Earbuds · Model guide · Maker specs
Beats Solo Buds
Get Beats Solo Buds if you want small, inexpensive earbuds for iPhone or Android: $79.99 buys up to 18 hours of playback per charge.
Product images
Beats Solo Buds, from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Get Beats Solo Buds if you want small, inexpensive earbuds for iPhone or Android: $79.99 buys up to 18 hours of playback per charge. The catch is the case, which holds no spare charge and charges the buds only while plugged into USB-C. You get Bluetooth 5.3 and Find My on an iPhone or Find My Device on Android. Skip them for noise cancelling or a water rating; Studio Buds + have both.
Who it is for
- Buyers on a tight budget who still want Beats. Solo Buds are where Beats' earbud line starts, and they leave out noise cancelling to get there.
- Mixed-phone homes. The same pair works with an iPhone or an Android phone out of the box, and the buttons answer and end calls on both.
- People who are rarely far from a USB-C port, like commuters with a laptop in their bag. The case can draw power from a phone, tablet or laptop.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who wants noise cancelling on a noisy commute. Beats says Solo Buds don't have it; Studio Buds + do.
- Travelers who expect spare charges in the case. It holds none, so once the buds run down you need a USB-C power source.
- Runners and gym-goers who sweat. Beats gives Solo Buds no water-resistance rating, while Studio Buds + and the Powerbeats models are rated IPX4.
What sets it apart
- $79.99, the lowest price in Beats' current earbud line.
- Up to 18 hours of playback from the buds on one charge; a 5-minute Fast Fuel top-up adds about an hour.
- A 22-gram case that Beats calls the smallest and lightest it has made.
- Bluetooth 5.3 with Class 1 range, which Beats says means extended range and fewer dropouts.
Caveats
- No cable or power adapter in the box. Beats sells both separately, so plan on using a USB-C cable you already own.
- Beats lists no codecs or chip for Solo Buds; AAC shows up only in its battery-test notes.
Key specs
In the same order on every earbuds page, so you can compare pairs.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Sealed in-ear with angled acoustic nozzles; laser-cut vents that Beats says help bass and relieve pressure | Beats tech specs |
| Fit / tips / wings | Silicone eartips in four sizes (XS, S, M, L); no ear hooks or wingtips | Beats In the Box and Design |
| Driver / acoustic architecture | Dual-layer drivers that Beats says minimize micro-distortion across the frequency curve; laser-cut vents for bass | Beats Sound and Design |
| Chip / processor | Not named by Beats (no H1, H2 or W1 listed) | Beats tech specsH2 is the Powerbeats Pro 2 chip, not this model's. |
| Active noise cancellation | No; Beats points noise-cancelling shoppers to Powerbeats Fit, Powerbeats Pro 2 or Studio Buds + | Beats FAQ |
| Battery — buds | Up to 18 hours of playback; Fast Fuel: 5 minutes ≈ 1 hour; rechargeable lithium-ion battery | Beats Power and FAQ |
| Battery — with case | No case reserve; the carrying case charges the buds only while it's connected to USB-C power (Studio Buds + reach 36 hours with their case) | Beats FAQ and Power |
| Charging | USB-C, from a wall adapter or from a phone, tablet or laptop; Fast Fuel: 5 minutes ≈ 1 hour; no cable or power adapter in the box | Beats Power and In the Box |
| Wireless charging | None listed; charges over USB-C only | Beats Power and FAQ |
| Water / dust — buds | None listed (Studio Buds + and the Powerbeats models are rated IPX4) | Beats tech specs |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 with Class 1, which Beats calls industry-leading, for extended range and fewer dropouts | Beats Connectivity |
| Microphones / calls | Microphones with what Beats calls an advanced noise-learning algorithm; answer, end and manage calls from the buds on iOS and Android | Beats FAQ and Connectivity |
| On-bud controls | One multi-function button on each bud | Beats Controls |
| Multipoint / device switching | One-touch pairing and automatic pre-pairing across your devices; simultaneous two-device multipoint not listed | Beats Connectivity |
| Weight — one bud | 5.7 g | Beats Bud Specs |
| Weight — case | 22 g; Beats calls it the smallest, lightest case it has made | Beats Case Specs and Design |
| Dimensions — one bud | 2.05 cm L × 1.85 cm W × 1.9 cm H (0.81 × 0.73 × 0.75 in) | Beats Bud Specs |
