Beats Powerbeats 4 2020 Review: Sports Headphones

As soon as new AirPods are announced, dozens of friends ask questions in instant messengers: “Well, is it worth changing? Worth buying? This is good? This is bad? Tell me quickly." As soon as Powerbeats are announced, athletes become active: “Well, how? Is it worth taking? Are they comfortable or not? Since the halls have been closed since March 21, I will answer all your questions here. In short: these are the best value-for-money wireless sports headphones on the market. Well, now the details.

Yes, to close the question right away: the latest Powerbeats were called Powerbeats 3, but apparently Apple decided to reset the counter. All official materials now include Powerbeats and Powerbeats Pro. Beats X have not been updated for a long time, I assume that something will happen to them this year too - either they will turn into TWS, or they will receive H1 without changing the form factor.

Beats BeatsX headphones review

Let's start our Beats X review by saying that they are not suitable for some people. Their main advantages are ease of use and sound quality. Beats X is also good to use as a headset for conversations. They have a large set of commands on the RemoteTalk remote. Also, such a device is suitable for athletes and those who need a long-lasting wireless headset. Instructions in Russian will be in the review below.

BeatsX uses in-ear earbuds, which means they are completely inserted into the ear and provide excellent sound insulation by enveloping the opening of the auricle. This allows you to listen to sounds comfortably even in very noisy places. However, the surroundings will not be as audible, especially if something is playing. This form factor has both pros and cons. While wearing Beats X, it will be very difficult to hear what is happening around you. It's almost impossible to talk to people in Beats; you have to take them off for a while. Also, when talking through a headset, it is difficult to control your voice; as a result, you can start shouting unnoticed, since you cannot hear yourself in a normal tone. But this can be solved by simply removing one of the headphones. Bottom line: excellent insulation is suitable for consuming content in noisy places, but it interferes with your own hearing and understanding of what is going on around you.

Beats X is water-resistant, but not completely waterproof. You can play sports in them without any problems and not be afraid of sweat, but swimming in the pool is prohibited. They can also be used when it rains.

The first Apple headphones - formation

It is believed that Apple released the very first headphones in 2001 along with the iPod, they were called Apple Earphones and the main difference from all devices of that time was that the headphones were WHITE. Yes, yes, if you remember, the nineties and the beginning of the new century, this was the time of BLACK cables, and no options for you. And then suddenly a white iPod appears with an incredible interface, white headphones, a music store, iTunes - and it was as if aliens had flown in from above and given us some unearthly technology. Simply top.

Meanwhile, the beautiful white Apple headphones quickly turned gray in real use, the braid next to the “mini-jack” could break, and in general these were excellent headphones to start with, but then the owner of an iPod had a whole world of headphones: hundreds of articles were published with selections of the best headphones for the player, on forums people discussed incredible combinations with the first portable amplifiers, Apple Earphones produced their own accessories - and all this would later be repeated with AirPods and other company products. A powerful COMMUNITY appears around things, the product becomes a cult, capitalization increases, everything is as it should be. However, many people mistakenly believe that it's all about marketing - but not in the case of Apple. When you're trying to sell poop, no amount of marketing will help. And in the case of the iPod, the famous advertisement with white cables became another sign of the century, almost a work of art:

Of course, I myself used Apple Earphones, and I always had the same feeling: I would rather change them to something else. I really liked the look of them, but it was very difficult to wear them for a long time. Plus, I never liked forcing people on the subway to listen to music with me, so I always chose in-ear or completely closed headphones.

Keep in mind, Apple Earphones have gone through several upgrades, and then there were my favorite iPod In-Ear Headphones, cool everyday headphones, in-ear, with unusual tips, futuristic and completely different from Earphones. I later used them with Apple laptops, and even with the first iPhone.

Sound quality

A Beats X review wouldn't be complete without a description of the sound. The sound quality is definitely good for any wireless headphones, especially when listening to lossless music. Beats has support for the old and rather mediocre SBC codec, which will be used with Windows and Android devices. iPhones and other Apple gadgets use the AAC codec, which Beats X supports. However, some smartphones on the green robot can support the better AAC codec, but you need to find out before purchasing.

