Beats Pill+ Speaker Launches Alongside New Colors for Solo2 Headphones - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Beats Pill+ Speaker Launches Alongside New Colors for Solo2 Headphones

by

A few new products from Beats by Dre have been made available to customers today, beginning with the launch of the new Beats Pill+ Speaker for $229.95. The Bluetooth speaker was announced earlier in the month with an expected launch date in November, but has made its way to online availability a few days early. The Pill+ Speaker introduces a new design into the line-up of Beats portable speakers and includes an extended 12-hour battery life along with a new iOS companion app.

beats speaker and headphones
Also introduced today by Beats are new "Luxe Edition" colors for the Solo2 On-Ear Headphones, including Blue, Silver, Black, and Red. The $199.95 headphones offer the same features as the other editions of the Solo2, but with "a refined glossy finish and polished accents." The Solo2 Headphones in the new "Luxe Edition" colors and the Beats Pill+ Speaker -- available in white and black -- can both be purchased right now from Apple's online store.

Top Rated Comments

Tucom Avatar
144 months ago
How about making them sound good instead of releasing new colors all the time?
They do sound good. Have you heard the latest stuff from Beats? Especially the new Solo 2? Comments like these are getting old and are just regurgitated nonsense that people think they're clever in saying. Times have changed, Beats actually makes solid audio gear now.

Tyll from InnerFidelity has a very favorable review on the new Solo 2s, for anyone curious for more info about how good they really are.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
144 months ago
How about making them sound good instead of releasing new colors all the time?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OS X Dude Avatar
144 months ago
My sister just got a pair of the Solo2 Wireless for her birthday, and I was genuinely impressed by the sound. They are much improved from Beats of old.

That said, they should sound a little better for the money they cost. They can't hold a candle to my Sennheiser Momentum over-ears in the clarity stakes, but they're still a very good pair of headphones if you listen to rap/electro. I felt they make guitars and drums sound muddy across too many tracks for me to buy a set if my Senn's died.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Keane16 Avatar
144 months ago
How about making them sound good instead of releasing new colors all the time?
The new ones sounds quite nice, and way better than the older Beats that are way too bass heavy for me.

Lot's of reviews of the Solo 2, including data on the sound. One of the prominent ones by InnerFidelity:

With almost a quarter million views, a lot of people have experienced my opinion regarding the original Beats Solo in this video ('https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipZY0qGrA9Y&list=UUs5A6Gg74iPHyTFJh69w-RA'). I've been quoted in the New York Times ('http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/business/beats-headphones-expand-dr-dres-business-world.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&'), Huffington Post ('http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/09/beats-headphones-reviews_n_5294628.html'), and numerous places elsewhere ('http://www.ketknbc.com/news/what-beats-by-apple-would-mean-for-music-and-you') expressing my distaste for their products. I now find myself with the unenviable task of reversing my opinion, at least in part, with the introduction of their new Beats by Dre Solo2—a very fine headphone indeed.
Video:


Review article: http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/time-rethink-beats-solo2-excellent#BrWrjvHUko7qIlJ3.97

And measurements of sound output: http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/time-rethink-beats-solo2-excellent-measurements-page-2#qJ6zoD1hf6hfQTzK.97

I'd like to know what you don't like about them? Anything specific? Did you try them?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fuchal Avatar
144 months ago
I have Beats Solo 2 Wireless, Master Dynamic MH40, Audio Technica M50, and Grado SR-125e sitting around and I actually reach for the Solo 2s more than any of the others. The combination of on par sound, wireless, small, and lightweight definitely make them more convenient than the super heavy MH40s, unwieldy M50s, or sound-blasting Grados. The battery life is insane too, sometimes I use them at work all week before charging and I've never run down the battery completely. It's also slick how the battery life shows up in notification center with my phone and watch.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
144 months ago
I know the article you're referring to and that only applies to the old pre-Apple Solos as far as I know. The new 2s are pretty great in both build quality at choice of materials used. I've felt them in hand at my local Apple Store and it certainly felt like a quality product, especially in terms of the plastic used. Not even accounting for the really nice, polished metal bits.

These new 2s are pretty excellent and completely destroys everything bad about the previous Monster influenced generation of Beats. I remember memes on headfi.org making jokes about "why can't we just give beats good sound quality" etc. and it finally happened. Good stuff.
Maybe I'll have to check them out again. But I still don't like the idea of being a giant walking billboard for a company. The white earbuds were more subtle back in the day. My phone has a little Apple logo that is usually covered up by a case or in my pocket. I typically don't buy logo'd clothing unless it's sports.

If I mostly listened to pop(ular)/radio type or other bass friendly music I'd definitely consider them.

But my taste is wide ranging so I too prefer the more nuanced brands.
Yeah I listen to a really wide range as well—and have expanded quite a bit over the last few years with all of the music discovery stuff built into streaming services. I'm starting to develop an ear for comparing audio equipment with different types of music, but I've got much to learn as I'm a person who is usually tuned to critiquing visual imagery, calibrating displays, editing photos, etc.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Creator Studio iWork suite

Apple Pulls Keynote, Pages and Numbers From App Store [Update: Back]

Thursday October 22, 2026 11:01 am PDT by
Apple has temporarily removed Keynote, Pages, and Numbers from the App Store, just after releasing an update that added iPhone Duo support and a new Intelligent Assistant. It is not clear if the apps were removed intentionally, or if it is a bug. Apple has not said when the apps will be reinstated, but if it was in error, they should return soon. Update: The Mac versions are back without...
Apple Music iPod Page Not Found

