Beats with a chip

Founded by rapper and producer Dr Dre and now firmly under the control of Apple Inc, Beat Electronics has come up with a new set on wireless on-ear headphones that pump out good quality sounds and powerful bass and boast special connectivity technology for iPhone and iPad users.

And for music lovers on the go, the Solo 3 Wireless from Beats has a battery that can last up to 40 hours as well as a builtin microphone that allows you to use it as a premium headset for your iPhone or other smartphones.

For iPhone or iPad users, the Solo 3 Wireless comes with Apple W1 chip that brings seamless setup and switching for your Apple devices. The chip allows the headphones to be easily set up with your iPhone or iPad. You simply hold the phones near your iOS device, and a screen will pop up to prompt you to connect it.

Once it is connected, the Solo 3 Wireless can be seamlessly switched between your iOS devices and Mac computers using the same Apple ID. Do note though that your iOS devices must run on iOS 10 and your Mac computers must use macOS Sierra The Solo 3 Wireless can also be used with an Apple watch that runs on watch OS 3.

The Apple W1 chip also helps the headphones save battery life and in fast charging with just five minutes of charge allowing the phones to be used for up to three hours.

Beats Solo 3 Wireless comes in a sleek design and are available in Gloss Black, Gloss White, Rose Gold, Back, Gold, Silver, Ultra Violet and Red so you can choose the colour option that matches your iPhone or other smartphone.

The phones are foldable and the package comes with a carrying case for easy transport. I found them pleasant to wear thanks to comfortable cushion ear cups and cushion head band.

The Solo 3 Wireless has a power button on the right ear cup while the volume buttons and multifunction button are located on the left. The multifunction button can be used to play or pause music or skip to the next track. It can also be used to receive or hang up a phone call.

There’s an LED fuel gauge on the right side to tell you the level of battery and if you let it run out, you can use the Solo 3 Wireless as a wired pair of headphones with a provided headphone cable. The cable also has an inline remote control for adjusting volume and playing and pausing music as well as receiving and hanging up a call.

The headphones deliver premium playback with fine-tuned acoustics that maximise clarity, breadth, and balance. The comfort-cushion ear cups buffer outside noise for immersive sound so you can experience music the way it was meant to be heard.

I tested the earphones with new iPad 9inch and the Samsung Galaxy S8+ Android phone, using both wireless and wired functions. I found that the music was of excellent quality with impressive clarity and powerful bass, I enjoyed listening to my favourite testing tool –AC/DC’s “Rock or Bust” album.

Beats Solo 3 Wireless is available at Apple Thailand’s online store (www.Apple.com/th/shop/) for Bt11,500.

 

KEY SPECS

 

Form factor: On ear

Height: 19.8 cm

Weight: 215 g

Battery: Rechargeable LithiumIon with 40 hours of battery life

Connections: Bluetooth, audio cable

Bluetooth: Class 1

Microphone: BeamForming Mic for optimal call

Package include: Carrying case, 3.5mm remote talk cable, USB charging cable, quick start guide