Beats Pill Review (2026)

Every figure is from a named source or Beats’ own spec sheet — footnoted in each row. Battery is shown both as rated and as independently measured.

Sound quality

The 2024 Pill’s defining trait is bass that’s big for the box. Beats rebuilt the acoustic architecture from scratch around a single bespoke racetrack neodymium woofer with 53% more pistonic area and a stronger N50H magnet, enabling roughly 28% more motor force and 90% more air displacement than the Pill+, with a separately-housed redesigned tweeter handling highs and mids (Beats by Dre; Tom’s Guide). In listening, reviewers agree the result is a confident, fun signature: TechRadar judged the sound good enough that “the Beats Pill’s enviable sonic chops are the reason it gets four stars,” calling out crisp vocals, jangly guitars and “head-noddingly accurate bass,” even noting that USB-C wired playback sounds better than Bluetooth (TechRadar).

The honest catch is tuning balance. SoundGuys characterizes the Pill as strong on bass but “lacking in the mids,” and CNN Underscored describes a classic V-shape / “smiley-face” response that flattens slightly as volume climbs but still leaves the midrange evident-by-its-absence (SoundGuys; CNN Underscored). Codec support is basic — SBC and AAC only, so no hi-res wireless (TechRadar).

Push it hard and the cracks show. SoundGuys lists “distortion at loud volumes” as a con, and CNN’s cross-speaker comparison found that at 100% volume the Pill is actually quieter than the JBL Charge 5, JBL Flip 6 and Soundcore Motion 300 (SoundGuys; CNN Underscored). What Hi-Fi’s summary is the fairest framing: lots to like, but “neither as ‘big’ sounding nor as dynamic as the very best” rivals at the price (What Hi-Fi?). For most listeners at sane volumes it sounds great; for critical or very loud listening it has limits.

Battery & charging — the headline win

Battery is the Pill’s headline win, and unlike many rated figures it survives independent testing. Beats rates it at up to 24 hours at 50% volume — double the Pill+’s 12 hours — and an outlet that actually benches it backed that up: CNN Underscored measured roughly 23.5 hours, noting that dual-pairing and high volume trimmed about five hours but it still lasted an entire weekend (Beats by Dre; CNN Underscored). SoundGuys frames this as “about double that of rivals such as the JBL Flip 7,” and What Hi-Fi notes it beats the larger JBL Charge 5’s 20 hours (SoundGuys; What Hi-Fi?). The chart below puts the rated and measured numbers side by side.

Charging is handled entirely over USB-C, and Fast Fuel gives up to 2 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge, with a full empty-to-full taking about 2.5 hours (these are manufacturer-rated, not independently measured) (What Hi-Fi?; Beats by Dre). Note that no AC adapter ships in the box — only a USB-C-to-USB-C cable — so you supply your own brick (Beats by Dre; CNN Underscored). The Pill also reverses the flow: it doubles as a power bank, charging USB-C devices like an iPhone 15 or iPad in a pinch, and it can itself be recharged from a laptop (CNN Underscored).

Build & durability (IP67)

This is the first Beats Pill you can take to the pool. The 2024 model finally adds an IP67 rating — fully dustproof and protected against submersion in fresh water to 1 m for 30 minutes — correcting a long-standing gap in the line (note saltwater isn’t covered by IP ratings) (What Hi-Fi?; Beats by Dre). Beats markets it as “built to withstand water, sand and life,” with enhanced internal seals. Physically it returns to the original Pill’s fully rounded, capsule shape (ditching the Pill+’s flat top edge), with a metal front grille, a grippy silicone back, and four feet so it doesn’t roll on a desk (What Hi-Fi?). Controls are concave, clicky top buttons — power, a multifunction button for track/call control, and volume — with a double-press of power summoning the phone’s voice assistant and a small LED showing battery level (What Hi-Fi?). SoundGuys scored Durability/Build a class-leading 9.0/10 (SoundGuys).

The trade-off is heft. It measures 7.0 × 21.9 × 7.1 cm and weighs 680 g — about 10% lighter than the Pill+, but still heavier than most rivals, which is why Pocket-lint called it “a heavy pill to tote around” while still naming it their speaker of the summer (What Hi-Fi?; Beats by Dre; Pocket-lint). A removable colour-matched lanyard helps you carry it.

Features — cross-platform pairing, USB-C, Amplify / Stereo

The Pill’s smartest feature is platform-agnostic convenience. A proprietary chip delivers instant one-touch pairing on both iOS and Android, and — uniquely — supports Find My for Apple users and Find My Device for Android users, so the speaker is locatable on either ecosystem (Beats by Dre). It connects over Class 1 Bluetooth 5.3 for extended range and fewer dropouts, and works as a capable speakerphone with a mic array CNN rated as a standout for clear hands-free calls and accurate Siri/Google Assistant command recognition (though you can’t wake the assistant hands-free with “Hey Siri/Google”) (Beats by Dre; CNN Underscored). The feature deltas vs the old Pill+ are summarized below.

USB-C does double duty: 24-bit/48 kHz lossless wired audio for better-than-Bluetooth playback, plus charge-out to power your devices (TechRadar; CNN Underscored; What Hi-Fi?). Two limitations to flag honestly: the companion app is Android-only, so iPhone owners can’t tweak settings or even see the second speaker’s pairing mode in software, and there’s no EQ at all (What Hi-Fi?; T3; SoundGuys). For bigger sound, two Pills can link up: Amplify Mode keeps things mono but louder (or plays the same track in two rooms), while Stereo Mode splits the pair into dedicated left/right channels for a wider soundstage (What Hi-Fi?; T3; Beats by Dre). T3 found pairing easy via the center button and noted two Pills “really emphasize how robust the volume output is,” though it grumbled that on iPhone there’s no on-screen indication of which mode you’re in — only the speaker’s blue LED. Daisy-chaining is capped at two Pills (What Hi-Fi?).

