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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want effortless all-day battery life and deep Apple ecosystem integration, choose Beats Solo3; if you need active noise cancellation, hi-res audio codecs and modern Bluetooth, choose Edifier W820NB.
• Beats Solo3 — biggest strength: the Apple W1 chip with Class 1 Bluetooth and up to 40 hours of listening time, plus Fast Fuel (5 minutes of charging gives 3 hours of playback).
• Beats Solo3 — biggest trade-off: it's an on-ear design with no active noise cancellation and no hi-res codec support, so it blocks less outside noise than an over-ear ANC model.
• Edifier W820NB — biggest strength: hybrid active noise cancellation rated to -49 dB, LDAC hi-res audio, up to 88 hours of playtime (49 with ANC on) and Bluetooth 6.1 with multipoint.
• Edifier W820NB — biggest trade-off: it's an over-ear headphone that leans on its app for EQ and advanced features, so you get the most out of it if you're willing to set it up.
• Who Beats Solo3 is for: iPhone and Apple-device users who want a light, foldable, grab-and-go on-ear headphone with class-leading battery.
• Who Edifier W820NB is for: commuters, travelers and Android or multi-device users who want noise cancellation, hi-res sound and long ANC battery life in an over-ear design.
The Beats Solo3 is built around one idea: make wireless listening as frictionless as possible. The Apple W1 chip handles the pairing, and Class 1 Bluetooth is designed for a more stable, longer-range connection than standard Bluetooth classes. If you're already in the Apple world, that chip is the headline — it's the part of this headphone that makes switching between an iPhone, iPad or Mac feel seamless rather than fiddly. It also works fine with Android devices, so you're not locked in, but the polish shows up most clearly on Apple hardware.
Battery is the second pillar. Beats rates the Solo3 at up to 40 hours of listening time, and Fast Fuel means a 5-minute charge gets you roughly 3 hours of playback when you're low. That combination is genuinely useful for people who forget to charge: plug in while you get ready, and you've got a usable session. The cushioned, adjustable on-ear cups and the foldable, streamlined frame are aimed at daily carry — it's a headphone that slips into a bag and survives the trip. At 7.6 ounces it's light enough to wear for long stretches.
Edifier W820NB: Who It's For
The Edifier W820NB is the spec-packed option, and its feature list reads like a checklist of everything the Beats lacks. Hybrid active noise cancellation rated to -49 dB is the centerpiece, and Edifier gives you multiple ANC modes plus physical buttons for switching levels on the fly. There's also an app — EDIFIER ConneX — with dedicated modes for sport, office and travel, plus custom EQ presets. That means the headphone adapts to your environment instead of forcing one tuning on you.
Audio hardware is a step up on paper too. A 40 mm titanium dynamic driver, LDAC hi-res audio support, a 20 Hz–20 kHz frequency range and spatial sound technology put this firmly in "features you'd normally associate with pricier cans" territory. For anyone who cares about codec quality rather than just "it plays music," LDAC is the meaningful upgrade here.
Battery is where it separates further. Edifier rates it at up to 88 hours of continuous use, or 49 hours with ANC on, and fast charging delivers 15 hours from a 15-minute top-up. That's a lot of headroom — enough that charging becomes a monthly chore rather than a nightly one. Bluetooth 6.1 with multipoint lets you stay connected to two devices at once, which is a real quality-of-life win if you're bouncing between a laptop and a phone.
The trade-offs are practical rather than dramatic. It's an over-ear design weighing 247 g, so it's bulkier than the on-ear Beats, and the soft memory foam cushions are doing the heavy lifting for comfort. The full feature set lives partly behind the app, and USB-C is the only wired option. I'd point you to the W820NB if noise cancellation, hi-res codecs and multipoint matter to you, and I'd look elsewhere if you want zero setup and the lightest possible carry.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → Edifier W820NB. Up to 88 hours (49 with ANC) beats the Solo3's 40 hours, and 15 minutes of charging gives 15 hours versus the Beats' 3 hours.
• Best for Apple users → Beats Solo3. The Apple W1 chip is the smoothest pairing experience for iPhone, iPad and Mac owners.
• Best for sound quality on paper → Edifier W820NB. LDAC hi-res audio, a 40 mm titanium driver and spatial sound outclass the Solo3's standard Bluetooth audio.
• Best for commuting and travel → Edifier W820NB. Over-ear ANC plus foldable, lightweight construction is the better fit for planes, trains and open offices.
• Best for multi-device switching → Edifier W820NB. Bluetooth 6.1 multipoint keeps two devices connected at once; the Solo3 pairs one at a time.
• Best for everyday simplicity → Beats Solo3. On-ear, light at 7.6 ounces, foldable, no app required, and it just works.
• Best for call clarity → Edifier W820NB. AI noise cancellation isolates your voice and reduces ambient noise for hands-free calls.
If I were buying one of these for myself, I'd take the Edifier W820NB. In my opinion, it covers more of what most people actually want in 2026 — real active noise cancellation, hi-res LDAC audio, multipoint Bluetooth and battery life that borders on absurd. The Beats Solo3 still has a place: if you're deep in Apple's ecosystem and want a light, no-fuss on-ear headphone with excellent battery, its W1 chip convenience is hard to beat. But as an all-rounder, the W820NB does more, for more situations. Check the current price on Amazon before you decide, since that's the one variable that can flip this call.
The Edifier W820NB, clearly. It has hybrid active noise cancellation rated to -49 dB with adjustable modes. The Beats Solo3 has no ANC at all — it only blocks sound passively through its on-ear fit.
Does the Edifier W820NB work with iPhone?
Beats rates the Solo3 at up to 40 hours of listening time, with 5 minutes of charging giving about 3 hours. Edifier rates the W820NB at up to 88 hours, or 49 hours with ANC on, with 15 minutes of charging giving around 15 hours.
On features per dollar, I'd say the Edifier W820NB — ANC, LDAC, multipoint and longer battery are a lot of capability. The Beats Solo3 justifies itself through Apple integration and simplicity rather than raw specs. Since pricing shifts, check the current price on Amazon for both before deciding.
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