Beats Pill Review: A Surprisingly Powerful Portable Speaker
Beats has finally returned to the speaker game after a decade-long hiatus. The successor to the iconic Pill+, simply called Pill, is a compact and portable speaker aiming to provide a rich audio experience with impressive features, all for a surprisingly reasonable price of $150. In this comprehensive review, we dive into the Pill’s design, battery life, sound quality, and ultimately assess its value proposition compared to similar offerings in the market, such as the Sony Ult Field 1.
Design: Built for Portability, but Not Necessarily Ruggedness
The Pill embodies portability. It boasts generous shock-resistant rubber and silicon for protection, along with a long lanyard designed to loop onto backpacks. The speaker also boasts an IP67 rating, offering the highest level of dust-resistance and near-top water-resistance. In a nutshell, the Pill is a decent choice for beach trips or park adventures, but its ruggedness might not be sufficient for more intense outdoor activities like hiking.
In comparison, the Sony Ult Field 1, while also rated IP67, presents a more rugged exterior. Its sturdier body, particularly the rubberized flap covering the Type-C charging port, offers greater assurance against water damage, making it a more appealing choice for heavy-duty outdoor use.
The lanyard on the Ult Field 1 is also notably thicker and more robust, boasting an additional loop that functions as a handle when carrying the speaker. The Ult Field 1 is also slightly lighter at 650g, compared to the Pill’s 680g.
Battery Life: Outlasting the Competition with a 24-Hour Powerhouse
While the Pill may encounter some competition in the design department, it leaves the competition in the dust when it comes to battery life. The Pill offers a staggering 24 hours of playtime, more than double the 12 hours offered by the Ult Field 1 and other speakers like the Sonos Roam 2. This remarkable battery life makes the Pill an ideal choice for weekend trips, camping adventures, or simply enjoying extended listening sessions without needing constant recharging.
Sound: Stepping Up the Mid-Ranges and Treble, But Bass Could Be Stronger
Beats promises a new "racetrack woofer" designed to deliver more powerful bass, claiming a 90% increase in air displacement. While the bass is undeniably present and powerful, it doesn’t quite reach the same level of overpowering bass as the Ult Field 1, even with its bass boost button deactivated. The bass on the Pill can sometimes feel thick and overbearing, though this can be easily adjusted by lowering the overall volume.
However, the Pill truly shines in the mid-range and treble frequencies. The Pill delivers crystal-clear vocals and a well-defined orchestral sound, with each instrument having its own dedicated space to stand out. This is attributed to the Pill’s upgraded tweeter, which excels at delivering crisp highs and rich mids.
Beyond the standard sound quality, the Pill introduces Amplify and Stereo Modes. Amplify Mode, as the name suggests, allows two paired Pills to amplify the sound for a louder, more immersive experience. Stereo Mode, on the other hand, transforms the two Pills into left and right speakers, creating a wider and more spacious stereo soundstage. Both modes are intuitive and easy to set up, requiring only a simple long-press of the multi-function button on each speaker.
Value Proposition: Outstanding Features at a Surprisingly Affordable Price
The Beats Pill, despite its impressive features, remains surprisingly affordable at $150. It offers a combination of impressive sound quality, particularly in the mids and treble, exceptional 24-hour battery life, and unique features like Amplify and Stereo Modes, plus lossless audio over USB-C. While there are other speakers in the market that offer more punchy bass for a similar price, the Pill’s combination of value, portability, and feature-rich experience makes it a strong contender.
The Pill’s compatibility with both Android and iOS devices, thanks to its one-touch pairing and Find My/Find My Device integration, further broadens its appeal to a wider audience. Its move towards a USB-C port, aligning with the EU mandate, makes it even more compatible with a wider range of devices.
Overall, the Beats Pill is a powerful and versatile portable speaker that offers an impressive value proposition. Its combination of solid sound quality, exceptional battery life, and useful add-on features make it an appealing option for music lovers who want a reliable and well-rounded audio companion for their everyday adventures.
