The Beats Pill is making a pretty impressive comeback. The new version of the iconic little party speaker is great on its own or as a duo, is incredibly durable and has special talents. What's more, the new Pill isn't picky about connections.
Twelve years ago, Beats launched the first Pill, the portable Bluetooth speaker was last upgraded in 2015 as a Plus version, and seven years later it disappeared from the range of the company, which has belonged to Apple since 2014. Hardly anyone expected it, but now the iconic party pill is actually celebrating a comeback – a successful one, according to ntv.de.
Great sound for the size
Despite their proximity, the tweeters and woofers do not get in each other's way.
(Photo: Beats)
The pill shape has remained, but otherwise the new speaker has little in common with its predecessors. Among other things, Apple has completely redesigned the internals. Instead of a double tweeter, the new Pill now has a single tweeter. This has its own housing, which means its frequencies are better separated from those of the woofer. Both transducers are now directed slightly upwards and have received further technical improvements, which greatly benefits the sound of the new Beats Pill.
For its size, the speaker delivers impressive bass that also reaches relatively deep. However, it does so in a very controlled manner and does not interfere with the tweeter, which masters the mids and highs with ease. Distortion is rare even at higher volumes. Only when you turn it up to full volume does the 680 gram party pill lose control a little – especially when the music is bass-heavy.
Stereo only as a duo
The whole thing happens in mono, which of course limits the speaker's capabilities. If you want to enjoy stereo sound, you have to buy two pills. As a pair, they look great on bedside tables to the left and right of the bed.
However, if the speakers are spread out around the room or even in different rooms, stereo is of little use. Then you can choose the so-called amplifier mode, in which each pill plays music independently but synchronously. However, they can only establish Bluetooth connections, and the new Beats Pill is not a WiFi speaker either.
Good hands-free system
The case is protected by a robust and non-slip silicone layer.
(Photo: kwe)
But the speaker can be used as a hands-free system. This worked without any problems in the test; the person you are talking to can understand you well as long as you are no more than two meters away from the speaker and the surroundings are not too loud. Playback naturally pauses when you make a call.
You answer or hang up calls by pressing the middle button on the top of the Beats Pill once or twice. You also use it to pair Bluetooth devices and control music playback; there are two dedicated buttons to the right of it for volume.
If you press the power button twice, the digital assistant starts. This can be Siri or the Google Assistant. The Beats Pill connects to both iPhones and Android smartphones, without giving preference to Apple devices. It is also possible to search for the speaker via the app.
Spartan app, but robust
Switching between stereo and amplifier mode occurs without delay.
(Photo: kwe)
Otherwise, the Beats Pill application doesn't have much to offer in either case. The app is primarily used to conveniently change modes when two pills are connected. You can also allow a second Bluetooth connection in the application or specify what happens when you press the multifunction button once or twice when you make a call. There is no equalizer or other extras in the app.
That's spartan, but no big deal for a small portable speaker. What's more important is that the Beats Pill is tough. The robustly built box is protected against dust and water according to IP67 and can therefore cope with a small party mishap or a downpour. Its silicone casing is not only pleasant to the touch, but also pretty resistant to scratches and streaks.
High endurance
The battery can also easily survive a long party. Beats says it can run for up to 24 hours at 50 percent volume, but the practical test showed just under 20 hours. If necessary, ten minutes on the power supply is enough to party for around two hours.
You can also connect playback sources via the USB-C port on the back to listen to high-resolution music without any loss. However, you can't hear the difference to normally compressed MP3 songs. A small, portable speaker really can't sound that good. But it's practical that you can charge your smartphone using the port.
Conclusion
The Beats Pill is a powerful portable Bluetooth speaker for its size, and it impresses with its great sound and long battery life. It is also robust and offers welcome extras such as the hands-free function and the option to perform as a pair. But you have to pay a hefty price for it, the Beats Pill starts at just under 170 euros.
