Key findings from ZDNET
- The redesigned Beats Pill Speaker It’s available now for $150 in champagne gold, deep red, and matte black.
- Impressive battery life and a clean, subtle design set the Beats Pill apart from its competitors.
- The overblown, bass-forward sound of Beats can mask other aspects of a song.
Bluetooth speakers are as popular as ever, as sony, bose, Sonosand JBL They’ve proven this by updating and revamping their selections just in time for summer. The competition is so intense and so packed with heavyweights that it’s brought Beats out of retirement.
With the new Beats Pill, Apple has reversed its decision to abandon the Bluetooth speaker market. For reference, the last Beats speaker was the Pill+ from 2015.
Also: One of the best sounding speakers I’ve heard is not from Sonos or JBL.
I was curious to see what improves the Beats Pill (2024) offers. Luckily, I was hosting friends all weekend and had the perfect opportunity to see if the new speaker had what it took to meet our audio needs. Should you upgrade to the new Pill or invest in Bose, Sony or Soundcore? Please continue reading as I try to answer this question.
The new Pill is Beats’ third product launch this summer, following the fantastic Only 4 and less cool Solitary Buds.
Beats Pill offers a bass-forward sound profile similar to many of the company’s other speakers and headphones. Electronic music with heavy, bouncy bass lines, like that of Charlie XCX. Club classics, It sounded electrifying and full, with a strong emphasis on the lower frequencies.
I wish Apple would license AirPlay to Beats, but I suspect that withholding this feature means leaving HomePod unscathed sales. When I have guests over, I like to play music from my iPhone to my Sonos Arc via AirPlay, which streams over Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth, so that my incoming notifications don’t interrupt the music. AirPlay also lets me take my phone outside to greet guests without interrupting the jam session in progress.
The new Pill speaker stays true to its motto: “Really loud.” For its size, this device is incredibly loud. Lil Wayne 6 feet 7 feet I shook the table and played the Pill speaker loud enough to fill every corner of my house.
Also: Finally, a portable Bluetooth speaker that sounds amazing and won’t break the bank
That said, you can pair two Pill speakers together to access Amplify and Stereo mode for maximum volume. Amplify mode uses two speakers to play the same audio output, while Stereo mode allows for left/right audio playback.
A redesigned woofer system helps the Pill reach super-loud volumes, and Beats says the latest Pill has a 90% increase in air volume displacement compared to its predecessor, the Pill+. This figure explains how the Pill’s subwoofers can move more air, but bigger isn’t always better.
So at higher volumes, the Pill speaker struggles to maintain clarity. My guests aren’t audio snobs—the bass was bouncing and everyone was singing along to our favorite songs—but it hit me. Offerings from Bose and Sonos may have more transparent and crisp sound, but the Beats surpass them all in endurance. By Sunday night, I had enough battery to party through another weekend without plugging the speaker in to charge.
Also: One of the loudest Bluetooth speakers I’ve ever tried is not from Bose or Klipsch
The Pill speaker has a 24-hour battery life, twice that of its similarly priced competitors. Like all of Beats’ newest products, the Pill speaker is unique in its compatibility with iOS and Android devices, including features like Find My and one-touch pairing for iOS and a companion app and Bluetooth multipoint pairing for Android.
The new Pill debuts with a redesigned format, with rounded edges and a lanyard for improved portability. The influence of Apple’s design on the Beats brand is reminiscent of Sonos’ design philosophy of creating products that coexist with anyone’s home decor choices. Sony Ult Field 1 JBL’s Flip 6 speaker and speakerphone have more rugged, angular design features, while Bose, Sonos, and Beats opt for a muted, subdued look.
With an IP67 rating, the Beats Pill is dust-resistant and can survive accidental drops in the pool. If your guests are having a little too much fun, the Pill can withstand spills, bumps, and splashes. My test unit withstood multiple drops and drink specks without missing a beat (no pun intended).
Also: Amazon Echo Studio review: still the best smart speaker in 2024 (for now)
Beats ditched the mini USB port for a USB-C port, which offers lossless audio and can intelligently charge or be charged by other devices when plugged in.
ZDNET’s buying advice
He 2024 beats the pill It offers a lot more features than its predecessor, and for $50 less. After the Solo Buds, Beats needed a product to redeem itself, and the Beats Pill does the job.
If you have fond memories of the old Beats Pill speakers and still have an outdated Bluetooth speaker, the Pill is the upgrade you need. Its discreet design allows it to blend into any environment, and its all-day battery life can keep the party going for hours. Plus, its support for native iOS and Android features makes it the perfect companion for people with mixed device ecosystems.
However, if you want a Bluetooth speaker with more refined sound and even more compatibility with your Android and Alexa-enabled devices, consider the Sonos Roam 2If portability is not your priority, but sound quality is non-negotiable, consider the Edifier QR65 Desktop Speakers.