Beats Solo 4 Wireless Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones — Review

The Beats Solo 4 is a refresh of a familiar product. It looks the same as the Solo 3 at first glance, but a few updates make a difference if you listen long enough. Beats has held onto what worked and made some small changes that mostly help. This review breaks down how they perform in daily life, from commuting to focused listening.

The design is about what you’d expect. It’s still compact, foldable, and clean. The build feels sturdy, even though it’s all plastic. There’s a metal core inside the band that helps with flexibility and durability. The matte finish doesn’t collect fingerprints. The ear cushions are soft and stay comfortable during long use, but the on-ear style can still press down a little too much after a couple of hours, especially with glasses.

Bluetooth connection is solid. Pairing is fast and easy, especially with Apple devices. Just open them near your iPhone and they show up. There’s also support for Android through Fast Pair, and it works well enough. You don’t need to jump through hoops. Switching between devices is smooth once everything is set up.

Battery life is good. Beats claims up to 50 hours, and that number holds up in real use with moderate volume. Even with calls and occasional high-volume music, the battery just keeps going. A quick 10-minute charge gives about 5 hours, which helps if you forget to plug them in. No complaints here.

Sound is where the Solo 4 improves. The older Beats headphones were heavy on bass, often too much. This version still leans that way, but not as hard. There’s better balance across the mids and highs. Voices sound cleaner. Guitars and pianos feel more natural. Bass is still punchy, but it doesn’t drown everything out.

If you just want something that sounds fun and full while walking or working, these deliver. If you’re a casual music producer or want something more detailed, you might feel the limits. The Solo 4 doesn’t offer a wide soundstage, and the on-ear design doesn’t isolate sound like over-ear models. Still, for most people who stream music or podcasts, it’s more than enough.

There’s no active noise canceling, which is a letdown at this price. You get passive noise isolation from the tight fit, but it’s not the same. In noisy places like public transit or cafes, you’ll still hear a good amount of background sound. On the flip side, not having ANC helps extend battery life.

Controls are simple and physical. You press the “b” logo to pause or play, or use the side buttons for volume. It’s straightforward and doesn’t rely on swipe gestures, which some people find annoying. Calls sound clear. The built-in mics do a decent job in quiet rooms. Outdoors or in wind, though, quality drops.

No 3.5mm headphone jack this time. Beats has gone full wireless, which may bother folks who like having that option. USB-C is now standard, though, so charging is fast and universal. Still no waterproof rating, so don’t take them to the gym or in the rain unless you’re careful.

For Apple users, you get the usual benefits: Find My support, audio sharing, and seamless iCloud sync. These things just work. For Android users, the app offers basic features but not the same level of integration. That’s not new for Beats, but it’s still worth pointing out.

As for portability, they fold up small and fit in a slim case. That makes them easy to toss in a bag. They’re light, travel well, and hold up to daily use. No fancy hinges or hidden compartments, just a basic but solid fold-up design.

At the end of the day, the Beats Solo 4 feels like a product that knows its lane. It’s not built to please hardcore audiophiles. It’s not trying to be studio gear. It’s for people who want a clean design, long battery life, and fun sound that fits into their day without fuss.