Beats Pill review: Packs enough punch

Beats Pill

Apple-owned Beats finally entered the Indian market earlier this year with a select audio products. One of those products is the Beats Pill speaker. , Beats brings its unique blend of aesthetics and performance to a market brimming with portable speaker options. Priced at ₹16,999, the Beats Pill aims to carve a niche for itself in the mid-range audio segment. The design is pretty much in line with Beats’ aesthetics but for a speaker to do well, it needs to live up to the performance. Does the Beats Pill do that? We used the Beats Pill for a while to see how it really performs.

Beats Pill review: How it looks like

The Beats Pill lives up to its name with its unique, pill-like design that immediately catches the eye. Available in Champagne Gold, Statement Red, and Matte Black, all three options stand out in their own way.

The speaker features a metallic grille on the front, with the rest of the body wrapped in a smooth matte silicone material. The discreet Beats logo sits at the centre of the grille, adding a touch of elegance. There’s a removable lanyard on the side if you want to take the speaker on the go. The fact that the lanyard matches the speaker’s colour is a thoughtful touch. On the bottom, four small anti-slip feet help keep the speaker steady on most surfaces, so you don’t have to worry about it slipping around.

The control panel on top is straightforward, with the power button on the left and a small status LED indicator next to it. There’s also a pinhole microphone for taking calls hands-free, a multifunction button, and dedicated volume controls.

Beats Pill

One cool feature is that double-pressing the power button activates your phone’s voice assistant. That said, the power button might take a bit of getting used to—you need to press and hold it for 2-5 seconds to turn the speaker on or off.

The buttons are easy to find thanks to their indents, though a backlight would’ve made things easier in low-light situations.

The Beats Pill is built to handle some rough and tumble, with an IP67 rating that makes it dustproof and water-resistant up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. Weighing 680 g, it’s light enough to carry around.

Being part of the hallowed Apple ecosystem brings its own share of benefits for the Pill. For starters, it pairs super quickly with iOS devices and even supports the ‘Find My’ feature, which is great if you ever misplace it. It works just as nicely with Android devices, thanks to Google Fast Pair and Find My Device integration. No matter what platform you’re on, pairing and locating the speaker is a breeze.

On iOS, the Pill gets its own dedicated section in Settings (like AirPods), where you can tweak audio options and update firmware. For Android users, there’s the Beats app, but it’s a bit underwhelming—it doesn’t even include EQ customisation, which feels like a missed opportunity.

Another neat trick is using the USB-C port to charge other devices, like your phone or earbuds. You just need to press the power button three times in quick succession to switch the charging direction. Pretty handy when you’re out and about and need a quick top-up.

The Beats Pill takes a slightly different approach compared to most portable speakers. By that it means what Beats has done is that it has ditched passive bass radiators in favour of internal drivers for sound delivery. Despite its compact size, it still manages to deliver solid bass. Some might not like the fact that there are no adjustable EQ available. Yet, the speaker manages to deliver consistent sound output.

The Pill is powered by a racetrack-style neodymium woofer and a single neodymium tweeter. Beats hasn’t shared the official frequency range, but the drivers are angled at 20 degrees to improve airflow and sound clarity. It supports Bluetooth 5.3 and works with AAC and SBC codecs. However, it doesn’t support aptX or other Android-friendly codecs, which might disappoint some users.

While the Beats Pill is a mono speaker, you can step things up by pairing two of them for stereo sound using Stereo Mode. If you’re just looking to boost volume, Amplify Mode lets you connect two Pills for louder playback. The only letdown? No multipoint connectivity.

Beats Pill review: How it sounds

The Beats Pill offers a reasonably good sound profile that’s tailored for contemporary music lovers, though its performance varies depending on the genre.

When playing Master of Puppets by Metallica, the Pill deftly handled the fast-paced guitar riffs and intense drumming. However, the bass, while punchy, occasionally overshadowed the mids, making it harder to fully appreciate the intricacy of James Hetfield’s vocals and Kirk Hammett’s guitar solos. For metal enthusiasts, it’s not entirely immersive.

Switching gears to Taylor Swift’s Blank Space, the speaker performed admirably. I mean you have to listen to a Swift song these days, no? Swift’s crisp vocals stood out clearly, accompanied by a vibrant instrumental balance. The Pill’s tuning is clearly optimised for pop music, delivering a lively soundstage.

With Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven, some of the Pill’s limitations became apparent. While the Pill managed to replicate the piano’s warmth, the nuances and subtleties in the piece were less pronounced. There is a lack of depth in certain songs, especially which have notes of classical music.

However, playing Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven showcased its overall versatility. The acoustic intro was detailed, though the buildup to the electric crescendo felt slightly congested. The Beats Pill is best suited for pop and casual listening but falls short for more intricate genres.

The woofer system does a good job of enhancing bass and overall sound, but it won’t match larger speakers in depth.

Battery life is another strong point, offering up to 24 hours of playtime depending on volume. Plus, it supports fast charging—10 minutes plugged in gets you 2 hours of playback. A full charge takes about 2.5 hours with a 45 W charger, and you can even reverse-charge your phone or earbuds using the USB-C port.

Beats Pill review: Should you get it?

If you’re in the market for a portable speaker that strikes the right chord between balanced sound and sleek portability, the Beats Pill hits a high note. Effortlessly compatible with both iOS and Android, it keeps things in harmony with features like Find My support, ensuring your beats are never lost. At Rs 16,900, it’s a solid choice for casual listeners looking for a reliable jam partner.

However, audiophiles craving precision or fine-tuning options like EQ customisation might find it skipping a beat. And while multipoint connectivity isn’t in the mix, the Pill still grooves perfectly nice for everyday use.