Thanks to the AAC codec, the sound from Beats is balanced and clear. The volume of the Beats is average, they don’t blow, but because of the in-ear system, this is enough to hear everything. High, mid and low frequencies are balanced, there is no particular bias towards one thing. However, all Beats products are characterized by strong bass, and this product was no exception. Having reviewed the sound, you can see that the bass is not very pronounced, but its intensification is sometimes felt.

Sound

Beats has remained faithful to the low frequencies - there is quite a lot of them here. But the sound is quite balanced. The graph from the Les Numeriques portal shows a drop in the lower mids, as well as emphasized bass and a highlighted upper mid with the use of conversational frequencies.

Frequency characteristics of Powerbeats Pro. The graphs when using single-flange and double-flange ear pads are almost identical. www.lesnumeriques.com

In fact, this means that Powerbeats Pro perform well in music that is rich in low frequencies and minimalistic: hip-hop, trap, some kind of bass-heavy lounge (for example, the latest album of the Soyuz group sounds just great with these headphones) or jazz with deep timbre of the double bass. When music adds more detail in different frequency regions, things become more complex. For example, I didn’t really like the sound of loaded guitars.

Verdict: Beats headphones in 2019 are definitely not the same overpriced, low-quality consumer goods from the mid-2010s. However, it could have been better. Some problems with frequencies would be solved, for example, by an additional equalizer, like the Jaybird X3. Beats also did without features that, in theory, someone might need: active noise reduction and “transparent hearing,” which duplicates the sound from the street into the headphones.

If we go back to the AirPods comparison, the Powerbeats Pro are the clear winner. Firstly, thanks to higher noise insulation, the headphones allow you to listen to podcasts and audiobooks on the subway. Secondly, the device is, in principle, more musical, and AirPods are still somewhere in the category of high-quality conversational headsets.

Two microphones on each earphone are responsible for the sound characteristics during a conversation. In non-extreme conditions, the test passed without any complaints: the interlocutor heard me well, and I heard him.

Design

Design review is a subjective topic. The Beats X are stylish but bulky. At first glance, it may seem that the Beats we are reviewing have too many unnecessary elements, but this is not the case. Each part of the device has its own function and is designed conveniently. The Beats X under review are lightweight and, due to their design, are practically not felt on the body. The long cord allows you to fully move your head without pulling the Beats X out.

The wire is strong and thick, has a flattened shape due to which there is no strong elasticity. The wire is divided into thirds, two parts of the wire go to the ears, and the third is located behind the neck to connect the charging pads. These two energy storage tanks are thin and oblong, serving to balance the structure, but not straining during operation. The wire between the batteries is much thicker and more difficult to bend; this is done so that it rests more comfortably on the shoulders.

On the left side there is a remote control for smart control of the device, its review will be further. The similarity with Apple is minimal: it only produces a lightning connector. Each Beats headphone features the Beats logo. The Beats X themselves are small and barely visible in the ears.

Beats Powerbeats or Beats Powerbeats Pro?

For many, the question is relevant: what is the difference between these headphones?

First is the form factor: the Powerbeats earcups are connected by a cable. Honestly, I can’t say how bad or good this is - the savings are significant, so it’s better to choose one or another model based on economic considerations.

Secondly, more about savings: Pro can be found for 15,000 rubles, Powerbeats are sold for 10,990 rubles. A few thousand difference is very good.

Thirdly, there is one more, not entirely obvious nuance. After all, the completely wireless Pro must be carried in a hefty case; it hardly fits even in a jacket pocket - and even if it does fit, it sticks out defiantly. Well, Powerbeats in the included case take up much less space. Compare for yourself.

So, depending on your preferences, you can choose one or another sports headphones - I'll still stick with the Pro, but I'm sure thousands of people will prefer simple Powerbeats. Cheaper, same H1 chip, more comfortable to wear. Bliss.

Just in case, here's our review of the Powerbeats Pro:

Beats Powerbeats Pro sports headphones review

Sergey Kuzmin

5 July 2019

Autonomy

One of the main features of the Beats X being reviewed is its battery life. Due to the large battery, the device can last up to eight hours of continuous playback. While waiting, this value is multiplied several times more. From this it follows that Beats can be turned on during the day and used until the evening without fear of discharge.

