Forget AirPods — These Beats Solo 4 Headphones Work Equally Well With iOS and Android

Experience seamless audio with Beats Solo 4, designed for both iOS and Android users with style and superior sound quality.

Key Highlights of Beats Solo 4

• Beats Solo 4 headphones are available for $200 in matte black, blue, and pink colors.
• The best-selling Beats headphones return with upgraded features after a long pause, showing a wise use of time.
• Tight fit and small ear cushions might limit your listening comfort.

A Personal Journey With Beats

I’ve spent countless hours testing headphones and always seem to find a new favorite with each release. But one pair will always have a special place in my heart: the Beats Solo 3 on-ear headphones.

The Solo 3 sparked my passion for headphones; they were the first pair I spent over $50 on. I bought a pair in “Rose Gold” during my high school years with money from my first job, and they stayed with me throughout college. I still have them, but years of use have worn out the audio components and ear cushions.

So, when Beats offered me to test the Solo 4, I was more than excited to see how the company utilized eight years since the Solo 3 launch to improve the new model.

Beats Solo 4 embraces a sleek matte design, moving away from flashy chrome accents.

Beats Solo 4: Stylish Design Meets Essential Upgrades

Beats Solo 4 stays true to its lineage while introducing much-needed upgrades. The design evidences a shift away from loud chrome accents and heavy branding to a muted matte finish with simplified elements. It feels like Apple’s influence shaped this sleek new look.

The Solo 4 drops the mini USB port in favor of USB-C for charging and lossless audio playback. Now, you can even connect the headphones to a device for simultaneous listening and charging—a handy convenience.

I tested the Solo 4 in Cloud Pink, a nostalgic nod to my Rose Gold Solo 3. The color is stunning and aesthetically pleasing, perfect for those who appreciate stylish gadgets.

Sound Quality: A New Era for Beats

Beats have significantly improved the Solo 4’s sound profile. If you previously avoided Beats for their exaggerated bass, Solo 4 might just change your mind.

One of Beats’ slogans for Solo 4 is “Incredible Sound. Simplified,” and I wholeheartedly agree. Instead of an artificially boosted bass-heavy sound, Solo 4 offers the most neutral sound I’ve ever heard from Beats. It’s not perfectly neutral but undoubtedly a major step forward by Beats standards.

Listening to Kendrick Lamar’s "A.D.H.D," I noticed the modest bass that didn’t overpower the mids. This allowed me to appreciate subtle details like Lamar’s layered vocals and psychedelic synths in the upper midrange. Beats claim the updated drivers enhance high-frequency response, and passive tuning helps maintain sound quality whether wired or wireless. I’m convinced.

Updated drivers in Solo 4 improve clarity, especially in high frequencies.

Fit and Comfort: On-Ear Design Considerations

Like other models in the Solo line, Solo 4 are on-ear headphones, meaning the ear cushions rest on your ears rather than fully enclosing them like over-ear headphones. The Solo 3 cushions were slightly larger, but the new UltraPlush padding on Solo 4 is more comfortable.

Even with the added padding, I couldn’t wear the Solo 4 for extended periods. On-ear headphones have never been my comfort zone, especially since I wear four earrings in each ear. After about 30 minutes, the ear cushions pressed too hard against my earrings, forcing me to take a break.

The on-ear fit of Solo 4 shouldn’t cause problems for glasses wearers, but if you have multiple ear piercings, you might want to think twice before choosing these.

Noise Isolation and Spatial Audio

Solo 4 lack active noise cancellation or transparency modes, but their passive noise isolation is impressive. If you find transparency modes on other headphones let in too much noise and noise cancellation blocks too much, Solo 4’s natural noise isolation strikes the perfect balance.

Solo 4 is the first in the Solo series to feature personalized spatial audio. To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of spatial audio, and it drains battery life faster. However, the spatial audio feature works well, but I prefer standard audio.

Speaking of battery life, Solo 4 offers up to 50 hours of continuous playback—10 hours more than Solo 3.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Like the Beats Studio Pro, Solo 4 has enhanced compatibility with both iOS and Android devices.

For iOS fans, Solo 4 provides iCloud pairing, full Siri access, Find My support, over-the-air software updates, and Handoff functionality.

Android users benefit from Google Fast Pair, Bluetooth Multipoint, Google Find My Device, and the accompanying Beats app.

Buying Tips

Beats Solo 4 headphones blend style and functionality for music lovers. If you’ve never been a fan of Beats’ signature sound, I encourage you to give Solo 4 a shot — they just might win you over.

A note on fit: if you prefer on-ear headphones, Solo 4 won’t disappoint. But if you like over-ear headphones, you might find Solo 4 uncomfortable.

If you’re a devoted Beats fan but want headphones with a more premium feature set, check out the Beats Studio Pro, often available for $250 or less.

For full-size headphones in a similar price range and with a sound focus, consider the Sennheiser Accentum Plus or Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2.

“Instead of an artificially boosted bass-heavy sound, these headphones offer the most neutral sound I’ve ever heard from Beats.”
— Headphone Reviewer

Related Video

Watch a detailed review and impressions here:

Conclusion

Beats Solo 4 headphones strike a beautiful balance between style, sound quality, and cross-platform compatibility. Whether you rock an iPhone or an Android device, you’ll enjoy seamless connectivity and rich, balanced audio. Sure, the on-ear fit isn’t for everyone, but if you can get past that, the Solo 4 offers a refreshing take on the Beats experience. What’s your go-to headphone style—on-ear or over-ear? Let us know your thoughts!

FAQs

• What colors are available for Beats Solo 4?
  They come in matte black, blue, and cloud pink.
• Can Solo 4 be used with both iOS and Android devices?
  Yes, they offer full compatibility, including features like iCloud pairing for iOS and Google Fast Pair for Android.
• Do the Solo 4 headphones have active noise cancellation?
  No, they rely on passive noise isolation instead.
• How long does the battery last on Solo 4 headphones?
  Up to 50 hours of continuous playback.
• Are these headphones comfortable for long listening sessions?
  Comfort depends on your ear shape and style preferences; on-ear design might be uncomfortable if you have multiple ear piercings.

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