Beats Solo 4 review: Where style meets substance

Beats Solo 4

In Apple’s hallowed ecosystem of meticulously sleek gadgets, Beats headphones are like the rebellious cousin. Someone who cares more about those flashy Jordans and funky hoodies. Yet, Beats products have become a staple in Apple’s portfolio and carved a space of their own— balancing Apple’s understated minimalism with flash and flair. Take the case of Beats Solo 4 — they’re the headphones that yell, “Look at me!” while Apple’s own audio lineup wear a more subtle look.

The Solo 4 lean hard into Beats’ signature DNA: bold branding, vibrant colours, and a pop-culture pedigree. It’s not all about the swag though as they do offer quite a lot — long-lasting battery life, workout-ready stability, and pleasing audio output. Still, they’re no AirPods Max and to be fair they aren't operating in that price bracket either. Where Apple’s own headphones double down on luxury and high-fidelity performance, the Solo 4 cater to the everyday listener who values a good bassline over pristine audiophile-grade sound. I used the Beats Solo 4 for a while to see how they fare:

Beats Solo 4 review: Design

The Beats Solo 4 maintain the brand’s signature aesthetic, closely resembling the design of their predecessor, the Solo 3. The headphones feature a clean, minimalist look with the iconic Beats logo prominently displayed on the sides, ensuring they’re instantly recognisable.

The Slate Blue finish I tested is vibrant yet understated, while other colour options include Matte Black and Cloud Pink. However, the limited selection of three colours is a step down from the five options offered with the Solo 3, though it’s likely more shades will be introduced later. In fact, Apple now offers more colour options with the AirPods Max than the Beats counterpart.

The overall design of the Beats Solo 4 leans heavily on plastic, which doesn’t exude the same high-end feel as competitors like Sony or Bose. Having said that, the headband can be adjusted smoothly.

The minimalist design includes four well-integrated buttons. The main “b” button controls playback and track skipping. Volume controls at times require excessive force, but once you get used to them, it’s not much of a hassle.

The power button, inconspicuously designed, is challenging to locate and operate without visual aid, and mis-timing can unintentionally enter pairing mode.

Though I must say that the Solo 4 are quite snug to wear, I couldn’t wear them for long hours. The headphones stay firmly in place even during intense physical activity. However, on-ear designs don’t suit my ears, and these headphones were no exception. The discomfort was further exacerbated by insufficient padding on the headband, limiting my use to under an hour at a time. In fact, during a 45-minute outdoor walk, I had to take them off a few times to let my ears ‘breathe’.

While the earcups fold for portability, the hinge mechanisms feel a bit loose, and the folded position lacks the reassuring stability found in more premium models. But that’s hardly a complaint many users will have. The ear pads are plush — and just for me — the extended use led to discomfort, particularly since I wear glasses all the time.

The Beats Solo 4 deliver on style and stability for active users, their comfort and build quality could use refinement to justify their price.

The Beats Solo 4 also come with a lightweight, soft fabric carrying case, which adds to their portability. While the material helps reduce the overall weight, it does raise concerns about durability, particularly when the headphones are packed tightly in a suitcase or stashed at the bottom of a backpack.

The case’s design also has some practical limitations. The opening is relatively narrow, making it tricky to remove the headphones without inadvertently adjusting the headband sliders. Additionally, storing the included 3.5mm analog and USB-C cables is a challenge. The designated pouches within the case are quite small, and fitting the cables back into them can feel unnecessarily fiddly, detracting from the overall ease of use.

Beats Solo 4 review: Sound quality, battery

The Beats Solo 4 headphones deliver a feature set typical of modern wireless headphones, with several standout options. For starters, they connect in a jiffy across Android, iPhone, and Windows devices. There’s wired USB-C connection support lossless audio playback for enhanced sound quality. This feature allows listeners to experience greater detail across the frequency range, although only when connected to high-quality audio sources. Additionally, simultaneous charging is possible when connected to devices that provide power.

However, Bluetooth audio quality is limited to AAC and SBC codecs, which are both compressed formats, meaning there’s no support for aptX or LDAC. A 3.5mm analog input and included cable allow users to enjoy wired playback without draining battery power—ideal for travel or higher-quality listening.

The Beats app is useful and has a responsive interface that manages privacy settings, battery optimisation, and precise battery percentage monitoring, a rarity among headphones.

The Solo 4 also supports fast pairing, auto-switching between compatible devices, and “Find My” tracking on both iOS and Android. Unfortunately, device auto-switching works only within the same ecosystem, such as iOS or Android, and doesn’t support standard multi-point pairing for seamless switching across platforms.

If you are already part of the Apple ecosystem, you get exclusive features like hands-free Siri, Audio Sharing, and Personalised Spatial Audio for immersive Dolby Atmos sound.

The Beats Solo 4 headphones deliver a sound experience that leans toward their signature: rich bass, clear mids, and an emphasis on energy. While they excel in certain genres and tracks, there are nuances that music enthusiasts might notice depending on the song.

“Enter Sandman” by Metallica feels powerful and energetic on the Solo 4. The thunderous bass guitar intro has a satisfying rumble, and the rhythm section is punchy. Though I must say that the headphones don’t fully capture the grit of James Hetfield’s vocals or the nuanced interplay between the guitars in the quieter moments. The sound is vibrant, but it lacks the depth audiophiles might crave. But perhaps that’s not the audience Beats is actually targeting.

When listening to “Kesariya” by Arijit Singh, the Solo 4 handles the melody beautifully. Arijit’s voice shines with warmth and clarity, and the layered orchestration comes across well. Yet, the bass tends to overshadow the finer strings and percussive details.

“Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd is where the Solo 4’s limitations are evident. The iconic acoustic guitar intro feels full-bodied, but the emotional depth of David Gilmour’s vocals and the delicate background effects lose some sparkle.

On “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel, the Solo 4 fares better. The vocal harmonies resonate cleanly, with a touch of brightness that complements the track’s haunting tone. The lack of crispness in the highest frequencies is noticeable, but it’s still an enjoyable experience.

The Beats Solo 4 thrive on modern, bass-driven tracks but struggle to deliver the full range of detail and finesse in more complex or subtle compositions. They’re a solid choice for casual listeners but might not satisfy audiophile-level expectations.

The microphone provides clear voice transmission but also picks up significant background noise, which may be distracting during calls.

When it comes to battery life, these headphones really shine as you can get up to  50 hours of playback on a full charge. Testing showed consistent performance, with around 5% battery drained per 2.5 hours of playback, meeting or slightly exceeding Beats’ claims depending on usage. The battery life is certainly the Solo 4's standout feature.

Beats Solo 4 review: Verdict

The Beats Solo 4 headphones are a strong contender in the mid-range  headphone market, offering a stylish design, pleasing sound performance, and practical features. Priced at Rs 22,900, the headphones offer a lot of practical features like seamless pairing within ecosystems, lossless audio via USB-C, and excellent battery life. The Beats Solo 4 headphones are a stylish and feature-rich option for the general consumer but may leave audiophile users wanting more.