Beats Solo Buds — the newest really wi-fi stereo (TWS) headset from Apple’s subsidiary — was launched in India in August, two months after they have been launched within the US. This mannequin provides longer playback time on a single cost in comparison with its costlier siblings, however the charging case would not present any extra battery life. The Beats Solo Buds works with iOS and Android smartphones and options customisable buttons on every earphone. I’ve spent a couple of days with the TWS headset, looking for out if it might probably stand out in a extremely aggressive worth section.
The Beats Solo Buds is priced at Rs. 6,900 in India, and it is accessible in Arctic Purple, Matte Black, Storm Grey, and Clear Pink color choices. The corporate despatched over the purple variant for this assessment.
Beats Solo Buds Design: Appears to be like good, feels comfy
- Dimensions – 24x66x35mm (Case), 19x20x18.5mm (Every earphone)
- Weight – 22g (With case), 5.7g (Every earphone)
These are probably the most inexpensive TWS earphones made by Beats, however they sport the model’s signature design language. It carefully resembles the costlier Beats Studio Buds+ mannequin by way of measurement and design, that includes a plastic physique with a stem-free design. The corporate’s emblem is prominently featured on every earphone.
The Beats Solo Buds headset has a light-weight purple plastic physique with a matte end, whereas the panel with the button on every earbud is a barely darker shade. It is easy to carry and twist into place, and you may select from 4 ear tip sizes for a snug match — you may want to verify the in-ear earphones match snugly, because it solely options passive noise isolation, in contrast to its costlier siblings.
Beats Solo Buds options customisable button controls
Just like the earphones, the carrying case has a two-tone design with a lighter shade inside. It is without doubt one of the smallest and lightest circumstances I’ve held to date, and the lid snaps shut with an audible click on. Whereas the lid and the earphones are each held securely by magnets, it is simple to open the case and take them out with one hand.
Whereas TWS headset becoming might be subjective, I discovered that the Beats Solo Buds headset was fairly comfy, because of the rounded design. The earphones are very gentle, however I used to be all the time conscious of their presence in my ears, because of the in-ear design.
Beats Solo Buds Software program: Customisable Controls
- Supported platforms – iOS, Android
- Earphone controls – Name administration, media playback, mute/ unmute quantity controls
The Beats Solo Buds are appropriate with each iOS and Android smartphones, and I examined them with an iPhone operating on iOS 17.6.1 in addition to a smartphone operating on Android 14. Apple contains built-in controls for the TWS headset contained in the iOS settings app, however I needed to obtain a companion app for Android by way of Apple’s help web site.
Once I opened the lid of the Beats Solo Buds for the primary time, I noticed a immediate to pair the headset pop up concurrently on iOS, Android and even a Swift Pair notification on my laptop computer that runs on Home windows 10. There is no devoted button to provoke the pairing course of, which is computerized. If you wish to pair it with one other gadget, you possibly can maintain the button on both earphone for 3 seconds till it emits a chirping sound.
Beats customisation choices on iOS and Android (faucet to develop)
By default, urgent the button on both earphone as soon as will reply an incoming name, whereas urgent it as soon as throughout a dialog will mute or unmute your microphone, and a double press will finish the decision. You’ll be able to swap the mute/ unmute and finish name controls, however the single button push reply calls cannot be modified.
The Beats Solo Buds additionally embody the choice to press and maintain the earphone button to lower (left) and improve (proper) the playback quantity. Nonetheless, I turned off this performance because it allowed me to activate Siri (or Google Assistant on Android) by lengthy urgent the button.
The companion app would not embody any equaliser controls or audio presets, so I needed to depend on the app-specific equaliser choices on Apple Music and Spotify on Android and iOS to customize the audio output of the wi-fi headset.
The app additionally features a function that permits you to see the placement of your earphones on Android, whereas iOS customers can use the Discover My app for a similar performance. On each platforms, you’ll see the final location when the earphones have been in use or linked to your cellphone.
