Category: audio

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2025 hub.

AMD Adds Dell as Commercial PC Customer for the First Time

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

OnePlus 12 Receives AI Retouch, AI Notes and Other New Features With Latest OxygenOS 15 Update

Skullcandy
EcoBuds
are
claimed
to
be
sustainable
true
wireless
stereo
(TWS)
earphones.
According
to
the
company,
they
are
made
with
“65
percent
certified
recycled
plastics
and
57
percent
fewer
heavy
metals,
”
resulting
in
a
50
percent
lower
carbon
footprint
than
similar
products
in
the
market.
Off
the
bat
—
impressive
claims.
Who
doesn’t
want
to
be
a
part
of
an
attempt
to
make
the
world
a
cleaner
place?
The
number
may
be
slightly
more
initially
than
you
would
think
because
the
cost
of
environmentally
friendly
earphones
here
is
battery,
lithium
batteries
to
be
specific.

The
storage
dock
of
the
Skullcandy
EcoBuds
does
not
have
battery
support.
This
means
that
when
the
earphones
are
placed
in
the
magnetic
case,
they
merely
fulfil
storage
purposes.
They
do
not
juice
up
like
other
TWS
earphones
usually
do
in
charging
cases.
They
are
compatible
with
reverse
charging
via
an
integrated
USB
Type-C
cable.
You
can
plug
it
into
any
USB
Type-C
port,
including
the
one
on
your
phone,
and
it
will
power
up
the
earphones.
Is
this
novelty,
alongside
sustainability,
worth
Rs.
3,999?
Let’s
find
out.

Skullcandy
EcoBuds
Design
and
Features:
Feathery
Light
and
Functional

• Size
  (with
  case)
  –
  102
  x
  60
  x
  30mm
• Weight
  (with
  case)
  –
  40g
• Water
  and
  dust
  resistance
  –
  IPX4
• Colour
  –
  Glacier

The
Skullcandy
EcoBuds
come
with
a
traditional
in-ear
design
and
three
gel
tip
sizes
—
small,
medium
and
large.
The
medium
ones
fit
me
the
best.
They
offer
a
decent
fit
but
are
not
the
most
comfortable
for
long-duration
uses.
The
touch
sensors
on
each
earbud
are
easy
to
locate
because
they
are
marked
by
engraved
company
logos.
The
charging
connectors
of
the
earphones
are
placed
on
the
inside
of
the
stems.

The
storage
dock
comes
with
a
short
inbuilt
USB
Type-C
cable

The
earphones
come
with
a
magnetic
storage
dock,
which
has
a
built-in
USB
Type-C
cable
that
folds
back
in
case
it
is
not
in
use.
This
lightens
the
blow
of
the
missing
battery,
in
my
opinion.
I
imagine
I
would
not
be
best
pleased
if
I
had
to
look
for
or
carry
an
additional
loose
cable
with
me
all
around.
Although
the
earbuds
are
held
in
place
by
magnets,
the
case
does
not
have
a
cover.
Therefore,
avoid
making
the
mistake
I
made
of
putting
them
in
a
tote
bag
with
several
other
items.
In
transit,
one
of
the
earphones
had
dislodged
from
the
case,
and
I
panicked
briefly
before
it
dropped
out
of
the
umbrella
folds.
Aside
from
this,
the
earphones
and
the
case
are
compact,
lightweight,
and
easy
to
carry.

The
Skullcandy
EcoBuds
are
available
in
a
single
Glacier
colourway,
where
both
earphones
and
storage
docks
appear
in
a
blue
and
white
marbled
pattern.
The
integrated
USB
Type-C
cable
is
white
with
sand-like
speckles.
The
earphones
have
an
IPX4
rating
for
splash
resistance.
With
the
case,
they
measure
102
x
60
x
30mm
in
size
and
weigh
40g.

Skullcandy
EcoBuds
Specifications
and
Controls:
Too
Simple?

• Driver
  –
  6mm
• Gesture
  controls
  –
  Yes
• Companion
  app
  –
  No

The
Skullcandy
EcoBuds
carry
6mm
drivers,
according
to
the
product’s
Amazon
listing.
We
will
discuss
their
sound
quality
in
a
bit,
but
for
this
section,
we
will
focus
on
the
control
experience.
Like
many
other
TWS
earphones,
the
EcoBuds
support
capacitative
touch
controls,
but
unlike
several
competitors,
they
do
not
come
with
a
companion
app.
This
impacted
me
on
two
levels.
Firstly,
you
can
only
shuffle
between
the
three
preset
EQ
modes
—
music,
bass
and
podcast,
and
not
customise
the
equalisation.
Even
if
I
let
this
slide
because
I
am
not
looking
for
a
studio-grade
experience
from
these
earphones,
the
lack
of
an
app
also
means
that
all
controls
are
based
on
gestures,
which
is
the
second
thing.
There
are
a
few
gestures
you
will
need
to
remember,
so
let’s
get
to
it.

