Apple's Beats Solo 4 headphones are a solid purchase even without one feature you might expect
I tested the first new Beats Solo headphones in eight years and there are heaps of big improvements
Apple’s Beats by Dre brand has just released its Beats Solo 4 headphones, some eight years after their predecessor.
In that time, the company has introduced eight sets of in-ear headphones and its Powerbeats Pro from 2019 remain among the best in-ears for fitness and sports.
Solo 4 are not the first new Beats headphones in that time – that honour went to last year’s flagship ANC model Beats Studio Pro which cost €399.95 and are up there with the best over-ear ANC cans.
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The more compact Solo 4 cost substantially less at €229.95 but these on-ear headphones do not have active noise cancellation. There is some degree of passive noise isolation from the ear pads but not as much as you would get from over-ears. This is because the way on-ears are designed does not completely cover your ears.
The company has sold more than 40 million pairs of these on-ear cans, incidentally.
Beats Solo 4 design, build and comfort
Beats Solo 4 utilise the brand’s usual design language and come in subtle Matte Black, Cloud Pink and Slate Blue colour options – my review unit was the latter and I love both the hue and the brushed matte finish on the outside of the hinges.
Comfort levels are improved over Solo 3, with less clamping force in the lightweight 217g largely plastic build. But they still sit securely enough to use for in a run or workout and you can have them on for a few hours at a time without any noticeable discomfort.
The ear pads have the same faux leather memory foam as Beats Studio Pro.
You can fold Solo 4 up easily after use and they come with a handy soft fabric carry case for storage or travel. It has pockets for your USB-C to USB-C and 3.5mm audio cables.
Key Beats Solo 4 features
One of the big selling points with Solo 4 is their cross compatibility with both iOS and Android. This means that, no matter what your audio source is, you get the likes of one-touch pairing, automatic account set-up across your devices and the ability to locate your lost headphones using either Find My or Find My Device. The Find My is not the advanced precision finding you get on AirPods Pro 2, incidentally.
Apple users do get some extra features, in fairness, such as Music Sharing with other Beats or AirPods users and hands-free Siri voice control. They also get personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. It works great for TV shows and movies, but it’s not a feature I use much when listening to music.
The headphones connect simultaneously to an Apple Watch and an iPhone, and if you walk away from your iPhone the Solo 4 will stay connected to your Watch.
Android users do get one extra feature from their Beats app – multi-device switching between devices linked to your Google account.
Beats Solo 4 audio quality
Beats Solo 4 have been re-engineered inside to improve the audio quality, with custom-built 40mm drivers that the firm said will minimise electronic artefacts and distortion to deliver a crystal clear sound.
I compared them to my Solo 3 (and to Studio Pro and AirPods Max) and they stand up well with an energetic sound profile that has plenty of definition and not too much bass in your face. Tops and mids are especially crisp.
The firm said Solo 4 is its only passively tuned headphone, so you’ll get the same audio quality whether listening wirelessly or with the 3.5mm cable.
You can also use Solo 4 with the 3.5mm cable or a USB-C cable to enjoy Lossless Audio on Apple Music (or any other higher quality streaming service such as Tidal HiFi or Qobuz, for example). This is not possible on the much more expensive AirPods Max. Solo 4 have a built-in digital-to-analogue converter (DAC).
Beats Solo 4 deliver pleasing audio for podcasts and talk radio and they sound good for making and taking calls, even in places with some background noise. The underlying microphone tech has been upgraded – they use beamforming digital MEMS microphones.
Controls
There are physical controls on the left earcup for playback, call handling and volume. The b logo button acts as a universal control, while the ring around it adjusts volume. You can also mute yourself by tapping the b button when on a call, which is handy for conference and video calls to quickly mute and unmute. A long press of the button will summon your default voice assistant.
Beats Solo 4 battery life
Battery life is an impressive 50 hours from a single charge. That will obviously depend on the volume level at which you listen to your content.
If you do run out of juice, the quick-charge feature Fast Fuel gives you up to five hours of use from a 10-minute power boost with the USB-C charging cable.
Other Beats Solo 4 features
Solo 4 are powered by a custom Beats chip, not Apple's H1 or H2 chip. And they come with Bluetooth 5.3.
One negative aspect is the lack of in-ear detection, so your content does not automatically pause when you take your headphones off and resume when you put them back on. I find this frustrating as it’s a feature most headphones and earphones have.
Another negative is you cannot change the sound profile – there is no custom EQ. But to be fair, I like the built-in audio tuning.
On the upside, new subscribers to Apple Music can get a six-month subscription free when you purchase Beats Solo 4, a saving of up to €65.94.
Verdict
Beats Solo 4 are impressive for the price and deliver improved audio, superior battery life, plenty of new features and an experience that is much the same whether you are on iOS or Android.
Pricing and availability
Beats Solo 4 cost €229.95 from Apple.com and will soon be available on Amazon.
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