A decade passed, but certainly not forgotten. beats pill is back, and it has something to prove in a world that seems to be moving on without it. In a world filled with portable speakers, the new Pill aims to reclaim its place as the life of the party.
Beats has revamped its iconic pill-shaped speaker with some design tweaks and new technology, but can it once again deliver sound as impressive as its looks? Let’s dive in and see if this pill can still bring the heat, or if it’s just another blast from the past in an attempt to stay relevant.
same same, but different
Beats’ new pill is unmistakably a descendant of its ancestors. The cylindrical form factor remains, a tacit nod to the speaker’s name. But that’s where the similarities to its ancestors end.
The speaker facade is now decorated with a carefully crafted metal grille, while the rest of the body is wrapped in soft-touch silicone. It feels great in your hand and looks right at home, whether you’re at the beach or in a fancy apartment. You can get it in matte black for a secret vibe, statement red if you want to turn heads or champagne gold for a touch of class.
The buttons are simple: power, play/pause, and volume controls. They cool down with a satisfying click. One quirk, however: The power button doubles as a pairing button. Timing is tricky – press too long and you’re in pairing mode instead of powering off. The sweet spot needs to be pressed for 2-3 seconds until you hear a beep. Any more, and you’re pairing again.
On the back, there’s a single USB-C port for charging and wired audio (more on this later).
If you’re the party type, the pill has a lanyard, so you can easily carry or hang it. And it is quite light to carry, about half a kilogram. It does have some weight, but not so much that it weighs down your bag.
Another thing worth mentioning is that the new Pill has an IPX7 rating, which means it can survive an accidental dunk in one meter of water for about 30 minutes. Although it is not recommended to take it underwater, you can take the pill by the pool, at the beach or even in the shower without fear of aquatic accidents.
forget about dre
Aesthetics aside, the true measure of any speaker lies in its audio, and if it were old Beats, we wouldn’t be talking much about it. The old tablet was more about style than substance when it came to audio. Not anymore. beats Have seriously stepped up their game in the sound department.
So, the new Pill has a reimagined driver configuration. A custom-designed racetrack woofer now takes center stage, and Beats says this new woofer can move 90% more air than the previous pill. In non-technical terms, this means you get a lot more bass than you’d expect from a speaker of this size, and you do. The Pill delivers bass that not only thumps but resonates with clarity and depth.
Complementing this woofer is a precision-engineered tweeter, which works to deliver bright highs without straying into the realms of harshness.
The drivers angle out at 20 degrees, which is smart. Most of the time a speaker is sitting on a table, and what a normal speaker will do is it will blast sound straight out. But, the pill is aimed at the ears, and it specifically helps with low sounds.
If we had to describe how it sounds to someone who doesn’t call themselves an “audiophile,” the Pill sounds clear and balanced across a variety of genres most of the time. The bass is strong without overpowering everything else. The mid-range frequencies are given room to breathe, with vocals and high notes coming through crisp and clean.
Speed it up, and that’s when the bullet really shines. It gets fast – like, surprisingly fast for its size – without distorting. At higher volumes the bass becomes more noticeable, but it doesn’t turn into muddy.
Pill excels in all genres. Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” tests Pill’s dynamic range, deftly handling the track’s journey from delicate piano to explosive rock opera. The layered harmonies remain distinct, while the guitar solo cuts through without impacting the mix.
Switch to something more contemporary like The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” and Pill captures the track’s pulsing synths and driving beat with energy, while maintaining clarity in the vocals and high-end electronic elements.
Is this audiophile-grade, completely neutral sound? No. After all, it’s still a Beats product. It has the signature “Beats sound” with thumping bass and sparkly highs. But for most people, it makes for an exciting listening experience that works well for both background tunes and impromptu dance parties.
One small quibble – at maximum volume, some tracks can sound a little harsh in the upper mid-range. It’s not a deal-breaker, but people who always crank things to 11 may not like something about the pill. The second thing is that there is no EQ to play with, so you have to play it the way it runs out of the box.
two pills are better than one
So, now we know what one pill feels like, but what if you have two? So, you can pair two tablets – and in doing so, you will get two options – “Amplify Mode” and “Stereo Mode.”
In “Amplify Mode,” both speakers work together to fill large spaces with sound, perfect for impromptu house parties. But it’s the “stereo mode” that really impresses. When paired, the speakers create a wide, immersive soundstage that belies their portable nature. For a speaker that’s no bigger than a water bottle, two of these are as good as some affordably priced larger home audio setups.
audiophile aspirations
Do you remember the USB-C port on the back, and how it can be used for wired audio? Well, if you are an audiophile, you will love Beats for this. So, the Pill can do high-resolution audio through its USB-C connection, playing music at 24-bit/48kHz, bypassing Bluetooth compression.
And, if you’re wondering how big a difference it makes, lossless sounds better. The drivers are capable of delivering, and they do so when receiving lossless audio from a compatible source.
While an average person might not find this really interesting (because who has a free cable lying around anyway), but as I said those who are still into wired audio may find it easier to use the pill and There will be more joy. However, times of hard luck are the perfect “press and hold.”
it goes on
So, guess what, we’re done with the design and sound. Now, what else do you want in a speaker? Oh, battery life and if you’ve used or read about the original Tablet, you’ll know how miserable it was.
Where the decade-old Pill would tap out after a few hours, its descendant promises nearly 24 hours of playtime. As for the real world, with volume levels fluctuating between background listening and party mode, the Pill consistently delivers around 20 hours of playtime.
For those moments when you need a quick boost, a 10-minute charge provides 2 hours of playback – Beats calls it Fast Fuel. It also has reverse charging, so when you plug your phone in, it will charge while playing audio.
Playing it cool… with everyone
Like the Beats Solo 4S (which we just reviewed), the new tablet plays well with both iPhone And Android,
For those with iPhones (or iPads or even Macs), the integration is seamless. Instant pairing makes setup easy, and the speaker’s integration with the Find My network means you’re less likely to misplace it. However, this only shows the location where your Pill was last connected iPhone,
Android users have not been left out in the cold. The Pill supports Google’s Fast Pair for quick setup, and you can use Find My Device to keep an eye on the speaker’s whereabouts. Beats also has a dedicated app for its offerings, where you can keep your speakers updated and have more detailed control over features like stereo pairing.
The comeback kid who’s more than just charm
The new Pill marks a major comeback in the portable speaker landscape, cleverly updating its iconic design while significantly improving its audio chops that are enough to satisfy discerning ears. The redesigned drivers deliver a surprising amount of bass and clarity for such a compact package.
The 24-hour battery life is worth praising. Plus, with its attractive silicone exterior that’s waterproof and the USB-C port that doubles as a high-resolution audio input, you have a versatile speaker ready for any adventure.
Oh, and two of them look even better. But just be careful: Once you’ve experienced stereo setup, you might find yourself looking to pick up another pill sooner than you think.
However, the tablet is not without its quirks. The lack of EQ controls feels like a missed opportunity, especially for a brand that prides itself on bass response. Again, the smaller drivers show their limits at maximum volume, as some tracks can be harsh.
At Rs 16,900, it’s not the most affordable speaker, but it justifies its price tag with its blend of style and sound. While audiophiles seeking pure neutrality may want to look elsewhere, for most users, the Pill offers an attractive blend of form and function.
The new Pill is a true revival of a classic that doesn’t sacrifice style for substance – or vice versa – while also leaving the original behind.
Our Rating: 3.5/5
