Solo 4 Review

Design and Comfort

The Solo 4 keeps the compact, foldable on-ear shape the Solo line is known for. It is mostly matte plastic with a metal slider and hinges, and it folds into a soft carrying case that is easy to stash in a bag. At 217 g it is light for a Bluetooth headphone. Reviewers are lukewarm on build quality: Tom's Guide calls the earcup stitching and construction only so-so, and SoundGuys scored the build well below the design.

Comfort is the most divisive part of the Solo 4. On-ear pads rest on the outer ear rather than around it, and published reviews reflect that. SoundGuys reports discomfort after about 1.5 hours, Tom's Guide notes that the headband has little give and may feel tight on larger heads, and Digital Trends' summary flags it as a poor fit for glasses wearers. On the other side, TechWeLike found the pressure low and T3 describes a secure fit. Treat it as a headphone to try on before committing, especially for long listening sessions.

Sound Quality

The Solo 4 is a clear step away from the bass-heavy Solo3, but reviewers disagree on whether that is an improvement. RTINGS classes the sound signature as bright, with treble slightly emphasized, and calls it much more neutral than the Solo3 with less boomy bass. It describes the added treble as detailed but a little harsh at times. SoundGuys' lab data shows bass underemphasized from 20 Hz to about 800 Hz and a boost between 3 and 9 kHz that can fatigue the ears. It gave the Solo 4 3.9 out of 5 on its MDAQS audio score, which it calls below average, and describes the sound as thin.

Impressions from other reviewers are kinder. What Hi-Fi's early hands-on verdict found a forward midrange and enough warmth in the bass, though the treble was slightly bright over Bluetooth and that edge largely faded over USB-C. T3 and Tom's Guide both found the balance good. TechGearLab sits at the other extreme with a 4.3 out of 10 for sound. The fair summary is that this is an easy, lively tuning for casual listening, but not a full-bodied one.

There is little you can do to adjust it. SoundGuys and Digital Trends both note there is no EQ or sound customization. Bluetooth codecs are limited to SBC and AAC, which suits iPhones but offers Android users no high-resolution option. Wired listening is the better route for critical listening: Beats says USB-C audio is lossless, and a 3.5 mm analog cable is also supported.

Noise Isolation and Calls

There is no noise cancelling here and no transparency mode. RTINGS lists poor noise isolation as a con, and SoundGuys says low-frequency noise gets through and that fit made it hard to hear audio on a train. TechRadar is the outlier, calling the passive isolation impressive, while Tom's Guide says it works best at high volume. If you commute on loud transit, an ANC model is a safer choice.

Beats says the Solo 4 uses multiple beam-forming microphones. Tom's Guide found calls clear, SoundGuys rated them okay with mixed results in wind, and TechGearLab gave call quality 6.9 out of 10. We found no independent latency measurements, and this is not a gaming headset.

Battery and Connectivity

Battery life is the Solo 4's strongest card. Beats rates it at up to 50 hours, and SoundGuys' own testing recorded more than 84 hours at a moderate volume. CNN puts the figure nearer 45 hours with Spatial Audio and Find My on. A 10-minute Fast Fuel charge gives about 5 hours, and the 3.5 mm cable lets you keep listening with an empty battery.

Connectivity uses Bluetooth 5.3. On iPhone you get quick pairing, Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking, Find My, Audio Sharing and Siri, and no app is needed. Android users need the Beats app for firmware updates, Find My Device and button customization, and get stereo instead of head-tracked audio. There is no true simultaneous multipoint, though reviewers say it switches quickly between devices on the same account. There is also no IP water-resistance rating, so treat it as a headphone for dry days.

Who Should Buy the Solo 4

• iPhone users on a budget who want long battery life, Find My and Spatial Audio, and can find it near $100.
• Travelers who value compact size and a foldable design with a wired USB-C or 3.5 mm option.
• Listeners who prefer a lighter, brighter sound over heavy bass.
• Not for commuters who need noise cancelling, glasses wearers, or anyone who wants an EQ.

If you want ANC at a similar street price, the 1More SonoFlow and Anker Soundcore Space Q45 are stronger values, and the Sony WH-CH720N is a more comfortable over-ear alternative.

Final Verdict

The Beats Solo 4 does a few things well: it is light, folds small, lasts for days and plays nicely with iPhones. It falls short where rivals at the same street price do better, with no noise cancelling, a measured tuning that leans bright and thin, and a fit that some reviewers find tiring. At $199.99 it is a poor value, but around $100 it is a reasonable pick for iPhone owners who prioritize battery life and portability over sound quality and isolation.