The idea of Beats wireless headphones for under $100 is certainly compelling. So far, the company has operated in the $150 to $200 range, except for the $70 price tag, which offers a great collection of features with good sound quality and a comfortable fit. However, much of the competition has been willing to offer bud at considerably cheaper prices, and has done so by limiting functionality to the basics. With the (amazon;elmt:;cpos:3;pos:1″ href=”https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRDNKQjE0UVMvP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtcC12LXRsLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJhMDUyOThmMy0yOTU1LTQ1YTQtYTk5ZC00ZTEyYmJiNjUwZmMifQ&signature=AQAAAY6zUSJmQ7DPOFHUCQgVALBT7Xz843lPyKnRJw9zQ1dv&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0D3JB14QS%2F” class=”link rapid-with-clickid etailiffa-link” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:$80;elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:amazon;elmt:;cpos:3;pos:1;itc:0;sec:content-canvas”>), Beats has its cheapest truly wireless earbuds yet and manages to retain much of its product DNA. But the company had to backtrack to lower the price, so don't expect these headphones to wow you with their performance.
Heartbeats
The Solo Buds cover the basics, but that's about it. Audio quality is flat unless you're listening to Dolby Atmos content on Apple Music, but at least the headphones are comfortable and have long battery life.
- Very accessible
- Long duration battery
- Solid audio performance with spatial audio content
- Comfortable fit
- The audio is flat at times.
- No ANC or wear detection
- No IP rating
- Poor call quality
amazon&featureId=dynamic-offer&itemName=Beats+Solo+Buds+&merchantName=amazon&itemSourceId=B0D3JB14QS&brand=Beats&categoryId=505771&price=79.99&salePrice=79.99&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsInN0b3JlSWQiOiI2NmVhNTY3YS1jOTg3LTRjMmUtYTJmZi0wMjkwNGVmZGU2ZWEiLCJsYW5kaW5nVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvbS9kcC9CMEQzSkIxNFFTP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtMjAmbGlua0NvZGU9b2dpJnRoPTEmcHNjPTEiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6ImEwNTI5OGYzLTI5NTUtNDVhNC1hOTlkLTRlMTJiYmI2NTBmYyIsImR5bmFtaWNDZW50cmFsVHJhY2tpbmdJZCI6dHJ1ZSwic2l0ZUlkIjoidXMtZW5nYWRnZXQiLCJwYWdlSWQiOiJwbnItcHJvZHVjdC1tb2R1bGUiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJkeW5hbWljLW9mZmVyIn0&signature=AQAAAY4vZW-bijexinl_9lRoZBqML_cXQOy0kDIegiLUqp2Q&contentUuid=a05298f3-2955-45a4-a99d-4e12bbb650fc” rel=”noopener noreferrer nofollow” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”sec:large-product;subsec:commlist;cpos:1;elmt:amazon;pdid:Beats Solo Buds ;pid:amazon_B0D3JB14QS;aid:amazon_B0D3JB14QS;itemcost:$80;itmId:$80;sellerN:amazon;ll3:product-available;ll4:productoffer-auto;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;slk:$80 at amazon;pkgt:horizontal-cta-1;pos:3″>$80 on amazon
Beats Solo Buds design
The Solo Buds have the same general earbud design that Beats has favored for a while now. However, a key difference between these and the Solo Buds is that the Solo Buds are slightly larger to accommodate their larger batteries. The new model still offers the controls built into a flat, angled panel, complete with the company's “b” branding. The good news is that this form of headset has always been comfortable to wear for long periods of time and that hasn't changed here. And despite the Solo Buds' closed acoustic architecture, the added micro-vents alleviate that stuffy feeling that can plague headphone users after several minutes of use.
Where the Solo Buds deviate from previous Beats models is in the case. This thing is small. In fact, according to the company, it's 40 percent smaller than the Studio Buds+ case, which wasn't huge by any means. This is because Beats removed the battery from the case. The company claims that doing so makes the Solo Buds more environmentally friendly and is one less battery to worry about degrading over time.
If you like the clear version of the Studio Buds+, you're in luck. There is a clear red option for the Solo Buds. But there is also bad news: only the case is transparent; the buds themselves are opaque
Software and features
Like other recent Beats products, all software for iPhone owners is built into iOS. On Android, you'll need the Beats app to customize touch controls or download software updates. On both platforms, you'll get one-touch pairing, quick pairing, and help with location tracking for lost earbuds. iOS users get the benefit of iCloud pairing with other devices, Apple Watch transfer, and audio sharing with AirPods and Beats products. On Android, you'll be able to automatically pair with any device on your Google account and take advantage of multipoint Bluetooth pairing.
Since the Solo Buds only have the most basic features, there isn't much more to list. However, the company allows you to reconfigure the hold control to adjust the volume. By default, this action summons your device's voice assistant on both earbuds. And that's really the extent of things. There's no hands-free Siri, no transparency mode, no active noise cancellation (ANC), no wear detection, and no support for Apple's Adaptive EQ.
