Beats Powerbeats 4 review
Our Verdict
The Beats Powerbeats 4 is a noteworthy successor with better aesthetics, battery life, and sound than the Powerbeats iii.
For
- Highly secure fit
- Great sound and telephone call quality
- Steady battery life on a full charge
- Stylish, durable craftsmanship
- Apple's H1 chip with performance perks
Confronting
- The wire isn't practical anymore
- Fewer features
- Feels uncomfortable afterwards a while
Tom'south Guide Verdict
The Beats Powerbeats 4 is a noteworthy successor with improve aesthetics, battery life, and sound than the Powerbeats 3.
Pros
- +
Highly secure fit
- +
Slap-up audio and phone call quality
- +
Steady battery life on a full accuse
- +
Stylish, durable craftsmanship
- +
Apple'south H1 scrap with performance perks
Cons
- -
The wire isn't applied anymore
- -
Fewer features
- -
Feels uncomfortable after a while
The Beats Powerbeats 4 proudly borrows several cues from its true wireless cousin, the Powerbeats Pro. The Powerbeats 4 blends mode, functionality, and fit superbly, putting it comfortably in contention for the best running headphones you tin can purchase.
Beats Powerbeats four Specs
Colors: White, Black, Blood-red
Battery life (rated): 15 hours
Size: two.2 inches tall
Weight: 0.ix ounces
Connectivity: Apple H1 chip
That said, this pair of semi-wired buds is not without its flaws. It's missing features you've come to await as standard on other sub-$200 earbuds, like on-ear detection and a charging instance, and the behind-the neck cable has its drawbacks too. And withal, equally our full Beats Powerbeats four review volition attest, this is yet a high-quality, exceedingly Apple-friendly set of sporty headphones.
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- The all-time wireless earbuds that cutting the cord entirely
Beats Powerbeats iv review: Price and availability
The Beats Powerbeats iv costs $149.95 and comes in three colors: White, Black, and Red. All versions are bachelor at major online retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, or direct from Apple and Beats.
Beats ships the Powerbeats with a carrying pouch, Lightning to USB-A charging cable, quick start guide, warranty carte, and iv pairs of ear tips in dissimilar sizes.
Beats Powerbeats four review: Design
The Beats Powerbeats 4 are basically the Powerbeats Pro, but with a wire running between the headphones, which isn't necessarily a bad matter. Beats' blueprint pedigree is on total display here, from the bold, vibrant colorways to the embossed B logo on the buttons, which are flush and blend beautifully into the overall wait. The company also went with its more traditional colorways similar the white/grey and red/white variants, while the Powerbeats Pro has its ain exclusive colors.
One of the biggest complaints about the Powerbeats 3 was its fragile build quality. Well, Beats took accept care of that by giving this 4th-gen version the aforementioned composition as the Powerbeats Pro. This includes high-impact plastic casing, rubberized ear hooks, and IPX4 certification for sweat and h2o resistance. The materials hold up well against heavy perspiration during workouts, plus the hooks have a solid, pliable feel and won't snap off no affair how many times you adjust them.
Now, let'south talk about the elephant in the room: the wire. It's the about recognizable change in design between the Powerbeats 4 and Powerbeats Pro. While some prefer the effectually-the-neck approach, others adopt true wireless class, and then it's really a matter of preference. Beats went with a rounded silicone cord this time instead of the flat one used on the Powerbeats 3. It's nothing to rave about, though I think they could accept done more to make information technology aesthetically pleasing, like give it a different color to create some absurd 2-tone variations.
Beats bundles the Powerbeats with a generous number of accessories, including a charging cable, extra ear tips and a tiny conveying pouch. The latter makes these headphones more portable than the Powerbeats Pro (that massive charging case isn't fun to conduct effectually), granted the tradeoff is y'all can't charge them on the go unless connected to a power source.
Beats Powerbeats4 : Comfort and fit
Fit has ever been the series' strongest selling bespeak. Thank you to Beats' signature ear hooks, every version has delivered excellent on-ear stability by remaining intact effectually the ears during workouts. The Powerbeats 4 is more of the same.
Each earpiece wraps deeply around the ear, while the interchangeable tips provide a decent seal to keep them locked in when properly adjusted. You won't have to worry about any slippage either because the Powerbeats does a great task with sweat absorption. I'1000 also fond of the gentle feel the rubberized materials provide the skin.