The
charging
connectors
are
placed
on
the
side
of
the
stems

A
single
tap
on
either
earbud
controls
playback
and
calls,
while
a
longer
press
regulates
the
volume
(left
for
down,
right
for
up).
A
double
tap
on
either
earpiece
advances
to
the
next
track,
while
a
triple
tap
returns
to
the
previous
track.
A
quadruple
tap
on
the
right
earbud
toggles
through
the
EQ
modes.
A
quadruple
tap
on
the
left
earbud
activates
the
assistant
for
the
paired
device.
A
six-second
hold
disconnects
the
paired
device,
while
two
taps
and
a
one-second
hold
switch
off
the
headphones.

Yes,
it
is
as
tedious
to
remember
as
it
was
to
read
(and
write),
but
I
mainly
dealt
with
the
play/pause
and
volume
controls,
which
were
simple
and
direct
enough.
The
slightly
bothersome
action
for
the
first
few
uses
was
shuffling
between
the
EQ
modes,
but
it
eventually
grew
on
me.

Skullcandy
EcoBuds
Performance
and
Battery
Life:
Chaotic
Neutral

• Fast
  Charging
  –
  Yes
  (claimed
  10
  minutes
  for
  up
  to
  2
  hours)
• Bluetooth
  –
  Bluetooth
  5.2

How
do
the
Skullcandy
EcoBuds
sound?
Better
than
I
expected.
With
6mm
drivers,
my
hopes
for
the
audio
experience
were
set
pretty
low.
The
violation
of
those
expectations
was
welcome.
Comprehensively,
they
offer
a
clear
and
bright
sound
experience.
The
podcast
mode
focuses
on
the
vocals
over
any
other
details.
True
to
its
name,
the
bass
boost
mode
highlights
the
bass,
while
the
music
mode
offers
a
more
balanced
audio
of
the
three.

The
charging
cable
neatly
folds
back
into
the
dock
when
not
in
use

The
sound
is
not
outright
muddied
at
any
level,
although
the
higher
notes
tend
to
crack
up
at
70
percent
volume
or
above.
For
instance,
you
can
hear
the
distortions
with
the
high
notes
in
Nirvana’s
About
A
Girl.
For
the
larger
part,
the
sounds
are
clear
but
lack
details
that
you
would
get
with
larger
drivers.
From
tracks
like
Gooey
by
Glass
Animals
to
Ramble
On
by
Led
Zeppelin
(the
latter
in
the
bass
mode),
you
get
a
good
enough
audio
output
to
keep
you
engaged
while
you
are
on
a
cleaning
binge
or
walking
to
the
local
market.

Even
though
the
Skullcandy
Ecobuds
do
not
support
active
noise
cancellation
(ANC),
the
company
claims
that
the
earphones
come
with
a
“noise-isolating
fit.”
Technically,
the
claim
is
not
completely
untrue.
It
does
isolate
some
noise,
but
not
a
significant
amount.
If
you
are
used
to
ANC
earphones
and
headphones,
especially
in
public
places,
the
switch
to
the
EcoBuds
may
unsettle
you
a
bit.
However,
the
lack
of
ANC
did
not
alter
my
experience
much
since
I
mostly
used
them
casually
(read:
to
disassociate)
and
not
to
take
calls
or
focus
on
work.

The
Skullcandy
EcoBuds
support
Bluetooth
5.2
and
connect
seamlessly
with
the
paired
device
each
time
they
are
taken
off
the
case.
You
can
choose
to
use
both
earbuds
or
just
one.
The
audio
syncs
up
well
even
if
you
add
the
second
earbuds
mid-track.
The
mic
performance
is
not
very
good,
but
functional.
It
picks
up
environmental
noise
alongside
your
voice.
The
whirring
of
the
fan
can
muffle
your
voice
when
you
are
using
these
earphones.
If
you
are
in
a
crowded
place
or
even
outdoors,
you
might
want
to
use
your
phone
audio
to
answer
calls.

The
earphones
come
in
plastic-free,
recyclable
packaging

In
a
market
where
several
leading
brands
across
the
board
are
competing
with
TWS
earphones
that
offer
30
to
40
hours
or
more
total
battery
life,
Skullcandy
EcoBuds
come
with
about
8
hours
of
playback
time.
Which,
if
compared
with
other
popular
TWS
earphones
and
just
the
earphones,
is
a
decent
average.
On
paper,
the
lack
of
battery
in
the
storage
dock
seems
too
jarring.
Before
using
them,
I
could
not
stop
the
premonition
of
being
stranded
in
the
metro
without
functioning
earphones.
However,
I
faced
no
such
challenges.
On
just
10
minutes
of
charge,
they
offer
almost
two
hours
of
playback.
If
you
can
charge
the
earphones
for
a
full
hour,
you
can
get
around
eight
hours
of
usage
out
of
them.
I
clocked
eight
hours
and
13
minutes
of
playback
in
one
charging
cycle.

