Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace review: the ultimate luxury Bluetooth earbuds

Bang & Olufsen’s Beo Grace are ultra-high-end Bluetooth earbuds priced at 1,200 euros. They feature 12mm titanium dynamic transducers, a rare size for this format. These wireless earbuds support Dolby Atmos, incorporate advanced active noise reduction, and rely on the Bang & Olufsen app to manage sound settings, transparency and touch control customization.

Behind these latest-generation wireless hi-fi earbuds lies Bang & Olufsen’s expertise, inherited from a century of know-how in acoustics and design.

• Find out more about the history of Bang & Olufsen: 100 years of audio innovation and bold aesthetics.

The pearl-blasted aluminum case is an example of this tradition, as it is a material that the brand has mastered for decades and that it uses for both its robustness and its premium appearance. Here, as elsewhere at B&O, form and function go hand in hand.

The overall goal is to provide a coherent premium experience, where each element is in line with what Bang & Olufsen has created for several decades: products designed to last, evolve and accompany the user over the long term. This philosophy can already be found with iconic models such as the H100 headphones, designed with replaceable components to extend their lifespan. You can read the Beoplay H100 review on our blog. The Beo Grace headphones don’t go quite as far in this modular logic, but they clearly inherit the spirit: durable materials, meticulous design and thoughtful ergonomics for long-lasting everyday use.

Presentation

Bang & Olufsen design: a philosophy above all else

For over a century, Bang & Olufsen has championed an approach where design, acoustics and materials work together. This attention to detail is not limited to appearance: it shapes the way the object is handled every day and ages over time. Aluminum, omnipresent in the history of B&O, is finished with surgical precision to combine robustness, sensuality and elegance. Bang & Olufsen’s Beo Grace wireless earbuds are fully in line with this approach, as they are minimalist yet thoughtfully designed.

• Read all about Bang & Olufsen

Included accessories

Unboxing confirms the luxurious nature of these Bluetooth earbuds. The aluminum case is presented in a very elegant, understated manner, with the Beo Grace earbuds already positioned inside. The packaging is rigid and well structured.

The silicone ear tips come in a range of sizes and have a clip-on system. Removing them requires a little practice at first, but this ensures that the Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace remain perfectly in place once installed, so there is no chance of them being left in the ear canal when the earbuds are taken out.

The included cables are discreet and convenient. The USB-C to mini-jack and USB-C to USB-C cables are designed for the Streaming mode from the case, useful for reducing latency.

The included cables follow the design of the earbuds and fit in well with the overall package. The USB-C to mini-jack and USB-C to USB-C cables are designed for the Streaming mode from the case, useful for reducing latency.

A luxurious design down to the last detail

The pearl-blasted aluminum case immediately gives an impression of solidity and refinement. The blasting process contributes both to the aesthetics and durability of the material, giving it a satin-finish feel. The front also features a clean, discreet yet elegant engraving of the brand name, underlining the attention paid to design details.

The case deliberately doesn’t stand upright: there is a special coating on the back designed to protect the aluminum from micro-scratches when it’s laid down. A discreet decision, but one that reveals that the brand’s priority is to preserve the longevity of the material without compromising design.

Inside, the Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace earbuds are positioned in exactly the right direction, making them very intuitive to use: simply take them out of the case, place them in each ear, and everything else follows naturally. The stem bears the Bang & Olufsen name, discreet but prestigious, reinforcing the feeling that these are technological gems.

A number of small details show that a great deal of thought has gone into the design. The earbuds stand upright on a table, perfectly balanced, which may seem trivial but shows the rare attention paid to form and weight. This sense of balance reveals a design where every curve, every mass has been thought through to present an object that is always aesthetically pleasing.

Conversely, the case is deliberately designed not to stand upright: the rear section features a special coating designed to protect the aluminum from micro-scratches when laid flat. A subtle decision, but one that reveals the brand’s priorities: preserving the longevity of the material without compromising on design.

A technological gem

From a technical point of view, the Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace wireless earbuds perfectly illustrate the brand’s highly accomplished approach. They feature large, 12mm dynamic transducers with titanium diaphragms, a rare choice for Bluetooth earbuds, designed to deliver precision, stability and a coherent reproduction across the entire spectrum, whatever the volume.

