Everything leaked so far suggests Beats is fixing the complaints that sank the current model.
A new pair of Beats over-ear headphones appears to be getting close. Apple’s FCC filing for model A3577 surfaced in May, and leaked public sightings have shown a redesigned pair that does not match the current Studio Pro.
But the Studio Pro launched in July 2023, and the premium headphone space has changed fast since then. Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser have all refreshed their top models, while the Studio Pro still lacks several features buyers now expect at this price.
That leaves one clear question. Can Beats make its next over-ear headphones feel current again? Let’s go through the latest release clues, design leaks, expected upgrades, and price outlook.
When Is the Beats Studio Pro 2 Release Date?
Apple’s FCC testing report for model A3577 is dated May 5, 2026, more than two weeks before it was publicly discovered on May 22. Recent FCC-to-launch gaps have ranged from two to eight weeks after publication, putting a summer 2026 announcement in play.
The Studio line’s own refresh cadence backs that window.
| Model | Release Date | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Beats Studio | July 2008 | — |
| Beats Studio 2.0 | 2013 | ~5y |
| Beats Studio3 Wireless | October 2017 | ~4y |
| Beats Studio Pro | July 2023 | ~6y |
A three-year Studio refresh cycle would point to mid-2026. Separately, the A3577 model number appears distinct from the AirPods Max 2’s A3454, making another AirPods Max variant less likely.
That leaves a refreshed Beats over-ear model as the stronger read, especially with the Studio Pro now three years old and already heavily discounted.
Plus, Beats typically announces via press release rather than Apple keynote, and Yamal’s staged Instagram posts fit a pattern where athletes and celebrities wear upcoming Beats in the weeks leading up to launch.
What Will the Beats Studio Pro 2 Look Like?
Those Instagram photos reveal what appears to be the most dramatic Beats over-ear redesign in years.
The headphones show a slimmer headband structure with thinner arms connecting to the ear cups, while the cups themselves appear to protrude more from the cushions instead of sitting flush.
Visible details include telescoping headband arms, a USB-C port, and the Beats logo on each ear cup.
And so far, only two colors have surfaced, a bright pink and an ivory/stone variant, neither of which currently appears together on an existing Beats over-ear model.
The bigger question, however, is whether the redesign solves the Studio Pro’s long-running comfort and build complaints.
Beats’ current model has been criticized for smaller ear cups, a less premium feel, and fit issues that can affect both comfort and passive isolation.
If the protruding ear cup design creates more depth, the next model could deliver a better seal around the ear. That would matter beyond comfort, since a more consistent seal can also help preserve bass response and improve ANC performance.
For the brand, this redesign needs to prove more than a new look. Deeper cups, sturdier arms, and a more premium-feeling frame would go a long way toward making the successor feel competitive with newer flagships from Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser.
What Features Can We Expect From the Beats Studio Pro 2?
The next Studio model does not need a long list of gimmicks. It needs targeted upgrades that fix the gaps buyers still notice on the current Studio Pro.
Heres’ what we can expect so far:
- Apple H2 chip
- Noise cancellation improvements
- Stronger codec and wireless connectivity
- Better call quality
Apple H2 chip
The current Studio Pro run on a proprietary Beats chip, not Apple’s H1 or H2, which leaves out several features Apple users now expect from premium headphones.
An H2 upgrade would be the cleanest way for Beats to close that gap. It could open the door to features such as ear detection, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, better Find My support, and smoother Apple-device switching.
Noise cancellation improvements
The Studio Pro attenuate 50-90% of ambient noise with up to 53dB reduction in some frequencies, while Beats says its ANC system filters noise 48,000 times per second. Those numbers read well on paper, but the real-world gap is still in low-frequency cancellation, where newer Sony and Bose flagships tend to feel stronger.
The most meaningful upgrade would be stronger cancellation for engines, trains, air-conditioning, and other steady low-frequency noise, since that is where premium ANC headphones usually separate themselves.
If the successor adopts Apple’s H2 chip, better processing could help Beats narrow that deficit.
Stronger codec and wireless connectivity
Wirelessly, the Studio Pro support only AAC and SBC with no multipoint connectivity. Sony’s WH-1000XM6 offers LDAC and LC3, Sennheiser’s Momentum 5 ships with aptX Lossless, and even budget competitors now include multipoint as standard.
Since the current Studio Pro cannot stay connected to two devices at once, LE Audio or Auracast would make the headphones feel more future-proof, especially as Bluetooth audio sharing and lower-latency connections become more common.
Higher-quality codec support would also help Beats compete better outside the Apple ecosystem, where AAC is not always enough to match what Sony and Sennheiser offer.
Better call quality
Microphone sensitivity on the Studio Pro is described as “very low” with quiet output above 1kHz. Beats touted up to 27% more clarity over the Studio3 Wireless at launch, but that comparison was made against headphones from 2017, and the rest of the field has since moved on.
Nothing specific has surfaced about the successor’s microphone hardware, though. Even so, Beats does not necessarily need to match every competitor’s microphone count to feel competitive.
The bigger need is clearer voice isolation, stronger beamforming, and better suppression of keyboard, traffic, and wind noise. Those upgrades would matter most for buyers who use the same headphones for music, calls, video meetings, and commuting.
How Much Will the Beats Studio Pro 2 Cost?
Eighteen years of pricing history point to a narrow band, with the Beats Studio line holding between $299 and $350 across every generation.
The current Studio Pro launched at $349.99 before dropping to $169 at retailers.
A major upgrade, especially one built around Apple’s H2 chip, could justify a higher launch price, but Beats still needs clear separation from the $549 AirPods Max 2. That makes $349-$399 the most likely window.
| Product | MSRP |
|---|---|
| Sennheiser Momentum 5 | $399 |
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | $449 |
| Bose QC Ultra 2nd Gen | $449 |
| AirPods Max 2 | $549 |
At $349-$399, the successor would sit $50-$100 below Sony and Bose.
Still, that price gap only works if Beats closes the practical feature gaps that made the current Studio Pro feel behind newer flagships. Stronger ANC, better comfort, multipoint connectivity, and improved call quality would make the successor easier to justify at launch price instead of relying on the deep discounts that now define the Studio Pro.