Beats X is powered by the W1 chip, the same chip used in Airpods. This means that they are fully compatible with Apple products. All the functionality, features and benefits of using an iPhone paired with Beats are available.

Beats X is charged using a lightning cable. This is another plus in choosing these headphones for iPhone owners, since you don’t have to carry several different charging connectors with you. Equipped with fast charging, but no wireless charging. Unfortunately, it is impossible to use the Beats we are reviewing while charging, as they automatically turn off when the wire is connected.

According to the manufacturer, the headphones can be charged in five minutes for two hours of playback. It will take 45 minutes to fully charge. Considering the battery size, this is the best result among wireless headphones. So Beats X is a staple for people who need long-lasting wireless headphones.

BeatsX for every day

With BeatsX, the existence of “beats” under the leadership of Apple began - these headphones use the Apple W1 chip, although they are not TWS, you can still buy them now. After all, at the moment these are the company’s most affordable Bluetooth headphones, the price is about 7,990 rubles. There have been a ton of colorways and limited editions released in recent years, including famous models created with sacai, Undefeated and other brands.

Should you buy BeatsX now? Certainly! This is worth doing because of the Lightning connector, good sound quality, convenient remote control, if AirPods are not suitable due to the form factor, then with BeatsX everything is as simple as with regular in-ear headphones. And sometimes there are discounts, which is nice - BeatsX, although not new, is a worthy product. I don’t recommend buying it for training: there is no protection against sweat, and the form factor is not at all athletic.

Connection

The headset review of the Beats X wireless headphones has detailed instructions, since there are a lot of possibilities thanks to the remote control. The main button for turning on and connecting devices to the headphones is located on the block on the right. There is also a glowing status indicator. The remote control for playback is located separately on the left earphone.

Headphone activation overview

To turn the headphone on or off, you need to hold down the button for one second. If the light blinks white, it means that the Bluetooth headphones are ready to synchronize with any device. Once connected, the light will stop blinking and will show the battery charge level. Here's an overview of the battery level symbols:

• White color indicates that the headphones are charged;
• Red color signals an imminent discharge (less than an hour left);
• Blinking red indicates that Beats X is low and needs to be recharged;
• The light does not light - the headphones are turned off or completely discharged.

To listen to anything through Beats X, you need a built-in Bluetooth Class 1 module, which is responsible for the wireless connection. There is no way to connect headphones without it.

Connecting headphones to Apple technology

How to connect them to an Apple device? Very easy. Just press the button under the right earpiece for one second and bring the device to the iPhone. After which an interface will appear on the smartphone prompting you to connect a headset. If this does not happen, you need to reconnect. To do this, press and hold your finger on the connect button for five seconds. This action will put the headphones into reconnection mode, now any device can be synced with Beats X. For subsequent connection you need:

• Open the iOS control center by swiping up from the bottom (On MacOS, just click on the bluetooth icon in the control panel);
• Next, on iOS, swipe left or right to open a menu of running gadgets;
• Click on the device name at the bottom of the card and select your headphones in the list of playback devices.

Connections to third-party equipment

To connect the headphone to Android, Windows or any other device, you need to hold the power button for five seconds until it starts blinking. After that, select headphones in the bluetooth settings and wait for connection.

After the first connection, the second time the device synchronizes itself after turning on (one second delay on the button). You only need to hold it for five seconds if you need to connect the headphones to a new sound source.

Beats Powerbeats High-Performance Wireless Headphones

The Beats company, which belongs to Apple, follows a parallel path with it, including producing comfortable compact wireless headphones, but at the same time, without intersecting with it with its products, since Beats and the audience have chosen a slightly different direction of development for themselves other.

So, now Beats not only has more and more sports-oriented headphones, but also has apparently undergone a complete “cleansing” of the naming of the Powerbeats family. A year earlier we already saw Powerbeats 3, but now we just got “Powerbeats and Powerbeats Pro”. We have already tested the latter in the previous review, now we’ll talk about Beats Powerbeats. In stores they are also usually called High-Performance, but this is not included in the official name on the packaging itself; the headphones are simply called “Beats Powerbeats”.

