Review of Beats Solo 4

December 15, 2024

Introduction

The Beats Solo lineup has introduced its first new headphones in eight years – here are our initial impressions.
It’s been eight years since Beats released the Solo 3 Wireless headphones, which is a significant gap for such a rapidly evolving industry.

AirPods have played a big role in this shift. Released just months after the Solo 3, they shifted the industry’s focus toward true wireless earbuds that could compete effectively. Beats adapted to this trend, moving away from celebrity-approved over-ear headphones and launching eight models of in-ear headphones in subsequent years.

However, Beats is now turning its attention back to the products that started it all. The flagship Studio Pro lineup got an upgrade last year, and now it’s time to focus on the more compact on-ear Solo series.

Even after such a long gap, refinement remains the priority. We spent some time with the new model before the full review to share our first impressions of what to expect.

Design

The design of the Beats Solo 4 hasn’t changed much compared to the Solo 3 Wireless. The instantly recognizable look is still primarily plastic, weighing just 217 grams, and now feels slightly less rigid, which improves comfort. The clamping force of the Solo 3 Wireless was quite strong, but this issue seems to have been somewhat addressed this time.

Since they’re on-ear rather than over-ear headphones, you’ll likely always be aware that you’re wearing them, but once positioned correctly, they become comfortable, aided by the soft ear cushions. The ear cups also swivel slightly, which helps with fit.

They are still foldable, making them more compact for travel. A matte chrome hinge, located an inch or two from the ear cup, allows them to fold inward, and a soft fabric case is included to keep them looking their best.

Features

Beats offers dual functionality for Android and iOS devices, a feature that few other manufacturers match (if any at all). This means that regardless of your device, you’ll enjoy features like one-touch pairing (very convenient), automatic account setup for seamless multi-device switching, and the ability to locate lost headphones using Find My or Find My Device.

That said, there are still some perks to being part of the Apple ecosystem. Android users will need to download the Beats app to stay updated on firmware, while iOS users receive updates wirelessly. iOS users also have access to features like audio sharing with other Beats or AirPods devices and hands-free Siri activation.

A standout feature is spatial audio with head tracking. For example, when playing Atmos content on Netflix or Apple Music, you can enable this feature (with or without head tracking) to enjoy a more immersive sound experience. At this time, Android users will have to settle for stereo audio.

Battery life on the Solo 4 has been extended to up to 50 hours per charge, compared to the 40 hours offered by its predecessor. This impressive longevity is largely due to the absence of active noise cancellation, which is a bold choice in such a competitive market.

For £200/$200, other headphones do offer noise cancellation, but if you can live without it, the extended time between charges is a major plus.

There’s also a Fast Fuel feature that provides five hours of playback from just 10 minutes of charging. Additionally, you can charge the headphones from your phone using USB-C if your battery runs low.

Performance

The Beats Solo 4 has been redesigned internally to improve sound quality compared to its predecessor, thanks to custom-made 40mm drivers designed to minimize electronic artifacts and distortion for clear audio.

Efforts have also been made to reduce latency, allowing for perfectly synced lips when watching movies or video content.

We haven’t spent enough time with the Beats Solo 4 to offer a full opinion yet, nor have we compared them directly to other headphones in the £200/$200 price range. However, our initial impressions suggest they’re fun and energetic to listen to, with a focus on midrange clarity.

Anyone familiar with Beats headphones in recent years will know that the brand has worked hard to shake off its reputation for overly bass-heavy sound, and the Solo 4 continues that trend. The bass is far from neutral, delivering plenty of punch and warmth, but it doesn’t dominate the overall sound profile.

Instead, the midrange takes center stage, creating a direct and engaging sound. That said, in its attempt to be more upfront and revealing, the high frequencies can occasionally sound too bright when listening via Bluetooth.

Keep in mind that the Solo 4 headphones haven’t undergone a break-in period beyond the listening we’ve done for these first impressions, so this may soften over time. However, if you connect them via USB-C for a wired listening session, that overly bright edge almost completely disappears. Wired playback delivers a more detailed and refined sound with tighter timing. These headphones clearly perform best when taking full advantage of the lossless playback capabilities offered by Tidal.

The dynamics are also solid for this price point – the Solo 4 does a good job of conveying pace and intensity in tracks like Hans Zimmer’s Dream Is Collapsing, though the leading edges of instruments could be more defined in the best headphones. Again, this is something we’ll need to explore more thoroughly in the full review.

Early Verdict

The Beats Solo 4 is a long-overdue update to Beats’ most compact wireless headphones, offering improved sound, extended battery life, modern features, and near-equal usability on both iOS and Android.

The design has also been refined, making the headphones more comfortable for extended wear – a very welcome improvement.

We’ll need more time to fully assess the sound after a break-in period, but based on our initial impressions, you can expect rich, engaging, and upfront sound, though it’s at its best when using a wired connection.