Apple is set to have an exciting week ahead: In the wake of launching pre-orders for its brand-new MacBook Air M3, the company is purportedly announcing an updated pair of Beats Solo 4 headphones with a release date set for May 2.
With no major hardware update since September 2016, the Beats Solo line are long overdue for a return and, thanks to several sources Mark Gurman, a long-time Apple insider who writes for Bloomberg, it looks like we're finally getting them.
According to 9to5Mac, the long-awaited Beats Solo 4 will cost $199 and will sport several enhancements, such as USB-C connectivity, a 50-hour battery life and spatial audio. Leaked images from a several weeks prior also suggest that the Beats Solo 4 will come in three main colors — blue, pink, and black.
At long last, Beats Solo return
The reveal of a new pair of Beats Solo headphones was first leaked via code within Apple’s iOS 17.4 software update. Leaked images alongside the info (thanks MacRumors) shows how little the Solo 4 version will change design-wise, keeping the same general look as its predecessor.
Beyond just personalized spatial audio, the Solo 4 headphones could also bring several features found on previous Beats products, including simple tap gestures. These include things like double pressing the Beats “b” button for skipping songs, long pressing for Siri activation, and a simple tap to play and pause music or answer calls.
Here are some videos of the new Beats Solo 4 https://t.co/I9MwTDUUaR pic.twitter.com/nx8wdP23AtFebruary 27, 2024
Little else is known about the new Beats Solo 4, but they could prove to be some of the best headphones to release this year — depending, of course, on price and performance.
As already mentioned, the Beats Solo 3 headphones were launched all the way back in September 2016 with a price of $299; they now cost as little as $99 at some retailers. The last known Beats headphones released by Apple were the Beats Studio Pro in July 2023, which didn’t exactly fair too well in our review at the time.
A reinvigorated Beats Solo 4 that takes up some of the more incredible upgrades gifted its Beats Solo Pro model could potentially prove to usher in some real competition against heavy hitters such as Sony and Sennheiser at the $200 headphone range.
We'll be putting them to the test when they come out in May, but until then you can check out our list of the best headphones for some fully-tested alternatives.