Main characteristics

Equipment

The headphones are supplied in a small square package with a dust jacket and a stylish, laconic design in a premium style that is characteristic of the brand, without being clumsy or multi-colored. Everything is decorated in black with white lettering. Naturally, great attention, as usual, was paid to the structure: the small headphones received a package of five components. Depressions, pockets and molded recesses – everything was touched by the designer’s hand. Even the very unpacking of such a product already brings aesthetic pleasure.

The headphones come with a short 20 cm Lightning cable in a fashionable black color, a set of replaceable rubber tips in three sizes, and a carrying pouch. Thus, Powerbeats, unlike Powerbeats Pro, did not have a hard case or wireless charging. A soft pouch made of synthetic fabric, of course, will not be able to provide serious protection to a device lying among other items in a backpack, so, most likely, the headphones will need a separate pocket in the bag.

Design and ergonomics

The earphones themselves are identical in shape, size and design to those from the Powerbeats Pro. Only here the securing earpieces are connected by a short wire. Thus, Beats Powerbeats High-Performance are not TWS headphones that repeat the Powerbeats Pro, but rather the successors and descendants of those same mentioned Powerbeats3, after which, apparently, the “zeroing” of the naming happened.

The design of the headphones is already, one might say, classic: the shape is so refined and ergonomic that there is nothing left to add or subtract. The headphone body itself is made of hard matte plastic, and the ear mount is made of springy matte rubber. In essence, this is a thick flexible rubber braid on the cable: it bends easily, but holds perfectly behind the ear.

This is the most important and primary advantage of such wireless headphones as Powerbeats High-Performance over TWS: with their wire, they may not be so easy to handle, but they will never fall off your neck due to the wire. And there is no reason for it to fall off: the rubber earpiece holds the earphone so securely on the ear that you can engage in any, even the most active, sports, and cover them with any hats and helmets.

Of course, pressure is felt in the ears and behind the ears from the ear pads and temples; it cannot be said that you “don’t notice” the headphones on you for hours, as happens with TWS, the same Apple AirPods. But the purpose of Powerbeats High-Performance is different: they are most directly designed for people leading an active lifestyle, playing sports, morning jogging, etc. and so on. For all this, Powerbeats High-Performance are perfect.

Of course, the device has protection from sweat and splashes of rain, you don’t have to worry about that, but you can’t swim or dive in the water. The colors are classic: black, red and white.

Functionality

There is a small power button on the left earphone, and a longer volume rocker on the right, so you can’t confuse them. The connecting connector for the cable is, naturally, Lightning; charging occurs through it.

In addition, there is also a round control button, which is inscribed in the logo on the right earphone (there is no button on the left earphone). There are no touch pads here, and thank God, they cause erroneous actions more often than “mechanics”. A single press of the button implements start or pause, a double press switches to the next track, and a triple press returns to the previous one.

Powerbeats are built on the current Apple H1 processor, on which AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro were previously released. A little earlier, the aforementioned completely wireless Powerbeats Pro were released on the basis of this platform, and now the more affordable Powerbeats have received it. It supports calling a voice assistant using the phrase “Hey Siri!”, for example, or working with Google Assistant if the user has a smartphone running Android OS.

Control and autonomy

For devices on the Apple platform, the pairing process is automated: as in the case of AirPods, a window pops up on the iPhone screen with an animation (the design matches the color of the headphones themselves) and a proposal to connect. For Android devices, of course, everything is a little more complicated: for the first time you will have to connect through the search for Bluetooth devices, then pairing will be automatic.

You can download a separate application for your smartphone. For example, in the same Google Play there is the Beats application, but its functionality is limited to displaying charging and updating the firmware of the headphones, there are no other settings. There are no complaints about the quality of the Bluetooth connection: within the apartment/office, the headphones receive a stable signal and do not lose connection. Turning on the power and connecting via Bluetooth are accompanied by light signals from the diodes.

There is one point: here you need to remember that if you have developed the habit of removing and throwing TWS wireless headphones into a case, which there themselves go into sleep mode, recharge, etc., then you need to take care of saving battery power yourself. That is, every time you remove the device and put it in the bag, you need to remember to press the power button.

