At first glance, the Beats Solo 3 Wireless doesn’t really look any different from its predecessor. However, when we look inside the Beats Solo 3 Wireless, the internal specs are actually the ones that bear the improvements, showcasing the expertise of Apple Inc. in mobile engineering. The connectivity of the Beats Solo 3 Wireless is more stabilized and the battery life is also improved. In this article, we will be having a review of Beats Electronics Solo 3 Wireless.
Table of Contents
- Beats Solo 3 Wireless Design
- Who should get the Beats Solo3 Wireless?
- Beats Solo 3 Wireless – Passive Noise Isolation
- Beats Solo 3 Wireless Performance
- Beats Solo 3 Wireless – Interaction with Wireless Devices
- Beats Solo 3 Wireless Fit and Comfort
- Beats Solo 3 Wireless Accessories
- Beats Solo 3 Wireless Connectivity, Bluetooth and Codec Support
- How’s The Microphone of Beats Solo 3 Wireless?
- What are some alternatives to the Beats Electronics Solo 3 Wireless?
- Is the Beats Solo 3 Wireless worth the purchase?
Beats Solo 3 Wireless Design
The Beats Solo 3 Wireless may not have a truly dramatic design unlike its predecessors which can be attributed to Apple Inc. Headphones from Beats Electronics are known to be one of the most recognizable in the world and the Beats Solo 3 Wireless is not an exception.
Beats Electronics is also known to be fashion forward and with the Beats Solo 3 Wireless, a user can have a lot of colors to choose from – matte black, silver, white, gold, rose gold, violet and red. This headphone has a lot of colors in the palette that will surely delight people who love to styling their headset with their outfits.
If you prefer hip and fashionable ear candy, the Beats Solo 3 Wireless is an ideal choice. However, if you would like to embrace a more mature or grown-up pair of headphones, you’ll be better off with Bose and Sennheiser.
Meanwhile, the build of the Beats Solo 3 Wireless is pretty much the same with its predecessors, which may make some consumers wonder if the product is worth the price tag. Most of the frame of the Beats Solo 3 Wireless is made of plastic and the only metal part is the foldable hinge of the headband skeleton to provide extra strength. The ear pads are made of synthetic leather-topped foam and quite frankly, the fake leather doesn’t look premium at all.
Who should get the Beats Solo3 Wireless?
Primarily, iPhone users will greatly benefit from the W1 chip. While it is not as efficient as the all new H1 chip, iOS users can still enjoy the quick device switching and pairing along with the improved efficiency linked to products without the W1 chip integration. The AAC support of the Beats Solo 3 Wireless also ensures that users can enjoy reliable and high quality streaming on a Mac, iPad or iPhone.
Fashion forward individuals will also be delighted with the stylish and colorful design of the Beats Solo 3 Wireless. Given that the on-ear design may not be the most comfortable in the market, the low profile design can compliment any style or outfit.
Beats Solo 3 Wireless – Passive Noise Isolation
The Beats Solo 3 Wireless doesn’t offer active noise cancellation technology, a feature which is quite common in premium, wireless headphones. While Active Noise Cancellation regulates ambient noise and adds frequencies in the drivers of the headphones to cancel it out, the Beats Solo 3 Wireless has pure passive isolation. This means that the pads are purely responsible for blocking out sounds. Although it is not as effective as ANC, it works well enough for users to drown out noisy public transport.
Beats Solo 3 Wireless Performance
The Beats Solo 3 Wireless is far from perfect but one of its strong points is the tech that powers its wireless capabilities. Apple Inc. attributes the impressive features and battery life to the W1 wireless chip. Wireless charging is also super quick – you get around 3 hours of additional battery life for a mere 5-minute charge.
The battery life is clearly one of the big improvements that the Beats Solo 3 Wireless has over the Solo 2, with the former offering up to 40 hours playback time compared to the 12 hours battery that the Solo 2 offers.
The Beats Solo 3 Wireless also comes with a micro-USB cable, which is quite puzzling because there’s no way that it can be directly connected to or charged to an iPhone Lightning port. Technically, Apple Inc. wants to sell the Beats Solo 3 Wireless as Bluetooth headphones but if you use them wired, you may get the feeling that this headset feels more apt for an Android phone.