One of the major strengths of the Beo Grace lies in their architecture with six MEMS microphones, divided between active noise cancelling and voice pickup.
Firstly, these microphones enable particularly effective and silent ANC, capable of greatly attenuating constant noise while maintaining a natural feel, with no perceptible hiss or artifacts. This management of ambient noise clearly enhances listening comfort and contributes to the impression of controlled calm.

Secondly, this dedicated architecture significantly improves call quality. The microphones ensure precise voice pick-up, with effective reduction of wind and noise, even outdoors. The voice remains clear and natural, with no metallic effects or excessive compression. This clear separation of roles between ANC and calls underlines the level of technical mastery achieved by Bang & Olufsen, and contributes fully to the feeling of a premium product.

Bang & Olufsen also stands out for its exclusive control technologies. Force Control, based on controlled physical pressure on the stem, guarantees precise, reliable interactions, without accidentally triggering commands. Then there’s NearTap, an innovative new feature that lets you adjust the volume simply by tapping the skin next to the ear, without directly touching the earbuds. Once you have mastered the gesture, control becomes intuitive, discreet and particularly natural, further enhancing user comfort.

All these technical choices (large transducers, 6 microphones, exclusive controls) make the Beo Grace much more than simple wireless earbuds. They embody a highly accomplished vision of true wireless listening, where technology doesn’t seek to impress on paper, but to provide a smooth, elegant and controlled everyday experience.

Comfort, fit and ergonomics

The Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace in-ear earbuds are comfortable to wear. They’re lightweight, balanced and sit naturally in the ear. Their fit is excellent: they stay perfectly in place when you put your head down, shake it quickly, or tie your hair back.

Force Control, based on pressure on the stem, responds immediately without the need for excessive force. Because the Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace earbuds are firmly anchored, you don’t feel like they will move or fall out. NearTap, designed to adjust volume exclusively, is more discreet and requires a little practice at first to find the right zone, but it soon becomes natural. The feedback is subtle but clear, allowing you to immediately understand whether the action has been taken into account.

Note from the expert
NearTap is an exclusive feature based on the detection of vibrations caused by a light tap on the skin close to the ear. Instead of directly touching the earbuds, you tap the side of your head just in front of the ear: to the right to increase volume, to the left to decrease it. This approach means you don't have to repeatedly tap the earbuds, which is never pleasant, and reduces the risk of them falling out. The principle is innovative and, once you get used to it, natural to do.   

Overall, the Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace’s ergonomics are very good, and every gesture quickly becomes instinctive.

Connectivity and pairing

The Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace wireless earbuds are paired via the Bang & Olufsen app, which accompanies the initial setup. However, getting to grips with the various functions is a little complex. Once set up, the earbuds connect easily to the devices already registered and integrate naturally into daily use.

Multipoint connectivity is handy for juggling between a computer and smartphone. Bluetooth 5.3 ensures a reliable connection with no perceptible latency in normal use. However, it is a shame that the earbuds aren’t compatible with a more advanced version of Bluetooth such as 5.4, or even Auracast.

A central app

The Bang & Olufsen app plays an essential role in the Beo Grace experience. It features the main settings while remaining easy to read and intuitive. The ANC settings, transparency mode, sound modes and control customization are all quickly accessible. The battery indicator is also detailed for each earbud, as is the battery life of the case.

The Beosonic interface replaces the conventional equalizer, but its simplicity is much appreciated. It’s possible to fine-tune the sound without entering into overly technical settings. Modifications are made in real time, making the experience very responsive and easy to adapt to whatever you’re listening to.

Control customization is just as intuitive. The interface lets you configure Force Control on each side. Each earbud has 4 different controls, depending on the number of presses. It can also be activated or deactivated, without having to search through the menus.

Everything is coherent, aesthetically pleasing and, above all, practical: you can feel that the app has been designed to accompany the user rather than to encumber them. Once everything has been set up, the app remains indispensable for modulating the ANC, transparency mode and choosing sound profiles with the Beosonic in particular.

Battery life and charging

The B&O Beo Grace Bluetooth earbuds offer up to 4.5 hours of playback with ANC activated and up to 17 hours with the charging case. This battery life puts them in the low middle range compared with the competition, but still guarantees comfortable everyday use.

Fast charging is a real asset: five minutes is all it takes to recover around 2.5 hours of listening time, making it easy to restart a session when you don’t have time to fully charge the earbuds.