Charging
the
earphones
is
pretty
straightforward.
You
pull
the
USB
Type-C
cable
out
from
the
back
of
the
storage
dock
and
plug
it
into
a
USB
Type-C
port.
In
my
case,
I
mostly
charged
them
using
my
phone,
and
in
an
hour,
they
would
charge
fully.
This
is
efficient
in
more
ways
than
one.
You
do
not
have
to
carry
a
separate
charger
around
(yes,
in
most
cases,
the
case
would
suffice,
but
when
in
Rome!),
and
it
does
not
drain
the
phone’s
battery
significantly
either.
The
compact
size
of
the
earphones
also
allows
you
to
continue
your
phone
usage
as
usual.
You
can
also
use
a
power
bank
to
charge
them,
or
even
your
laptop,
tablet,
or
any
device
with
a
USB
Type-C
port.

That
said,
I
have
to
accept
that
the
lack
of
a
charging
case
was
perceivably
bothersome
for
the
first
couple
of
days,
if
not
practically
so.
It
grew
on
me
pretty
quickly,
though.
Charging
on
the
go
is
still
very
much
possible,
and
it
is
one
less
gadget
you
have
to
worry
about
plugging
in
before
bed.

The
compact
design
of
the
earphones
and
the
dock
make
them
easy
to
carry

Skullcandy
EcoBuds:
Verdict

The
Skullcandy
EcoBuds
are
good
TWS
earphones.
They
have
stable
connectivity,
clear
sound,
and
offer
the
claimed
battery
life.
The
sustainability
aspect
of
the
product
also
adds
brownie
points
to
your
consciousness
as
a
citizen
of
the
world
(how
much
ever
it
is
worth).
Are
these
earphones
worth
Rs.
3,999,
though?
Yes
and
no.
The
answer
depends
on
your
preferences.
Would
you
put
better
sound
detail
and
40-something
hours
of
total
battery
life
ahead
of
your
conscience?
In
my
opinion,
these
should
work
fine
for
casual
listeners.

If
you
are
planning
to
buy
your
only
pair
of
daily
use
earphones,
however,
and
not
a
supplementary
on-the-go
wearable,
you
will
find
other
options
that
come
with
better
fit,
more
features,
charging
cases
(albeit
unsustainable)
and
companion
apps
within
this
price
range.

You
can
get
the

Realme
Buds
Air
6
(Review)
Rs.
3,299
for
an
almost
40-hour
total
battery
life.
At
the
same
price,
you
can
opt
for
the

OnePlus
Nord
Buds
3
Pro
(Review)
for
a
better
fit
and
balanced
sound
experience.

For
just
Rs.
300
more,
you
can
invest
in
the

CMF
Buds
Pro
2,
which
offers
up
to
50dB
ANC,
up
to
43
hours
of
total
battery
life
and
ChatGPT-integrated
features
via
the
Nothing
X
app.

The
lack
of
a
charging
case
is
not
a
deal
breaker
for
me.
Even
the
audio
quality
is
good
for
casual
listening.
In
this
competitive
price
range,
many
other
features
can
make
the
sound
experience
more
enjoyable.
Surely,
there
could
someday
be
a
middle
ground
between
being
an
audiophile
and
an
environmentally
conscious
person,
but
maybe,
as
Dean
Martin
says,
“Today
is
not
the
day.”

Beats
Solo
4
was
launched
earlier
this
year,
and
the
company’s
latest
on-ear
headphones
made
their
way
to
India
in
August.
They
are
equipped
with
audio
features
found
on
more
expensive
wireless
headphones
from
Apple,
including
spatial
audio
with
dynamic
head
tracking
and
support
for
lossless
audio,
but
lack
support
for
active
noise
cancellation
(ANC).
The
headphones
are
compatible
with
iOS
and
Android
devices
and
feature
a
standard
USB
Type-C
port
for
charging.
The
Beats
Solo
4
competes
with
similarly
priced
headphones
from
Bose
and
Sony.

Pricing
for
the
Beats
Solo
4
is
set
at
Rs.
22,900
in
India.
It
is
sold
in
three
colourways
—
Cloud
Pink,
Matte
Black,
and
Slate
Blue
(the
company
sent
us
this
variant
for
review)
—
via
the
company’s
online
store
and
authorised
retailers
in
the
country.

Beats
Solo
4
Design:
Lightweight
and
Comfortable

• Dimensions
  –
  177x158x6.8mm
• Weight
  –
  217g

These
over-the-ear
headphones
are
mostly
made
of
plastic
and
appear
quite
similar
to
previous
generation
models,
aside
from
the
more
pastel-like
colours
that
give
them
a
slightly
less
edgy
look.
This
also
means
they’re
pretty
light
to
wear
for
extended
periods,
even
though
you
can
feel
them
on
your
head.
The
earpads
don’t
appear
to
be
user-replaceable,
which
is
unfortunate.

Beats
Solo
4
features
a
familiar
design

Like
its
predecessors,
the
Beats
Solo
4
has
the
company’s
logo
embossed
on
both
earcups.
There’s
a
small
‘4′
on
the
right
side
of
the
adjustable
headband,
while
the
inside
of
the
headband
contains
more
text
related
to
regulatory
information
(right)
and
a
left
ear
indicator
—
none
of
these
are
visible
when
you’re
wearing
the
headphones.

