Beats Solo 4 review: A solid improvement

So long Solo3 — the Beats Solo 4 are the latest installment in the popular Apple headphones sub-brand. With a starting price of $199, they promise to deliver big in the value department among the best headphones available now.

There are big upgrades compared to the Solo3, the standout of which is a switch from micro-USB to USB-C connectivity and support for high-res, lossless audio via the 3.5mm headphones jack. The Solo 4 also see an improvement to 50 hours from 40 hours of battery life, while you still get the convenience of a collapsible design as well as compatibility with both iOS and Android. 

But those reasons to buy the Beats Solo 4 don't come without some particular trade-offs, so I’ll tell you what you should consider in my full Beats Solo 4 review below.

Beats Solo 4 review: Design

The Beats Solo 4 headphones follow the brand’s familiar design language. They’re constructed mostly of matte-finished plastic, with a bit of contrasting metal for the headband extension and folding hinges. Also like other Beats headphones, these collapse inward for convenient storage in the included zipper pouch. When folded up, I could even fit the headphones inside a jacket pocket. 

Weighing just 7.65 ounces, the Beats Solo 4 are rather comfortable heft-wise compared to some other Apple-made headphones (ahem, AirPods Max). But the headband doesn’t have a lot of give, so I imagine those with larger heads might find the clamping force a bit tight after hours of use. With that, those who pay close attention to detail might take issue with the earcup stitching — the construction quality doesn’t quite match the standard of some of the other Beats or Apple products customers have come to expect. But the bar is set high, to be fair.

In terms of physical controls, the Beats Solo 4 features one large button on the left earcup, where you see the lowercase ‘b’ brand logo. This can be used for playback as well as voice assistant control, though you can tailor actual press assignments in either your iOS settings or the Beats app for Android.

Beats Solo 4 review: Connectivity

In hindsight, it’s hard to believe that the Beats Solo3 were being sold with Micro-USB for so long. Luckily the Solo 4 have upgraded to the USB-C standard almost entirely embraced by Apple now. But they also retain a 3.5-mm headphone jack, supporting high-res lossless playback when you use a compatible source file or streaming service. The 3.5-mm option is also great for in-flight entertainment systems, most of which do not yet offer Bluetooth connectivity.

The Beats Solo 4 are one of the very very few Apple devices that are built to play almost as nicely with Android smartphones as with iPhones. Upon powering the headphones on for the first time, you should be prompted with a notification to quickly start the pairing process. Of course, the process is a bit more seamless with an iOS device, but as long as you have the Beats app on your Android phone, you should enjoy similar convenience. The Beats app also supports updates and Find My Device, comparable to the Find My functionality for iPhone.

That said, only iPhone users will be able to use features like Audio Sharing (when playback can be shared with another pair of Beats or AirPods) and Siri via the Beats Solo 4. As a voice assistant, Siri can keep you updated on your notifications, answer queries, and control music playback. I used the assistant mainly for making phone calls, activating with a long press of the ‘b’ control button on the left earcup.

Beats Solo 4 review: Sound quality

The Beats Solo 4 headphones feature an “upgraded acoustic architecture” meant to limit distortion and improve sound fidelity from the bespoke speaker designer. Passive tuning, something usually reserved for audiophile-caliber headphones, promises to maintain the signature Beats sound profile without boosting any particular frequencies that could alter the source’s intent. 

The nuances of the old radio effect and delicate ukulele strumming in Billie Eilish’s "Happier Than Ever," sounded true to life through the Solo 4. As the song moved towards its crescendo, the bass guitar remained in balance with Billie’s crisp crooning. Pairing the headphones to my Apple TV 4K, I then enjoyed watching all the action in "Argylle" on Apple TV Plus with the full Spatial Audio experience. The Solo 4 headphones even have Personalized Spatial Audio, which scans your ears using the iPhone's 3D sensor to customize its audio according to the shape of your ears.

I found the Beats Solo 4 make for good calling headphones, too. Making phone calls, even in places with some ambient noise, people on the other end of the line said I sounded extremely clear. I gave the headphones to a family member to confirm their feedback, and sure enough, their voice sounded clear and defined.

It’s important to recognize that the Beats Solo 4 fall in the on-ear category of headphones, compared to over-ear headphones like the Beats Studio Pro that cover your ears entirely to create an isolation seal. There is some degree of passive noise isolation, but it’s most effective when listening at high volumes, which I do not recommend from an ear health perspective. There are pros and cons to passive noise isolation, but there are very good alternatives with active noise cancellation you can get for the same price (if not less.) You’ll find a lot of noise calling options under $200 in the wireless earbuds category as well, including AirPods Pro 2 at their frequent sale price.

Beats Solo 4 review: Battery life

Battery life is a big selling point of the Beats Solo 4. While the Solo3 lasted up to 40 hours, the Solo 4 last up to 50 hours, making them the longest-lasting Apple headphones in terms of straight playback time. They even beat out the Beats Studio Pro that came out last year by 10 hours. 

I did find that you have to be mindful about powering them down when you’re not using them, though just a 10-minute charge via USB-C gets you 5 hours of playback for a quick top-off. But for some reason if they aren’t charged at all, no battery is required while listening via a the 3.5mm aux cable. 

Beats Solo 4 review: Verdict

All things considered, the Beats Solo 4 are impressive for the price. For under $200, you get a host of high-end features and great battery life. I’m surprised with how much I’ve ended up liking them, even without active noise cancellation. I don’t think the trade-offs are necessarily deal-breakers, unless you've realized that you truly want a pair of over-ear vs. on-ear headphones. If that's the case, for $179 (or less) I like the Sennheiser Accentum.

Otherwise, the Solo 4 round out the Beats lineup nicely. People who have held on to their Solo3 headphones for a few years finally have a good reason to upgrade, trading in for some more modern conveniences while still enjoying the iconic Beats Solo design and sound profile.