Beats Pill 2024 Review – The Iconic Speaker is Back!

I reviewed the original Beats Pill more than a decade ago. The portable, Bluetooth speaker had a really eye-catching design that many fans loved. And now, in 2024, we see it making a comeback with worthy internal upgrades while still maintaining that unique, catchy design. It’s now lighter, more powerful, has better sound clarity, IP rating, and more battery life.

At first glance, you’d probably think that this is just another portable, Bluetooth speaker. While you are not wrong, you are not exactly right, either.

BEATS PILL 2024 REVIEW – PACKAGING CONTENTS

BEATS PILL 2024 REVIEW – DESIGN AND FEATURES

The speaker has that iconic, capsule-design which clearly differentiates itself from the portable speaker market. The feet at the bottom of the unit keep it steady on a surface, giving it a 20-degree upward tilt though there is no way of placing the speaker in an upward or vertical position. This small elevation actually helps to deliver sound upwards, into your ears.

Beats Pill is also IP67-rated now which allows a device to be submerged in 1 metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. That simply means you can safely bring this portable speaker to a beach or pool party as it can survive any accidental mishaps.

The soft-grip silicone material makes it easy to grip the speaker and there is also a removable lanyard to help with transportation.

Controls are located on top of the speaker for media, power, and connectivity controls with various mechanisms like single press, press and hold, double taps, etc. I honestly wish it’s labelled more clearly because they are harder to see even in normal lighting conditions. A backlighting would even help here, especially in low lit rooms.

Turning the speaker off is not exactly clear, however. Normally, a quick press turns the speaker on and then you have to press & hold for a few seconds to turn a device down (or at least, I got used to this behaviour with other speakers and devices). However, with the Beats Pill 2024, you actually have to press & hold for around 2 seconds – not shorter and not longer. Holding it too long will actually trigger connection pairing instead.

Connectivity is fairly simple and straightforward for both iPhone and Android devices for a one touch pairing (which is quite rare). It also supports Find My or Find My Device.

According to Beats, the new Pill has up to 24 hours of battery life which obviously depends on a few factors like volume levels, etc. When it runs out of battery, you can plug it for 10 minutes which is going to give you up to 2 hours of playback. The speaker itself can be used to charge your USB-C devices which is kind of nice.

But surprisingly, that same USB-C port can also be used for enjoying high-resolution lossless audio! Simply plug it to your smartphone like the iPhone and if you are subscribed to Apple Music, you can enjoy lossless audio with this portable speaker. It’s something that I wouldn’t see normally on portable, Bluetooth speakers of this size but certainly won’t complain that this wonderful feature is there for audio enthusiasts. For example, if you are always working on the go with your laptop, you can hook the speaker to your laptop for music listening.

Speaking of audio, the new Beats Pill 2024 packs a punch. While I’m quite amazed at how clear the sound is, I’m more amazed at how good the bass is. According to Beats, the new Pill 2024 has a bigger, bespoke racetrack woofer that pushes 90% more air so you’ll get a deeper, fuller bass. The tweeter also gets an upgrade that delivers crisper highs and richer mid-range tones.

Listening to songs with the Beats Pill 2024 is fun and satisfying. Considering how small this is (compared to this JBL PartyBox On-The-Go, for example), it’s pretty surprising to hear how good the sound is and that you’ll feel the “oomph” kick of the bass without being too overpowered.

BEATS PILL 2024 REVIEW CONCLUSION

The Beats Pill 2024 is a remarkable evolution of its predecessor, maintaining the iconic design while significantly improving its functionality and performance. Its compact size hides its impressive audio capabilities, delivering clear, punchy sound with surprisingly robust bass for a speaker of its dimensions.

The upgrades to durability, with its IP67 rating, make it a versatile companion for various environments, from home use to outdoor adventures. The extended battery life and quick charging feature add to its practicality, while the ability to charge other devices is a thoughtful touch.

Perhaps the most unexpected and welcome feature is the USB-C port’s dual functionality, allowing for both charging and high-resolution audio playback. This sets the Beats Pill 2024 apart in the crowded portable speaker market, offering audiophiles a compact option for high-quality listening on the go.

While there are minor quibbles, such as the somewhat unclear control labelling and power-off mechanism, these are overshadowed by the speaker’s overall performance and versatility. The Beats Pill 2024 successfully bridges the gap between portability and audio quality, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a premium portable audio experience.

The new Beats Pill is available now for purchase at A$249.95 RRP from JB Hi-Fi.

Disclosure: Beats Pill 2024 review sample was supplied for reviewing