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Sound7
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Design7
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Comfortability7
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Mic6
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Battery life9
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Value for money8
Beats has been busy over the last couple of months. Following the launch of the Beats Solo Headphones, we now have the Beats Solo Buds.
I’m always fascinated by earbuds at the budget end of the scale. Can they balance sound quality with convenience, battery life, and that all-important I-want-those factor?
According to Beats, the reason the Solo Buds exist is to make good sound and great product design available to more people, which is an admirable strategy.
Have they achieved those claims? Let’s find out.
Beats Solo Buds specs and pricing
Just like the Beats Studio Buds +, the Beats Solo Buds use a proprietary Beats chip, instead of an Apple variant. This ensures cross-platform compatibility with iOS and Android, but you do lose the automatic device switching across the Apple ecosystem – it’s worth keeping that in mind.
Inside, we have 8.2mm dual-element transducers which are capable of Spatial Audio. There’s no active noise cancellation on the Beats Solo Buds, but they do offer passive noise isolation, via the earbud design and seal.
The case doesn’t charge the buds, but we’re promised 18 hours of battery life, regardless, with a five-minute charge providing one hour of playback.
Bluetooth 5.3 is on connectivity duties, with multipoint pairing and compatibility with one-touch pairing on iOS and Android thrown in for good measure.
Completing the package is a custom-designed mic setup for calls, four silicon ear tips, and the choice of four colours: Matt Black, Arctic Purple, Transparent Red, or Storm Grey.
The Beats Solo Buds cost £79.99 in the UK and will be available in June.
Beats Solo Buds case and controls
As noted earlier, the Beats Solo Buds case does not charge the earbuds. What you get in return is an incredibly small and convenient case – one that is 40% smaller than the Studio Buds + case.
It’s a cool little thing, although one could argue that it’s almost too small and could easily be lost. Thankfully, the Solo Buds are compatible with the Find My Device feature on iOS and Android, so that adds some peace of mind.
The case feels well made, looks typically Beats Cool, and slips into pretty much any pocket, bag, or tiny storage compartment. There’s a lot to be said for taking a pair of earbuds like the Solo Buds travelling – they are ridiculously convenient in that respect.
There’s no pairing button or visual indication of battery life, but Beats have countered that with button pairing on the earbuds for the former and chimes for the latter.
When it comes to pairing, it’s as simple as can be. The Beats Solo Buds are compatible with fast pairing on both iOS and Android, and a long press of the ‘b’ button can instigate manual pairing.
On the subject of the ‘b’ button, I’m glad Beats opted for that physical control rather than touch. The button is on both earbuds and performs the same functions on each one, but those functions can be customised in the Beats app. The buttons are satisfying to use and you don’t have to press them too hard to instigate a click – top marks.
Beats Solo Buds design, comfort, and battery life
The Beats Solo Buds feature a stemless design which isn’t my favourite for earbuds, but they’re very comfortable. Beats tells us they’ve ploughed a decade’s worth of research into the design, and it tells – they stay in and don’t irritate after long listening sessions.
It’s just a shame there’s no official waterproof rating, unlike the Beats Studio Buds +. This makes you think twice about when and where you’ll use them, although I’d guess they’re probably fine with light showers and a sweaty session in the gym. Equally, how many people do you see walking around in the rain with headphones that aren’t waterproof these days?
A lot of the Beats Solo Buds design has been built around the batteries. The absence of a battery in the case has forced this, but the fact they’ve somehow managed to squeeze 18 hours of battery life out of these tiny buds is incredibly impressive. In fact, it’s not that far off what you’d get from buds that have a charging case.
An hour of playback from a five-minute charge is also very convenient – and something you can do via your phone’s USB-C port if you’re in a pickle.
What do they sound like?
The Beats Solo Buds use the same 8.2mm transducer as the Beats Studio Buds +. That’s a good start, but it’s worth noting that there’s no option to EQ the Solo Buds – what you hear is what you get.
There’s a decent amount of bass on offer, but it’s not too overpowering like Beats of old. In fact, it’s pretty clean and deals with most genres rather nicely.
The sound profile Beats has chosen has just a bit too much presence for my tastes, but I have a feeling this is the modern Beats signature sound for their budget range. They’re a loud pair of earbuds, too, which suggests they’re built for people who value volume over ultimate sound quality. There’s nothing wrong with that, but this is why you should always choose your earbuds wisely.
The Solo Buds feel like they’d be great workout earbuds due to that volume, and there’s little to no audible distortion, which is nice. I just wish we had a bit more control over the EQ in that app; I have a feeling the Beats Solo Buds could actually be tuned rather nicely for my tastes.
The inclusion of Spatial Audio is a nice check mark on the spec sheet, although this is fast becoming a standard on most new headphones and earbuds. And that isn’t a bad thing, at all!
Passive noise cancellation on the Beats Solo Buds is actually very impressive. In fact, it’s as good as some of the ANC buds I’ve tested. They won’t cut out the high pitched stuff and low rumbles of trains, but the Solo Buds do make the world go quieter, thanks to that fit and seal. At this price point, you can’t ask for much more.
As for calls, they work absolutely fine. They’re not going to be as good as earbuds with beam-forming mics, but they get the job done well at this price point.
Beats Solo Buds vs Beats Studio Buds +
Spend another £100, and you can get yourself the Beats Studio Buds +.
What do you get for that extra investment? A charging case which provides up to 36 hours of battery life, active noise cancellation, IPX4 water resistance, beam-forming mics, and a better sound (to my ears).
What do you lose? That tiny case, the translucent red colour option, and, of course, £100.
The choice between these two earbuds is an entirely personal one. That extra £100 gets you quite a lot, admittedly, but if you just want the easiest ownership experience possible and more money in your pocket, the Solo Buds are hard to look past.
Conclusion
The Beats Solo Buds feel like the ultimate pair of chuck-in-your-bag earbuds that are priced in a way that ensures you don’t worry too much about them. No one wants to lose an £80 pair of earbuds, but when it comes to a pair that you’re less likely to fret about constantly, the Beats Solo Buds perform admirably.
The lack of EQ settings and an official water resistance rating are the only two things that let the Solo Buds down – but I have a feeling the target market for these earbuds isn’t going to think twice about either of those things.
The Beats Solo Buds will probably sell like hot cakes, because of course they will. They’ll certainly remain in my backpack, because why wouldn’t they?!