IP rating

The B&O Beo Grace Bluetooth earbuds are IP57-certified, providing reassuring protection for use on the go. They can easily withstand dust and temporary exposure to rain and splashes.

Key specifications

• 12mm titanium dynamic transducers
• Advanced ANC and TrueTransparency
• 6 MEMS microphones
• Dolby Atmos compatibility
• Force Control and NearTap controls
• Bluetooth 5.3: LC3, AAC, SBC and multipoint
• Streaming function with the case
• Battery life of 4.5h (ANC activated) and up to 17h with the case
• Fast charge: 5 min for 2.5h of playback
• USB-C charging
• IP57 certification
• Pearl-blasted aluminum case

Test conditions

I used the Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace wireless earbuds for a week, with the Bang & Olufsen app accompanying me throughout. I used it to adjust the ANC, modulate the transparency, customize the controls and change the sound modes in order to fully test all the capabilities of the B&O Beo Grace in every situation.

Much of my testing took place in an open space office, at home in quieter rooms, and on the street in busy areas. These three environments enabled me to measure the effectiveness of the ANC and transparency mode when there was constant noise as well as in a quiet setting, while observing how the Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace manage the balance between conversations around me, music and calls in different conditions.

I used Qobuz and Spotify in HD for several hours, alternating between the different Beosonic modes, as well as with and without headtracking.

For latency, I wanted to see how well on-screen actions remained synchronized with the sound, and the difference between classic Bluetooth use and the Streaming mode from the case, designed to reduce audio latency. To cover several scenarios, I watched a series on Netflix, enjoyed a few YouTube videos, and played Elden Ring, a video game acclaimed for its soundtrack where sound timing is essential. These formats enabled me to evaluate the responsiveness of the sound to both dialogue and more intense sequences.

My impressions

Pairing the Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace requires a little patience during the first few minutes of setup, and is the main negative point of these earbuds. On a smartphone, the Bang & Olufsen app is essential to finalize the configuration correctly, but the process can seem tedious at first. You have to follow the steps carefully, otherwise you’ll have to start over again, as the app sometimes has trouble immediately recognizing the earbuds. Several tests by team members confirmed that this initial phase lacks simplicity.

On the other hand, on a PC, the connection was established without any particular problems: Bluetooth pairing was quick and easy, without the need to go through the app. Once this initial phase was done, the Bluetooth connection proved to be stable and reliable on a daily basis.

When first used, the NearTap controls also take some getting used to. It’s not easy to find the right zone to activate, and much depends on how well the earbuds are positioned in the ear. But once you get used to it, operation becomes natural. The haptic feedback on activation is clear and unobtrusive, even if this learning curve can be surprising at first.

Once this stage is over, the experience becomes much more intuitive. The B&O Beo Grace Bluetooth earbuds reconnect quickly to their registered devices and integrate seamlessly into everyday use. This more demanding initial handling contrasts with the simplicity felt later on, but it’s worth noting, particularly in view of the high-end positioning of these earbuds. Let’s hope that a future update will simplify this initial configuration.

Sound signature

From the very first listening session, the Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace wireless earbuds provided an impression of control. The reproduction was remarkably clean, with an almost self-evident clarity, as if each element of the mix was in its natural place. The soundstage opened up elegantly, without artifice or unnecessary ostentation, but with a stability and coherence that instantly inspired confidence.

The bass descended with fullness and authority, always perfectly controlled, without ever encroaching on the rest of the spectrum. The midrange was rich and nuanced, bringing out the best in voices and instruments. As for the highs, they soared with finesse and precision, without the slightest harshness, even when the tracks were densely packed with cymbals and snare drums. The whole sound exuded serenity and balance, providing an immersive, comfortable, and deeply musical listening experience.

Switching between the ANC and True Transparency mode was seamless and had no effect on the sound reproduction, which was very appreciable. I found exactly the same signature in both modes, with no change in timbre or loss of precision. You can switch from one mode to the other without ever having the impression of modifying your listening experience.

The B&O Beo Grace wireless hi-fi earbuds handled spatialized content very well. In Dolby Atmos, the soundstage gains in width and height. Effects moved smoothly, without sounding artificial.

Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire

Let’s Groove is a track that showcases the groove and richness of the mix. Here, each melodic line stood out clearly: the bass was dynamic, the brass had depth, and the backing vocals remained present without overwhelming the rest. I found myself tapping my foot quite quickly, which says a lot about how the Beo Grace managed to preserve the energy of the track.

Test Drive – John Powell (Dragons)

With Test Drive from the animated film How to Train your Dragon, the Beo Grace showed what they could do in terms of immersion. The immersive sound mode gives the impression that the music was unfolding around me, just like in the movie theater. The orchestral ascents carried us away, without saturation, and the reproduction remained stable, even when the intensity increased.

Une vie à t’aimer – Lorien Testard (Clair Obscur : Expedition 33)

On the soundtrack to the 2025 game of the year, notably the track Une vie à t’aimer, the level of detail was particularly striking. I could clearly hear the rain, the heartbeats, the breathing, the harmonies, the violin… Every element was in its place, and I really felt as if I was at the middle of the stage, surrounded by the musicians. I truly rediscovered the music.

Bad Guy – Billie Eilish

On Bad Guy, the Beo Grace immediately revealed their mastery in bass reproduction. The lows were powerful and deep, yet perfectly controlled. I really felt enveloped by the music, without the bass taking over. Billie Eilish’s voice remained clean and detached, providing a pleasant contrast between the vocal line and the rhythmic base.

Daily use of the ANC and transparency mode

In the office, the ANC of the B&O Beo Grace Bluetooth earbuds proved highly effective. Without music, all that’s left were a few light noises, such as the click of my mouse or keyboard. In a quiet room, I didn’t notice any murmur or background noise: the atmosphere became really calm and truly silent.

In the street, the ANC handled ambient noise well. Close conversations and traffic noise were clearly attenuated. When listening to music, they disappeared completely.

The transparency mode was just as impressive. Voices and outside sounds remained natural, with no robotic effect. The ability to modulate its intensity in the app makes it easy to adjust according to the context, whether to remain attentive outdoors or simply to open up a little to the world around you.

Immersion and latency

As far as latency on YouTube and Netflix is concerned, I was mainly interested in seeing how well dialogues stayed in sync with lip movements, especially when watching episodes of series in their original language. The synchronization was very good, and the experience remained perfectly fluid, with no perceptible lag.

I then used Elden Ring as a reference to evaluate latency and overall immersion. With conventional pairing, synchronization remained very good for Bluetooth earbuds. This isn’t a problem when watching a video or a series, where dialogue and images remain well aligned, but in a game where rhythm counts, this slight lag is noticeable, which, as it stands, doesn’t make them suitable for games that are demanding in terms of latency.

After activating the Streaming mode from the case, responsiveness improved significantly. Attacks, impact and spells followed the on-screen action much more closely, immediately enhancing the feeling of control in the game. The soundtrack, which is already very immersive, benefited from good separation between different registers: the choirs, orchestral layers and percussion remained clear, which enhanced immersion in the world of the game. With this mode, these earbuds are perfectly suited to a variety of demanding game genres, from FromSoftware titles to FPS games.

My verdict

After several days of use, the B&O Beo Grace Bluetooth earbuds won me over above all by their consistency with a century of Bag&Olufsen history. Their design, ergonomics and build quality create a seamless experience, where every gesture feels natural, despite the initial pairing being more complex than average.

The Beo Grace are also distinguished by truly unique technical choices. The six-microphone MEMS architecture ensures highly effective active noise cancelling, but above all remarkable electronic silence, with no hiss or crackle. This same architecture also benefits calls: wind and noise reduction is excellent, keeping the voice clear and stable, even outdoors. Conversations remain natural, without excessive compression, reinforcing their everyday versatility.

In terms of sound, the B&O Beo Grace offer a precise, stable reproduction, with a sound signature that remains pleasant and clear in all formats, from stereo to Dolby Atmos. ANC and transparency fit in well with this logic: they enhance comfort without altering the music.

The user experience is also enhanced by exclusive features. The NearTap controls, once harnessed, offer a truly innovative approach to volume control, more natural and less intrusive than a conventional button or touch-sensitive interface. The case’s streaming mode, designed to reduce latency, is a real plus for videos and gaming, with significantly improved audio synchronization. These choices are not gimmicks: they contribute to a coherent, premium experience.

