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Customers interested in headphones which merge stylish aesthetics with extended durability together with top-notch sound performance will likely see the Beats Solo 4 as an option. Does the new model reach the level demanded by its marketing storm? A thorough review of these Bluetooth headphones will explore their performance, build, sound quality alongside their features and design characteristics. All features relevant to deciding will be thoroughly explored to provide you with complete information.
What’s New in the Beats Solo 4?
The Beats Solo 4 promises big improvements, boasting up to 50 hours of battery life and revamped acoustic architecture. With Bluetooth 5.3 support, they also offer new features for iOS and Android users alike. However, are these changes enough to justify the hefty price tag of $129? Here’s what you need to know.
Key Features of the Beats Solo 4
1. Battery Life: A Major Upgrade
- Impressive Battery: The Beats Solo 4 claims a remarkable 50 hours of battery life on a full charge, an upgrade from previous models. Even with occasional use (like leaving them on while having conversations), you can expect around 40 to 45 hours of playback.
- Fast Charging: With just 10 minutes of charging, you’ll get about 45 hours of playback, making the Beats Solo 4 perfect for long flights or commutes.
- Wired Connectivity: If the battery does die, you can still use the 3.5mm headphone jack for wired audio, ensuring you’re never left without music.
2. Build and Comfort: Light, Adjustable, and Comfortable
- Lightweight Design: Weighing just over 200g, the Beats Solo 4 is surprisingly light for over-ear headphones. The foldable design allows for compact storage, which is especially useful for travelers.
- Memory Foam Ear Cups: The ultra-soft memory foam ear cups offer comfort during extended listening sessions. While they don’t entirely cover your ears, they provide a snug fit, ensuring a stable sound experience.
- Adjustable Headband: The headband is highly adjustable, making the headphones suitable for different head shapes and sizes. The padding on the band helps to distribute weight evenly, avoiding discomfort even after long periods of use.
- Neck Fit: Although the cups don’t swivel, which means they can be a little uncomfortable when hanging around your neck, the headphones are still relatively easy to wear for extended periods.
3. Sound Quality: A Balanced Audio Experience
- Revamped Acoustic Architecture: The Beats Solo 4 comes with 40mm transducers for improved sound clarity and a better bass response. With Bluetooth 5.3, you’ll experience improved wireless audio streaming.
- Punchy Bass: The headphones are equipped with punchy lows, perfect for popular music genres like pop, dance, and hip-hop.
- Crisp Vocals: While the sound quality is optimized for bass-heavy tracks, vocals come through loud and clear. The headphone’s stereo effects work well, and the overall sound is balanced, making it suitable for various genres, though not necessarily for audiophiles.
- Spatial Audio Support: One of the major upgrades is Apple’s Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. This feature makes the audio experience more immersive, particularly for movies, music, and content that supports spatial sound.
4. Compatibility: Works for Both iOS and Android
- iPhone Integration: Being an Apple-owned company, Beats products, including the Solo 4, integrate seamlessly with iPhones. You get all the iOS-specific features such as Siri support and easy pairing.
- Android Compatibility: Android users can still enjoy full functionality, but they’ll need to download the Beats app for certain features like battery readout and renaming the headphones. Despite some limited customization options, Android users can still take full advantage of the headphones’ core features.
- Connectivity Options: The Beats Solo 4 offers both Bluetooth and wired connections. You can use a USB Type-C cable for charging, as well as for wired audio via the 3.5mm headphone jack for lossless audio.
User Experience and Ease of Use
1. Controls and Functionality:
- B Button Controls: The left ear cup houses the B button, which controls most functions:
- Play/Pause: A quick push of the button.
- Skip Forward/Back: Double/triple push to move to the next or previous track.
- Volume Adjustment: Turn the ring around the button to adjust volume.
- Calls and Voice Assistant: The B button also answers and ends calls, and with a long press, it summons your smartphone assistant (e.g., Siri on iOS or Google Assistant on Android).
- Siri Support: iPhone users can activate Siri hands-free with voice commands.
- Power Button: The right ear cup contains a tiny power button, which might be a bit tricky to locate but works fine for switching the headphones on and off.
2. Absence of Auto-Pause
- One major feature missing from the Beats Solo 4 is auto-pause functionality. When you remove the headphones, the audio will continue to play, which is a bummer. You’ll have to manually pause the audio every time you take them off, which can be a bit annoying during interactions in public places.
Limitations of the Beats Solo 4
1. No Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
- No ANC at This Price: One of the most surprising features missing from the Beats Solo 4 is active noise cancellation (ANC), especially considering their $200 price point. Many competitors, such as the Sony WH-1000XM4, offer ANC at a similar price.
- Noise Isolation: The Solo 4 does provide decent passive noise isolation due to the snug fit of the ear cups. However, if you’re in a noisy environment, like a crowded city street or subway, you’ll likely hear some ambient noise filtering through, and you may need to turn up the volume to compensate.
2. Minimal Audio Customization
- While the Beats app does allow some customization options like renaming your headphones and viewing battery life, it offers very limited control over the sound profile. There’s no equalizer to tweak bass, treble, or mid-range frequencies, and you’re stuck with Beats’ signature sound. For those who prefer tailoring their audio experience, this could be a drawback.
3. Microphone and Call Quality
- Microphone Quality: The built-in microphone works well, and Apple’s AI-powered noise-canceling tech helps isolate your voice during phone calls. While it’s not perfect, it’s solid enough for most users.
- External Noise: The headphones do a good job of reducing background noise during calls, though they can struggle with very loud environments (e.g., busy streets).
Should You Buy the Beats Solo 4?
The Beats Solo 4 headphones offer a solid balance of sound, comfort, and battery life. They’re great for everyday use, including commuting, workouts, and casual listening. However, there are some trade-offs:
- Pros:
- Exceptional battery life (up to 50 hours of playback).
- Comfortable fit with memory foam ear cups and lightweight design.
- Good sound quality for popular music genres, with spatial audio support.
- Apple integration for seamless pairing with iPhones and Siri support.
- Fast charging: 10 minutes of charging gives you 45 hours of playback.
- Cons:
- No active noise cancellation, which is surprising for a $200 headphone.
- Limited customization for audio preferences.
- No auto-pause functionality when removing the headphones.
- Lack of advanced audio features compared to similarly priced competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM4.
If you’re primarily looking for long battery life, comfort, and ease of use with a bit of punchy bass for genres like pop and dance, the Beats Solo 4 is a solid choice. However, if you need features like active noise cancellation, better sound customization, or superior noise isolation, you might want to explore other options like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Bose QuietComfort 35 II.