Sound quality in the Beats Solo Buds
For an $80 set of headphones, the best sound quality you can expect is slightly above average. Most of the time, you get something useful, but not necessarily the tuning you'd use to hear the finer details of an album. Beats is on a roll with sound quality in the Studio Buds and , but it's understandable that it's had to cut corners in some places to bring down the price of the Solo Buds. It turns out that audio performance is one of those areas.
The Solo Buds still retain some decent detail in the sound profile, but overall the tuning doesn't offer the dynamics of the Studio Buds+. The songs are flat and the mix is subdued, sometimes lacking punchy highs or booming lows. “Emptyhanded” by Bilmuri, for example, has some loud, distorted guitars that provide the rhythm of the track. Those instruments tend to be lifted and textured on more expensive headphones, but here they lack dimensionality and stand out less from the rest of the mix than usual. These are not the headphones from the company's line that you will want to choose if sound quality is of utmost importance. Instead, the Solo Buds get the job done professionally, without much flash or excitement.
One advanced sound feature Beats included is Spatial Audio. It's automatic and works with Apple Music songs that are available in Dolby Atmos. Albums like Justice's hyperdrama and Wyatt Flores Half life They have more robust bass and clarity, and sound less compressed than other “normal” albums on the Solo Buds. It's still not flagship-level audio performance, but it's noticeably improved compared to non-Atmos content.
Call quality
When it comes to calls, Beats only employs one microphone on either side of the Solo Buds. This definitely affects voice quality and you will sound like you are using the phone's speaker more than more expensive headphones. The company does a great job of blocking out background noise, but during my testing in noisy environments, that fight against distractions degraded call performance even further. In a room with a loud fan, my voice sounded breathy compared to a quieter place with minimal ambient noise.
Beats Solo Buds battery life
Beats claims that the Solo Buds will last up to 18 hours on a charge, which is double or, in some cases, triple what much of the competition offers. The company opted for larger batteries in the earbuds and removed the one from the case, so you don't save much time docking the earbuds. When they are dead, you have to put them in the case. and Connect the case to a power outlet with a USB-C cable.
During my testing, I came in an hour shorter than Beats' stated figure. This isn't a huge disappointment, as I still have 17 hours, and it's probably because I set the volume to 75 percent and left the Solo Buds unused for more than 24 hours. If you're in a pinch, you can get an hour of playback from a five-minute charge. Additionally, you can use your phone to listen to music again by charging it via a USB-C connection on both iPhone (15 and up) and Android devices.
Since there is no battery in the case, there is no LED indicator to show the charging status of the Solo Buds. You can get that information on your phone by tapping the built-in controls while the earbuds are in the case and nearby. It's inconvenient, but you get an exact figure instead of just a green or red light.
The competition
Beats has entered an increasingly crowded market for sub-$100 headphones. Not only do big names like Bose or Sony release new flagship models every year, but companies like Anker, JLab and Jaybird also introduce more ultra-affordable options on a regular basis. And some of them cost less than $50. The current one, according to my colleague Jeff Dunn, is the amazon;elmt:;cpos:7;pos:1″ href=”https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwQjFMVkM1Vlo_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy1wLXYtdGwtMjAiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6ImEwNTI5OGYzLTI5NTUtNDVhNC1hOTlkLTRlMTJiYmI2NTBmYyJ9&signature=AQAAAepYAZMMISwXC7tT3h6ZMoSkCAcz72kkx6eJEMOh6d_d&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0B1LVC5VZ” class=”link rapid-with-clickid etailiffa-link” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:Anker Soundcore Space A40;elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:amazon;elmt:;cpos:7;pos:1;itc:0;sec:content-canvas”>. Currently available for $50, the A40 offers solid ANC, multipoint Bluetooth, and respectable sound quality. Battery life is rated at 10 hours and the earbuds are rated IPX4 for water resistance, but there's no wear detection and the A40 isn't ideal for calls either.
Wrap
He amazon;elmt:;cpos:8;pos:1″ href=”https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRDNKQjE0UVMvP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtcC12LXRsLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJhMDUyOThmMy0yOTU1LTQ1YTQtYTk5ZC00ZTEyYmJiNjUwZmMifQ&signature=AQAAAY6zUSJmQ7DPOFHUCQgVALBT7Xz843lPyKnRJw9zQ1dv&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0D3JB14QS%2F” class=”link rapid-with-clickid etailiffa-link” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:Solo Buds;elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:amazon;elmt:;cpos:8;pos:1;itc:0;sec:content-canvas”> They're a smart move for Beats, and I have no doubt the company will sell a lot of them. They're good enough for most people, even without features like active noise cancellation, increased transparency, and wear detection. There's solid audio performance with songs on Apple Music, but the overall sound quality is flat and lacks the oomph of the Studio Buds+ or Beats Fit Pro. However, long battery life and a comfortable fit mean you can wear them all day, and those two things alone might be enough to make up for the Solo Buds' sonic shortcomings, especially for $80.