Value & how it compares

At a $149.99 MSRP that frequently streets near $100–$130, the Pill lands squarely in the heart of the premium-portable bracket against the JBL Flip 7, JBL Charge 5/6 and Bose SoundLink Flex (Beats by Dre; What Hi-Fi?). Its standout value arguments are the battery — roughly double the JBL Flip 7 and beating the Charge 5’s 20 hours — and the cross-platform iOS+Android integration that none of those rivals match (SoundGuys; What Hi-Fi?). SoundGuys, the measurement-led outlet, still scored Value 7.0/10, reflecting that the sound, while fun, isn’t class-leading for the money (SoundGuys).

Where rivals claw back ground is sound dynamics and sheer loudness. TechRadar notes that paying ~$30 more for a JBL Charge 5 buys a “meatier, broader and dynamically agile” sound (at the cost of 332 g more weight), and CNN’s testing showed several rivals play louder at max (TechRadar; CNN Underscored). What Hi-Fi’s bottom line is the honest pitch: a portable speaker with lots to like that nonetheless “dynamically struggles against the best price rivals” (What Hi-Fi?). The Pill wins on battery, durability-for-the-price, build feel and ecosystem flexibility; it concedes on midrange detail, top-volume composure, EQ control and weight. The score cards below recap how each outlet rated it.

The Pill out-lasts the JBL Flip 7 on battery by a wide, independently confirmed margin and is the only speaker here that pairs natively across iOS and Android with Find My / Find My Device, plus it adds a mic the JBLs lack (CNN Underscored; SoundGuys; Beats by Dre). The Flip 7 counters with tougher IP68, Auracast multi-speaker pairing and higher-res 24-bit/96 kHz USB-C audio, in a lighter body (What Hi-Fi?). The JBL Charge 5 is the loudness/dynamics pick (and also a power bank) but is heavier and pricier (TechRadar). The Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) matches the Pill on price, IP67 and a built-in mic and is lighter, but gives up half the battery (12 h vs 24 h) and has no charge-out (TechRadar; Bose). The row below breaks down the key cited deltas.

Speaker	Key cited deltas	Which to pick	Get it
Beats Pill (2024) This review	24 h rated · ~23.5 h measured · IP67 · mic · charge-out · iOS+Android Find My/Hub · 680 g	Battery + cross-platform + mic	Check price →
JBL Flip 7	IP68 · Auracast · 24-bit/96 kHz USB-C · ~560 g · 14 h rated (~5.6–6.3 h meas.) · no mic	Toughness, lighter, hi-res wired	Read review →
JBL Charge 5	~20 h rated · louder/dynamically agile · USB power bank · ~960 g · ~$179.95	Loudness + bass over size	See roundup →
Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen	12 h rated · IP67, floats · built-in mic · warmer/refined sound · ~590 g · no charge-out · $149	Lightest + most refined sound	Read review →

Comparison figures: Beats by Dre & CNN Underscored — Beats Pill (24 h rated, ~23.5 h measured @50%, IP67, mic, charge-out, 680 g); What Hi-Fi?, SoundGuys & RTINGS — JBL Flip 7 (IP68, 14 h rated, ~5.6–6.3 h measured, 24-bit/96 kHz USB-C, ~560 g); TechRadar — JBL Charge 5 (~20 h rated, power bank, ~960 g, ~$179.95); TechRadar & Bose — Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen (12 h rated, IP67, mic, ~590 g, $149). The Flip 7, Charge 5 and SoundLink Flex all feature in our best Bluetooth speakers guide. Prices move constantly — confirm live before buying.

Beats Pill (2024) FAQ

Is the Beats Pill (2024) waterproof?

Yes — it carries an IP67 rating, so it’s fully dustproof and can be submerged in fresh water up to 1 m deep for 30 minutes. It’s the first Beats Pill to be waterproof, though saltwater isn’t covered by IP ratings (What Hi-Fi?; Beats by Dre).

How long does the Beats Pill’s battery last?

Beats rates it at up to 24 hours at 50% volume, and CNN Underscored’s own testing measured roughly 23.5 hours, with about five hours less if you push high volume or dual-pair two speakers. A 10-minute Fast Fuel charge adds up to 2 hours of playback (Beats by Dre; CNN Underscored; What Hi-Fi?).

Does the Beats Pill work with Android, or only iPhone?

Both. It offers one-touch pairing on iOS and Android, plus Find My (Apple) or Find My Device (Android). The one catch: the companion app is Android-only, so iPhone users can’t tweak settings in software (Beats by Dre; What Hi-Fi?).

Can the Beats Pill charge my phone?

Yes — it doubles as a power bank, charging USB-C devices like an iPhone 15 or iPad over its USB-C port, and it can also be recharged from a laptop (CNN Underscored).

Can you connect the Beats Pill with a cable instead of Bluetooth?

Yes — its USB-C port supports wired lossless audio at 24-bit/48 kHz, which TechRadar found sounds better than Bluetooth. (Bluetooth itself is 5.3 with SBC and AAC codecs only.) Note the older aux-in/out jack was dropped on this model (TechRadar; What Hi-Fi?; CNN Underscored).

Can you pair two Beats Pills together?

Yes — two Pills link in Amplify Mode (louder mono, or the same track in two rooms) or Stereo Mode (dedicated left/right channels). Pairing is capped at two units, and on iPhone there’s no on-screen indicator of the mode, though Android shows it in the app (What Hi-Fi?; T3; Beats by Dre).