As far as wireless audio is concerned, Apple’s Beats brand of audio gear is among the most well-known names in the industry, with a solid lineup of hardware to boot. With that in mind, Beats recently announced the launch of its all-new Beats Solo Buds, as well as the next generation of its popular “Solo” headphones, the Beats Solo 4.
Both products come with a plethora of features geared towards sound quality and convenience, including powerful audio, several hours’ of battery life, instant one-touch pairing for both Android and iOS devices, and more. Commenting on the launch, Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music, Apple TV+, Sports, and Beats states:
“Our newly expanded Solo line delivers remarkable value, offering exceptional sound quality, battery life and comfort in our most portable designs… Beats Solo 4 takes our bestselling headphone to the next level with outstanding performance upgrades, and the all-new Beats Solo Buds pack impressive power in our smallest product yet.”
Beats Solo Buds
First up are the Beats Solo Buds – the new wireless earbuds feature a custom-built acoustic architecture in a rather small form factor. Beats says that the earbuds pack ergonomically-designed acoustic nozzles, in addition to laser-cut vents that help improve audio quality, while reducing strain on the user’s ears. The Solo Buds come packed with several ear tip sizes, making them easy to customize for different listeners.
In addition to comfort, the earbuds also come with passive noise isolation for an enhanced listening experience; each earbud also features dual-layer transducers which have been developed to reduce micro-distortions across the frequency curve for high-fidelity sound. For calls, each earbud features a custom-designed microphone with a built-in noise-learning algorithm.
The Solo Buds likewise come with customizable on-ear functions for music control, calls and voice assistant access using the ‘b’ button. Users can also configure the press-and-hold action in iOS settings or the Beats app to control volume. For battery life, the earbuds can last for up to 18 hours of playback, making them one of the most impressive earbuds on the market right now in terms of endurance. The Solo Buds will be available in four colours including Matte Black, Storm Gray, Arctic Purple and Transparent Red for £79 in the United Kingdom.
Beats Solo 4 Headphones
The larger model of the two, the Beats Solo 4 serves as the newest flagship model of the Solo range headphones. In terms of design, the Solo 4’s are ultralight (only 217 grams) and designed for all-day comfort with UltraPlush ear cushions, as well as a flexible headband with adjustable sliders to keep them in place. The headphones also pack re-engineered acoustics with custom-built drivers for lesser distortion, in addition to personalized Spatial Audio for a more immersive listening experience.
The Solo 4 headphones are also compatible with both iOS and Android, featuring upgraded microphones and a noise-canceling algorithm ensure clear calls and flawless voice assistant interaction, letting you stay connected and in control. In addition to wireless connectivity, the headphones are equipped with 3.5mm audio input, as well as USB-C wired connectivity.
In terms of battery endurance, the Beats Solo 4 come with improved battery life over the previous model, with up to 50 hours of battery in addition to what Beats calls “Fast Fuel” charging – plugging in the headphones for 10 minutes gives you up to 5 hours of playback, making them ideal for long commutes, flights, and such. The Beats Solo 4 are available to order in three colours including Matte Black, Slate Blue and Cloud Pink for £199.