Condolement is a mixed bag, every bit the elongated sound port sinks into the concha and causes irritation. Information technology's something you probably won't notice when exercising, but for leisure, your ears volition start pulsating after 30 minutes of listening. And that'southward non the only issue with comfort; more on that in the adjacent section.
The Powerbeats doesn't provide the same blusterous freedom as the Powerbeats Pro due to its slightly heavier form, and of form, the wire. I like that it's curt and doesn't flail around much, which is perfect for running. At the same time, it has annoying tendencies; you'll find it gets in the fashion when putting on the headphones and tangles with other items you have in your everyday bag.
Beats Powerbeats 4 review: Controls
When it comes to the control scheme, Beats got a lot right with the Powerbeats Pro. The combination of volume rockers at the elevation and multifunctional buttons on the face of each earbud made for a more convenient experience. Beats switched things up a bit, removing the MF button and volume rocker on the left earbud for a ability/pairing button. This does help streamline functionality. All the same, much like Powerbeats Pro, Beats didn't account for how the controls would affect the headphones' comfortability.
No affair what button you press, you're applying unwanted pressure to your ears. Pressing the MF button several times will leave the concha feeling sore after a while. I found it easier to command music playback straight on my smartphone, then I could relieve my ears.
Those who tin deal with the discomfort will be rewarded with responsive controls, especially the volume rockers. They produce a nice click effect that ensures you of intended commands. The MF button works well also, though on occasion I noticed lag when trying to skip tracks (2x printing), simply that was generally on Android devices.
I do wish the Powerbeats iv had optical sensors for on-ear detection; this allowed users to automatically pause music when removing the Powerbeats Pro from their ears and resume when placed dorsum on.
Beats Powerbeats 4 review: App and special features
Powered by Apple'south H1 processor, the Powerbeats 4 has plenty of special tricks and wireless goodness to offer users. We're talking 50% more talk time, along with newer features like Announce Letters and Audio Sharing to stream music from an iPhone to two pairs of AirPods or Beats headphones.
Connectivity remains ane of Apple tree'south greatest strengths, and the Powerbeats is a benefactor of it. The H1 chip grants these headphones seamless pairing capabilities with all Apple devices; connecting to my MacBook Pro and iPhone viii was instant. If only the aforementioned experience practical to Android devices.
It's no secret that Apple audio products are non Android-friendly, therefore making the setup procedure more frustrating. The Powerbeats required several tries before my Google Pixel 2XL recognized it. I establish information technology easier to pair through the Beats app, which you can download on Google Play, though it offers no extra features. Once paired, Spotify and Skype calls maintained a strong connection – no latency any.
Digital banana back up is a common feature on most wireless headphones, merely only Apple tree products accept access to the vocalization-activated "Hey Siri" feature. Information technology works flawlessly here to execute tasks in hands-free fashion; pulling up agenda events and Apple Music playlists was a breeze. Android users aren't left out in the cold either, as the Powerbeats support Google Banana, which is as well highly responsive to voice commands. Kudos to the dual beamforming mics that demonstrate swell speech communication recognition and create an effective buffer to cancel out external noises.
Something else I took discover of was how much improve the Powerbeats were at recognizing different connections. For example, I had the headphones connected via Bluetooth on my MacBook Pro, along with some other pair of wired headphones via audio jack. Commonly, my laptop gives precedence to whatever is plugged in, but it was the exact contrary this fourth dimension around, as the Powerbeats served as the main audio source. It'due south a modest detail, but something worth noting, particularly if you're someone who constantly switches between headphones.
Beats Powerbeats 4: Audio quality
Beats headphones wouldn't be what they are without some powerful sonics coming through the speakers. The dandy news is that the Powerbeats retains the aforementioned audio profile as the Powerbeats Pro, including the 12mm linear piston drivers that pump out energetic, crisp audio to fuel your workouts.