Apple Music Has a Hidden iPod You Can Play With

Friday October 23, 2026 7:11 am PDT by
Apple Music has a 404 page easter egg on the web: a functional iPod that appears when you load a page that does not exist, such as music.apple.com/macrumors. "Page Not Found," says Apple. "Give this a spin instead." Apple is clever with this. If you navigate to music.apple.com/ipod instead, the page says "Looking for something?" instead of "Page Not Found." The easter egg is only...
iPhone Duo Trio

Here's What Apple's Apps Look Like on the iPhone Duo

Tuesday October 20, 2026 11:12 am PDT by
With just three days to go until the iPhone Duo is released, Apple is getting ready for the launch. Behind the scenes, the App Store now has screenshots of Apple's built-in apps running on the Duo. We've seen some apps in marketing materials, but images of the ones we haven't seen give us an idea of what it will be like using the iPhone Duo day to day. Many apps are shown in landscape...
Latest Stories
Apple Closes French Stores Ahead of Further Protests
Apple Closes French Stores Ahead of Further Protests
3 hours ago
Apple Pushes Back on DOJ Request for More Evidence
Apple Pushes Back on DOJ Request for More Evidence
4 hours ago
The iPhone Duo Can Be a Tiny Mac, a Toaster, and a Nintendo DS
The iPhone Duo Can Be a Tiny Mac, a Toaster, and a Nintendo DS
9 hours ago
Using an Apple Pencil With the iPhone Duo: What to Know
Using an Apple Pencil With the iPhone Duo: What to Know
11 hours ago
Apple Store Pickup for iPhone Duo Starting to Resume But Very Limited
Apple Store Pickup for iPhone Duo Starting to Resume But Very Limited
12 hours ago
iPhone Duo Jailbroken on Launch Day
iPhone Duo Jailbroken on Launch Day
12 hours ago
Apple Seeds Updated watchOS 27.2 Release Candidate
Apple Seeds Updated watchOS 27.2 Release Candidate
12 hours ago
Apple Store in UK Reopens With New Design on iPhone Duo Launch Day
Apple Store in UK Reopens With New Design on iPhone Duo Launch Day
13 hours ago
Crackgate? iPhone Duo Owners Report Screens Breaking Along the Hinge
Crackgate? iPhone Duo Owners Report Screens Breaking Along the Hinge
14 hours ago
iPhone Duo Brings Back Long Lines at Apple Stores
iPhone Duo Brings Back Long Lines at Apple Stores
14 hours ago
The MacRumors Show: iPhone Duo Arrives, Touchscreen MacBooks Next
The MacRumors Show: iPhone Duo Arrives, Touchscreen MacBooks Next
16 hours ago
Apple Released iOS 27.1 for iPhone Duo Only
Apple Released iOS 27.1 for iPhone Duo Only
16 hours ago
iPhone Duo: Open Two Apps Side by Side and Lock Them As an App Pair
iPhone Duo: Open Two Apps Side by Side and Lock Them As an App Pair
16 hours ago
iPhone Duo Launches With Carrier and Accessory Discounts Available
iPhone Duo Launches With Carrier and Accessory Discounts Available
17 hours ago
Apple Music Has a Hidden iPod You Can Play With
Apple Music Has a Hidden iPod You Can Play With
18 hours ago
iPhone Duo Says 'Hello' to You Personally
iPhone Duo Says 'Hello' to You Personally
19 hours ago
iPhone Duo: How to Skip the Swipe Up After Touch ID
iPhone Duo: How to Skip the Swipe Up After Touch ID
19 hours ago
Where to Buy iPhone Duo Today: Stores, Pickup, and Wait Times
Where to Buy iPhone Duo Today: Stores, Pickup, and Wait Times
20 hours ago
MacBook Neo Helps Apple Outpace Rivals as Market Declines
MacBook Neo Helps Apple Outpace Rivals as Market Declines
1 day ago
Happy 25th Anniversary, iPod
Happy 25th Anniversary, iPod
1 day ago
iPhone Duo Demand Reportedly Exceeds Apple's Expectations
iPhone Duo Demand Reportedly Exceeds Apple's Expectations
1 day ago
iPhone Duo Launch Begins as First Orders Reach Customers
iPhone Duo Launch Begins as First Orders Reach Customers
1 day ago
1Password for Agents Keeps Your Passwords Hidden From AI
1Password for Agents Keeps Your Passwords Hidden From AI
1 day ago
iPhone Duo 24 Hours Later: Your Questions Answered
iPhone Duo 24 Hours Later: Your Questions Answered
1 day ago
Apple's iWork Apps Get 'Intelligent Assistant' and iPhone Duo Support
Apple's iWork Apps Get 'Intelligent Assistant' and iPhone Duo Support
2 days ago
Apple is Apparently Considering a Slightly Larger iPhone Duo
Apple is Apparently Considering a Slightly Larger iPhone Duo
2 days ago
Giant iPhone Duo Displays Coming to Four Apple Stores
Giant iPhone Duo Displays Coming to Four Apple Stores
2 days ago
Apple Pulls Keynote, Pages and Numbers From App Store [Update: Back]
Apple Pulls Keynote, Pages and Numbers From App Store [Update: Back]
2 days ago
Apple Updates More Apps With iPhone Duo Support
Apple Updates More Apps With iPhone Duo Support
2 days ago
Apple Will Label Apps 'Made for iPhone Duo' in App Store
Apple Will Label Apps 'Made for iPhone Duo' in App Store
2 days ago