The
headphones
ship
with
a
carrying
pouch
that
is
slightly
cushioned,
along
with
a
3.5mm
audio
cable
and
a
USB
Type-C
to
Type-C
cable
that
can
be
used
for
lossless
audio
playback
or
to
charge
the
headphones.
You’ll
need
to
purchase
a
power
adapter
separately,
though.

I
have
a
fairly
long
head
and
wear
spectacles,
but
the
Beats
Solo
4
felt
comfortable
even
after
wearing
them
for
a
few
hours
at
a
time.
However,
headphone
fitting
can
vary
from
person
to
person,
so
it’s
best
to
try
these
out
at
a
store
to
make
sure
they
feel
comfortable
on
your
head.

Beats
Solo
4
Software:
Gets
the
Job
Done

• Software
  platforms
  –
  iOS,
  Android
• Customisable
  controls
  –
  Call
  management,
  media
  playback,
  mute/
  unmute,
  volume
  controls

Like
the
Beats
Studio
Buds+
and
the
Beats
Solo
Buds,
these
wireless
headphones
work
with
Android
smartphones
and
most
of
Apple’s
devices.
You’ll
have
to
download
the
Beats
companion
app
on
the
former,
while
the
same
controls
are
baked
into
the
settings
app
on
iPhone,
iPad,
and
Mac
computers.

You
can
customise
various
Beats
Solo
4
settings
on
Apple
devices
as
well
as
Android
smartphones

You
get
support
for
Google’s
Fast
Pair
service
on
Android
and
Fast
Pair
on
Windows
when
you
set
up
the
Beats
Solo
4
for
the
first
time.
If
you
have
an
iPhone
or
iPad,
you’ll
see
the
familiar
card
pop
up
asking
you
to
connect
to
the
headphones.
The
device
also
works
with
Apple’s
Find
My
service,
while
Android
users
can
see
where
the
device
was
last
connected
to
the
companion
app.

The
left
earcup
lets
you
control
media
playback
and
manage
calls
—
a
single
press
pauses
and
resumes
playback,
while
calls
can
be
answered
and
muted
with
a
single
-press
and
ended
with
a
double
press.
You
can
also
push
the
panel’s
top
and
bottom
to
increase
and
decrease
the
volume,
respectively.

A
button
on
the
right
side
must
be
long-pressed
to
turn
on
and
turn
off
the
Beats
Solo
4.
The
bottom
of
the
left
earcup
has
a
3.5mm
audio
port
and
an
LED
indicator
that
indicates
when
the
headphones
are
charging
and
in
use,
while
the
right
earcup
has
a
USB
Type-C
port,
an
upgrade
over
the
Solo
3
model
with
a
Micro
USB
port.

Beats
Solo
4
is
equipped
with
a
3.5mm
audio
port
and
a
USB
Type-C
port

Like
other
audio
products
from
Beats
and
Apple,
the
companion
app
on
Android
and
the
built-in
audio
settings
for
the
Beats
Solo
4
doesn’t
include
support
for
equaliser
presets.
This
means
that
you
will
have
to
rely
on
media
apps
that
include
their
own
EQ
controls,
such
as
Spotify
or
Poweramp.

Beats
Solo
4
Performance,
Battery
Life:
Par
for
the
Course

• Bluetooth
  version
  –
  5.3
• Active
  noise
  cancellation
  –
  No
• Battery
  life
  –
  Up
  to
  50
  hours

The
Beats
Solo
4
headphones
are
equipped
with
upgraded
40mm
drivers
and
a
redesigned
acoustic
architecture.
They
feature
a
neutral
sound
signature,
which
means
they’re
ideal
for
various
genres
of
music,
and
there’s
no
perceptible
distortion,
even
when
listening
to
music
at
the
highest
volume.

My
usual
headphones
testing
playlist
contains
tracks
that
span
various
genres,
and
the
Beats
Solo
4
could
easily
handle
it.
Sasha
Alex
Sloan’s
voice
sounds
extremely
clear
on
Older,
while
the
mids
and
the
bass
have
ample
separation.
The
same
is
true
for
Taylor
Swift’s
Daylight,
where
her
vocals
are
distinctly
audible
from
the
background
music.

Abba’s
Mamma
Mia
and
Voulez-Vous
sound
excellent
on
the
Beats
Solo
4,
with
ample
emphasis
on
all
instruments.
Afterglow
by
INXS,
a
track
that
typically
sounds
‘muffled’
on
many
headphones,
was
clear
with
just
the
right
amount
of
bass.

The
Beats
Solo
4
felt
comfortable
on
the
ears
even
after
an
extended
period

Beats
audio
products
have
gained
a
reputation
for
offering
warm,
U-shaped
audio,
but
this
doesn’t
appear
to
be
the
case
for
the
Solo
4
headphones.
The
extremely
busy
Yo
soy
María
by
Ástor
Piazzolla
and
María
Dueñas
is
a
classical
piece
that
contains
a
mix
of
violin
and
piano
that
are
both
distinctly
audible
on
the
headphones.
This
is
also
noticeable
on
No.
24
in
A
Minor,
by
Hilary
Hahn,
another
fast-paced
track
that
sounded
good.

