Beats has unveiled the Solo 4, a new addition to its series of on-ear wireless headphones, with an asking price of $199.99 (~Php11,600). These headphones boast an impressive battery life of up to 50 hours, partly due to the absence of active noise cancellation (ANC), which is often included in other headphones within this price range. Despite this, Beats promises that the Solo 4 comes with numerous enhancements.
Among the features of the Beats Solo 4 are dual audio support options, allowing users to connect via USB-C or a traditional 3.5mm audio jack. Moreover, the headphones possess passive tuning capabilities, ensuring that music can continue to play through a wired connection even if the battery is depleted, without any loss in sound quality. The company is also boasting about its custom acoustic architecture for the Solo 4. Similar to the Beats Studio Pro released in 2023, these headphones also offer native software integration for both Android and iOS mobile platforms.
Alongside the Solo 4, Beats by Dr. Dre has also introduced a new product called the Beats Solo Buds, priced at $79.99 (~Php4,600). These entry-level wireless earbuds are described by Beats as delivering “big Beats sound” in the smallest packaging they’ve created to date. Although lacking ANC, the Solo Buds are designed to offer a degree of noise isolation to reduce external sounds and ambient noise.
One of the trade-offs at this lower price point is that the charging case does not provide additional battery life to the earbuds. The Solo Buds themselves have a battery life of up to 18 hours, after which they require recharging via USB-C. The earbuds are available in four color options: gray, black, purple, and a standout red with a translucent case, reminiscent of the Studio Buds Plus.
The Solo Buds are set to hit the market later than the Solo 4, with availability expected around June 2024. As the first truly wireless earbuds from Beats priced under $100, it is anticipated to be quite popular among consumers.