Is the Beats Solo 4 worth buying?

While the 50-hour battery life, lossless wired audio, and cross-platform features are excellent, the omission of ANC and wear-detection sensors in 2024 is glaring. With the superior Studio Pro frequently discounted to just $50 more, the Solo 4 only makes sense for die-hard fans of the compact on-ear form factor.

Who is the Beats Solo 4 best for?

Travelers and commuters who prioritize an ultra-compact, foldable footprint and seamless cross-platform ecosystem features.

Users with larger heads, those who need Active Noise Cancellation, or anyone prone to ear fatigue from clamping pressure.

Beats Solo 4 Review — A long-overdue refresh brings modern battery life and spatial audio to a classic silhouette, but glaring feature omissions and stiff internal competition hold it back

Name: Beats Solo 4 Review — A long-overdue refresh brings modern battery life and spatial audio to a classic silhouette, but glaring feature omissions and stiff internal competition hold it back
Item: Beats Solo 4
Author: Jordan Kim

Apple finally updated the iconic Beats Solo after eight years, but in their rush to modernize the internals, they left out the one feature that makes a pair of headphones usable in the real world: silence. You’re looking at a design that feels like a time capsule from 2016, wrapped in 2024’s best battery tech.

What you're actually getting

The Beats Solo 4 is a masterclass in mixed signals. On one hand, you have a 50-hour battery life that puts most of the market to shame, and the inclusion of lossless audio via USB-C is a genuine win for those of us who still care about bitrates. It’s a portable, lightweight package that folds down into a footprint smaller than a sandwich, making it a dream for anyone who lives out of a backpack.

However, using these daily reveals a product that feels unfinished. The omission of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) in a $199 pair of headphones in 2024 is, frankly, baffling. You’re essentially buying a pair of glorified ear-clamps that rely entirely on passive isolation. As Digital Trends bluntly put it, "Beats Studio Pro win out full stop, end of story, that's it." When you compare the two, the Studio Pro offers a more refined soundstage and the essential noise-canceling tech that the Solo 4 ignores.

The user experience is equally polarized. While the cross-platform integration—fast pairing for both iOS and Android—is seamless, the lack of automatic wear detection is a constant annoyance. You’ll find yourself manually pausing music every time you take them off, a basic convenience that’s been standard on budget earbuds for years. As Nikias Molina noted, "Apple Tim, automatic head detection would be please for the next generation." It’s a reminder that even with Apple’s engineering muscle, the Solo 4 feels like a product built to a specific price point rather than a specific user experience.

Sound — what reviewers actually heard

The 40mm transducers are capable, but they aren't the revelation you might expect. They lean into the classic Beats signature—punchy, energetic, and fun—but they lack the depth and separation found in the Studio Pro.

Metric	Performance	Context
Battery Life	50 hours	Industry-leading for this form factor
Charging	10 min = 5 hours	Excellent for quick top-ups
Connectivity	USB-C / 3.5mm	Lossless support is a major plus
ANC	None	A glaring omission in 2024

Where it actually wins

If you prioritize portability above all else, the Solo 4 is hard to beat. The folding mechanism is genuinely clever, and the build quality feels robust enough to survive being tossed into a bag daily. The 50-hour battery life is the real star here; you can go on a week-long trip without ever touching a charging cable.

Furthermore, the passive wired listening mode is a lifesaver. Because they support a 3.5mm connection, you aren't tethered to a battery. If you run out of juice mid-flight, you just plug in and keep listening. It’s a feature that many modern, battery-dependent headphones have abandoned, and it’s a welcome inclusion here.

Where it falls short

The comfort issue is the dealbreaker. The on-ear design creates a significant amount of clamping pressure, and for many users, this leads to genuine physical pain. As the team at This is Tech Today put it, "It hurts like when you wake up after lying down on the wrong way on your ear." If you have a larger head or wear glasses, you’ll likely find these unbearable after an hour or two of listening.

Then there’s the value proposition. Because the Beats Studio Pro is frequently discounted, the price gap between the two is often negligible. When you can get better sound, better comfort, and actual noise cancellation for just a few dollars more, the Solo 4 feels like a hard sell. It’s a fashion-forward, portable accessory that forgets that headphones are, first and foremost, meant to be worn for long periods.

Should you buy it?

Buy if you

Need the most compact, foldable headphones possible for travel.
Are a die-hard fan of the on-ear aesthetic.
Frequently switch between Android and iOS and want seamless pairing on both.
Value a 50-hour battery life over noise cancellation.

Skip if you

Need Active Noise Cancellation for commuting or office work.
Have a larger head or are sensitive to clamping pressure.
Want the best possible sound quality for your money (look at the Studio Pro instead).
Expect modern conveniences like automatic wear detection.

The Beats Solo 4 are a solid portability upgrade, but the lack of ANC makes them a tough sell at full price.

Sources consulted

This is Tech Today — AUDIO ENGINEER Reviews the BEATS SOLO 4 and Tests it Against the BEATS STUDIO PRO
Digital Trends — Beats Solo 4 vs. Studio Pro | Which Are the Best Beats Headphones
AppleInsider — Beats Solo 4! Apple's BEST New Headphones Arrive!
Nikias Molina — New Beats Solo 4 Review | How They (Actually) Are.

Synthesis combines independent reviews above. Verdicts and quotes attributed to original creators. Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases via Amazon links.