Aside from the long battery life, we also appreciate the reliability of the wireless signal of Beats Solo 3 Wireless. Most wireless devices tend to have issues with connectivity or latency but with the Beats Solo Wireless 3, we didn’t encounter any lost connection blurbs or blips. It is worth noting that we’ve used Android phones more than iPhones so it’s pretty safe to say that the Beats Solo 3 Wireless works well on most devices.
Beats Solo 3 Wireless – Interaction with Wireless Devices
The interaction of the Beats Solo 3 Wireless with iOS devices is pretty unique. While most wireless headphones give the usual experience where it plays the role of a wireless accessory, the Beats Solo 3 Wireless works like a pop-up WiFi speaker, acting as a specific source.
Beats Solo 3 Wireless Fit and Comfort
The clamping force of the Beats Solo 3 Wireless may be an issue for listeners who are prone to migraines or tension headaches. Because of its on-ear design, an undue amount of pressure is placed on the ears to keep the headset in place and isolate the listener from his or her surroundings. The Beats Solo 3 Wireless, or any other on-ear headphones, is not recommended for people who wear glasses.
Beats Solo 3 Wireless Accessories
When you purchase a new pair of headphones, there’s always a feeling of excitement of what’s in the bag. Well, once you open the box, you will see that the Beats Solo 3 Wireless has a microUSB charging cable, a 3.5mm aux cable and a soft zippered carrying case, which is ideal for individuals who have limited bag space. However, if you want to preserve the form or protect the Beats Solo 3 Wireless from harm or any sort of damage, you may want to have a hardshell case delivered.
Unlike other Beats headphones, the Beats Solo 3 Wireless has a 3.5mm input to be used with a headphone jack. If you have a compatible smartphone, you can listen to high quality wired audio with ease. Whether you enjoy listening to acoustic jams or want to get inspired listening to podcasts, the Beats Solo 3 Wireless effortlessly puts your favorite audio on track.
Beats Solo 3 Wireless Connectivity, Bluetooth and Codec Support
The range of the Beats Solo 3 Wireless was given a huge boost thanks to the W1 chip range. If the phone is in the backpack or deep in your pocket, you won’t see any sign of connection disruption.
It is worth noting that if you use the Beats Solo 3 Wireless wired, you can enjoy full functionality on iOS devices. However, when you use the Beats Solo 3 Wireless on Android, you can’t control the volume or return to previous tracks using the remote and built-in mic.
How’s The Microphone of Beats Solo 3 Wireless?
If Beats Electronics or Apple Inc. tried to sell the Beats Solo 3 Wireless highlighting its mic, it would lose sales. Quite frankly, the microphone is borderline “not great” to “bad”. It has a low-end attenuation and runs on an old hardware that does a poor job at picking up the speaker’s voice and transmitting the sound clearly. If you plan on using the Beats Solo 3 Wireless for a business call, we would suggest that you use your smartphone’s mic rather than the headphones.
What are some alternatives to the Beats Electronics Solo 3 Wireless?
The Beats Solo 3 Wireless may be a bit chunky for people who wear glasses, so a good alternative would be the Bose QuietComfort 35. Meanwhile, the Sony MDR-100ABN can also be a cheaper yet larger alternative, offering the same excellent wireless stability of the Beats Solo 3 Wireless.
Is the Beats Solo 3 Wireless worth the purchase?
As a consumer looking for a good pair of wireless headphones, you would want to pay for a reliable pair with solid Bluetooth connection with a good range and impressive battery life. The Beats Solo 3 Wireless is far from being perfect, but its features and updates is a huge difference compared with other cheap Bluetooth headsets on Amazon.com.
If you don’t really need the greatest and latest features, the Beats Solo 3 Wireless is a great option for on-ear, wireless headphones. It may not please everyone, especially audiophiles, but it still manages to deliver a top rating experience with its W1 chip integration, exceptionally long battery life and quick rechargeable battery.
The older chipset of the Beats Solo 3 Wireless does not give users access to hands-free Siri, which may not be a dealbreaker for some, but if you consider the asking price that’s hovering near $200, you may have to balance the pros and cons at play. Nevertheless, if you are really driven to purchase the Beats Solo 3 Wireless, you can embrace the fact that you’ll be using a headphone with a power battery, AAC support, Class 1 Bluetooth and quick charging features. Additionally, the form factor may also push consumers to make the purchase because the Beats Solo 3 Wireless has an attractive and portable design.
