Beats Solo Buds review: The better AirPods budget option

Macworld

At a glanceExpert's Rating
ProsVery affordable18-hour battery lifeSurprisingly good sound for the priceConsNo active noise cancellingNo automatic device switching or multi-point BluetoothNo in-ear detectionNo personalized spatial audioCharging case has no batteryOur VerdictA lot of premium features had to be cut to reach this price point, but you do get epic battery life, a comfortable and attractive design, and audio quality that beats both 2nd-gen and 3rd-gen AirPods (but not AirPods Pro).

AirPods are…fine. We’re big fans of the 2nd-generation AirPods Pro, which are a fine pick at the retail price of $249 but are almost always on sale for $200 or less.

Even that is much too steep for some users, though. If you’re not a big headphone user or are just minding your budget, you could be looking in the sub-$100 price range. That leaves you with the option of buying regular non-Pro AirPods–and not the latest improved 3rd-generation model, but the aging 2nd-gen AirPods first introduced five years ago.

Those $129 earbuds are almost always on sale for under $100, but for about the same price you can get a pair of brand-new Beats Solo Buds, which are better in almost every way.

Beats Solo Buds: Design

You’ve likely seen earbuds like this plenty of times. They’re little stemless buds that fit snugly in your ear and rest in a charging case when not in use. Nothing about the Beats Solo Buds design is in any way groundbreaking. On each earbud is a physical button that’s easy to press when you need to, which is not something I can say for controlling AirPods.

Beats Solo Buds are definitely a better buy than 2nd-gen AirPods…

Oh, and they come in four colors instead of just white: matte black, storm grey, arctic purple, and transparent red (the earbuds are not transparent, only the case).

The charging case is quite small and fits comfortably in any pocket, but it doesn’t have a battery of its own. Dropping the earbuds in the case does not charge them until you plug in the case via USB-C. (If you have an iPhone 15 with USB-C, your iPhone can charge the earbuds.)

That’s less of a hassle than you might expect, as the earbuds’ batteries are rated to last an impressive 18 hours. I didn’t use them for 18 hours straight, but they weren’t even half drained after a rather full day of listening.

Beats Solo Buds: Fit

The stems on AirPods are distinctive, but there’s a reason Apple made them shorter on the AirPods Pro and 3rd-gen AirPods–they tend to get in the way.

Beats Solo Buds are just little buds, without stems, so they fit more snugly in the ear. Unlike the plastic AirPods, they have rubberized ear tips (in four sizes), which not only makes for a more secure fit but improves bass response.




This will stay in your ear a lot better than a standard AirPod.



This will stay in your ear a lot better than a standard AirPod.Foundry

This will stay in your ear a lot better than a standard AirPod.Foundry


Foundry

I can’t recall a single time I was able to complete a workout in 2nd-gen AirPods without one falling out or constant fiddling to keep them in my ears. Beats Solo Pro stayed put just fine.

Beats Solo Buds: Sound

I’m pleasantly surprised by the sound quality of these earbuds, given their price. For a pair of earbuds that retail for $80 and will surely cost even less on sale by this holiday season, the sound is pretty clear and punchy.

Naturally, they don’t hold up to the clarity and kick of earbuds that cost twice as much, nor would I expect them to, but they sound a lot better than standard AirPods. Even 3rd-gen AirPods can’t quite keep up, probably because they don’t have rubber ear tips to create a seal in your ears which really helps give the low end a bit more kick.




The case doesn’t charge the earbuds unless it’s plugged in, but you can charge them with your USB-C iPhone.



The case doesn’t charge the earbuds unless it’s plugged in, but you can charge them with your USB-C iPhone.Foundry

The case doesn’t charge the earbuds unless it’s plugged in, but you can charge them with your USB-C iPhone.Foundry


Foundry

Call quality is fine, but the voice isolation only goes so far–more expensive buds do a better job of canceling out background noise so the person you’re calling can hear you better. If you make a lot of calls while walking down a busy street, you might want to invest in more expensive earbuds.

As you would expect at this price, there’s no active noise cancelation. Again, rubberized ear tips provide an advantage vs. the non-Pro AirPods, as they help block more outside sound.

Should you buy the Beats Solo Buds?

These are budget earbuds and as such are missing a lot of the more advanced features you get if you’re willing to spend more. They support Find My (and Find My Device on Android) and quick pairing, but don’t support automatic switching between devices for Apple users or multi-point Bluetooth for Android.

Nor do they support personalized Spatial Audio or dynamic head tracking. They don’t have in-ear detection (they turn off when placed back in the case). As mentioned, there’s no active noise cancelation. The case doesn’t even have an LED on it to indicate charging, there’s just a little audio chime when you plug it in (and you can see your charge level on your iPhone).

Of course, those features are nice, but in a stylish and comfortable pair of $79 earbuds I don’t necessarily expect them. With sound quality that punches about its weight and truly epic battery life, the Beats Solo Buds are definitely a better buy than 2nd-gen AirPods, and I honestly prefer them to 3rd-gen AirPods, too. When you see these on sale below retail price, they’ll be a steal.

Headphones