For years, the Beats Solo line carried a reputation that preceded it: big bass, tight fit, and a sound tuned more for the gym than for the studio. The Beats Solo 4 arrive to rewrite that story. These are on-ear wireless headphones that weigh about as much as a paperback, last up to 50 hours on a charge, and produce a sound that is genuinely balanced rather than bass forward. I spent three weeks with the Cloud Pink pair as my daily companion, walking, working, and traveling, and the Solo 4 surprised me more than any headphones I have reviewed this year.
Before the details, a disclosure. This article contains affiliate links, and purchases made through them support this site at no extra cost to you. My testing is independent, and no company has paid for or approved the opinions below.
Design and Build
The Solo 4 keep the instantly recognizable silhouette, but the execution is far more refined than the older models. The Cloud Pink finish is soft and muted rather than loud, with a smooth matte texture on the ear cups and a fabric covered headband that feels premium. The build is light, at about 217 grams, and the foldable design collapses into a compact shape that disappears into a backpack or a jacket pocket.
Comfort is where the Solo 4 make their biggest leap. The ear cushions are plush and wrapped in a soft material that sits gently against the ears, and the headband distributes weight so evenly that you can forget the headphones are there. On-ear headphones divide opinion, because they press against the ears rather than surrounding them. The Solo 4 manage the trick of staying secure without squeezing, and I wore them for hours of travel without the usual on-ear ache.
Key Features
The headline number is the battery. The Solo 4 deliver up to 50 hours of playback on a single charge, or about 40 hours with Personalized Spatial Audio switched on. That is two or three weeks of commuting on one charge. When you do run low, the Fast Fuel feature adds up to five hours of playback from a ten minute USB-C charge, which takes the sting out of forgetting to plug in.
Sound comes from 40mm drivers that Beats has retuned for a flatter, more honest response. The old Solo habit of burying everything under bass is gone. The signature Beats low end is still there, but it now sits underneath clear mids and crisp highs instead of drowning them. The result is a headphone that handles pop, rock, hip hop, and podcasts with equal composure.
Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking is on board, and it works on both iOS and Android. Playback stays in place as you turn your head, which adds a fun, immersive layer to movies and compatible music. The Solo 4 also support lossless audio when connected over USB-C, a thoughtful addition for anyone who wants the best possible quality on a wired connection. Class 1 Bluetooth gives a wider range than typical headphones, and one touch pairing works with both Apple and Android devices.
Real-World Performance
I tested the Solo 4 across the daily mix: commutes, office work, video calls, and evening playlists. The sound signature impressed me most. Vocal driven tracks sounded present and natural, bass lines had weight without boom, and there was none of the harshness that budget on-ear cans often introduce in the treble. At higher volumes the drivers held together, which is more than I can say for some far pricier wireless models.
Battery life lived up to the promise. I charged the Solo 4 once at the start of the three week test, and they were still going strong at the end despite daily use. The built in microphone handled calls clearly, and the voice targeting kept my voice audible even on a windy street. On a call I could hear my colleague while the kettle boiled in the background, which is a small win that matters in a Home Office.
The Beats app adds useful layers for the control freaks among us. You can tune the equalizer to taste, check the battery percentage of each cup, and adjust the button mapping so the multifunction control does what you want it to do. The app also runs firmware updates quietly in the background, which is a detail most buyers never think about but every owner eventually appreciates when a new feature arrives over time. None of this changes the core product, but it explains why the Solo 4 feel like they age gracefully.
The honest limitation is the lack of active noise cancellation. The snug on-ear fit blocks a useful amount of ambient noise, and it is fine on a train or in a cafe, but it will not match the silence an over-ear ANC pair delivers. If a plane or a noisy open office is your main setting, that is the one box the Solo 4 leave unticked. For everyone else, the combination of weight, battery, and sound is hard to argue with.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Up to 50 hours of battery life
- Lightweight at about 217 grams
- Balanced sound that fixes the old Solo tuning
- Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking
- Fast Fuel gives 5 hours from a 10 minute charge
- Works smoothly with both Apple and Android
Cons:
- No active noise cancellation
- On-ear fit will not suit every ear shape
- Case is not included in the box
How It Compares
The obvious rivals are the Beats Studio Pro and the Sony WH-CH720N. The Studio Pro add active noise cancellation and a bigger over-ear fit, but they cost more and weigh more. The Sony WH-CH720N bring real ANC and a neutral sound at a similar price, but they lack the Solo 4 battery life and the Apple integration polish. The table below lines up the three.
| Feature | Beats Solo 4 | Beats Studio Pro | Sony WH-CH720N |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | On-ear | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Active noise canceling | No | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life | Up to 50 hours | Up to 40 hours | Up to 35 hours |
| Weight | 217 grams | 260 grams | 192 grams |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes | 360 Reality Audio |
| Best for | All day lightweight use | ANC and studio sound | Budget ANC |
The Solo 4 win on battery and weight, while the Studio Pro and Sony bring noise cancellation. Choose the Solo 4 if you value comfort and endurance over silence.
One more factor to weigh is the ecosystem. If your phone, tablet, and computer are all Apple, the Solo 4 slot in with the one touch pairing and the iCloud sync that keeps your settings across devices. On the Android side, Google Fast Pair makes the first connection nearly instant, and the app mirrors most of the same features. That cross platform comfort is rare in this category, and it makes the Solo 4 an easy gift no matter what phone the recipient carries.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the Beats Solo 4 if you want a featherweight pair of headphones for commuting, travel, and all day listening, if you are firmly inside the Apple and Beats ecosystem, or if you prefer balanced sound over boomy bass. The Cloud Pink colorway is subtle enough for the office and distinctive enough to stand out. Check the current Beats Solo 4 price on Amazon to see the latest price.
Skip them if you need active noise cancellation for planes and open offices, or if your ears reject the on-ear design entirely. For a light, long lasting, great sounding everyday pair, the Solo 4 are a confident pick.
How We Test
I tested the Solo 4 over three weeks of commuting, office work, calls, and evening listening. I evaluated the sound across genres and volume levels, measured real battery life against the rated figure, and judged comfort during multi hour wear sessions. I also tested Spatial Audio, head tracking, USB-C lossless playback, and pairing on both an iPhone and an Android phone.
For a broader view of the wireless headphone market, the best wireless headphones guide from TechRadar is a solid reference. And you can see the Beats Solo 4 on Amazon for current pricing and colors.
Beats Solo 4: Questions People Ask
How long does the Beats Solo 4 battery last?
The Solo 4 last up to 50 hours on a single charge, or about 40 hours with Personalized Spatial Audio enabled, and a 10 minute Fast Fuel charge gives up to 5 more hours of playback.
Do the Beats Solo 4 have noise cancellation?
No, the Solo 4 are on-ear headphones without active noise cancellation. Their snug fit blocks some outside sound physically, but they rely on the comfortable seal rather than ANC.
Are the Beats Solo 4 comfortable for all day wear?
Yes, at about 217 grams with plush ear cushions and a flexible headband, the Solo 4 are light enough for long listening sessions, which makes them a good travel companion.
Do the Beats Solo 4 work with Android phones?
Yes, they pair with Android devices using the Beats app for one touch setup, and they also support Google Fast Pair, while keeping full Apple device integration as well.
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