ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The redesigned Beats Pill speaker is offered now for $150 in Champagne Gold, Assertion Purple, and Matte Black.
- A powerful battery life and a delicate, clear design set the Beats Capsule other than its opponents.
- Beats’ overemphasized, bass-forward sound can masks the opposite points of a track.
Bluetooth audio system are as common as ever, as Sony, Bose, Sonos, and JBL have proven by refreshing and revamping their picks simply in time for summer time. The competitors is so sizzling and stuffed with heavy hitters that it pulled Beats out of retirement.
With the brand new Beats Capsule, Apple has reversed its departure from the Bluetooth speaker recreation. For reference, the final Beats speaker was the Capsule+ from 2015.
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I used to be curious to see what upgrades the Beats Pill (2024) gives. Thankfully, I used to be internet hosting associates all weekend and had the proper alternative to see if the brand new speaker had what it took to fulfill our audio wants. Must you improve to the brand new Capsule or put money into Bose, Sony, or Soundcore as an alternative? Learn on as I try and reply this query.
The brand new Capsule is Beats’ third product launch this summer time, following the incredible Solo 4 and less-great Solo Buds.
The Beats Capsule delivers a bass-forward sound profile, much like most of the firm’s different audio system and headphones. Digital music with heavy, skipping basslines, like Charlie XCX’s Membership Classics, sounded electrifying and full, with a heavy emphasis on the decrease frequencies.
I want Apple would license AirPlay to Beats, however I believe withholding this function is supposed to go away HomePod gross sales unhurt. When I’ve company over, I wish to play music from my iPhone to my Sonos Arc through AirPlay, which streams over Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth, so my incoming notifications do not disrupt the music. AirPlay additionally permits me to take my cellphone with me outdoors to greet company with out interrupting the continued jam session.
The brand new Capsule speaker stays true to its tagline, “Critically loud.” For its measurement, this factor will get loopy loud. Lil Wayne’s 6 Foot 7 Foot shook the desk I set the Capsule speaker on with sufficient quantity to fill each nook of my home.
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That stated, you may pair two Capsule audio system collectively to entry Amplify and Stereo Mode for optimum quantity. Amplify Mode makes use of two audio system to play the identical audio output, whereas Stereo Mode permits for left/proper audio playback.
A redesigned woofer system helps the Capsule obtain tremendous loud volumes, and Beats says the most recent Capsule has a 90% improve in air quantity displacement in comparison with its predecessor, the Capsule+. This determine explains how the Capsule’s subwoofers can transfer extra air, however greater is not all the time higher.
That is why, at louder volumes, the Capsule speaker struggles to keep up readability. My company aren’t audio snobs — the bass was leaping and everybody was singing alongside to our favourite songs — however I seen. Bose and Sonos’ choices might have a extra clear, crisper sound, however Beats bests everybody with endurance. By Sunday night, I had sufficient battery life to celebration for one more weekend with out plugging the speaker in to cost.
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The Capsule speaker has a 24-hour battery life, double that of similarly-priced opponents. Like all of Beats’ newer merchandise, the Capsule speaker is exclusive in its compatibility with iOS and Android units, together with options like Discover My and one-touch pairing for iOS and a companion app and Bluetooth multipoint pairing for Android.
The brand new Capsule debuts with a redesigned kind issue, sporting rounded edges and a lanyard for enhanced portability. Apple’s design affect on the Beats model is harking back to Sonos’ design philosophy of making merchandise that coexist with anybody’s residence decor decisions. Sony’s Ult Field 1 speaker and JBL’s Flip 6 speaker have extra rugged, angular design options, whereas Bose, Sonos, and Beats go for a muted, subdued look.
With an IP67 ranking, the Beats Capsule is dustproof and might survive unintentional drops within the pool. In case your company have an excessive amount of enjoyable, the Capsule can face up to spills, bumps, and splashes. My check unit endured a number of drops and speckles of drinks with out skipping a beat (no pun supposed).
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Beats ditched the mini USB port for a USB-C port, which gives lossless audio and might intelligently cost or be charged by your different units when plugged in.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The 2024 Beats Pill gives many extra options than its predecessor, and for $50 much less. After the Solo Buds, Beats wanted a product to redeem itself — and the Beats Capsule does the job.
When you’ve got fond recollections of the older Beats Capsule audio system, and you are still rocking an outdated Bluetooth speaker, the Capsule is the improve you want. Its low-key design permits it to mix into any setting, and its all-day battery life can preserve the celebration going for hours. Plus, its compatibility with native iOS and Android options makes it the proper companion for individuals with mixed-device ecosystems.
Nevertheless, if you’d like a Bluetooth speaker with a extra refined sound and much more compatibility together with your Android and Alexa-enabled units, think about the Sonos Roam 2. If portability is not your precedence, however sound high quality is a non-negotiable, think about the Edifier QR65 desktop speakers.