As
expected,
the
Beats
Solo
4
headphones
handle
tracks
such
as
Billie
Eilish’s
Birds
Of
A
Feather
effortlessly,
and
there’s
no
distortion,
even
when
the
volume
is
cranked
up.
The
bass
response
on
Crab
Flow
by
NLE
Choppa
and
Nbhd
Nick’s
Way
Up
is
excellent.

Like
other
Beats
Solo
audio
models
(like
the
Solo
Buds),
these
wireless
headphones
do
not
offer
ANC
support.
This
is
disappointing
to
see
on
a
device
at
this
price
point,
especially
considering
that
similarly
priced
wireless
headphones
deliver
excellent
ANC
performance.

While
the
lack
of
ANC
might
be
a
glaring
omission
from
the
Beats
Solo
4,
the
headphones
offer
two
useful
features
—
spatial
audio
with
dynamic
head
tracking
and
lossless
audio
via
USB
Type-C
or
3.5mm
audio
ports.

I
connected
the
headphones
using
both
interfaces
and
found
that
the
sound
quality
was
excellent,
and
the
wired
mode
allows
you
to
use
the
device
even
when
the
battery
is
empty.
Meanwhile,
you’ll
need
an
iPhone
to
use
the
spatial
audio
with
a
dynamic
head
tracking
feature,
and
it
works
reliably
while
listening
to
or
watching
supported
music
and
videos,
respectively.

Beats
says
that
the
Solo
4
is
equipped
with
digital
beam-forming
microphones
that
are
used
along
with
a
voice
targeting
algorithm
designed
to
improve
voice
quality
on
calls.
This
works
seamlessly
with
the
built-in
noise
reduction
feature
on
the
iPhone,
allowing
users
to
take
calls
while
wearing
the
headphones.

You
can
fold
the
Beats
Solo
4
and
store
it
inside
the
included
carrying
case

The
Beats
Solo
4
isn’t
equipped
with
an
Apple
H
series
or
W
series
chip,
which
means
it
lacks
support
for
seamless
switching
across
Apple
devices.
However,
pairing
it
with
an
iPhone
lets
one
use
it
across
all
linked
Apple
devices,
and
the
Fast
Pair
feature
on
Android
allows
users
to
use
it.

According
to
the
company,
the
Beats
Solo
4
can
deliver
up
to
50
hours
of
media
playback
but
keep
in
mind
that
this
is
without
features
like
spatial
audio
with
dynamic
head
tracking
or
taking
voice
calls.
After
using
the
headphones
to
take
calls
or
meetings
and
listen
to
music,
I
got
about
five
days
of
use
with
an
average
of
eight
hours
every
day,
which
is
somewhere
around
the
40-hour
mark.

Even
if
you
end
up
using
the
headphones
for
an
extended
period,
you
shouldn’t
have
to
charge
them
more
than
once
a
week.
The
company
says
its
Fast
Fuel
feature
allows
users
to
plug
in
the
headphones
to
a
compatible
charger
and
get
about
five
hours
of
playback
with
a
10-minute
charge.

Beats
Solo
4
Review:
Verdict

If
you’re
looking
for
a
pair
of
colourful
wireless
headphones
under
the
Rs.
25,000
mark
that
work
well
with
Android
smartphones
and
Apple
products,
then
the
Beats
Solo
4
is
easy
to
recommend,
thanks
in
part
to
its
reliable
sound
quality
and
excellent
battery
life.

However,
if
you
don’t
need
features
like
spatial
audio
with
dynamic
head
tracking
or
don’t
have
an
Apple
device
that
allows
you
to
access
the
feature,
you
might
want
to
consider
the
much
cheaper
JBL
Live
770NC
on-ear
headphones.

You
get
a
USB
Type-C
cable
and
a
3.5mm
audio
cable
with
the
Beats
Solo
4

More
advanced
wireless
over-the-ear
headphones
in
the
same
price
segment
include
the

Sony
WH-1000XM4 (Review),
the

Marshall
Monitor
II,
and
the
Bose
QuietComfort
wireless
headphones. Alternatively,
you
could
wait
for
the
price
of
the
Beats
Solo
4
to
drop
before
purchasing
the
headphones.

Those
headphones
offer
ANC
support,
which
is
missing
on
the
Beats
Solo
4.
The
older

Beats
Solo
Pro
from
2019
is
available
from
some
sellers
in
India
for
around
Rs.
25,000,
with
support
for
seamless
switching
and
ANC
using
Apple’s
H1
chip,
if
you
don’t
mind
the
deprecated
Lightning
port
and
lower
advertised
battery
life
(22
hours
and
40
hours
with
ANC
enabled
and
disabled,
respectively). 

