The Beats Solo Buds are extremely slimmed down, but good
For those seeking compact, comfortable and affordable in-ear headphones with decent battery life and a pleasant sound, the Beats Solo Buds are a good option, priced around 90 Euro. Besides a high wearing comfort, long battery life, and appealing sound, they offer nothing extra as Apple has stripped down all additional features, including the battery in the charging case.
Some prefer premium Bluetooth earbuds with excellent sound quality, strong noise cancellation, and numerous additional features. They are willing to pay a correspondingly high price for these. However, many users simply want good, affordable, and uncomplicated earbuds that they can always carry with them. For this clientele, Apple has introduced the Beats Solo Buds. In practical testing, they perform well, but there are better alternatives.
Compact charging case with no built-in battery
Upon opening the packaging, the very small charging case immediately catches the eye, which easily fits in the small change pocket of jeans. To achieve this, Apple has removed the battery from the case, making it only 22 grams in weight. To charge the Buds in the case, it must be connected to a power source via USB-C cable and a power adapter or laptop.
This did not prove to be a disadvantage in testing, as only five minutes of charging are required to obtain approximately one hour of music playback. Additionally, the Buds have a battery life of up to 18 hours, effectively eliminating the need for forced breaks.
High wearing comfort
Apple did not achieve the long battery life by installing large batteries in the earbuds. Instead, the Buds do not require active noise cancellation or a transparent mode, making them compact and lightweight. This allows for extended wearability.
The build quality of the case and earbuds is premium, and they do not appear cheap. However, they do not officially offer dust or water protection, making them only conditionally suitable for sports use.
Beats is owned by Apple, but the Solo Buds work seamlessly with Android devices. Users must simply install the corresponding app to access some control of the earbuds. In the app, users can also customize the earbud control to some extent. For example, they can adjust the volume by pressing and holding the left or right earbud instead of summoning a digital assistant.
Simple control, decent sound
The mechanical buttons on the outer surfaces of the Buds respond precisely, but they require quite a firm press, which can be uncomfortable. The earbuds do not offer automatic pause functionality when removed from the ear.
Surprisingly, the extremely compact Buds do not support high-resolution Bluetooth codecs. However, the lack of sound customization is more disappointing. The app offers no preset modes or an equalizer. Unfortunately, the sound quality of the Solo Buds is good but sometimes lacks consistency. The highs can be overemphasized, and the bass can be too restrained.
The perceived sound quality depends significantly on the type of music being played. For example, guitar rock is not the strong suit of the earbuds, but they can be enjoyable for hip-hop or techno music.
Conclusion
In summary, the Beats Solo Buds are a decent choice for those seeking affordable, compact, and comfortable earbuds with decent battery life and a pleasant sound. However, there are better alternatives available for those who prioritize advanced features, superior sound quality, or extended battery life.
Overall, the Beats Solo Buds offer a fair price-performance ratio for 90 Euro. They are extremely comfortable and sound quite good. In addition, they fit into the smallest pocket and last long enough that you don't miss the battery in the charging case. However, there are alternatives in this price range that offer significantly more. Among them are, for example, the Nothing Ear (1) or the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE, which cost around 75 Euro and were tested as winners by Stiftung Warentest.
The charging case of the Beats Solo Buds, while compact and lightweight, requires connecting to a power source via USB-C cable for charging, as Apple removed the built-in battery to reduce its weight. During audio tests, the earbuds performed well, offering a battery life of up to 18 hours, but lack high-resolution Bluetooth codecs and customizable sound options. The Beats Solo Buds, despite being owned by Apple, are compatible with Android devices, offering simple control options through a corresponding app.
