The Beats Solo Buds: A Budget-Friendly Option with Notable Trade-offs
The Beats Solo Buds, the newest addition to Apple’s subsidiary’s truly wireless stereo (TWS) headset lineup, made their debut in India in August, arriving just two months after their US release. Promising longer playtime on a single charge compared to their more expensive counterparts, these earbuds lack the additional battery life provided by a charging case. The Beats Solo Buds work seamlessly with iOS and Android smartphones and feature customizable buttons on each earphone. After an extensive test period, we delve into whether these earbuds can stand out in the highly competitive budget-friendly TWS market.
Beats Solo Buds Design: Looks good, feels comfortable
Priced at ₹6,900 in India, the Beats Solo Buds are available in four stylish colors: Arctic Purple, Matte Black, Storm Gray, and Transparent Red. We had the pleasure of testing the purple variant for this review.
While being the most affordable TWS earphones from Beats, they retain the brand’s signature design language. Their size and design closely resemble the pricier Beats Studio Buds+, featuring a plastic body with a stem-free design. The iconic Beats logo is prominently displayed on each earbud.
The Beats Solo Buds sport a light purple plastic body with a matte finish, complemented by a slightly darker shade on the panel with the button on each earbud. Their shape allows for easy grip and a secure fit. To ensure a comfortable fit, the earbuds come with four ear tip sizes. However, it’s crucial to find the right fit as the Solo Buds only feature passive noise isolation, unlike their more expensive siblings.
Dimensions:
- Case: 24x66x35mm
- Each earphone: 19x20x18.5mm
Weight:
- With case: 22g
- Each earphone: 5.7g
The carrying case mirrors the two-tone design of the earphones, with a lighter shade on the inside. It’s one of the smallest and lightest cases we’ve encountered, and the lid snaps shut with a satisfying click. The lid and earphones are held securely by magnets, making it effortless to open the case and retrieve the earbuds with one hand.
While subjective, we found the Beats Solo Buds to be quite comfortable due to their rounded design. Although lightweight, the in-ear design ensured that we were always aware of their presence in our ears.
Beats Solo Buds Software: Customisable Controls
Supported platforms: iOS, Android
Earphone controls: Call management, media playback, mute/unmute volume controls
The Beats Solo Buds are compatible with both iOS and Android smartphones. We tested them with an iPhone running iOS 17.6.1 and an Android smartphone running Android 14. Apple offers built-in controls for the TWS headset within the iOS settings app, while Android users need to download a companion app from Apple’s support website.
Upon opening the case for the first time, a pairing prompt appeared simultaneously on iOS, Android, and even a Swift Pair notification on our Windows 10 laptop. Pairing is automatic, eliminating the need for a dedicated button. For pairing with another device, simply hold the button on either earphone for three seconds until a chirping sound is heard.
By default, a single press on the button answers an incoming call, mutes/unmutes the microphone during a conversation, and ends the call with a double press. While the mute/unmute and end call controls are customizable, the single button push to answer calls remains fixed.
The Beats Solo Buds enable volume control by pressing and holding the earphone button (decrease for the left earbud, increase for the right). However, we deactivated this feature as it inadvertently triggered Siri (or Google Assistant on Android) instead of adjusting the volume.
The companion app lacks equalizer controls or audio presets. Consequently, we relied on the app-specific equalizer options on Apple Music and Spotify on both Android and iOS for customizing the audio output of the headset.
The app includes a feature that allows you to locate your earphones on Android, while iOS users can use the Find My app for the same functionality. Both platforms show the last known location when the earphones were in use or connected to your phone.
Beats Solo Buds Performance, Battery Life: Quite Satisfactory
Bluetooth version: 5.3
Active noise cancellation: No
Battery life: Up to 18 hours
Beats claims that the Solo Buds are equipped with a dynamic driver featuring two layers and a custom acoustic design with vents to reduce air pressure while wearing the earphones. However, the absence of an H-series or W-series chip on the device means it lacks support for seamless switching between Apple devices and multipoint connectivity.
Despite the lack of equalizer controls on iOS and Android, we found that the Beats Solo Buds deliver a surprisingly good soundstage. They handled tracks across genres, from rock, pop, and R&B to classical music with ease. During Diljit Dosanjh and Sia’s "Hass Hass,” the vocals were crystal clear, accompanied by the perfect amount of bass. This bass, while present, was slightly less aggressive compared to other Beats wireless headsets.
Although lacking active noise cancellation, which is a disappointment at this price point, the Beats Solo Buds perform well in voice calls. The microphones on each earbud, utilizing a custom machine-learning algorithm to reduce environmental noise, ensured clear communication even in noisy environments.
The Beats Solo Buds promise up to 18 hours of media playback on a single charge. We achieved about 12 hours of battery life, encompassing music listening, calls, and gaming. While the earphones offer impressive battery life, the downside is that the compact carrying case lacks a built-in battery. This means you’ll need to plug in a charger after placing the earbuds in the case when the battery is depleted. Charging is via the Type-C port on the case, using a USB-PD charger or even connecting it to your phone or other devices.
Beats Solo Buds Review: Verdict
The Beats Solo Buds offer a unique proposition in the budget-friendly TWS market. Their balanced, neutral sound signature coupled with excellent platform compatibility, long battery life, and quick charging capabilities make them a compelling choice.
However, there are notable drawbacks to consider. The lack of a battery in the charging case limits the overall battery life to just the 18 hours provided by the earbuds themselves. Secondly, the absence of ANC in this price range feels like a missed opportunity as many competitors offer this feature at comparable prices.
If you own Apple devices or simply seek a reliable pair of no-frills TWS earphones with good sound quality, the Beats Solo Buds are worth considering, provided the lack of ANC isn’t a dealbreaker. However, several other worthy alternatives exist in this price range, such as the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro, Nothing Ear (a), and OnePlus Buds 3. These headsets typically offer decent audio quality, ANC support, and multipoint connectivity, making them competitive choices.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to your individual priorities and preferences. If you value a balanced sound signature and long battery life without needing ANC, the Beats Solo Buds might be your perfect match. However, if ANC is a must-have for you, then exploring other options within this price range might be more suitable.