Beats
by
Dr.
Dre
has
always
been
about
going
big
on
sound
quality
with
plenty
of
styles.
While
its
focus
has
always
primarily
been
on
its
headphones
and
(more
recently,
TWS
earphones),
Beats
has
also
launched
some
interesting
portable
speakers
in
the
past
(albeit
very
few
in
number).
However,
this
past
did
not
include
India,
which
only
recently
got
access
to
Beats’
audio
products.
With
an

official
India
launch
now
done,
I
got
to
try
out
the
brand’s
recently
launched
Pill
portable
speaker
and
it
surely
makes
a
lasting
impression.

Beats
Pill
Review
Design:
Looks
great,
works
great

• Dimensions
  –
  218.44mm
  x
  71.12mm
  x
  71.12mm
• Weight
  –
  680g
• Durability
  –
  IP67

The
Pill-shaped
speaker
has
a
refined
capsule-shaped
design
compared
to
previous
models
from
the
line-up.
The

Beats
Pill
has
its
tweeter
and
woofer
laid
out
side
by
side
and
is
angled
with
a
20-degree
upward
tilt
so
that
the
music
is
always
facing
the
listener
and
not
bouncing
off
objects
in
front
of
it,
especially
when
placed
on
something
as
low
as
a
coffee
table.

The
Beats
Pill
speaker
has
a
premium
feeling
rubberised
texture
with
a
contoured
metal
grill
protecting
its
tweeter
and
woofer
underneath

The
soft
rubber
coating
is
quite
grippy
and
gives
it
a
sense
of
durability.
The
speaker
grille
with
the
Beats
logo
in
the
middle
is
well-rounded.
I’m
glad
that
the
bottom
is
flattened
out
a
bit.
Thanks
to
this,
the
speaker
remains
in
place,
given
the
deep
bass
it
can
deliver.
I
also
like
the
dimples
for
control
buttons,
which
I
did
initially
find
a
bit
difficult
to
locate
at
first
but
I
got
used
to
them
after
a
week.
I
really
wished
that
these
buttons
had
a
backlight,
as
they
can
be
hard
to
find
in
dimly
lit
setups,
especially
when
you
have
the
Matt
Black
finish.

The
base
of
this
pill-shaped
speaker
is
flat.
Also
visible
here
is
the
USB-C
port
used
for
charging
and
lossless
audio

Its
pill-shaped
design
is
as
broad
as
an
Apple
iPhone
16
Pro,
which
isn’t
too
broad.
This,
along
with
its
rounded
design,
makes
it
very
easy
to
slide
into
a
backpack.
Apart
from
the
loop
for
the
lanyard,
there’s
only
one
cavity,
and
that’s
for
its
USB-C
port,
which
remains
well
hidden
and
out
of
sight
at
the
back.

Its
removable
lanyard
is
easy
to
attach
or
detach

There’s
a
removable
lanyard
that’s
easy
to
attach
and
detach
and
kind
of
makes
up
for
the
speaker’s
permanently
horizontal
orientation.
In
case
you
don’t
happen
to
have
a
place
to
lay
it
down
somewhere,
you
can
always
hang
it
off
a
hook
or
even
a
tree
branch.
The
IP67-rated
design
means
it
can
easily
withstand
heavy
rain
and
even
submersion
in
water
(for
about
15
minutes)
or
sand,
so
don’t
be
afraid
to
take
it
poolside
or
to
the
beach.

Weighing
over
half
a
kilo,
this
portable
speaker
sure
is
heavy.
It’s
not
a
problem,
though,
unless
you
plan
to
hang
one
from
your
backpack
while
hiking.

Beats
Pill
Review
Specifications
and
Software:
Feature-packed

• Connectivity
  –
  Bluetooth
  v5.3
  (multipoint)
• Companion
  app
  –
  Android/iOS
• Ports
  –
  USB-C
  (audio
  out
  and
  charging)

The
Beats
Pill
has
four
buttons.
The
power
button
is
also
used
to
put
the
device
in
pairing
mode
(short
press
for
checking
battery
life),
while
the
universal
control
button,
apart
from
being
used
to
answer,
end
or
even
mute
and
unmute
calls,
also
doubles
up
as
playback
controls.
But
since
there’s
just
one
button,
it
can
get
quite
complex
and
fidgety
as
it
involves
remembering
multiple
press
patterns.
A
built-in
mic
can
also
be
used
as
a
solid
conference
speaker
in
case
you
need
to
attend
a
work
call
on
vacation
or
in
an
office.

Its
four
buttons
have
a
lot
of
overlapping
functions,
which
can
get
annoying
at
times

Beats
has
also
included
a
proprietary
chip
(no,
it’s
not
an
H-series
chip
from
Apple)
that
lets
it
seamlessly
communicate
with
both
iOS
and
Android-powered
devices.
It’s
nice
to
have
this
over
the
previous
(Apple-first
approach)
as
it
can
now
support
both
Find
My
(Google)
or
Find
My
Device
(Apple)
and
even
throws
up
the
Fast
Pair
pop-up
window
on
both
Android
and
iOS
devices.

The
Beats
companion
app
available
on
iOS
and
Android
(shown
above)
devices
does
not
offer
an
equaliser

There’s
also
a
companion
app
called
Beats,
which
is
available
on
Android
and
iOS
devices
and
basically
tells
you
the
battery
status.
It
also
lets
you
rename
the
speaker,
customise
the
functions
of
the
control
buttons
and,
more
importantly,
update
your
device’s
firmware
when
needed.