On a day-to-day basis, the immediate comfort, the reliability of the controls and the effectiveness of the noise reduction make the Beo Grace very easy to adopt. What’s more, I really enjoyed wearing them, despite the fact that in-ear earbuds are not usually my preferred format. The Beo Grace speakers achieve true harmony here, thanks to their balance, lightness and rare ability to blend into the background once in place.

After much discussion within the editorial team and several listening sessions, the verdict is unanimous: the Beo Grace are highly accomplished earbuds, whose musical qualities and overall experience put everyone in agreement. They clearly remain a luxury item, designed as much for experience as for audio performance. Their price tag will discourage many, but Bang & Olufsen’s Beo Grace deliver on their promises: beautiful immersion, mastered sound and attention to detail that’s felt in every use, far beyond mere sound quality.

Comparison: Technics AZ-100 vs Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace

The Technics AZ-100 and Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace wireless earbuds are both top-of-the-range wireless earbuds, but not in the same price category or with the same philosophy. Priced at 290 euros, the Technics AZ-100 are among today’s best models technically, and represent a very solid benchmark in their segment. The Beo Grace models, priced at 1,200 euros, are clearly positioned elsewhere, with very different ambitions.

The Technics AZ-100 offer high-performance noise cancelling, particularly effective on constant noise. B&O’s Beo Grace, on the other hand, is even quieter, with no perceptible hiss, reinforcing the feeling of calm. The Technics’ transparency mode is pleasant and adjustable, but has a slight hiss, making it a little less natural than that of the Beo Grace. The latter offer a more realistic reproduction of voices and the environment, with more intuitive modulation via the app.

Both models are pleasant to wear over time, with good support. The Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace, however, feel lighter and more balanced, a sensation that works in their favor as the hours go by.

Sound-wise, they’re in the same league. However, the Technics AZ-100 offer a dynamic, well-balanced sound reproduction, while the Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace give an impression of slightly sharper, more legible rendering, particularly on fine details. The differences remain subtle, and have more to do with sonic personality than with any obvious difference in performance.

The Technics app offers a classic equalizer with a few predefined profiles. It remains simple, but offers little in the way of advanced customization, particularly on the controls. In contrast, the Bang & Olufsen application is more central to the experience: it allows fine-tuning of sound rendering, ANC, transparency and controls, with a more immersive and intuitive approach.

In fact, this is where the difference between the two models is most apparent: not so much regarding the sound as in the way users interact with their earbuds on a daily basis.

The Technics case is very compact and easy to transport. The materials used are pleasant, but not as attractive as the aluminum of Bang & Olufsen’s Beo Grace, which are clearly more luxurious. The difference in choice of materials and finish is a reflection of the two brands’ respective philosophies.

Summary

The Technics AZ-100 shine in terms of efficiency, high-performance ANC and excellent value for money. At less than 300 euros, they are clearly among the best references on the market today.

The Beo Grace Bluetooth earbuds are in a different league. Everything is more accomplished and better thought out: the design, the choice of materials, the silence of operation, the ergonomics and the coherence of the overall experience. The difference is in overall feel rather than pure performance. The Beo Grace gives the feeling of a product designed without compromise, a serious notch above in terms of finish, attention to detail and overall expertise.

Who are these Bluetooth earbuds designed for?

The B&O Beo Grace wireless earbuds are aimed above all at those seeking a premium experience in the broadest sense, not just great sound. Their aluminum design, meticulous ergonomics and overall seamless use make them earbuds for those who appreciate well-designed objects and attach importance to comfort and gesture.

These high-end wireless earbuds are particularly suited to those who listen for long periods of time and are looking for accurate, stable and clear sound reproduction, regardless of format. Immersive content such as Dolby Atmos is perfectly suited to these earbuds, as are effective ANC and natural transparency, which allow you to easily switch from quiet environments to more lively settings.

However, the Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace are not for those seeking a product that is simply functional, or who want to optimize value for money. Their price clearly places them in the luxury category, and the first configuration requires a little patience. Here, you’re paying as much for Bang & Olufsen expertise, build quality and overall experience as you are for sound performance.

The Beo Grace are therefore aimed at a niche market looking for an elegant, immersive and luxurious product, designed with attention to every detail, and capable of accompanying everyday life with both care and consistency.

Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace review – FAQ