The headphones work for as long as possible: you can count on the stated 15 hours of operation on a single charge, and the built-in batteries are fully charged in just an hour. If you charge, as they say, “on the go,” then in just five minutes you can charge the headphones for an hour of listening. This is convenient before training, even if you forgot to charge it overnight.

Sound

As for the sound, there is a clear attempt to please “both ours and yours.” Historically, Beats has had a reputation as headphones for fans of electronic music and deep bass. In this regard, the new product, of course, partly follows the traditional recipe, but at the same time offering a more universal serving scheme. In principle, the sound of Beats Powerbeats and Beats Powerbeats Pro are very similar, which is not surprising. The headphones sound much softer, the bass is not as overloaded here as in the “classic” Beats models. And at the same time, there is no fine detailing with excellent separation of instruments, these headphones are not for that. The sound of Powerbeats is not annoying, the sound character is pleasant, and for bass lovers more or less booming low frequencies are left.

The quality of speech transmission during voice communication is very decent. Testing in various operating conditions (at home, on the street, in transport and in the office) showed that audibility in all situations is good, the voice of the interlocutor remains distinguishable, and opponents have no problems during dialogues. That is, with Beats Powerbeats you don’t have to be obsessed with the gym, these are quite headphones for everyday use in any everyday conditions, and the connecting wire will also prevent the headphones from getting lost (as you know, the most lost headphones are TWS Apple AirPods).

Bottom line

Who is this product for? Naturally, first of all, this is the Apple audience, because it has the most convenient “seamless” connection to technology, the presence of an advanced H1 chip that provides clear and uninterrupted communication, and of course, the proprietary Lightning connector. Why not AirPods? To satisfy that part of the audience who wants to keep all their devices in a single ecosystem, but because of sports, street jogging, or for other reasons of their own, they are afraid of losing easily falling out TWS. Why not Powerbeats Pro? Due to the reasons stated above, as well as for the sake of economy: after all, regular Powerbeats for 10,990 rubles are several thousand cheaper than Powerbeats Pro for 15,990 rubles. Thus, for those who like to stay in the unified Apple ecosystem while calculating the budget, Beats Powerbeats High-Performance are perhaps the best wireless sports headphones on the market right now in terms of price and quality ratio.

Playback Control Overview

On the left side of the cable of the Beats X we review there is a smart RemoteTalk remote control with extensive capabilities. It has a central control button and a volume rocker. The volume rockers smoothly change the volume by pressing or holding them. The center button can be used to:

• One press will pause or play a track;
• Double tapping will skip the song forward;
• A triple press will switch the song back;
• Double-press and hold will fast-forward the track;
• A triple press and hold will rewind the track;
• Long press to launch Siri voice assistant, if supported.

Design and ergonomics

The completely wireless headphones inherited the proprietary form factor of the Powerbeats line: the middle part of matte plastic for the filling and batteries goes into a silicone earpiece. The transition has become smoother, and now the structure looks like one whole.

A case is used for storage and recharging, which will be discussed in a whole section below.

A black version was available for testing. There are other options in the range: ivory, dark blue and dark olive. Muted shades and a matte surface give the impression of an expensive device.

On the body of each earphone there are three physical buttons: multifunction and dual volume rocker. Regular keys have a couple of advantages over touchpads when it comes to sports accessories: clear feedback and normal response to wet hands. The control scheme is standard: pressing the multifunction button once - pause, pressing twice - the next track, three times - the previous track, a long press calls the voice assistant. Holding the volume swing for a long time continuously adjusts the sound level - convenient.

In-ear headphones with an additional clip in the shape of a tablet and a flexible earpiece. The average passive isolation goes well with the sporty nature of the headphones: at 50-60% volume, passing cars are clearly audible; to communicate with others, you just need to pause. On the other hand, listening to Powerbeats Pro in the subway causes severe discomfort. The design clings to the auricle and is felt at the level of touching the skin, despite the impressive weight of each earphone of about 20 grams.

The fit is incredibly secure, as proven by training with the Powerbeats Pro. An active cross-country bike ride with shaking and regular impacts did not move the headphones from their place. Next came jumping rope: regular, double, criss-cross - the headphones remained in place, regardless of the pace. At the end of the walk, I managed to fly over the handlebars of the bike, which is why all the accessories flew off the frame, and the Powerbeats Pro didn’t even move. Also, the headphones are not afraid of moisture: rain or sweat from intense workouts.