Beats
Pill
Review
Performance:
Two’s
company

• Battery
  –
  Non-removable
  lithium‑ion
• Charging
  cable
  –
  Yes
• Stereo
  mode
  –
  Yes

The
volume
level
from
the
Beats
Pill
speaker
is
more
than
sufficient
to
deliver
rich
room-filling
sound
for
a
large
hall
room
or
even
when
outdoors
in
the
open
in
a
pool
area.
The
speaker
does
get
hot
when
the
volume
level
is
maxed
out,
but
I
faced
no
issues
even
when
using
it
this
way
for
a
few
hours.

If
you
still
feel
that
one
speaker
isn’t
sufficient
for
your
outdoor
needs,
Beats
lets
you
connect
two
of
them
together
to
deliver
more
power
in
Amplify
mode
or
better
separation
(and
a
much
wider
soundstage)
in
Stereo
mode.
I
experienced
this
stereo
mode
at
the
India
launch
and
I
must
say
it
is
very
impressive,
given
that
two
speakers
work
with
near-perfect
precision
wirelessly
thanks
to
the
custom
chip.
However,
stereo
mode
only
supports
two
Pill
speakers
at
the
moment,
and
they
need
to
be
in
the
same
room
(not
too
far
apart).

Its
tweeter
and
woofer
are
laid
out
side
by
side
and
are
angled
with
a
20-degree
upward
tilt

Coming
to
the
sound,
I
loved
separating
the
lows,
mids
and
highs,
even
at
max
volume.
I
listened
to
Flaer
Smin’s
Wish
You
Were
Here
(which
is
known
for
its
mids
and
highs)
at
max
volume
and
I
noticed
that
the
mids
do
get
suppressed
by
the
bass,
while
the
highs
sounded
a
bit
distorted.
Curawaka’s
Noku
Mana
also
sounded
great
despite
the
slightly
bass-heavy
approach
because
this
speaker
delivers
bass
that
is
clear
and
well-defined,
not
muddy
or
boomy.
Listening
to
the
same
track
at
50
percent
volume,
I
realised
how
the
bass
overpowers
mainly
at
high
volume.
At
50
percent
volume,
the
vocals,
along
with
the
mids
and
highs,
sounded
quite
pronounced,
keeping
things
balanced.

What
I
missed
is
some
kind
of
preset
EQ
mode,
which,
at
the
press
of
a
button
(we
need
more
of
those
here),
could
either
cut
down
the
bass
or
boost
it
whenever
needed
or
depending
on
the
occasion.
Regardless,
the
current
sound
signature
will
still
appeal
to
the
masses
quite
well.
The
speaker
can
also
deliver
lossless
sound
when
connected
in
wired
mode,
but
I
did
not
notice
any
noticeable
change
in
sound
quality
upon
doing
so.

Battery
life
is
quite
solid
for
a
portable
Bluetooth
speaker,
especially
given
its
compact
dimensions

Battery
life
with
the
Beats
Pill
speaker
is
quite
solid.
I
took
it
for
a
weekend
trip,
blasted
tunes
at
maximum
volume
for
about
4-6
hours
a
day,
and
still
had
a
35
percent
charge
left.
With
regular
use
at
50
percent
volume
(which
is
quite
sufficient
for
indoor
use),
Beats
claims
that
this
speaker
will
last
24
hours
of
continuous
playback
time.
The
company
also
claims
that
Beats’
Fast
Fuel
charging
tech
provides
2
hours
of
usage
with
a
10-minute
charge.

Beats
Pill
Review:
Verdict

If
you
are
looking
for
something
better
than
the
typical
muddy
bass-heavy
sound
that
is
easily
available
at
around
Rs
7,000,
then
there
are
a
wide
variety
of
quality
speakers
from
Bose,
Ultimate
Ears
and
JBL
to
choose
from
(at
around
Rs.
10,000-12,000)
before
you
can
even
consider
the
new
Beats
Pill
at
Rs.
16,900.

The
advantage
the
Beats
Pill
has
over
other
speakers
is
that
it
works
well
and
seamlessly
connects
with
both
Android
and
iOS
smartphones.
It
is
one
of
the
more
premium-looking
speakers
available
at
this
price
point,
and
its
capsule-shaped
design
makes
it
easy
to
slide
into
a
tote
or
backpack.
It
offers
excellent
battery
life,
and
pairing
two
of
them
in
stereo
mode
lets
you
enjoy
them
even
better.

The
Beats
Pill
has
clearly
not
been
designed
to
impress
audiophiles
but
to
deliver
rich,
enjoyable
bass
(for
a
compact
speaker),
keeping
things
exciting
for
the
regular
listener
who
enjoys
all
types
of
music
genres.
Music
on
it
is
best
enjoyed
at
around
50-70
percent
volume,
and
this
means
it’s
perfect
for
enjoying
music
next
to
you
at
a
pool
but
not
at
a
pool
party.