| Dimensions — case | 6.6 cm L × 3.5 cm W × 2.4 cm H (2.6 × 1.4 × 0.9 in) | Beats Case Specs |
| Finishes | Matte Black, Storm Gray, Arctic Purple, Transparent Red | Beats product page |
| Phone / OS compatibility | iOS and Android out of the box; one-touch pairing and automatic pre-pairing across devices | Beats Connectivity |
| Find / Fast Pair / UWB | Find My on iPhone or Find My Device on Android; Google Fast Pair and Ultra Wideband not listed | Beats Connectivity |
| Companion app / firmware | No app named by Beats | Beats tech specs |
| US MSRP (launch) | $79.99 at beatsbydre.com | Beats product pageBeats' store price in September 2026, not a dated launch price. |
| Price band | Entry (under $100) | Based on Beats' $79.99 price |
| Availability | On sale at beatsbydre.com for $79.99 (September 2026) | Beats product page |
Beats Solo Buds extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dual-layer drivers | Yes; Beats promises high-fidelity sound with “uncompromising accuracy” | Beats Sound |
| Carrying case | For storage and protection; charges the buds only while connected to USB-C power, with no reserve of its own | Beats FAQ |
| Fast Fuel | 5 minutes ≈ 1 hour of playback | Beats Power |
| Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 plus Class 1; most other current Beats models list Class 1 without a version number | Beats Connectivity |
The case is the trade-off
Solo Buds keep their battery in the buds. Beats rates them for up to 18 hours of playback per charge, and when they run flat, Fast Fuel turns 5 minutes of charging into about an hour.
The case is for storage and protection. It charges the buds only while it’s connected to USB-C power, and Beats says that power can come from a phone, tablet or laptop as well as a wall adapter. It’s also tiny: at 22 grams, Beats calls it the smallest and lightest case it has made.
For comparison, Studio Buds + get 9 or 6 hours from the buds, depending on settings, and 36 or 24 with their case. If you regularly go more than 18 hours without a USB-C port nearby, that bigger case matters more than the bud figure.
Same buds on iPhone or Android
Solo Buds don’t favor either phone. Beats says they work with iOS and Android out of the box, with one-touch pairing and automatic pre-pairing across your devices, and the buttons answer, end and manage calls on both. The one split is how you find them: Find My on an iPhone, Find My Device on Android.
Sound and fit
Inside are dual-layer drivers, which Beats says cut micro-distortion across the frequency curve, plus laser-cut vents for bass and pressure relief. The acoustic nozzles are angled toward the ear canal, the silicone tips come in four sizes from XS to L, and there are no wingtips or hooks. Each bud weighs 5.7 grams.
There’s no noise cancelling. Spatial audio for Dolby Atmos is listed for Studio Buds +, not for Solo Buds.
Price
Solo Buds cost $79.99 on beatsbydre.com as of 19 September 2026, in Matte Black, Storm Gray, Arctic Purple and Transparent Red. That puts them under $100. Store prices change, so it’s worth a second look before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Beats — Solo Buds — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Do Beats Solo Buds have noise cancelling?
No. Beats says they don't, and it doesn't list a Transparency mode either. For noise cancelling, Beats points to Studio Buds +, Powerbeats Fit and Powerbeats Pro 2.
Does the Solo Buds case hold extra charges?
No. It's a carrying case that charges the buds only while it's connected to USB-C power, so it adds no listening time on the go. Studio Buds + get up to 36 hours with their case.
Do Solo Buds work with Android?
Yes. Beats says they work with Android out of the box, with Find My Device for locating them and call controls on the buds. Beats doesn't name an app for them or list Google Fast Pair.
Can I charge Solo Buds from my phone?
Yes. The case has a USB-C port, and Beats says a phone, tablet or laptop can power it. You'll need your own cable, since none comes in the box.
Are Solo Buds water resistant?
Not officially. Beats gives them no water or sweat rating; Studio Buds + and the Powerbeats models are rated IPX4.
Will Solo Buds stay connected to my phone and laptop at the same time?
Not as far as Beats says. It describes one-touch pairing and automatic pre-pairing across your devices, not simultaneous multipoint.
Official product page: Beats Solo Buds. Tech specs: Beats Solo Buds specs.