Would you believe it’s been almost eight years since we’ve seen a new entry in the Beats Solo lineup? You might not have guessed that, considering how well the Solo 3 continues to sell. A next-gen release was destined at some point, and Beats chose April 2024 for its debut. Take a look at the all-new Solo 4.
Leveraging the latest Apple hardware and software, while also programmed for seamless Android use, these headphones combine the series’ biggest hallmarks with modern technologies to produce a dynamic listening experience for under $200.
Certain omissions may shift your attention to the flagship Studio Pro, which boast upscale features like active noise cancellation. However, the Solo 4’s positives outweigh the negatives 2-to-1, earning them a spot among the best Beats headphones and best on-ear headphones out there. See what else makes these wireless cans a notable market entry.
The Solo 4 are a worthy successor to Beats’ most successful wireless headphones ever. They blend hi-fi sound, longer battery life and terrific multiplatform support into a small, sleek on-ear design.
What I liked about them
Versatile sound quality enhanced by lossless support
These headphones deliver a satisfying mix of airy and punchy sound. Beats’ custom 40mm transducers pump out more clarity and steady bass that can still wallop your ears and veil highs on boom-heavy tracks. You can also employ some of the audio settings in iOS or Beats’ proprietary listening modes to personalize sound.
The growling bassline on Travis Scott’s “Goosebumps” demonstrated crisp reverberation that merged into a smooth decay with every strum and never compromised the auto-tuned vocals.
Singing on Jungle’s “Back on 74” was beautiful. The harmonized background vocals and hook serenaded my ears while the track’s percussive elements (e.g., finger snaps, snares) were nicely layered and tight. I could even hear the cowbell in the background, which says a lot about the Solo 4’s dynamic soundstage.
One of the Solo 4’s biggest selling points is Personalized Spatial Audio. Apple’s adaptive 3D audio format customizes sound to better match one’s hearing and is a slight step up from the standard Spatial Audio found on the Solo 3.?The technology does a solid job of making content more immersive, though you’ll need an iPhone with a TrueDepth camera (so iPhone X or newer, but not the iPhone SE) and iOS 16 or later in order to scan your head for proper personalization. Head tracking is available, but it didn’t seem to work during the testing phase. I’m still troubleshooting and will update this section once fixed.
You can tweak sound in different ways with the Solo 4 headphones. There’s the equalizer in iOS to swap between numerous presets. Some of the best music streaming services have settings to improve playback and normalize volume levels. Apple Music offers the wealthiest options: Sound Enhancer raises the “perceived ‘wideness’ of the stereo effect by modifying bass and treble response,” according to Apple’s website, and USB-C support provides lossless playback. The former gives compatible tracks a clarity boost and divulges more details in recordings.
Tidal’s MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) tracks sounded excellent over a USB-C wired connection. Lossless playback was tested on two Android smartphones — the OnePlus 11 and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra — and my MacBook Pro. Beats also included a 3.5mm cable for traditional wired listening, and it elevates the midrange for clearer vocal output.
The on-ear design doesn’t isolate ambient noise well, but what you hear isn’t too distracting if you’re listening at 70% volume.
The best battery life of any Beats headphones
This is the brand’s top entry for battery life. A full charge gets you a whopping 50 hours of playtime. High volume and power drainers like Find My and Spatial Audio drop listening time to 45 hours, but for comparison, this is more than double the playtime of the AirPods Max (20 hours) and Bose QuietComfort Ultra (24 hours). These headphones also last longer than the category-leading Sony WH-1000XM5 (40 hours) and sibling Studio Pro (40 hours).
If none of that impresses you, then Beats’ Fast Fuel technology likely will. A 10-minute quick charge generates up to five hours of use. Apple’s fantastic battery management is onboard to squeeze every drop of juice from the battery, and there’s the USB-C cable to listen in wired mode.
Flawless multiplatform integration
Beats engineered the Solo 4 to work just as well with Apple devices as they do with Android. A new chipset lets the headphones communicate with Google’s mobile operating system to utilize serviceable features like one-tap Google Fast Pair and Find My Device. Apple users have their own versions of these features in the form of Find My as well as instantaneous pairing with devices connected to an iCloud account.
The Solo 4 also support voice activation for both platforms. Using the Google Assistant or Siri wake-word phrase (“Hey Google/Hey Siri”) will automatically fire up the feature and register vocal inquiries, which the Solo 4’s mic array captures precisely.
Apple users receive exclusive perks like automatic switching and audio sharing between two Apple/Beats headphones.
An attractive on-ear design
Beats deserves full credit for making headphones a fashion accessory. The company has also managed to make on-ear headphones more stylish, as exemplified with the Solo 3. The Solo 4 bear the same chic look and silhouette of their older kin, but they also come with a sturdier plastic frame and ultra-plush padding on the ear cup cushions. The Solo 4 are small and incredibly light at 7.65 ounces. All else remains intact, including the flex-grip head band, multifunctional B button and pairing/power button. Bundled with the purchase are the aforementioned cables and signature woven carrying case.
What I didn’t like about them
Not as many features as the Studio Pro
A lower price tag means fewer features. Active noise cancellation (ANC) was never part of the Solo series, and that remains unchanged. This doesn’t make much sense since there are many budget headphones (e.g., 1More SonoFlow, EarFun Wave Pro) that offer noise cancellation. I’m also surprised that the built-in EQs previously featured on the Studio Pro were left off the spec sheet.
Another complaint is the absence of Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and Personalized Volume, all of which can automatically adjust your playback on the fly based on your surroundings. These features were introduced in the latest iOS 17 update but remain exclusive to the AirPods Pro 2.
Android users will feel disappointed with the Beats app since it only lets you rename the headphones and reassign call controls.
The same fragile hinges
It’s no secret that the Solo 3’s biggest problem was build quality. Despite the Solo 4 having a studier frame, these headphones suffer from the same design flaw that plagued previous entries: weak hinges. A rush of anxiety hit my chest every time I heard them bend. Seeing my 30-pound toddler sit on the headphones nearly induced a panic attack.
A super-tight fit that isn’t always comfortable
Four generations later, Beats still refuses to let up on the clamp force. Using the Solo 4 was unpleasant at times due to the sides pressing hard against my ears. Wearability loosens after several listening sessions, but those first few will be painful; I would go about 1.5 hours before fatigue started to set in.
Bottom line
They took long enough to arrive, but the timing of the Solo 4 couldn’t be better. Beats used the Studio Pro as a measuring stick for functionality and stuffed most of the flagship’s features into a familiar package. Sound is clean and energetic. Battery life can last up to two weeks, depending how often you use the headphones. The iconic, gorgeous design with multiple colorways — Cloud Pink, Matte Black and Slate Blue — should also appeal to fashion-forward mobile listeners.
Not everything has been upgraded, though. You still must deal with the excessively tight fit and fragile hinges that can easily snap if extended with force. Studio Pro perks like ANC and the built-in EQs are greatly missed here too.
Be that as it may, the Beats Solo 4 overcome their flaws with superb playback and platform support that can be enjoyed for the same attainable launch price as the Solo 3.