Beats Solo Buds Efficiency, Battery Life: Fairly Passable
- Bluetooth model – 5.3
- Energetic noise cancellation – No
- Battery life – As much as 18 hours
The corporate says that the Beats Solo Buds TWS headset is supplied with a dynamic driver with two layers and a customized acoustic design with vents that cut back air strain whereas carrying the earphones. Apple hasn’t included an H-series or W-series chip on the gadget, so it would not help seamless switching between Apple gadgets, nor does it provide multipoint connectivity.
Regardless of the dearth of equaliser controls on iOS and Android, I discovered that the Beats Solo Buds provides a somewhat good soundstage, which implies that it might probably deal with tracks throughout genres, together with rock, pop, R&B, and classical music. Whereas listening to Diljit Dosanjh and Sia’s Hass Hass, the duo’s vocals have been clear whereas the headset delivered the correct amount of bass — it is slightly extra restrained than the corporate’s different wi-fi headsets.
The Beats Solo Buds TWS headset has a stem-free design
With its impartial sound signature, the Beats Solo Buds is ready to reproduce the extra complicated Hustle and Bustle of Ormos by HOYO-MiX, a monitor with a spread of musical devices which can be all distinctly audible. It delivers slightly extra rumble on Esther Abrami’s The Gadfly, Op. 97 III Youth (Romance), however the violin is distinctly audible.
The Beats Solo Buds handles bass-focused tracks like The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights with ample separation between the mid and lows, permitting each to shine. Nonetheless, I observed a little bit of distortion whereas listening to Save Your Tears with the quantity turned up, although there was no “muffling” on that monitor.
Whereas the lows on the Beats Solo Buds will not be as aggressive as the corporate’s different fashions, I discovered that it truly delivered extra balanced audio than its rivals in the identical worth section that supply extra highly effective bass efficiency and even the unique Beats Studio Buds headset that was launched in 2021.
There is no lively noise cancellation on the Beats Solo Buds, which implies that I used to be both turning up the quantity whereas listening to music or podcasts whereas travelling. It is slightly disappointing as a result of rivals provide help for the function at a cheaper price level.
Beats Solo Buds contains a USB Kind-C port for charging
Based on the corporate, the Beats Solo Buds function a microphone on every earphone that utilises a customized machine-learning algorithm to cut back environmental noise. In my testing, individuals I spoke to on common cellphone calls and WhatsApp and Google Meet calls stated they might hear me clearly, even once I was in a crowded, noisy space.
The Beats Solo Buds are claimed to ship as much as 18 hours of media playback on a single cost. I obtained about 12 hours of battery life, with a mixture of listening to music, calling, and gaming.
Whereas the earphones provide glorious battery life, the carrying case would not embody a battery — this implies you may must plug in a charger after putting the buds within the case when the battery is depleted. You’ll be able to cost it by way of the Kind-C port on the case with a USB-PD charger and even join it to your cellphone or different gadgets.
Beats Solo Buds Evaluation: Verdict
The Beats Solo Buds is a singular TWS headset on this worth section, because it delivers a balanced, impartial sound signature and works very nicely with each iOS and Android gadgets. It additionally provides the longest battery life on a single cost and help for fast charging.
Nonetheless, the corporate’s most inexpensive TWS mannequin additionally has a few notable drawbacks. For starters, the earphones provide as much as 18 hours of battery life, however the compact charging case would not present any extra energy.
Beats Solo Buds would not ship with a charging cable within the field
One other notable disadvantage is the dearth of ANC help on the Beats Solo Buds. As of late, almost each TWS wi-fi headset across the Rs. 5,000 mark provides a point of lively noise cancellation, stopping you from cranking the quantity too excessive outside and doubtlessly damaging your ears.
In the event you personal an iPhone or different gadgets from Apple otherwise you simply need a pair of no-frills TWS earphones that supply good sound high quality, then the Beats Solo Buds are price contemplating if the dearth of ANC is not a deal breaker. Different alternate options price contemplating on this worth vary are the Oppo Enco Air 3 Professional, Nothing Ear (a) (Evaluation) and OnePlus Buds 3 (Evaluation) — most wi-fi headsets on this worth vary additionally provide first rate audio high quality and ANC for the value, together with help for multipoint connectivity.
