I vividly remember 2008, when I was in college. Lady Gaga’s Poker Face had become a sensation, but the techie in me was more interested in a pair of headphones she held in the video: Beats by Dre. From that year onward, Beats headphones were everywhere — in the hands of athletes, actors, and especially musicians.
This celebrity push gave the brand, founded by Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine, a much broader reach, helping it become a cultural icon in its own right. Frankly, Beats by Dre headphones have never been about the best audio quality, they’re designed to be lightweight, comfortable, and easy to wear during a workout or run.
The latest Beats Solo 4 on-ear wireless headphones continue to build on the foundation of what Beats stands for. The only difference is that Beats is now part of the Apple ecosystem, yet it still works equally well with Android. Here’s my review of Beats Solo 4.
Beats Solo 4 price in India (as reviewed): Rs 22,900
Simple design and limited physical buttons
The design remain unchanged, with a few minor tweaks from the Solo 3. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
The Beats Solo 4 have a simple design; they are lightweight and portable, making it convenient to wear them around your neck when not in use. They sit comfortably on the head, with nicely cushioned ear pads, and adjustable headbands. I wore them for hours while working and never felt uncomfortable. Although the headphones are entirely made of plastic, they feel durable but not particularly premium. I expect better from Beats, especially when they are priced on the premium side and compete with flagship models from Sony and other brands. The ear cups aren’t large, but they fit snugly and provide passive noise cancellation. If you have bigger ears, the Beats Solo 4 might not be the best fit.
They come in a variety of colours, though I’m not fond of the existing choices. Apple could have introduced a pop of colour with shades like bright orange, red, yellow, and green. One great design feature of the Solo 4 — which I wish other headphone brands would adopt — is how they fold up to fit into their soft carrying case, making them easy to carry.
The Beats Solo 4 has a single physical button for functions like playing and pausing music, changing tracks, answering phone calls, and activating Siri. The Beats logo on the left ear cup serves as this button, though I’d prefer it on the right ear cup for added convenience.
Cross-functionality is a plus point
Credit goes to Apple for making the Beats Solo 4 work seamlessly with both Android and iOS. The cross-functionality makes Beats headphones unique, especially for those who use Android smartphones and iPhones. To turn on the headphones for the first time, one has to press the power button for a second. Once you do that, bring them close to your iPhone or iPad, and they automatically connect to your Apple devices.
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They work similarly with Android devices using Google Fast Pair; users can download the Beats app for Android to access additional features like “Find My Device.” The headphones use USB-C for charging and also have a 3.5 mm audio jack, allowing them to be used as wired headphones if needed.
Cleaner and crisper sound, but it takes time to grow to love them
The Beats Solo 4 offer cross-compatibility with Android and iOS. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
I’ll be honest — it took me a couple of days to start loving the sound quality that the Beats Solo 4 delivers. They grow on you slowly and gradually, depending on the mood and the genre of music I’m listening to. This is why I always say that a single pair of headphones cannot satisfy everyone. One big change I’ve noticed from past Beats headphones is that the Solo 4 aren’t as bass-heavy anymore. Sure, they have punchy bass, but where the Solo 4 excel — and to my surprise — is in delivering clear vocals and in acoustic genres.
Listening to Adam Port, Stryv, and Malachii’s Move on the Beats Solo 4 delivers deep bass with a fairly well-balanced sound quality. However, listening to Tujhse Naraz Nahin Zindagi from the classic Hindi movie Masoom, Lata Mangeshkar’s soulful voice comes through with sharp clarity. Let me be clear: Beats Solo 4 don’t match AirPods Max and Sonos Ace in sound quality but not everyone is looking for accurate or natural-sounding headphones.
Lack of ANC is a bummer
The Beats Solo 4 don’t have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which is a big miss, especially at this price point. That being said, they do offer passive noise reduction due to the secure fit and the cushy ear pads that cover your ears. When I wore them on Delhi Metro, they blocked out a fair amount of sound. Although the headphones don’t muffle the noise as effectively as a good set of noise-cancelling headphones, they still did an okay job of blocking out ambient noise.
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Notes, comments and observations
*With Beats promising 50 hours of battery life, they will last for a long. The battery lasted 45 to 50 hours in my testing, which is impressive for a small pair of on-ear headphones.
*A feature I missed a lot on the Solo 4 is the ear-detection sensor, which pauses your music when you take the headphones off and resumes playback when you put them back on. I’m not sure why these headphones lack an ear-detection sensor.
*They are also not waterproof and lack an ingress protection rating, which means they aren’t sweat-proof. I wore them for a run, but they don’t seem ideal for rainy days.
*The Beats Solo 4 has a spatial audio feature that brings theatre-like sound to headphones for three-dimensional sound. It’s a neat feature, but I don’t want to use them for everyday music listening.
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*I would recommend these headphones 100 per cent for taking calls, whether you are at a desk or on the go.
Should you buy the Beats Solo 4?
The headphones fold up for travel and come with a compact case. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
I have realised that every pair of headphones is purposefully designed, and the Solo 4 excel in some areas while falling flat in others. These on-ear wireless headphones aren’t meant to replace your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max but can be a great fit for comfortable, everyday wear whether working at a desk or going on evening walks. They lack ANC but have an ergonomic shape that blocks out some noise. If you are still WFH or mostly listen to music or podcasts in quiet spaces, Beats Solo 4 are a fine choice.