Apple owned audio accessory brand from the US, Beats by Dre, has finally launched its products in India. One of their cheapest ones is the Beats Solo Buds which cost Rs 6,990. Sure, the earbuds are housed in a compact, lightweight case and initially this seems really cool, but it wears off quickly. Well, let’s get into the nitty gritty of the Beats Solo Buds and see how well they stand up in today’s world.
Design
The Beats Solo Buds are housed in a small case that has a matte feel, it is very light and easy to tote around. It has a very simple yet cool design with the Beats logo on the top. This case is built for practicality as its matte finish keeps fingerprint smudges at bay.
However, there are some missing features that you would expect in modern earbuds. For example, the case and the earbuds themselves do not have a battery indicator or a charging light, and this can be a big inconvenience to those who like to keep tabs on their battery life. On the back of the case is a USB-C charging port, but don’t expect wireless charging or anything.
The earbuds themselves follow the same design language. They are small, lightweight, and magnetically attached to the case, ensuring they are secure during charging. The earbuds themselves have an ergonomic design and the silicone tips come in four different sizes so it fits well. Also this design helps with passive noise isolation, but no active noise cancellation.
Features and Compatibility
A unique feature of the Beats Solo Buds is that they charge via USB-C and can be charged from phones that do reverse charging, such as the iPhone 15 series. This eliminates the need for carrying an extra charger on the go, a feature that many will appreciate.
These earbuds work pretty good for iOS and Android. On iPhones, the pairing process is seamless, much like Apple’s AirPods. They have Fast Pair on Android and they connect very fast and easy.
Despite this, the lack of multi-point connectivity—the ability to switch between devices seamlessly—is a notable drawback. For users juggling multiple devices, this can become inconvenient. Moreover, the absence of a dedicated pairing button means manually reconnecting between devices can be cumbersome.
The Beats Solo Buds still use old school buttons instead of the more current touch controls. There is a button on each earbud that can do many different things, like play/pause, volume control, and activating Siri or Google Assistant. This may be dependable but compared to the competition which has touch or gesture based controls that just seem natural.
Performance
Speaking of audio quality, the Beats Solo Buds are kind of hit or miss. It has the best sound quality at about 80% volume good bass. But the mids and highs are not as prominent, and the sound signature changes significantly as the volume is raised and lowered. That might be a little disappointing to the audiophile who expects audiophile sound from the beats brand.
The earbuds offer passive noise isolation due to their snug fit, but the absence of a transparency mode is a serious drawback. That can be a safety issue when it comes to exercise like running or riding a bike outside.
Microphone performance is average. The internal microphones do fine with the quiet settings but in a room with noise, it compromises the quality of the phone call.
Battery Life
One of the better things about the beats solo buds is the battery life. The earbuds themselves hold their own against some of the more expensive ones that even have active noise cancellation, with six to seven hours of use on a full charge. Moreover, the fast charging via USB-C is a convenient feature, although it’s worth noting that the package doesn’t include a charging cable or adaptor, which could be inconvenient for some users.
Verdict
The Beats Solo Buds are almost like the beginner set, but still deliver a very dependable, uncomplicated performance to those who simply need a simple pair of wireless earbuds. Although it looks very nice and simplistic, the features and performance seem kind of dated for Rs 6,990. Other headphones in this price range usually have a lot more to offer, like active noise cancellation, better sound, and multi-point connectivity.
However, if you’re looking for a reliable pair of wireless earbuds with solid battery life that work well across iOS and Android, the Beats Solo Buds might be worth considering.
FAQs
Q1: Do the Beats Solo Buds support active noise cancellation?
A:Nop beats solo buds only have passive noise cancellation, which isn’t as good as active noise cancellation.
Q2. Will the Beats Solo Buds work with iOS and Android.
A: Yeah, the Beats Solo Buds work for Android and iPhone.
Q3: How is the battery life on the Beats Solo Buds?
A: The Beats Solo Buds have a battery life of six to seven hours full.
Q4: Do the Beats Solo Buds have a transparency mode?
A: NO, The Beats Solo Buds do not have transparency mode, which is bad for people that need to hear what is going on around them.
Q5: What kind of charging jack do the Beats Solo Buds have.
A: The Solo Buds by Beats also uses a USB-C charging port, like most other modern devices.
Conclusion
The Beats Solo Buds are cool looking, and light weight, and have ok battery life, but they lack in modern features and sound performance. But at a price of Rs 6,990, there are much better ones out there that have active noise cancellation and better sound quality. But for the guy who just wants some decent plain earbuds that work on iOS and Android, the Beats Solo Buds might be worth a shot.