To test the bass on these bad boys, I played Mos Def'south "Mathematics" and was met with tight, punchy lows. DJ Premier'southward kicks and snares hit hard, while the guitar lick is both infectious and produces dainty reverberation that creates an everlasting event throughout the recording. Switching over to rock, I was surprised past how well these headphones handled Metallica'due south "Enter Sandman," finely reproducing the thunderous bass line and giving the soundstage plenty room for how-do-you-do-hats and vocals to smooth. Even with its slight bump in bass, the AirPods Pro can't match the Powerbeats' depth, though I still prefer Jabra Elite Active 75t for its audio personalization options (e.yard. built-in EQ and presets).
For something lighter, I pulled up Ahmad Jamal's "The Enkindling," which sounded pleasant when entering recovery fashion. The piano keys were lively, and the hit-hats were distinct. I did take to raise the volume college to hear every musical instrument clearly, which was something I don't recall ever doing with the Powerbeats Pro when vibing out to Jazz tracks. It's more of an observation than a knock.
I requite Beats credit for the amazing work they have done applied science the volume on the Powerbeats. It isn't too loud, nor besides low, meaning it won't harm your hearing – a bad rap the brand has received with its early models. Most of my time was spent listening at well-nigh-max volume and never was I taken ashamed by the Powerbeats' loudness during testing.
The Powerbeats do bleed sound at a loftier level, which my fiancée noticed a few times when sitting across our living room; she could hear the exact songs I was playing. Dropping the volume downward by ii to 3 notches helped reduce leakage. Noise isolation isn't the all-time either. That'south not entirely a bad thing, equally it gives outdoor exercisers more than awareness of their surroundings. You'll yet be able to enjoy music and be alert of oncoming traffic or emergencies taking place in your vicinity.
Beats Powerbeats 4: Bombardment life
The Powerbeats operates efficiently on a 15-60 minutes bombardment, which is realistically about 14 hours when factoring in heavy streaming and high volume. By comparison, this is well-nigh 3 hours more than the Powerbeats 3 and vi hours more than the Powerbeats Pro when fully charged. Having tested the headphones for an entire week, 1.five hours daily, I even so have a skilful xx% of juice left in the tank.
The one true advantage the Powerbeats Pro has over its wired sibling is the charging case, which extends playtime upwards to 24 hours. Then again, information technology'southward non a huge deal, peculiarly since the Powerbeats shares the aforementioned Fast Fuel charging technology to proceeds 1 hr of play on a 5-infinitesimal charge. Yous definitely won't endure from any low-battery feet with these on your ears.
Beats Powerbeats 4 review: Call quality
I was very impressed with the Powerbeats Pro's call quality and I'grand thrilled to written report that it'due south just equally skillful here. The Powerbeats 4 is a solid calling headset that picks up vocals clearly and produces cracking clarity on both ends of a telephone call.
Since the electric current pandemic has made it difficult to examination call quality outdoors, I set up my apartment with many loud distractions (e.1000. blasting my speaker organization and TV simultaneously) to get a experience for how well the headphones minimized ambient sound. I was surprised by the results. My parents could hear background noise, only also understood every sentence I spoke, which shows the Powerbeats can handle its ain in rowdy environments. The real reward comes when taking calls in quiet settings, every bit I was able to hear and speak clearly with clients on Skype without any dropout or interference.
Beats Powerbeats 4 review: Verdict
For $150, the Beats Powerbeats 4 is a slap-up pickup for athletes and fitness buffs who want reliable fit and sound and are all the same on the fence virtually true wireless earbuds. Beats managed to integrate all of the hallmarks that fabricated the Powerbeats Pro such a huge hitting, from the dynamic sound to the H1 performance perks. Battery life is also steady at fifteen hours on a single charge, which is more than sufficient for most a week'south worth of full-length workouts.
However, sticking with wired Bluetooth headphones presents compromises. Having the headphones tethered to a wire isn't as liberating as going cord-free; it gets tangled easily in your gym bag and may feel irritating on your skin, depending on your sensitivity. In addition, the lack of a charging case means you'll accept to keep one of the all-time portable chargers or a Lightning cable on hand to recharge when traveling, if necessary.
All things considered, these are all the same hands among the best sports headphones in their class, only not the best overall. For a few actress dollars, it'due south definitely worth checking out some of the market's top cordless offerings, including the Jabra Elite Active 75t ($179) and Powerbeats Pro, which we're constantly seeing on sale for $199 at select retailers.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/beats-powerbeats-4
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