Beats Solo 4 Review: Frogurt?

By Alex Choros

Last updated 10 May 2024

Beats Solo 4

Our verdict

The Beats Solo 4 have a fantastic battery life and solid sound, but an overly tight fit may limit their appeal.

From $329 RRP

What we love

Very long battery life
Great sound quality
Super versatile

What could be improved

Tight fit, potentially uncomfortable
Pricey for what's on offer
No noise cancellation

The Beats Solo 4 are the "cursed frogurt" from The Simpsons. For every positive, there's a meaningful trade-off. The battery can last for up to 50 hours. That's good. But the tight fit means you might need regular breaks from wearing them. That's bad.

This dichotomy plays out across the feature set. The Beats Solo 4 can operate without charge, but they don't have noise cancellation. They're very light, but the build quality is a step back from the 2019 model. They support multi-point, but don't auto-pause. I could continue.

As $329.95 headphones, some trade-offs are inevitable. You can't expect the same kind of quality as top-end offerings from Sony or Bose, for example. At the same time, the Beats Solo 4 still manage to feel a little too expensive for what's on offer.

That's Good

Let's start with sound - the Beats Solo 4 sound pretty damn good. While the Beats of yore were known for bass, the Solo 4 are surprisingly restrained in that regards. They still have a solid low-end thump, but are a little underwhelming when it comes to sub-bass. It's present, but lacking in power, which robs songs like Childish Gambino's "3005" of some energy.

Otherwise, the Beats Solo 4 have good overall balance and strong clarity. Densely layered tracks like Radiohead's "The National Anthem" still shine on the Beats Solo 4. The headphones do however have a somewhat narrow soundstage, however, which can flatten songs like Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" just a little bit.

Battery life is the clear standout feature on the Beats Solo 4, lasting up to 50 hours. It's an ambitious claim, and one I'm quite confident they live up to. In about a week of regular testing, I've only seen the battery drop from around 70% to 50%. It's nice not to have to think about whether headphones have battery left. And if they do, a ten-minute charge gives you up to five hours of battery.

Notably, the Beats Solo 4 still work over 3.5mm if you've run them entirely flat. Unlike some headphones, there's no change in sound quality when you're using the Beats Solo 4 powered down. Obviously, a lot of devices don't have 3.5mm anymore, so the Beats Solo 4 also work as wired headphones when using them with a USB-C cable. Both cables come in the box, which is a real treat in this day and age. If you're using the Beats Solo 4 as wired cans, they support lossless audio from streaming services like Apple Music.

On the versatility front, the Beats Solo 4 work equally well with iOS and Android devices. If you're rocking an iPhone, the Beats Solo 4 effectively work like AirPods. They'll instantly pair with your handset, and synchronise to any other Apple device signed into your Apple ID. You configure them in the Settings app, and they support Find My and Siri.

The experience is pretty similar on Android. The Beat Solo 4 support Google's Fast Pair standard and Find My Device. All other settings can be managed by a standalone Beats app. When you're using the Beats Solo 4 with non-Apple devices, they work as true multi-point headphones.

That's Bad

Fit is the biggest issue with the Beats Solo 4. While this might not be a problem for everyone, the headphones are overly tight on my ears. The snug fit is okay for shorter listening sessions - say, taking the dog out for a half-hour walk or so - but can become quite uncomfortable in the long run. I've had to take breaks when wearing the Beats Solo 4 for over an hour, due to the pressure they were exerting on ears.

Of course, your mileage could vary. Everyone's head is sized differently. My partner found them similarly uncomfortable, but another friend didn't mind the fit. I'd recommend trying before you buy, however.

From a design perspective, the Beats Solo 4 are light and compact. They're not going to take up much space in a bag. The design itself is a step back from 2019's Beats Solo Pros, which had a more premium feel and refined aesthetic. It's weird that Beats didn't use the new-and-improved and objectively better design for the Solo 4.

The lack of Active Noise Cancellation on the Beats Solo 4 is also a shame. While this omission almost certainly contributes to the stellar battery life (and the ability to use the headphones unpowered), it's all but standard on rivals at a similar price point.

There are lots of other small omissions. There's no water resistance, which admittedly, isn't common for on-ear and over-ear headphones. There's no auto-off. If the Beats aren't playing music, they'll still stay powered on indefinitely. If you don't turn them off yourself, the battery will keep draining in the background.

The most annoying is the lack of auto-pause. If you take off the Beats Solo 4, they'll keep playing music, uninterrupted. Pausing whatever you're listening to manually isn't the biggest deal, but when so many other headphones have the same functionality, it's odd that it's missing here.

Beats Solo 4 - Final Thoughts

There's a lot to like about the Beats Solo 4; it's just a shame that's balanced out by a couple of cons. Some of these - like the lack of auto-pause - are ultimately niggles, and won't bother everyone. And while the price is a little expensive, discounts are inevitable. Last year's Beats Studio Pro are already being discounted by over $100.

Fit is the primary concern here. If the Beats Solo 4 were a little comfier, they'd be much easier to recommend. I couldn't see myself using them as daily drivers; I don't want to subject myself to headphones that actively hurt my ears.

At the same time, this might not end up being an issue for everyone. If you're at all interested in the Beats Solo 4, try them in a store before committing, or make sure you can return them if you experience the same tightness I did.

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