Much like those old-school Apple commercials with the dancing silhouettes, Beats holds a special place in the hearts of many, whether they’re tech fans or not, and conjures feelings of a bygone era in tech when everything was fresh and fun. Not only were the headphones a symbol of coolness, but they delivered that trademark booming bass that paired nicely with the bling era of hip-hop at the time and the loveable early aughts club classics. After being acquired by Apple in 2014, the label’s audio gear only got better and continues to reign supreme as some of the best at its price point, especially now that they’ve just announced the (very) reasonably-priced Solo Buds and the updated Solo 4 headphones.
Beats Solo 4
A Well Overdue Update
The Solo lineup has been Beats’ bread and butter for over a decade now (and the most popular model from the brand thanks to its clarity and booming bass), and when the Beats Solo 3 dropped in 2016, the inclusion of the Apple W1 chip took things to the next level, offering seamless compatibility with Apple’s ecosystem and a whopping 40-hour battery life. But it’s been 8 years since the Solo 3s dropped, and it’s about time we saw an update with the Solo 4s that just dropped.
Familiar Design with a Bigger sound
Building on the success of the 3, the Solo 4 starts with custom-built 40mm transducers for better clarity and reduced distortion, and of course, personalized spacial audio with dynamic head tracking for an immersive (and uninterrupted) listening experience which, according to Beats, “is like being surrounded by 64 speakers at once.” You’re getting USB-C and 3.5mm inputs that both deliver lossless audio, and the headphones have been redesigned to be lighter (217 grams) overall while maintaining a foldable design and an ergonomic fit. On top of that, there’s an extra 10 hours of battery life compared to the Solo 3s (50 hours total), along with both iOS and Android compatibility. Interestingly enough, the headphones aren’t waterproof or sweat-resistant, which is a bit of a head-scratcher as the debut product video features a lot of activity.
Form: On-ear
Connections: Bluetooth, Wireless
Drivers: 40mm
Bluetooth Compatibility: Bluetooth 5.3
Battery Life: Beats Solo 4 (single charge): up to 50 hours of listening time. Fast Fuel: a 10-minute charge provides up to 5 hours of playback
Connectivity: Class 1 Wireless Bluetooth, USB-C audio, 3.5 mm analog input for wired audio sources
Waterproof?: No
ANC?: Yes
Beats Solo Buds
Small Build, Big Sound
Boasting the smallest (and lightest) carrying case from Beats yet and a super impressive price point, the Solo Buds feature ergonomically designed acoustic nozzles and laser-cut vents to relieve pressure while still providing indelible clarity (and, of course, bass). Both buds are powered by custom-built dual-layered drivers with a balanced audio profile that’s designed for music, and they sit parallel to the acoustic nozzles (Beats is calling them “axial-aligned drivers”) to deliver sound right to your ears. You’re getting an ergonomic design with four tip sizes to choose from, so you get a comfortable fit, and up to 18 hours of battery life (with a 5-minute charge giving you up to an hour of playback). If you’re on the go, you can use the USB-C connection in the case to plug it into your phone or laptop for some extra juice.
Trade-Offs
These buds are definitely the more impressive drop out of the two, considering the sound quality and price point (even though it’s been a while since we’ve seen a new pair of Solos), and although there’s no Active Noise Cancellation, you do get passive noise isolation, along with a custom mic using an advanced noise-learning algorithm for calls. One big drawback with these, however, is the lack of a charging case. Sure, you can use a USB-C cable to connect it to something else for some power (and the Fast Charge feature is a nice touch), but having a case usually doubles the battery life of your buds (these are still pretty impressive for just $80, though, and there are some trade-offs for tech at this price point).
Form: Buds
Connections: Bluetooth, Wireless
Drivers: Dual-layer and axial-aligned drivers
Bluetooth Compatibility: Bluetooth 5.3
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours. Fast Fuel: A 5-minute charge gives up to 1 hour of playback
Connectivity: Class 1 Wireless Bluetooth
Ear Tip Sizes: XS, S, M, L
Waterproof?: No
ANC?: No (passive noise isolation)
Pricing and Availability
The Beats Solo 4 is available now for $199 in Matte Black (featured here), Slate Blue, and Cloud Pink. The Beats Solo Buds will be available this June for an impressive $80 price point (and take the spot as the cheapest Beats headphones available right now), arriving in Matte Black, Storm Gray, Arctic Purple, and Transparent Red.
Recap
Beats Solo 4 and Beats Solo Buds
After 8 years, the Solo 4 arrives as a worthy update on the Solo 3, boasting 10 hours of extra battery life and custom 40mm drivers. The Solo Buds boast the label’s lightest case yet (and are only $80), and have been ergonomically designed with dual-layered drivers.
