Beats Studio 3 Cracking

So 5 months after the plastic covering the hinges started cracking (posted here in september) and 'fixing' those with tape when Apple a) blamed it on the user and b) wanted €200 to repair it, the cover popped off. Only worn in the house, sitting behind a desk, perhaps 15 - 20 times since September. So all in all my beats, worn in the house occasionally for about a year, have two cracked hinges and one cracked cover (which also distorts the sound).

@Apple, @Tim Cook, either I don't understand how to wear headphones, or you sold subpar junk. This product is obviously flawed from a design and durability standpoint. These are not just cosmetic defects, the thing is literally falling apart when being used as intended. To then have multiple Apple Support Staffers blame it on the user is astounding. It is clear from the AirPods Max-design that Apple learned from the beats failures. Pretending nothing is wrong with your Beats 3 product is not a good look.

Looks like I’m going to be another unsatisfied customer. Called in to Apple care and got the same response as everyone else. $199 to fix a $1 part that wasn’t engineered robustly enough. Mine lasted 1 year and one month. There are replacement parts and fix videos out there. You know it’s an issue when a cottage industry develops to fix it.

I wished I read this before purchasing my Beats Studio 3. Mine just broke on both sides. This seems to be a common issue and Apple should do something to fix this issue!

Exactly the same thing has happened to me just this evening with a pair that are not even stored folded and used about twice a week if that! They hang on a hook above my desk, completely out of harms way and they cracked when I went to put them on. I have spoken to 7 different people at Apple and Beats over chat and phone and have more or less been told that I must have done something to them because "that doesn't just happen with headphones." They are three weeks out of warranty (of course). I have been on a combination of HOLD and chatting for almost two hours. Bottom line is that even though these are obviously not fit for purpose it will cost almost half of the RRP to get them repaired. Apple not interested, I just keep getting shunted around in circles.

It's clearly a defect in the design. You can feel the adjustable part of the headband under the plastic, when they're on their smallest sizing the pressure as you widen the overall aperture of the band to put them on is distributed across a wide surface area and the plastic barely moves, but when you extend them to their largest sizing the pressure is clearly on a very small area and you can feel them bowing. Mine have cracked on both sides and it's a matter of time before they fall apart, they're out of warranty but time owned doesn't really equate well to time used as I have them to watch movies when my partner wants to go to bed early and they sit in their case the whole time they're not on my head, so they're pretty lightly used. I paid £220 against an RRP of £300 and thought I had a bargain at the time on something that would last for many years but they're a total waste of money. This thread gives me no hope I'll get any joy from Apple about it and I certainly won't be buying another pair, of this design or any other in the future.

I have this same issue. I had a pair of old pair Bose on-ear, so when I got the Beats, I didn't actually use them for a while. I used the Beats for maybe 3 months less than that though, and they are still within the 1 year warranty. I had 2 cracks, 1 behind each ear up, and when I used bluetooth, sound wasn't coming out of one ear. When I contacted Apple, and sent them in, they said it was a "cosmetic defect", and they said it would be $279+tax to fix them. It's absolutely ridiculous and now I'm stuck with an expensive piece of plastic.

They suggested it should be covered under warranty (which expired) b/c it seems like a product defect, and based on other consumer complaints. It seems to be a "big head" issue. which isn't really an excuse. poor engineering / quality.

Same problem with cracking.

About 2 years old and rarely used but out of warranty.

Spoke to Apple who initially didn’t want to know.

Had the case escalated using the argument that it was a latent defect and covered but the consumer goods act ( I live in the UK).

Agreed to have them collected so they could take a look at them. Sent a box by courier which I sent the defective phones back in.

1 week later a brand new set arrived.

Happy with this service although if I hadn’t been so insistent And stood my ground I’m not sure if I’d got as far.

There is definitely a problem which I don’t know if they’ve addressed with the new models .

that’s ridiculous. it isn’t “accidental” when you look at this thread, when it happens in the same place on both sides, when the issue seems to be worse for folks with big heads. Ultimately, the design is beautiful, as all things apple are, but in this case, it simply is not functional.

[Edited by Moderator]

I've just found a crack on one side of my Beats headphones which aren't a year old yet and rarely used (I got them free with my MacBook). I immediately called Apple to organise a repair. They're going to send out a box for me to post them in but I have to pay £340.72 in a 'holding fee' before they'll even look at them.

I assumed it must have been accidental damage until my husband found this thread. I don't want to be left out of pocket or be asked to pay a ridiculous price to fix them although I'm not keen on travelling on the train to take them to the nearest store either. Any advice would be great.

I honestly wouldn't send them in if they are going to charge you. They basically told me the same thing, that it was "accidental damage", even though, same as you, they were hardly used, and under warranty. When I sent them in for a different issue, they said it would cost $279 + tax (CAD) to fix them, and I asked for them to send them back.

It's ridiculous, they know there are issues with the headband cracking, and they won't address them, they just categorize it as "accidental damage", and make you pay for it again.

It’s a latent defect and a problem with the design that they are fully aware of but won’t admit to it

Ask to speak to a manager, tell them this and that the product contravenes the consumer goods act 2015 and you require either your money back or a complete replacement.

They will probably try to fob you off but don’t take no for an answer.

I persevered and they eventually replaced mine FOC.

Do not give them any money !

Same Problem!! I can’t believe Apple can say its a damage when many people have their beats studio 3 cracked at exactly the same place. I believe its the text etched on the plastic that’s making it weak. I see a fine text engraved on the inner plastic of that headphones.

My headphones have never dropped, there’s no scratch on it and it works flawless, even my battery lasts long!!

I had my Bose earphones rubber falling off in 6 months and Bose asked me no questions and just inspected the product condition, saw no damage, checked warranty and replaced it!

even a new player AIWA (recently resurrected) gives no question asked warranty on their headphones for up to 3 Years at no extra cost and their Headphones are much cheaper and better sounding, just no ANC :(

If my headphones are not fixed, this would my last beats product!!

I have the same issue on my studio 3 - 10th anniversary edition. I have trouble that Apple is not standing behind this issue. The headphones don't leave my desk so there's nowhere to accidentally damage them. I'm on hold now I hope that they stand behind this issue. It is embarrassing for Apple and beats to have a product that cost as much of this, barely make it a year.

Identical issue here in West Sussex in the UK. The Eurpoean Call Centre (Cork in Ireland) were as unhelpful as others. Their front line staff do not understand their is a systemic issue with the fabrication plastic used in this area of the headsets.

Like others I have a large head but the support operative assured me that should not be an issue as the headphones extend to cater for this.

When I pointed out they do not meet their deign intent and the integrity issue means they do not comply with consumer legislation I was fobbed off with the offer of a free repair/replacement.

The problem is I had my beats replaced in April 2020 for the same fault and the new pair, (less than 3 months in my ownership (I cannot be certain they are brand new) are now cracked.

I do not live near an Apple Store but when I get the opportunity I will be visiting one and having strong conversation with a member of store management.