Say what you will about Beats fans, but at least they know what they like. These headsets and earbuds are instantly recognizable for their slick styling and bass forward sound profile. If that sounds like your speed, the Beats Studio Pro are currently marked down as low as $150 Amazon, depending on your color preference. I spotted them at the lower price in matte white, sand gray, and dune, with a slightly higher $170 price tag for the remaining colors, though your availability may vary.
Courtesy of Beats
While the Studio Pro lack some of the Apple-exclusive features you get with AirPods, for example, the upside is that they’re much more friendly with Android devices. Both platforms get access to one-touch pairing and the helpful Beats app, while iPhone owners also get the benefits of Hey Siri and Find My Device. The other features are a bit of a mixed bag, with a decent battery life of up to 24 hours with ANC on, or 40 with ANC off, but no auto pause when you take them off, or multi-point pairing beyond Google’s Chromebook and Android option.
Like most headphones from Beats, the sound profile is decidedly bass-forward, but Apple’s ownership has tempered that tendency over the last few years. As a result, this generation is more balanced than previous eras, with our reviewer Ryan Waniata complimenting the expansive sound stage and sharp details. Unfortunately, most Beats headsets don’t have any equalizer, and the Studio Pro are no different. For better or worse, you’re stuck with how they sound coming out of the box. These at least support high-resolution audio, up to 24-bit/48-kHz, but only in the wired USB-C mode.
For the Beats enthusiast looking for an upgrade or a second headset for the gym, these are a solid option at a deeply discounted price. They lack some of the richer and more advanced features found on more expensive headsets, but that may be the right compromise for some folks who just want something simple that works every time. If you’re not sure you can stand the bass, make sure to check out all of our favorite wireless headsets.
Twice the battery life of other pill speakers in this range
Cons
Low-end could have been punchier
Not the most rugged and robust for being taken on the go
Beats finally realized it used to make speakers, too. The Apple-owned audio brand released its last speaker, Pill+, around a decade ago, and recently came out with its successor, Pill, in June.
The Pill is priced at $150 and I couldn’t help but compare it to the recently-released $130 Sony Ult Field 1 throughout my testing. It has the same pill shape design, a mono output system, and a mid-range price that targets non-audiophiles who want decent, room-filling sound for picnics, hiking, or solo listening.
Beats Pill Review: Design
Wouldn’t be my top choice for a hiking trip.
Design-wise, you can tell Beats attempted to maximize portability on the Pill. It features a generous amount of shock-resistant rubber along with silicon, and a long lanyard that can loop onto your backpack for a hiking trip. The Pill is also rated IP67, which is the highest level of dust resistance you can get and almost the highest water resistance (IP68 is the highest). It checks all the boxes and would even be sufficient for the average consumer who wants to carry some big audio with them in a small package to places like the beach or park.
But if you’re someone who likes to always take your speaker everywhere you go (me), you’d probably be more comfortable taking the Ult Field 1 on an adventure. It’s also rated IP67 but sports a considerably more rugged look and an overall sturdier-looking body. I like that its Type-C charging port is covered with a rubberized flap to prevent water from getting inside. The exposed USB-C port on the Beats Pill, in contrast, would slightly concern me if I’m at the beach or around the pool.
Photo: Artem Golub / Gizmodo
Both speakers feature the lanyard, but Sony does it much better. The lanyard on the Ult Field 1 is much thicker, looks more durable and robust, and also offers an additional loop along the body of the speaker that doubles as a handle when you’re taking it on the go. The Ult Field 1 is also noticeably lighter at 650g versus the Pill, which weighs 680g.
Photo: Artem Golub / Gizmodo
Beats Pill Review: Battery Life
Twice of what you’d get on a speaker this size.
