Beats launches Solo Buds, $80 wireless headphones with 18 hours of battery life

Beats has a strong track record with wireless headphones. The company has consistently provided Android and iOS users with good audio performance, a comfortable fit, and a nice set of features. In fact, the Beats Fit Pro are our top pick for the best workout earbuds right now. One thing missing from the company’s lineup is budget-friendly options, but that could change soon. Today, Beats launches Solo Buds: an $80 set of wireless earphones that last for 18 hours on a charge. There are some caveats on the spec sheet, but you might be willing to overlook their battery life at this price.

The Solo Buds have the longest battery life among Beats headphones. 18 hours is probably a lot longer than you can get in one go, but there’s a catch. The Solo Buds charging case doesn’t have a battery, so they don’t charge when you’re not using the buds. The charging case is essentially a dock that only charges the headphones when plugged in with a USB-C cable. However, you can charge it using your phone, laptop, or tablet, and Beats’ Fast Fuel feature can give you an hour of use in five minutes. The advantage of the non-charging case is that the accessory is significantly smaller, as it doesn’t house the battery.

Beats designed Solo Buds to be worn for extended periods of time. More specifically, ergonomic acoustic nozzles and vents help improve audio performance while relieving stress. Four sizes of eartips are included in the box, so you can find the best fit for your ears in terms of comfort and passive noise isolation. There’s no active noise cancellation (ANC) here, so a sturdy fit will be your only defense against environmental distractions.

Beats says the internal dual-layer transducer is designed to reduce distortion across the frequency curve, resulting in “uncompromising clarity and detail.” The company describes call quality as “excellent,” thanks to a combination of custom-designed microphones and noise-learning algorithms. Onboard controls are customizable, allowing music, calls and voice assistant functions to be accessed with just one or multiple presses. Beats also includes the option of volume control on the Solo Buds via an optional press and hold action.

Native compatibility for Android and iOS offers one-click pairing, automatic setup, and support for Find My and Find My Device. Everything you need on an iPhone is built into iOS, while Beats offers a standalone app on Android for onboard control customization and more.

The Solo Buds will be available in June and will be available in black, grey, purple and clear red for $80.