker claims up to 12 hours. November 2016 retail month follows contemporaneous Apple delivery estimates reported by MacRumors and November AppleInsider retail checks; 25 October was the order-opening date, not an established first delivery day
Fast charging
Micro-USB Fast Fuel charging; up to one hour of playback from a five-minute charge

Design

Controls
RemoteTalk inline playback, call, volume and voice-assistant controls; power and pairing button on the left earpiece
Fit and ear tips
Flexible ear hooks, interchangeable ear tips and a flat joining cable with an adjustment slider
Water resistance detail
Maker describes sweat and splash resistance without publishing an IP code
Works with
Apple W1 and Class 1 Bluetooth; one-step pairing and switching between compatible devices signed into the same iCloud account
Colours
White, Black, Siren Red, Shock Yellow and Flash Blue at launch
In the box
Earphones, interchangeable ear tips and Micro-USB charging cable

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Up to 12 hours of listening
  • Fast Fuel gives up to one hour from a five-minute charge
  • Apple W1 pairing across compatible iCloud devices

Cons

  • No active noise cancellation
  • Micro-USB charging

Closest rivals

Model
TypeNoise cancellingBatteryWith caseBest codecWeightReleased
BeatsBeatsX
In-earNo8 h–AAC–Feb 2017
BoseQuietControl 30
In-earYes10 h–––Sept 2016
BeatsPowerbeats Pro
In-earNo9 h–AAC11 gMay 2019

Previous model: Powerbeats2 Wireless. Newer model: Powerbeats (2020).

Sources

  1. kyodonewsprwire.jp/release/201609084057
  2. macrumors.com/2016/10/25/powerbeats3-up-for-order-november
  3. appleinsider.com/articles/16/11/10/first-look-apples-powerbeats-3-bluetooth-hea…
  4. soundguys.com/beats-by-dre-powerbeats3-review-13555
  5. soundguys.com/beats-powerbeats-vs-beats-powerbeats-pro-32485
  6. techradar.com/reviews/beats-powerbeats-3

Photo: store.storeimages.cdn-apple.com

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