Though design might be the only area where the Pill outshines the Ult Field 1. In terms of battery life, the Pill lasts a whopping 24 hours, while the Field 1 gives up after 12 hours. My usage of the Pill has been sporadic over a couple of weeks, and I still haven’t had to charge it yet. It also features a few bells and whistles that other speakers in this range—the Ult Field 1, and Sonos Roam 2— don’t offer. You get lossless audio over a USB-C connection so you can enjoy hi-res audio while the speaker is connected to your laptop or other compatible devices. I felt a slight upgrade in audio, but not enough for me to be tethered to a wire when I can go wireless.
I’m also happy about Beats finally targeting Android users and introducing the same native features for it as it does for iOS. The Pill offers the same one-touch connectivity with both systems as well as a Find My (for iOS) for Find My Device (for Android) option. Following the EU mandate, Beats has also moved from a lightning port on the Pill’s predecessor to a USB-C port on the Pill, which further eases compatibility with non-Apple devices.
Beats Pill Review: Sound
Better for high-end than bass.
Beats promises a new, revamped racetrack woofer that apparently pushes 90% more air for more powerful bass. After listening to some Fred Again on both speakers, I would still recommend the Ult Field 1 if you’re into the kind of overpowering bass that sometimes takes over other elements of your orchestra. Even with its bass boost button off, the Pill delivers rich and powerful low-end sound. Some bass-heavy tracks might come off a little thick or overbearing, but you can simply choose to turn it down in such cases.
The Pill performs better in the mids (or vocals) and treble. The vocals track that is layered onto “Marea” sounded much clearer on the Pill. The orchestra didn’t sound clustered and featured sufficient space for each of its elements to shine on its own. Beats claim its tweeter has been upgraded to offer crisp highs and rich mids and this is a claim I could attest to after jamming to a few treble-heavy songs.
Another fancy feature that the Pill is surprisingly generous enough to provide in its modest price tag is Amplify and Stereo Modes. You can pair two Pills for upgraded sound in Amplify Mode where it does exactly what the name of the mode suggests: provide louder sound. Or you can put them in Stereo Mode where the speakers act as left and right outputs. I tried the modes on the pair of Pills Beats sent to us, and they were extremely easy to set up. You bring the two speakers close to each other and long-press the multi-function button on the speaker to enable or cycle between them. I can imagine Amplify Mode coming in handy during a house party where you can place two speakers in two different rooms.
Photo: Artem Golub / Gizmodo
Beats Pill Review: Verdict
I believe the Pill is a modestly-priced speaker that offers so much more than you would expect from it. It also has seemingly no premium for being made by Apple, commonly referred to as the Apple Tax, which is surprising. At just $150, it features impressive high-end and mids, a bunch of portability-focused features, and some frills such as the Amplify and Stereo Modes or the lossless audio over USB-C. There are punchier low-end alternatives out there for the same price so I wouldn’t recommend the Pill for just the bass. The 24-hour battery life is more than double what you get on similar speakers in this range (10-15 hours) and the new Android compatibility features extend the target audience who want to carry around a small speaker that can produce some big audio.
That’s not to say the Solo Buds sound bad. They certainly lean toward the brighter side in the treble and midrange, but their sound is accessible and never got excessively sharp in my testing. The dynamics feel rather flat, but there’s some decent detail here, and they wholly avoid the kind of muddled lower register common in so many budget options. You’ll find clear delineation of each register across a wide range of tracks and genres.
They also support Spatial Audio with supported videos and music on services like Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited, though they don’t offer the same head-tracking common with such features, designed to virtually anchor the listening position around you.
I took several calls with the Solo Buds with no complaints on either end. Beats says the buds employ a noise learning algorithm with “advanced logic” that targets your voice and suppresses “external unwanted noises.” While I wasn’t able to test them in especially windy conditions, I tried a call under the bathroom fan. The caller said my voice sounded a bit like a speakerphone call, but the fan noise wasn’t audible.
