How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-21 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Beats Solo3 — biggest strength: Up to 40 hours of listening time, plus Fast Fuel (5 minutes of charging gives 3 hours of playback).
• Beats Solo3 — biggest trade-off: On-ear cushions press against the ear rather than around it, and there's no active noise canceling in the spec sheet.
• Sony WH-CH720NB — biggest strength: Dual Noise Sensor active noise canceling driven by an Integrated Processor V1, in a body that weighs just 192 g.
• Sony WH-CH720NB — biggest trade-off: Over-ear headphones are bulkier to pack than a folding on-ear set, and the listed battery life is shorter than the Beats.
• Pick Beats Solo3 if you want long battery, foldability, and an Apple W1 chip for fast pairing across iOS and Android.
• Pick Sony WH-CH720NB if you want quiet, lightweight all-day wear, touch controls, and multipoint Bluetooth.
The Beats Solo3 is built around one idea: keep the music going. The headline number is up to 40 hours of listening time on a charge, which is the kind of figure that turns charging into a weekend chore rather than a nightly one. Even better for forgetful people, Fast Fuel tops you up fast — 5 minutes of charging buys 3 hours of playback. If you routinely leave the house with a half-dead pair of headphones, that single feature changes your routine more than any spec sheet adjective.
Inside, you get the Apple W1 chip and Class 1 Bluetooth, and the headphones work with both iOS and Android devices. The W1 chip is the part Apple users notice most: pairing and switching between Apple devices is smooth, and Class 1 Bluetooth is about connection stability and range rather than raw audio tuning. Physically, these are on-ear headphones with adjustable, comfort-cushioned ear cups, a durable and foldable frame, and a satin silver finish. The fold is genuinely useful — they collapse into a small shape that slides into a bag pocket instead of hogging a whole compartment.
Who should buy them? Someone who wants a lightweight, grab-and-go headphone for commutes, workouts-adjacent use, and long stretches away from a charger, and who mostly lives inside Apple's ecosystem. Who should skip them? Anyone who needs active noise canceling to survive a noisy open office or a plane cabin. On-ear designs also press on the ear, so if you know you dislike that sensation after an hour, this isn't the shape for you. And if you want the soundstage and seal of a full over-ear cup, look elsewhere.
The Sony WH-CH720NB takes the opposite approach: it prioritizes quiet and lightness over sheer runtime. The Dual Noise Sensor technology paired with an Integrated Processor V1 is the core of the active noise canceling system, and the goal is stated plainly — fully immerse yourself in the music. That matters most in the places where you can't control the noise: trains, buses, shared offices, a partner watching TV in the next room.
Comfort is the second pillar. Sony describes the WH-CH720N as ergonomically designed and lightweight, and the spec sheet backs it up at 192 g. For over-ear headphones, that's genuinely light, and the rounded over-ear pads surround the ear instead of pressing on it. The trade-off is the shape itself: over-ear headphones take up more room in a bag than a folding on-ear set.
On sound, Sony leans on the same Integrated Processor V1 plus the Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) for natural vocals, clear detail, and balanced tuning, with a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz frequency range and a 108 dB sensitivity rating. There's also a companion app for tuning the audio to taste, multipoint connection so two Bluetooth devices can be linked at once, touch controls, and voice control. Bluetooth range is listed at 10 meters, and the box includes a connection cable and a USB cable. Battery life is listed at up to 35 hours with quick charge.
Who should buy them? Anyone who wants noise canceling, a light over-ear fit for long work sessions, and the flexibility of jumping between a laptop and a phone without re-pairing. Who should skip them? Someone who wants the absolute longest battery per charge, or who prefers a compact folding on-ear design for tight pockets.
• Best for battery life → Beats Solo3. Up to 40 hours versus up to 35 hours, and Fast Fuel adds 3 hours from a 5-minute charge.
• Best for noise canceling → Sony WH-CH720NB. Active noise canceling with Dual Noise Sensor tech and an Integrated Processor V1; the Beats sheet lists no ANC.
• Best for all-day comfort → Sony WH-CH720NB. 192 g and over-ear pads that surround the ear rather than press on it.
• Best for portability → Beats Solo3. A durable, foldable frame that collapses for travel.
• Best for Apple users → Beats Solo3. The Apple W1 chip and Class 1 Bluetooth make pairing across Apple devices the smoothest part of the experience.
• Best for switching between devices → Sony WH-CH720NB. Multipoint connection links two Bluetooth devices at once.
• Best for quiet listening at home or in an office → Sony WH-CH720NB. The noise canceling and DSEE tuning are aimed squarely at immersive, low-distraction listening.
• Best for a simple, no-app experience → Beats Solo3. Fewer moving parts: pair, play, fold, go.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the Sony WH-CH720NB. In my opinion, active noise canceling is the feature you feel every single day, and the 192 g over-ear build makes long sessions easier than an on-ear clamp. The 35-hour battery is more than enough for a normal week, and multipoint means my laptop and phone can both stay connected.
That said, the Beats Solo3 wins on raw endurance and packability. If you're an Apple user who hates charging and wants headphones that disappear into a bag, I'd recommend the Beats instead. Whichever way you lean, check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since pricing moves around and it's the one variable that can flip this call.
FAQ
Correct. The Sony WH-CH720NB has active noise canceling using Dual Noise Sensor technology and an Integrated Processor V1. The Beats Solo3 spec sheet does not list active noise canceling.
In my opinion, the Sony WH-CH720NB. It weighs 192 g and uses over-ear pads that surround the ear, while the Beats Solo3 is an on-ear design with cushioned cups that rest against the ear.
Both are wireless Bluetooth headphones and work across devices. The Sony WH-CH720NB adds multipoint connection so two Bluetooth devices can be linked at the same time, while the Beats Solo3 relies on the Apple W1 chip for quick pairing, especially with Apple devices.
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