ZDNET's key takeaways Beats' latest Pill speaker is available for $150 in five colorways: Statement Red, Matte Black, Champagne Gold, Navy Blue, and Blush Pink.
An impressive battery life and a subtle, clean design set the Beats Pill apart from its competitors.
However, Beats' overemphasized, bass-forward sound can mask the other aspects of a song. $99.99 at B&H Photo-Video
The Beats Pill (2024) is currently on sale for $100, $50 off its original price. Beats recently released two new Pill colors, Navy Blue and Blush Pink, sold exclusively at Walmart and Target, respectively. Right now, the new colors and other exclusive collaboration colors are on sale at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart.
Bluetooth speakers are as popular as ever, as Sony, Bose, JBL, and more have shown by refreshing and revamping their selections just in time for summer. The competition is so hot and full of heavy hitters that it pulled Beats out of retirement.
With the latest Beats Pill, Apple has reversed its departure from the Bluetooth speaker game. For reference, the last Beats speaker was the Pill+ from 2015.
Also: The best Bluetooth speakers: Sonos, Bose, JBL, and more
I was curious to see what upgrades the Beats Pill (2024) offers. Fortunately, I was hosting friends all weekend and had the perfect opportunity to see if the new speaker had what it took to satisfy our audio needs. Should you upgrade to the new Pill or invest in Bose, Sony, or Soundcore instead? Read on as I attempt to answer this question.
The Beats Pill delivers a bass-forward sound profile, similar to many of the company's other speakers and headphones. Electronic music with heavy, skipping basslines, like Charlie XCX's Club Classics, sounded electrifying and full, with a heavy emphasis on the lower frequencies.
I wish Apple would license AirPlay to Beats, but I suspect withholding this feature is meant to leave HomePod sales unharmed. When I have guests over, I like to play music from my iPhone to my Sonos Arc via AirPlay, which streams over Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth, so my incoming notifications don't disrupt the music. AirPlay also allows me to take my phone with me outside to greet guests without interrupting the ongoing jam session.
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