At the beginning of the Summer, Beats introduced us to their smallest pair of earbuds yet with the Beats Solo Buds. We originally thought the Studio Buds+ were compact but Beats has managed to get these newer iterations even smaller and less expensive but of course with some caveats.
Style
Like the Studio Buds, the Solo Buds comes in various colorways. That would be Matte Black, Artic Purple, Storm Gray, and their translucent color this year being Transparent Red which we’re covering. You can see some of the wiring as well as the earbuds themselves when placed inside. The case itself is a clamshell style with a Beats logo on the front while the back has USB-C. So, while you can charge via USB-C you are realistically only charging the earbuds as the case doesn’t hold a charge itself. The case weighs a feathery 0.77oz and can fit in the palm of my hand and be fully covered if I make a fist.
The earbuds themselves are small and fit snug in the ear. They are designed to be grabbed with two fingers and also have clickable buttons on each as well that can be customized for volume controls if you don’t want to do play/pause options. The material of the buds is a slight rubberized texture which make it easier to grasp. They don’t seem to have an IP Rating so not sure how great they would be for working out sweat wise anyway.
Beats Solo Buds come with various ear tips.
Features
Solo Buds support Android and iOS as I been using with both my iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. You can use Find My or Find My Device tracking if you misplace your earbuds. Even though the case doesn’t hold a charge the earbuds hold up to 18hrs of power and can do 1hr of play off 5mins thanks to Fast Fuel.
Sound
Each tiny bud is utilizing 8.2mm drivers. You get some decent vocal quality with listening to songs like “Like That” by Future and “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Ellish. I don’t find them packing heavy in the bass department but lean more towards voices. I dont feel like i get that thump I’ve grown accustomed to in most Beats products. Their Studio Buds definitely have more kick but also do cost a significant amount more.
Experience
One of the most impressive things about the Solo Buds is the battery life. It seems to hold to its quoted 18hrs, and I can’t recall charging them often. These earbuds don’t support ANC, so you make encounter some noise depending on your environment. The only thing that helps a bit blocking out some noise is how snug they can get in your ears. Wearing them for long periods of time I didn’t experience any discomfort nor did they ever feel like they were loosening and dropping out my ears.
Verdict
To be so compact comes compromises with the Solo Buds. They have a nice battery life and are comfortable to wear. Just remember to charge them since the case doesn’t be juiced up. Sound wise they were lacking a bit in the bass department but were nice for vocals. They are extremely affordable though for $80 and I like the fact they can fit in so many pockets without adding any bulk.
