Bluetooth audio-?especially when exercising-?has always been "good enough,"has always been "good enough," but never great. Apple's W1 chip in its latest headphones lineup changes that, and the proprietary wireless technology steals the show in its new sports-focused Powerbeats3 headphones.

Beats; bluetooth; headphones; W1; Powerbeats3

Hey, did you hear the news, Apple owns Beats now. OK, so it's not exactly new news, it happened years ago, but it's still a pretty big deal, and important for what we're going to say next.

Comfortable; cool; secure design; Impressive Bluetooth connection; Brilliant battery life

No noise cancelling; Let in a bit of wind noise; Not the deepest sound

When Apple made their big iPhone 7 announcement in September, they managed to carve out the smallest sliver of time to introduce three new Beats products - the first set to directly benefit from the Apple's acquisition of Beats.

Fantastic bass response for a pair of wireless in-ears; great all-around sound quality; can get very loud; 12-hour battery life is stellar; fast charging is great in a pinch; W1 chip makes pairing with Apple devices a breeze

Poor fit relative to competing products; outer earhooks can be uncomfortable; some Bluetooth connectivity issues around walls (even at short range

In addition to the buds that jam into your ear canals, the Powerbeats3 have big adjustable hooks on both sides that wrap over your ear to keep everything secure. As a result, they're the most stable, comfortable wireless headphones I've ever tried. I can wear them all day without pain.

Comfortable fit and great battery life. No wires to get tangled and rip your headphones off while working out/working. One helpful feature is a battery life indicator accessible on your iPhone so you know remaining battery and when they need charged.

Not beats fault - I like the product. Bought these for longer battery life. Apple bought beats, then forced everyone with iPhone 7 to use Bluetooth headphones. Not a coincidence

For iPhone 7 work well for telephone purposes; Great sound for music

You need them for iPhone 7

The Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless earphones use the Apple W1 chip for superior Bluetooth performance and deliver a highly sculpted, bass-forward audio experience.

Powerful audio performance for bass lovers; Uses Apple W1 chip for quick pairing, better connectivity with iOS devices; Sweat- and water-resistant design; Very secure fit

Insanely boosted bass and sculpted highs aren't for anyone seeking an accurate sound signature; Expensive

The cable-free AirPods ($124.99 at Amazon) ushered in Apple's W1 chip, which allows easier pairing and better Bluetooth connectivity across supported iOS devices. The Powerbeats3 Wireless from Beats bring the W1 chip to the realm of Bluetooth earphones that still use a cable to connect each earpiece. At $199.95, the Powerbeats are quite expensive for exercise-focused, neckband-style earphones. From an audio standpoint, the Powerbeats3 deliver distortion-free, intense sound aimed at lovers of boosted bass. The W1 chip and water-resistant, secure-fitting design help justify some of the cost, but as with many Beats and Apple products, you are also paying a brand premium. Design Available in black, white, gray and blue, red and black, or yellow and black, the Powerbeats3 Wireless utilize a lightweight neckband and built-in ear hooks to stabilize the in-canal fit. The hooks work wonders—the fit is exceptionally secure, and it's difficult to imagine the earpieces falling out during ev...

The Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless earphones use the Apple W1 chip for superior Bluetooth performance and deliver a highly sculpted, bass-forward audio experience.

Powerful audio performance for bass lovers; Uses Apple W1 chip for quick pairing, better connectivity with iOS devices; Sweat- and water-resistant design; Very secure fit

Insanely boosted bass and sculpted highs aren't for anyone seeking an accurate sound signature; Expensive

I'm not a big music listener so I don't care about bass or whatever, but I do love to listen to books while walking. I tried the Beats on-ear headphones, but after 10 mins. my ears started hurting, plus I felt disconnected while walking (couldn't hear other noises around me as well).

Overall, I would say that these are entirely too expensive and over-hyped. You're paying for the name, without much in the way of performance that sets these apart from other, less expensive, bluetooth headphones. The sound is nice, very bass-heavy, good volume.