Beats Solo 4 Review: Is Light and Long-Lasting Enough?

This Beats Solo 4 review covers a pair of on-ear wireless headphones that put portability and battery life ahead of everything else. It is a light, foldable design that pairs with one touch on both iPhone and Android, and it can also be used wired over USB-C or a 3.5 mm cable. It sits in the mid-range part of the market, and it is aimed at travelers and commuters who want something easy to carry and rarely need to charge.

This review is based on manufacturer specs and on what independent expert reviews report. We have not run our own hands-on testing, so everything below reflects the published facts and the consensus among reviewers.

Beats Solo 4 review: design and build

The Solo 4 is an on-ear design, meaning the cushions rest on your ears rather than enclosing them. It weighs 217 g / 7.65 oz and folds down, and a carrying case is included, so it is easy to drop into a bag. The dimensions are 17.7 cm L x 15.8 cm W x 6.8 cm H (6.9 in x 6.2 in x 2.7 in), which gives you a sense of how compact it is when you pack it for a trip.

Beats fits UltraPlush cushions and a flex-grip headband to help it sit securely. It comes in Matte Black, Cloud Pink and Slate Blue, so there is a neutral option and two more colorful ones.

The design carries one trade-off that reviewers raise. On-ear headphones put pressure directly on the ears, and a common criticism is that the fit can get uncomfortable after an hour or two. If you plan to wear headphones for long stretches, that matters. The Solo 4 has no IP rating, so Beats makes no water-resistance claim. Treat it as a pair for dry commutes and travel rather than workouts in the rain.

Features and what they mean day to day

One-touch pairing and Find My

Pairing is designed to be quick on both iOS and Android, with one-touch setup. The headphones also work with Find My on Apple devices and Find My Device on Android, which helps if you tend to leave a pair on a train seat or at the back of a drawer.

Spatial Audio with head tracking

The Solo 4 supports Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. In practice, that means supported content can sound as if it comes from fixed positions around you, even as you turn your head.

Calls

Beam-forming microphones handle calls. The published specs don't go beyond that, so expect a pair that covers the basics of taking calls rather than something sold on call quality.

Lossless audio, wired

The headline feature for audio fans is the built-in DAC. It allows lossless audio over USB-C or over the 3.5 mm cable. Both a USB-C to USB-C cable and a 3.5 mm audio cable are in the box, so you can use either option straight away. Reviewers also like that the 3.5 mm jack works without battery power, which is a useful fallback if the headphones are ever flat and you are at a gate or on a plane.

Performance, battery and connectivity

Battery life

Battery life is the Solo 4's strongest card. Beats rates it at up to 50 hours of listening time on one charge, and reviewers report that it can last even longer than that. For most people, that means charging every few weeks rather than every few days.

Fast Fuel adds a safety net. A 10-minute charge gives up to 5 hours of playback, which covers a typical commute or a good part of a flight when you realize the battery is low. Charging is over USB-C, the same port used for wired lossless listening.

Sound

The drivers are 40 mm custom transducers. Beats does not publish more than that, so the best guide to how it sounds is what reviewers say. Their common criticism is that the sound is slightly thin. They also note that the companion app has no EQ, so you cannot adjust the tuning to taste. If you value tuning flexibility, keep that in mind.

Bluetooth and codecs

The Solo 4 uses Bluetooth 5.3, Class 1. Codec support is limited to SBC and AAC. AAC is a sensible match for iPhones, but the headphones don't offer higher-bitrate wireless codecs. Reviewers also point out that there is no multipoint Bluetooth, so you can't stay connected to two devices at once and switch between them automatically. Lossless listening is only available when you connect with a cable.

No noise cancelling

The Solo 4 has no active noise cancelling. You get passive isolation only, and reviewers describe that isolation as weak. Because passive isolation is weak, you will hear much of your surroundings in noisy places. This is the clearest limitation, and it should shape your decision more than any other single spec.

What experts like and what they criticise

Independent reviews land in the middle to upper-middle of the scale. The Solo 4 averages 7.2/10 across 5 expert reviews. RTINGS scores it 7.2/10 and SoundGuys gives it 6.9/10. Tom's Guide scores it 4/5, TechRadar 3/5 and Engadget 79/100. It is also recommended in 5 expert buying guides.

What reviewers praise:

• The battery life, which they found lasts even longer than the quoted figure.
• The speed of Fast Fuel charging.
• Lossless audio over USB-C, and a 3.5 mm jack that works without battery.
• The light, foldable design and carrying case.
• One-touch pairing on iOS and Android, along with Spatial Audio and head tracking.

What reviewers criticise:

• The lack of active noise cancelling, with weak passive isolation.
• An on-ear fit that can become uncomfortable after an hour or two.
• Codec support limited to SBC and AAC, with no multipoint Bluetooth.
• Sound that comes across as slightly thin, with no EQ in the app.

Who should buy the Beats Solo 4

The Solo 4 makes sense if:

• You travel or commute and want headphones that are light, fold up and come with a case.
• You hate charging. Up to 50 hours per charge, plus a quick top-up from Fast Fuel, keeps charging to a minimum.
• You want a wired lossless option, either over USB-C or the 3.5 mm cable, as well as wireless convenience.
• You want simple one-touch pairing on either iOS or Android, plus a way to find the headphones if you lose them.
• You like Spatial Audio with head tracking for video and supported content.

Who should skip it

Look elsewhere if:

• You need noise cancelling for noisy trains, planes or open offices. There is none, and the passive isolation is weak.
• You want headphones to wear for long sessions. The on-ear fit can become uncomfortable after an hour or two.
• You want to connect to two devices at once, since multipoint Bluetooth is not supported.
• You care most about sound quality for the money, or want an EQ to shape the sound. Reviewers find the tuning slightly thin and the app offers no EQ.
• You need water resistance, as there is no IP rating.

How it fits in its category

Wireless headphones compete on a handful of things: noise cancelling, comfort, sound and battery life. The Solo 4 clearly chooses battery life, portability and easy pairing, and it gives up noise cancelling, and its on-ear fit can get uncomfortable after an hour or two. That makes it a specific pick for people with specific habits, not a default recommendation for everyone. If noise cancelling is your priority, you will want to shop in a different part of the category. If you prize light weight, long runtime and a wired lossless fallback, it deserves a place on your shortlist.

Verdict

The Beats Solo 4 does what it sets out to do: a light, foldable pair that rarely needs charging and that can double as a wired lossless headset. Its average of 7.2/10 from expert reviewers is a fair summary. It is a good fit for the right traveler and a poor one for anyone who wants quiet, all-day comfort or the strongest sound for the money. Decide how much you value noise cancelling and a comfortable fit before you buy, and if the answer is "not much", the Solo 4 is easy to live with.

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