Beats Solo 4 Review

For years, the Beats Solo line has been a cultural icon, blending street style with accessible audio. The new Solo 4 aims to refine that formula, promising audiophile-grade features in a familiar, lightweight package. It represents a significant step forward, but is it the leap we’ve been waiting for?

The most significant upgrade in the Beats Solo 4 is undoubtedly the sound quality. Gone is the notoriously overbearing bass that defined earlier models. Instead, custom 40mm transducers deliver a far more balanced and detailed audio profile. The sound is clean and vibrant, with well-defined mids and crisp highs that allow vocals and instruments to shine. While bass is still present and punchy, it no longer muddies the entire mix. The inclusion of Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking (an Apple ecosystem staple) adds an impressive layer of immersion for supported content, making movies and music feel more expansive.

Beats has also supercharged the connectivity options. Beyond the standard Bluetooth 5.3, the Solo 4 offers two wired modes that will appeal to audiophiles and gamers. The classic 3.5mm jack allows for zero-latency analog audio, but the real star is the USB-C port. Plugging into a compatible device via USB-C enables high-resolution lossless audio playback while simultaneously charging the headphones—a brilliant and genuinely useful feature. This triple-threat connectivity makes the Solo 4 incredibly versatile, catering to casual wireless listening and high-fidelity wired sessions alike.

In terms of design, the Solo 4 is an exercise in subtle refinement. It retains the iconic, compact on-ear form factor but is now lighter at just 217 grams. The new UltraPlush earcups and a more flexible headband significantly improve comfort for extended listening sessions, addressing a common complaint with previous generations. The build is still primarily plastic, which keeps the weight down but may lack the premium feel of metal-clad competitors. However, the matte finish and clean lines look modern, and the familiar folding mechanism makes them perfectly portable.

The elephant in the room, however, is the lack of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). At this price point, ANC is practically a standard feature, and its absence is the Solo 4’s most significant weakness. While the on-ear cups provide a degree of passive isolation, they won’t block out the drone of an airplane cabin or the chatter of a busy coffee shop. This decision firmly places the Solo 4 in a different category from its noise-cancelling rivals and is a critical factor for any potential buyer to consider.

The Beats Solo 4 is a fantastic on-ear headphone for a specific user. If you prioritize marathon battery life (up to 50 hours), a lightweight and comfortable design, and versatile connectivity that includes lossless audio, this is a compelling package. It’s an ideal choice for the student, commuter, or hybrid worker who values seamless integration with both Apple and Android devices over the sealed-off silence of ANC. For those who demand quiet, however, the search will likely need to continue elsewhere.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon