If you want a simple wired, lightweight option for video calls, choose Sony ZX Series; if you need wireless listening with active noise cancelling, choose Beats Studio3. For calls, the key distinction is that the Sony has no microphone listed, while the Beats has wireless connectivity and noise cancellation but no microphone feature specified either. Neither is a purpose-built call headset, so choose based on the listening setup you need.
• Sony ZX Series: Its lightweight on-ear design, folding swivel earcups, and wired 3.5 mm connection keep the setup simple; the trade-off is no noise control and no microphone listed.
• Beats Studio3: Wireless Bluetooth, active noise cancelling, and up to 22 hours of listening time suit longer listening sessions; the trade-off is that its larger over-ear design and call-microphone details are not specified here.
• Choose Sony ZX Series if you want a straightforward wired pair for music and travel and do not need wireless features.
• Choose Beats Studio3 if blocking outside noise and listening without a cable matter more than a compact on-ear design.
• For either model, confirm that your call device and intended connection method are compatible before treating it as a video-call headset.
Sony ZX Series is a basic wired on-ear headphone built around 30 mm dynamic drivers and a 3.5 mm stereo connection. That combination suits someone who wants to plug into a compatible device without managing Bluetooth or charging the headphones. The 1.2-meter Y-type cord is described as tangle-resistant, and the swivel, folding earpads make the pair easier to pack for travel.
Its lightweight design may be appealing for someone carrying headphones between home, work, and a commute. The 30 mm drivers and listed frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz provide a useful sense of the headphone’s audio coverage, but those figures alone do not establish how it will sound to every listener. The product information identifies travel as a specific use, and the uncomplicated wired format fits that role well.
For video calls, however, there is an important limitation: the listed style is “No Mic,” and the feature information does not identify a built-in microphone. A 3.5 mm plug gives it a direct wired connection, but it does not by itself make the headphones a complete calling setup. If your computer or phone has a separate microphone, the Sony could still serve as your listening headphones. The data does not establish call-microphone performance.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-14 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
This is a reasonable fit for someone who values a simple connection, portable folding earcups, and on-ear headphones for music or travel. It may also suit a buyer exploring searches such as “hifi stereo open ear earbuds for video calls,” but it is not an earbud, is not open-ear, and is not specified as a call headset. Those terms describe a different product category.
Who should skip it: Skip the Sony if you need wireless playback, active noise cancelling, or a microphone included for calls.
Beats Studio3 is an over-ear wireless headphone with Bluetooth connectivity, active noise cancelling, and compatibility with iOS and Android devices. Its defining advantage over the Sony is that it can play audio wirelessly while actively reducing external noise. That may help when you want to listen in a setting where surrounding sound competes with your music or other audio.
The listed battery life is up to 22 hours of listening time. That gives a buyer a concrete planning figure for wireless use, although actual listening time can vary with how the headphones are used. The product also describes real-time audio calibration intended to preserve the listening experience. Together, these features make it more feature-rich for wireless listening than the Sony’s wired, no-noise-control setup.
For calls, keep the distinction between noise cancellation and microphone support clear. Noise cancellation is described as blocking external noise; that fact does not confirm that the person on the other end of a video call will hear you clearly. If calls are central to your routine, check that the intended device and call setup support your microphone needs before choosing it as a headset.
The over-ear design and wireless connection may appeal to someone who wants to avoid a cable while listening for longer stretches. A shopper searching for “active noise cancelling clip on earbuds for video calls” should note that Studio3 is neither clip-on nor earbuds: it is an over-ear headphone. Likewise, its gaming-related theme does not establish gaming-specific microphone or latency features. It could provide wireless listening during gaming, but the supplied information does not make it a dedicated gaming headset.
Who should skip it: Skip the Beats if a built-in microphone is essential and you cannot confirm that your intended calling setup will provide one.
• Best for a straightforward wired connection → Sony ZX Series. Its 3.5 mm stereo plug avoids relying on Bluetooth, provided your device has a compatible jack.
• Best for wireless listening → Beats Studio3. Bluetooth frees you from a headphone cable during playback.
• Best for active noise cancelling → Beats Studio3. Its listed noise control actively reduces external noise; the Sony lists none.
• Best for a lightweight, portable on-ear design → Sony ZX Series. It is described as lightweight, and the earcups swivel and fold for portability.
• Best for stated long-session wireless playback → Beats Studio3. The listed listening time is up to 22 hours.
• Best if charging is not part of your headphone routine → Sony ZX Series. It connects by cable and the data does not specify a battery requirement.
• Best if you need confirmed microphone support for calls → Neither, based on the available details. The Sony is identified as “No Mic,” and the Beats information does not specify a microphone.
• Best fit for a compact travel-oriented wired pair → Sony ZX Series. Its folding earcups and 1.2-meter cord support a simple portable setup.
In my opinion, I would choose the Beats Studio3 if my main priority were wireless listening with active noise cancelling and up to 22 hours of stated listening time. I would choose the Sony ZX Series instead for a lighter, wired pair that folds for travel and does not need charging.
For video calls, I would not assume either one is a complete headset: microphone support is not established for the Beats, and the Sony is explicitly listed with no mic. My call setup would need a separate or confirmed microphone before I picked either model.
Before choosing, check how your device connects to headphones. The Sony uses a 3.5 mm wired plug, while the Beats supports Bluetooth and also lists a 3.5 mm jack. That gives the Beats both wireless and wired connection options in the supplied specifications, whereas the Sony is identified as wired only. A device without a compatible headphone jack may require a suitable connection solution for the Sony; the details provided do not specify an adapter.
Next, separate hearing less outside noise from being heard clearly on a call. Beats lists active noise cancelling for reducing external noise around the listener. That is useful information for listening, but it is not evidence of a call microphone or microphone noise reduction. Sony’s listed “No Mic” style makes its limitation more explicit. If your workday involves frequent calls, prioritize confirmed microphone compatibility rather than inferring it from Bluetooth, noise cancellation, or a headphone jack.
Also think about what you carry and how you listen. Sony’s on-ear construction is described as lightweight, with folding swivel earpads and a tangle-resistant 1.2-meter cable. That is a practical, uncomplicated travel profile. Beats is over-ear and wireless, with up to 22 hours of listening time; its advantage is freedom from the cable during playback, while charging becomes part of using it wirelessly.
Finally, do not choose either model solely because a search phrase sounds close to its intended use. Neither is described as an open-ear earbud or a clip-on earbud. And while Beats lists a video-game theme, that does not prove features associated with the “best gaming headset for video calls,” such as confirmed microphone support. Match the product to its documented connection, design, and noise-control features—and verify the call hardware your device will use.
Neither product’s provided details confirm an included microphone. Sony is specifically described as having no mic, while the Beats information does not list microphone support. Confirm your call device and microphone setup before relying on either pair for speaking.
Beats Studio3 lists active noise cancelling that blocks external noise. Sony ZX Series lists no noise control. That makes Beats the clear choice between these two if active noise reduction while listening is your priority.
Sony connects through a wired 3.5 mm audio jack, and its listed features do not specify a battery requirement. It avoids Bluetooth charging for playback, assuming your device supports the connection.
Both have features that may suit travel, but in different ways. Sony is lightweight, wired, and has folding swivel earpads; Beats offers wireless listening and active noise cancelling, with up to 22 hours of stated listening time.
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