Review: Beats Solo 4

There’s not much to the new Beats Solo 4 headphones at first glance. Starkly missing in this $200 package is any form of noise canceling or transparency mode. There’s no auto pause feature or water-resistance rating—something you might expect from headphones shown as jogging companions in marketing videos.

Beats seems proud of the Solo 4’s stark minimalism, pointing instead to their slimline design, upgraded sound, and versatile core features. Highlights include up to 50 hours of playback per charge, the ability to plug in with either 3.5-mm or USB-C for lossless audio, and most convenient, in-house features for both Android and Apple phones like one-touch pairing and a headphones tracker.

I was admittedly dismissive of the Solo 4 for their lack of firepower at first, but over multiple days of testing, the sound kept calling me back. Their warm, clean, and buttery performance stems from a redesigned acoustic architecture that proves Apple’s sonic influence on the Beats brand runs deep. You can get a lot more tech from other options, but there’s enough here to make the Solo 4 worth considering for some—especially once the price inevitably drops.

Slick and Simple

The Solo 4’s aesthetic hasn’t strayed far from its roots. You’ll get all the trappings of a modern Beats device here, like matte plastic casing in flamboyant colors and the signature Beats logo on each earcup. The headphones fold down for travel, fitting into a nifty compact case with pockets inside for the included 3.5-mm and USB-C cables.

Photograph: Ryan Waniata

On-ear headphones like the Solo 4 are a rarity these days, and I generally find over-ear headphones more comfortable since they press against your head, not your ears. The Solo 4’s clamping force can cause some discomfort over time, but I was able to wear them for multiple hours without major complaints, and had no trouble throwing on some sunglasses.

The firm grip keeps the headphones in place and provides some solid passive noise isolation—a good thing considering the Solo 4 eschew any form of ambient audio. It’s undeniably odd in 2024 for such sporty-looking headphones to forgo transparency mode so you can hear the world around you when working out. A good water-resistance rating, something most flagship headphones don’t offer, would have been a nice inclusion in its place.

I do like the Solo 4’s simplified control system, offering intuitive volume and playback keys centered around the left-side Beats logo. Like the Studio Pro, the plastic key feels a bit clanky, but it’s less of a concern at this price. The Solo 4’s other major omission that vexed me over multiple days is the lack of auto pause sensors or auto power-down. Once again, it’s not a huge deal given the massive 50-hour battery life, but it’s something I’d expect at this level.

Either/Or

That’s not to say the Solo 4 are without advanced features. They offer an intriguing double dip of tricks for both Android and Apple devices courtesy of the Beats Proprietary Platform. The system, which also drives the Studio Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) and many of the latest Beats earbuds, allows for convenient one-touch pairing and Find My features for either device type, while catering to each in a few key ways.

Android-friendly features include auto pairing and audio switching between Google-connected tablets and phones, as well as a Beats app for some basic customization and firmware updates. On the Apple side, you’ll get “Hey Siri” hands-free voice control, basic in-phone customization options, message playback, and audio sharing. They’ll also auto handoff to your Apple Eatch, but don’t allow for automatic switching between iCloud devices like AirPods.

The Solo 4 support Apple’s spatial audio thanks to built-in sensors for dynamic head tracking, which uses digital trickery to anchor the sound around your listening position. I’d much rather Apple spent that money on auto pause sensors, but it’s there for those who enjoy the 3D effect.

I was particularly impressed by the headphones’ wireless range; I was able to leave my phone in my home office and work out in the yard with no signal interruption.

Photograph: Ryan Waniata

Smooth Sparkle

The Solo 4’s sound is what really held my attention, offering a golden splash in the midrange, foundational bass that steers clear of overwhelming, and sweet treble that never comes across as forced or overbrightened.

It can be hard to convey that feeling when a pair of headphones just gets your ears, but the Solo 4 sit right in that groove for me. There’s solid clarity, but it’s tempered with a pleasant layer of smoky warmth that makes listening both engaging and pleasantly comfortable. Every so often they can come off a little flat, but given the chance with complex and well-recorded music, they often rise to the occasion.

Their keen instrumental separation lets you gracefully explore each song’s different colors. Guitars and horns are crisp enough to pop, yet buttery smooth in timbre. Percussion hits with just the right presence, from textural stick clicks to powdery hand drums. Piano is often rendered with a pleasant blend of cream and clarity, making you lean in with satisfaction.

The headphones also do an excellent job at creating space and supporting quiet. I found myself listening more to the ends of songs, as little nuances like a buzzing amplifier or the click of a microphone left in the recording seemed to be given extra clearance. Drew and Ellie Holcomb’s “Feels Like Home” is a particularly lovely showcase, burning the tremolo guitar in the right channel, lending puffy snare and kick drum hits, and letting it all fade away slowly in the final seconds.

Speaking of quiet, the Solo 4 offer solid background suppression for phone calls. On a recent call with my folks, they were wholly unaware I was on a walk outside until a loud truck buzzed by. Calls are clear on both ends, and I enjoyed chatting with them.

One thing you don’t get here is overpowering bass, a former signature of the Beats sound. Apple engineers simply don’t roll that way. There’s enough punch for most listeners, but it’s not a bass-heavy sound by any means, striving instead for balance and accessibility. You can get better sound from flagship headphones, including loaded noise cancelers like Sony’s WH-1000XM4, but the Solo 4 strike a nice middle path.

Photograph: Ryan Waniata

The Solo 4 can feel like a real reach compared to options like Soundcore’s Life Q30, which provide noise canceling, transparency mode, and loads of other features at a fraction of the cost. The Solo 4 have better sound and build quality, though, and I expect their price to drop significantly—last summer's Studio Pro regularly sell for $100 off.

The Studio Pro are the top alternative for Beats fans who want more advanced features, with noise canceling at the top of that list. Otherwise, the Solo 4’s mix of sweet and smokey sound and convenient extras for Android or Apple devices offer just enough to give them some juice.