Apple Beats Solo Buds review: compact and capable

3.5/5
When it comes to choosing the right pair of earbuds, design, sound quality, and portability (in no particular order) are at the top of the list. In a market saturated with options, finding a model that strikes the right balance can be challenging. Apple recently released the Apple beats Solo Buds in the Indian market. The earbuds are priced at Rs 6,900 and come with support for both iOS and Android phones. Arctic Purple, Matte Black, Storm Gray and Transparent Red are the color options a buyer can choose from. We received the Arctic Purple variant of Apple Beats Solo Buds for review and here’s what we think.

Apple beats Solo Buds design

Apple Beats Solo Buds immediately impress with their refined, minimalist design that Apple and Beats fans will recognize and love. The earbuds have the brand’s signature design with a plastic housing. The Apple Beats Solo Buds have a sleek matte finish that feels premium, combined with subtle Beats branding on each earbud.
The earbuds have a dual-tone design with a light purple body color and a dark shade on the top panel. Each earbud also has a button that allows you to control the music and volume. The earbuds are designed with ergonomic contours that fit snugly in the ear. Each earbud weighs 5.7 grams, making them ultra-light and comfortable to wear during extended sessions.

The earbuds’ charging case is impressively compact, designed to fit easily in your pocket. Like the earphones, the case has a two-tone casing with a lighter shade on the inside and darker on the outside. Weighing 22 grams, it is slim and light, making it extremely portable for everyday use. Whether you throw them in your jeans pocket, a small clutch, or even a shirt pocket, their size and streamlined shape make them one of the most travel-friendly options out there.
The case features a USB Type-C port for charging. But the case won’t charge your earbuds unless it’s connected to a power source. This means that the Apple Beats Solo Buds cannot be charged on the go. Unlike most other earbuds, the case also lacks an LED indicator for charging. Instead, you get a “ding” when you plug in the case, which acts as the only signal that the earbuds are charging.

Apple beats Solo Buds performance

Apple Beats Solo Buds work with both Android and iOS devices. We tested them with both an Android phone and an iPhone. When using the earbuds with an Android phone, you’ll need to install the Beats Companion app to customize the controls on the earbuds. With an iPhone, you get built-in earbud controls in the iOS Settings app.
Pairing the device is easy. Simply open the case and press and hold one of the earbuds until you hear a beeping sound to initiate pairing. You will see a notification on your phone to pair the Apple Beats Solo Buds. You can answer incoming calls and mute/unmute the microphone at the touch of a button on either earbud. You can double press to end a call. To decrease the volume, press and hold the button on the left earbud and press and hold the button on the right earbud to increase the volume. The controls on the earbuds are easy to use and register every time. No problems there.

Apple Beats Solo Buds come with 8.2mm dynamic drivers and support SBC and AAC codecs. The audio performance of the earbuds is decent. If you’re an Apple or Beats fan, don’t set your expectations too high. Keep in mind that it is a relatively budget offering and thus lacks some features. There is no head tracking or ear detection sensor. The Beats Solo Buds lack the ability to automatically pause the music when you remove the earbuds from your ear or automatically resume it when you put them back in the ear. The earbuds also lack multipoint Bluetooth pairing and also cannot automatically switch between Apple devices. Active noise cancellation can also be found on the earbuds.
That said, we would like to add that the Beats Solo Buds deliver decent performance across the board. The sound is loud and clear with richer bass. For its price tag, the audio profile is punchy and balanced, offering satisfying depth without overwhelming other frequencies.
The earbuds do a satisfying job in handling different genres. For example, The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights showcases the clarity and powerful bass response of the knobs, bringing the beats to life with controlled lows that make the song feel immersive. On songs like Good 4 U by Olivia Rodrigo, the buttons capture the raw, energetic anxiety of the song. The distorted guitars and driving drums in the song come across powerful without muddying the vocals.
Listening to Bollywood hits on the Apple Beats Solo Buds is a pleasure. With songs like Tum Jo Aaye from Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, the earbuds manage to process the melodic layers with warmth and depth. For songs like Ghungroo from War, the earbuds shine with a powerful bass.

Overall, the earbuds have a balanced soundstage that performs well across a variety of genres, making these earbuds a versatile choice for all music tastes.

Apple Beats Solo Buds battery

The company claims that the Apple Beats Solo Buds can deliver up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge. During our review, we could easily get through a work week (5 days) with about 3 hours of daily listening. As mentioned earlier, the charging case does not have a battery. So, every time you want to charge the device, you have to place it in the case and connect it to the power source. This can sometimes feel limiting for active users.

Pronunciation

Apple Beats Solo Buds impress with a sleek and minimalist design. Their ultra-lightweight, ergonomic construction provides comfortable carrying during longer sessions, while the compact charging case is pocket-friendly and ideal for travel. On the performance front, the Solo Buds deliver balanced audio with strong bass and clarity across all genres, making them a versatile choice for different music styles.
However, they lack some advanced features found in more expensive models, such as active noise cancellation, head tracking, and auto pause/resume. However, for everyday listening, these earbuds offer reliable sound quality and decent battery life, making them a solid choice for casual users, especially at a more budget-friendly price of Rs 6,900 within the Apple Beats range.