For
the
latest

tech
news
and

reviews,
follow
Gadgets
360
on

X,

Facebook,

WhatsApp,

Threads
and

Google
News.
For
the
latest
videos
on
gadgets
and
tech,
subscribe
to
our

YouTube
channel.
If
you
want
to
know
everything
about
top
influencers,
follow
our
in-house

Who’sThat360
on

Instagram
and

YouTube.

US
Charges
Three
Firms,
15
People
With
Cryptocurrency
Fraud

Surviving
Crypto
Ups
and
Downs:
Insiders
Share
Mental
Health
Guide
for
Investors

Sony
launched
two
new
earphones
––
the
Pulse
Explore
wireless
earbuds
and
the
Pulse
Elite
wireless
headset
––
in
India
on
Tuesday.
The
earphones,
which
are
geared
towards
gaming
audio,
were
first
announced
at
PlayStation
Showcase
in
May
2023,
and
were
initially
launched
in
the
US.
The
Pulse
Explore
wireless
earbuds
and
the
Pulse
Elite
wireless
headset
follow
the
familiar
dual-tone
black-and-white
design
to
match
with
the

PS5
and
come
with
Sony’s
proprietary
wireless
connection
protocol,
called
PlayStation
Link.
Both
earphones
have
planar
magnetic
drivers
and
microphones
that
feature
AI-enhanced
noise
rejection.

Pulse
Explore
TWS
and
Pulse
Elite
Price
in
India,
Availability

The
Pulse
Explore
wireless
earbuds
are
priced
at
Rs.
18,990
in
India,
while
the
Pulse
Elite
headset
will
be
available
for
Rs.
12,990.
Both
can
be
purchased
across
Sony
Center,
Amazon,
Flipkart,
Blinkit,
Croma,
Reliance,
Vijay
Sales
and
other
participating
retailers
starting
October
11.

The
Pulse
Explore
earbuds
and
the
Pulse
Elite
headset

Photo
Credit:
Sony

Pulse
Explore
TWS
and
Pulse
Elite
Wireless
Headset
Features

Both
the
Pulse
Explore
earbuds
and
the
Pulse
Elite
headset
come
with
planar
magnetic
drivers.
The
earbuds
sport
two
hidden
microphones
that
feature
AI-enhanced
noise
rejection.
The
Pulse
Explore
earbuds
come
with
a
case
that
supports
USB
Type-C
charging.

The
Pulse
Elite
headset
sport
the
same
planar
magnetic
drivers
and
come
with
a
fully
retractable
microphone
with
AI
noise
rejection
support.
The
headphones
come
with
a
charging
hanger.

Both
audio
devices
support
multi-device
connectivity
via
Sony’s
proprietary
PlayStation
Link
wireless
connection
protocol
and
Bluetooth.
The
earphones
come
with
PlayStation
Link
USB
adapter
for
easy
connectivity
with
a
PS5,
PC,
or
Mac.

The
Pulse
Explore
earbuds
are
claimed
to
offer
up
to
five
hours
of
battery
life,
and
up
to
an
additional
10
hours
with
the
charging
case.
The
Pulse
Elite
headset,
on
the
other
hand,
are
claimed
to
last
up
to
30
hours.
They
also
supports
fast
charging,
with
Sony
claiming
up
to
two
hours
of
battery
life
from
a
10-minute
charge.

For
the
latest

tech
news
and

reviews,
follow
Gadgets
360
on

X,

Facebook,

WhatsApp,

Threads
and

Google
News.
For
the
latest
videos
on
gadgets
and
tech,
subscribe
to
our

YouTube
channel.
If
you
want
to
know
everything
about
top
influencers,
follow
our
in-house

Who’sThat360
on

Instagram
and

YouTube.

iOS
18.1
Update
for
iPhone
With
Apple
Intelligence
Features
to
Roll
Out
Later
This
Month:
Report

iPhone
17
Air
May
Feature
an
Ultra-Thin
Display
From
Novatek:
Report

For
the
latest

tech
news
and

reviews,
follow
Gadgets
360
on

X,

Facebook,

WhatsApp,

Threads
and

Google
News.
For
the
latest
videos
on
gadgets
and
tech,
subscribe
to
our

YouTube
channel.
If
you
want
to
know
everything
about
top
influencers,
follow
our
in-house

Who’sThat360
on

Instagram
and

YouTube.

Assassin’s
Creed
Shadows
Delayed
to
February
2025,
Season
Pass
Model
Dropped
After
Backlash

For
the
latest

tech
news
and

reviews,
follow
Gadgets
360
on

X,

Facebook,

WhatsApp,

Threads
and

Google
News.
For
the
latest
videos
on
gadgets
and
tech,
subscribe
to
our

YouTube
channel.
If
you
want
to
know
everything
about
top
influencers,
follow
our
in-house

Who’sThat360
on

Instagram
and

YouTube.

Dyson
OnTrac
Headphones
With
40mm
Drivers,
Up
to
55
Hours
of
Battery
Life
Launched
in
India