Minimal Extras
Finding the Solo Buds to be somewhere around the “just fine” level for sound quality isn’t uncommon at their price, but it does make their distinct lack of other features tougher to square. Unlike so many new options at this price (and even well below), you won’t get any noise canceling to buffer annoyances or even transparency mode to keep you aware of your surroundings.
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Also missing here are plenty of now-standard Apple offerings, like sensors to pause the sound when you pull a bud out, “Hey Siri” voice assistant summoning, or auto-switching to seamlessly swap between iCloud devices. They offer a few handy Apple exclusives, including Find My support to keep track of them, audio sharing, and one-touch pairing, popping up on your iPhone automatically when you first open them.
Like other Beats buds, the Solo can switch hit for Android gear, with some handy tricks like auto-swapping between Google-connected cloud devices, as well as the same one-touch pairing and Find My Device features you’ll get on iOS. The Beats Android app provides some basic settings adjustments and firmware updates.
It’s not nothing, but it’s a rather short list when you look at the litany of extras Soundcore offers in the A40 or the even better outfitted Liberty 4 NC (8/10, WIRED Recommends), with everything from noise canceling and transparency mode to multi-band EQ control and multipoint Bluetooth pairing. Even granting the possibility of a sound upgrade for those who can find a better fit than I did, the Solo Buds are a tough sell with so many loaded budget options out there, and countless more on the way.
If you’re after ecosystem-agnostic buds nestled in the cutest little case in the galaxy, the Solo Buds fit the bill at a modest price that’s sure to see a swift drop. Otherwise, you’ll get more for your money elsewhere.
When it comes to personal audio devices, Beats has long been a well-respected name in the industry. With their latest releases—the Beats Solo Buds and Beats Solo 4—the company continues to push the envelope in terms of quality and design. Let’s take a closer look at these two new products, what they offer, and how they might fit into your daily routine.
Compact and Convenient: Beats Solo Buds
The Beats Solo Buds are the smallest true wireless earphones in the Beats lineup. Despite their compact size, they deliver an impressive sound experience. These buds offer up to 18 hours of battery life and support one-touch pairing for both iOS and Android users. Their small charging case is easy to carry around, making them a great option for those always on the move.
The Buds come with four different ear tip sizes (XS, S, M, L) for a secure and comfortable fit. This helps to block out ambient noise and improve sound quality. With options like Matte Black, Storm Gray, Arctic Purple, and Transparent Red, you can also pick a style that suits your taste.
Next-Level Headphones: Beats Solo 4
For those who prefer headphones, the Beats Solo 4 is the latest iteration in the popular Solo line. These on-ear headphones are lightweight at just 217 grams and provide excellent comfort with their UltraPlush cushions. They come in three colors: Matte Black, Slate Blue, and Cloud Pink.
One of the standout features of the Beats Solo 4 is its Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. This feature enhances your audio experience by providing a more immersive and interactive soundscape for music, movies, and games.
Superior Sound and Performance
Both the Beats Solo Buds and Beats Solo 4 offer high-fidelity sound thanks to custom-built transducers designed to minimize distortion and deliver clear, crisp audio. The Beats Solo 4 also provides lossless audio through USB-C connections, which is a big win for audiophiles.
In terms of performance, the Beats Solo 4 offers up to 50 hours of battery life on a single charge, making them perfect for long trips or extended use. The Solo Buds, with their 18-hour battery life, also support quick charging: a 5-minute charge gives you up to an hour of playback.
Environmentally Conscious Choices
One notable aspect of both the Beats Solo Buds and Solo 4 is their environmentally friendly packaging. Beats has made strides in using 100% fiber-based materials sourced from sustainably managed forests, reducing the environmental impact of their products.
In summary, the Beats Solo Buds and Beats Solo 4 bring solid audio options to the table, with a focus on comfort, sound quality, and battery life. Whether you’re looking for compact earbuds or reliable headphones, both products have something to offer. With an eye on sustainability, Beats is aiming to make your listening experience as green as possible.
