Beats Solo 4 Verdict

Who it fits

Beats Solo 4 is a lightweight on-ear, non-ANC headphone for buyers who value 217g weight, 50-hour battery life, cross-platform use and flexible wired audio more than active noise cancellation.

That physical and functional distinction should come first. The exact record specifies ON_EAR, 217g, no active noise cancellation, 50 hours battery, 10 minutes for up to 5 hours, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C lossless audio, 3.5 mm analogue input with battery-independent operation, cross-platform support and a foldable design.

It should not be written as a cheaper Studio Pro. Solo 4 is a different architecture with a different reason to buy.

Retailer prices

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beatsbydre.com

$329.95

Checked 4 Oct

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What changes the decision

ANC is the must-have requirement

Beats Solo 4 has no active noise cancellation.

That is not a minor omission to mention near the end. If ANC is required for flights, trains, noisy offices or your personal listening preference, Solo 4 should leave the shortlist immediately.

Beats Studio Pro, Sony CH720N, JBL Tune 770NC and Soundcore Q20i all sit in the ANC branch. Solo 4 belongs in a different decision path.

This is the most important distinction because no amount of battery, weight or cable flexibility can turn a non-ANC product into an isolation-first one.

On-ear and over-ear are different physical choices

Solo 4 uses an on-ear form factor and weighs 217g.

That makes it lighter and more compact-feeling than many over-ear products, but it also places the earcups differently. PIQSY does not infer comfort from form factor alone because individual fit varies.

The practical question is whether you prefer a lighter on-ear design and can accept its different isolation/pressure characteristics. If you already know you only like over-ear cups, the lower weight does not rescue the product.

Fifty hours makes charging a background task

Beats specifies 50 hours of battery life.

Because there is no ANC mode to split the runtime into on/off figures, the proposition is simple: long everyday endurance in a light on-ear design.

The exact record also specifies 10 minutes = up to 5 hours, which gives a useful quick-recovery path.

For commuters, students and office users who do not need ANC, that combination can be more relevant than adding a complex noise-cancelling system they would rarely use.

USB-C lossless audio gives it a modern wired role

Solo 4 verifies USB-C lossless audio.

That creates a direct digital connection path for compatible sources and gives the product more versatility than a wireless-only on-ear.

The capability should remain bounded: support for a lossless path is not evidence that Solo 4 sounds universally better than another headphone.

Use it when you actually connect to compatible USB-C devices. Ignore it if all your listening is standard Bluetooth.

The 3.5 mm path works without battery

The exact record verifies 3.5 mm analogue input with operation that works without battery.

That is especially useful for travel, older source hardware or moments when the battery is empty. It means the headphone can continue functioning as a basic wired device rather than becoming unusable when power runs out.

This is a genuine ownership advantage and should carry more weight for some shoppers than app features or branding.

Foldability and cross-platform use reinforce the everyday role

Solo 4 is foldable and the product is as APPLE_CROSS with cross-platform support.

Together with 217g weight, that makes it a practical everyday carry for buyers moving between devices and platforms without needing ANC.

If you are entirely Apple-only, cross-platform support is less distinctive. If you use mixed Apple/Android hardware, it can be part of the reason the product fits naturally.

The weight comparison reinforces why Solo 4 should remain in its own branch. At 217g, it is lighter than Studio Pro at 260g and JBL Tune 770NC at 232g, but Sony WH-CH720N is lighter still at 192g and includes ANC. Solo 4 therefore does not win simply by being light.

Its more distinctive combination is on-ear form, 50-hour battery, foldability, USB-C lossless audio and a 3.5 mm path that works without battery. That can suit a buyer who prefers the smaller on-ear architecture and wants strong wired flexibility.

The hard boundary remains unchanged: if active noise cancellation is a requirement, do not let the 50-hour figure, Apple/Android support or passive cable path distract from the fact that Solo 4 does not provide ANC.

Who should choose something else

Solo 4 is a clear product when you respect its non-ANC architecture.

• Choose Beats Studio Pro when ANC, awareness mode and an over-ear fit are hard requirements, while keeping USB-C and 3.5 mm source flexibility.
• Choose Sony WH-CH720N when you want ANC in a very light 192g over-ear with passive 3.5 mm operation.
• Choose JBL Tune 770NC when you want ANC, a foldable 232g over-ear and 44-hour ANC-on battery.

If on-ear pressure itself is a concern, move to an over-ear or earbud architecture rather than assuming weight alone determines comfort.

PIQSY conclusion

Beats Solo 4 is best understood as a light, long-running, cross-platform on-ear with excellent wired flexibility—not as an ANC headphone.

Its strongest version checked case is 217g weight, 50-hour battery, USB-C lossless audio, passive 3.5 mm operation and foldability.

Its defining compromise is equally simple: there is no ANC. If that is acceptable, Solo 4 has a coherent everyday role. If ANC is required, leave this branch before comparing price.