Beats Pill Review: Premium Sound in a Compact Design, but Is It Worth the Price?

Beats made its return to the Indian market with the launch of three new products, one of which we tested in the form of the Beats Solo Buds. And now, the second of those products to take center stage is the Beats Pill portable Bluetooth speaker.

With a price tag of Rs 16,900, the Beats Pill finds itself in the smackdab in India's premium audio space as most portable Bluetooth speakers at this price costs anywhere between Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000. But at this price, does the Beats Pill offer the premium audio experience it promises? Let's find out!

{review}

Design and Build

Just as the name suggests, the Beats Pill features a pill or capsule-shaped design with its its tweeter and woofer laid out side by side. There's a metal grille on the front, while the rest of the speaker is covered by a grippy silicone material. On the top of the speaker are three concave buttons and two LEDs to indicate battery and pairing.

The Beats Pill comes in Champagne Gold, Matte Black, and Statement Red shades, although our model came in Champagne Gold, which looks pretty neat. The speaker is compact, measuring 218.44mm in length and 680grams in weight, making it easy to carry and drop into a backpack. Despite the capsule shape, the bottom of the speaker is flat with four grips to allow it to lay steady on a surface.

There's a USB Type-C port on the back for charging, while a USB Type-C cable is also included in the box for charging. Lastly, the Beats Pill also features an IP67 rating for resistance to dust and water, allowing you to use it outdoors in the rain. The Beats Pill also comes with a detachable lanyard. Overall, the Beats Pill speaker's design doesn't really standout but what it lacks in style, it more than makes up for in practicality.

Performance

The Beats Pill features a racetrack-style neodymium woofer and a single neodymium tweeter, delivering a balanced and rich sound profile. Its mid-range clarity stands out, making vocals and high-frequency elements shine. The bass response is solid, especially on bass-heavy tracks like hip-hop and EDM, though there is slight distortion at maximum volume.

While the punchy mid-bass enhances the overall listening experience, the treble can occasionally sound too sharp, particularly with cymbals. At 50 percent volume, the Pill offers a more balanced sound, with vocals, mids, and highs standing out clearly without being overpowered by bass.

The newly engineered woofer system boosts bass performance and sound clarity, providing a full-bodied, rounded bass that adds warmth without being boomy or muddy. Despite its compact size, the Pill manages to deliver impressive sonic depth and detail, revealing instruments and effects with clarity, making it a versatile speaker for various music genres. Beats' noise-suppression algorithm excelled at isolating my voice from background noise, making calls sound as if you were talking on the phone.

Software

The Beats Pill speaker arrives with a companion app that is available on both Android and iOS. The app allows you to customize controls on the speaker and allows you to explore all its features. Unfortunately, there's no EQ app, although it does provide battery information and let's you update firmware as and when required. Beats' latest Bluetooth speaker can be paired over Bluetooth (5.3).

Additionally, two Pill speakers can also be paired together for a true stereo setup. The Pill offers fast pairing with iOS devices and brings 'Find My' support. On Android, it supports Google Fast Pair and Find My Device. The speaker also supports AAC and SBC codecs.

Battery Life

Beat's latest Bluetooth speaker is equipped with a lithium‑ion battery, which the company claims can last up to 24 hours on a single charge at 50% volume. I couldn't test those claims, the battery life on the Pill is rather impressive. However, playing the speaker for 5 hours at 60% volume drained 30% of the battery. Additionally, Beats' Fast Fuel charging tech is touted to deliver two hours of battery life on a 10-minute charge.

Verdict

The Beats Pill Portable Bluetooth Speaker delivers impressive sound quality in a compact form factor, with rich bass, clear mids, and balanced highs. Its pill-shaped design is practical, featuring a durable build with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.

The speaker is portable, easy to carry, and offers convenient features like Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, fast pairing with iOS and Android, and voice isolation for clear calls. While it competes in the premium segment, the Pill stands out with its solid mid-range clarity and overall audio performance. The battery life is solid, with up to 24 hours on moderate usage and fast charging support.

However, slight distortion at max volume and sharp treble on certain tracks as well as a lack of an equalizer may be drawbacks. Overall, it's a versatile speaker for those seeking quality audio on the go and maybe one of the best sounding portable speakers under Rs 20,000 in India, making it worth the extra price if you are looking for something compact.