“Smaller, cheaper, better” seems to be Beats’ new mantra.
Beats is expanding its popular Solo lineup with two fresh releases tailored for listening on-the-go.
The Solo Buds prove tiny can be mighty. Despite their size, they promise distortion-free clarity through a new acoustic architecture – all in a sub $100 price tag.
Not to be outdone, the Solo 4 represent a long-awaited overhaul to Beats’ beloved on-ear line. While looking familiar, these have major upgrades like longer battery, wired analog mode, and better connectivity.
Beats Solo Buds Features
The Solo Buds are Beats’ smallest and cheapest true wireless option so far. But despite their tiny size, the Solo Buds promise great bang for your buck.
For one, they have a fully custom acoustic setup packed into a pocket-sized case that’s 40% smaller than previous Beats earbuds.
Unlike most earbuds, their case doesn’t charge the earbuds. You’ll need to charge the earbuds directly via USB-C. But the Solo Buds have an impressive 18 hours of battery life per charge, so there’s nothing to worry about.
You can also top up using mobile devices like your smartphones and tablets when needed.
Aside from that, the Solo Buds don’t hold back on the basics despite their affordable price.
These promise strong, balanced audio thanks to well-designed nozzles, laser-cut vents, and dual-layer transducers that reduce distortions across frequencies.
They also have a custom microphone on each earbud that’s powered by an advanced noise-learning algorithm to remove unwanted sounds. So, you can freely use them during calls while on-the-go.
As expected from a Beats product, they work seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem and support different features such as:
- One-touch pairing
- Find My support
- Controls customization
- Audio Sharing
Beats Solo 4 Features
The Solo 4 headphones are a fresh take on Beats’ iconic on-ear design, after a seven-year gap since the Solo 3.
Yes, they look almost the same as the Beats Solo 3 with that on-ear style. But don’t be fooled – the Solo 4 pack major upgrades inside.
The biggest upgrade is the acoustic design, which has been completely redone from the Solo 3.
Beats placed custom 40mm transducers that promise extraordinary clarity and range in the Solo 4. No more annoying electronic flaws, lag, or distortion like the old model. These new drivers aim to deliver high-fidelity sound with superior detail.
Unlike the Solo 3, the Solo 4 also support Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. Using built-in sensors, this Apple-exclusive feature creates a 3D sound field that adjusts as you move your head, akin to the lauded AirPods Max.
Plus, despite lacking active noise cancellation like the pricier Studio line (and unlike the step-up Solo Pro), Beats claims the plush earcups provide much better passive sound isolation than the Solo 3. This could make the Solo 4 more adept at muffling ambient noise.
Call quality takes a leap, too, with beam-forming mics and fancy noise removal tech. This replaces the Solo 3’s basic analog mics for clearer voice transmission.
While the Solo 3 offered up to 40 hours, the Solo 4 ups the ante to an impressive 50 hours per charge. The headphones also inherit the handy Fast Fuel charging from previous Beats models.
As for connectivity, you get USB-C for hi-res lossless audio and charging alongside Bluetooth 5.3. The trusty 3.5mm jack lets you go wired forever without draining the battery.
Lastly, the Solo 4 brings modern essentials like dual-device pairing, Find My support, and Hey Siri voice access for iOS users that were missing on the Solo 3. However, it still lacks some features like ear detection sensors to auto-pause playback when removed.
Where to Buy
The Beats Solo 4 are available now at $199.99 on the official Beats website, in Matte Black, Slate Blue, and Cloud Pink.
On the other hand, the Beats Solo Buds will be available in June 2024 for $79.99 in Matte Black, Storm Gray, Arctic Purple, and Transparent Red color options.