The Beats Solo Buds Have a Great Look and an Even Better Price

The first under-$100 true wireless earbuds from Beats (and, by extension, Apple) have finally arrived. Starting today, you can order the $79.99 Solo Buds online in four vibrant colors — black, purple, red, and gray — and they’ll be available in stores on June 20th. Among these, the red earbuds come with a unique advantage: a translucent case reminiscent of the one that comes with the Studio Buds Plus. While the earbuds themselves remain opaque, this detail adds a stylish flair. After testing the Solo Buds for a few days, I can attest that the candy red case really pops. And no matter the color, it’s the smallest carrying case for any Beats earbuds yet.

The red Solo Buds come with a translucent case that stands out.

Tradeoffs for Affordability

One major tradeoff made to achieve this lower price point is the charging case. Unlike most competitors, this case doesn’t include a battery to recharge the buds whenever they’re stored. Instead, Beats opted to give the earbuds themselves a robust 18-hour battery life. After this, you’ll need to recharge them using the case via USB-C. This design choice could theoretically extend the overall lifespan of the Solo Buds by reducing the number of charge cycles they undergo. However, it’s a significant detail to consider.

Pricing and Availability

Beats Solo Buds $80

The Solo Buds are the first true wireless earbuds from Beats to cost under $100. They omit features like noise cancellation and a battery case in favor of an impressive 18-hour playback time.

• $80 at Amazon

• $80 at Beats

• $80 at Apple

No Noise Cancellation, But Solid Noise Isolation

Another notable omission is active noise cancellation (ANC). Similar to the Solo 4 headphones, the Solo Buds rely on natural noise isolation provided by their silicone ear tips. Beats includes four sets of tips, including an extra-small size for a better fit. I found the buds to be quite comfortable, and each earbud features laser-cut venting to reduce the unpleasant ear-clogging effect.

The Solo Buds case is compact but lacks a built-in battery.

Sound Quality

In terms of sound, the Solo Buds are decent but not outstanding. They tend to sound a bit flat across various tracks unless you achieve a very tight seal in your ears. Occasionally, you’ll find a track like Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” that matches well with their tuning, but others like Pearl Jam’s “Wreckage” may feel lackluster.

There's nothing particularly offensive about the Solo Buds’ sound profile; they are balanced, offer good channel separation, and have restrained bass. Unlike some cheaper wireless buds, they don’t sound muffled. Despite Beats’ claims about their “fully custom acoustic architecture” and “ergonomically angled acoustic nozzles,” the Solo Buds don’t deliver any miraculous sound for $80. They perform well for their price but don’t exceed expectations by a significant margin.

The Solo Buds look and feel similar to recent Beats products.

User Experience

The physical controls on the Solo Buds can be tricky until you find the sweet spot above the “b” logo on each earbud. Pressing the entire surface won't register any commands, so it requires a bit of memorization.

As with most recent Beats products, the Solo Buds are platform-agnostic. They support one-tap pairing and Find My / Find My Device features on both Android and iOS. While these are nice perks, you won’t get extra features like head-tracking spatial audio or multipoint connectivity.

Final Thoughts

Despite the absence of ANC and a battery case, the Beats Solo Buds’ $79.99 price tag is undeniably attractive. Their stylish design and the cultural cachet of the Beats brand, bolstered by endorsements from athletes and celebrities, are likely to ensure their popularity. However, there are plenty of alternatives in this price range from brands like Anker’s Soundcore, JBL, and EarFun, many of which include noise cancellation and battery cases, albeit with shorter battery life than the Solo Buds’ impressive 18 hours.

Stay tuned for more comprehensive coverage and detailed reviews once we receive the shipping version of the Solo Buds. In the meantime, they’re available for pre-order if you want to be among the first to experience Beats' latest offering.