Ease of use

Beats are wireless headphones, meaning they don't need to be connected to a playback device, and the music is transmitted over the air. The reviewed bits use bluetooth technology to transmit information, which makes it possible to use them with smartphones, computers or laptops that support the latest version of bluetooth (4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 5.0 and higher).

There is no need to connect to the gadget, but between the headphones themselves there is a wire with battery packs and a RemoteTalk cable. Using Beats X, you can easily move around the room or gym without carrying your smartphone near you. The connection works stably if two devices are located up to 15 meters from each other, but obstacles can cause the connection to break. In the event of a break, as soon as the distance is small again, the gadgets will automatically synchronize and continue playing, without having to do anything.

Sound and microphone

Immediately after the first listen to Powerbeats Pro, you understand why Beats headphones are so loved and appreciated. We are talking about the quantity and quality of low frequencies: the all-encompassing bass plays very cleanly and multifacetedly. That is, it doesn’t just hit the ears, but provides an informative picture. Other ranges are also not overwhelmed: vocals sound natural, highs do not ring. Music does not turn into an indecipherable set of sounds: the capabilities of the AAC codec are limited, but not enough.

Each of the headphones is equipped with two microphones at the bottom and top ends. In headset mode, active noise reduction is used, similar to smartphones. As a result, wind and extraneous sounds do not interfere with the conversation, and the quality of voice transmission is at the highest level.

Equipment

The headphones come with replaceable ear pads of various sizes, silicone tips, a soft case and a short lightning charging cable. The packaging of the Beats X under review is large; the headphones themselves are beautifully wrapped in a box, under which there is another one with various accessories.

There are four pairs of replaceable ear pads, and they differ significantly in size; choosing comfortable ones is not difficult. The color of the ear pads depends directly on the color of the headphones purchased. In addition to them, there are also attachments for the headphones themselves, which help to secure them in the ear. These attachments serve as anchors in the ear cartilage. The case for the headphones is small and made of rubber, black in color. The wire included in the kit is only black. As a bonus, there is a branded sticker with the Beats logo in the form of the letter “B”.

The sound is exactly the same as in Powerbeats Pro

If the body remains from another model, then it is logical not to change the sound in any way. And so it turns out: there is no difference between these two headphones in how they reproduce music.

Absolutely none, not even minimal! Powerbeats have the same speakers and microphones inside.

If we compare the sound with the previous version, PB3, the old one loses in absolutely everything: the high frequencies are weaker, the bass seems too powerful and booming, and the mids seem to leave the tracks almost completely.

The PB3 was best suited for certain genres of music, such as R&B, hip-hop, modern pop and light electronica. Powebeats, like Powerbeats Pro, are much closer to the omnivorous nature of AirPods Pro and unpretentiousness to your preferences. I even successfully listen to heavy metal on the new PBs - and that’s okay. Not wow, but at least ok.

The bass-focused feature is still relevant, but it is no longer as exclusively highlighted as before. The sound is bright and rich, far from audiophile and, in my opinion, does not reach the balance of AirPods Pro. However, it's significantly nicer than the PB3 and can give most semi-wireless in-ear headphones a run for their money.

If I didn’t know that this model was released by Beats, I really wouldn’t believe it, how far the company has come in recent years from its most famous feature.

It is worth remembering that Powerbeats, as well as Powerbeats Pro, do not have active noise cancellation , and along with it, the Transparency mode. These two features are in Solo Pro and AirPods Pro, and they are very pleasing in the subway and on noisy streets.

The design of the PB is designed in such a way that even with the tightest fit inside the channel, a portion of external noise will still leak inside. This is not particularly critical, but you need to know. Passive sound insulation is incomparably better than regular AirPods, that's for sure.

Connection and communication

Since Powerbeats use the Apple platform, the pairing process with the iPhone is implemented like AirPods: a window with a “Connect” button pops up on the screen. On Android you have to go into settings and connect manually. Fortunately, then pairing occurs automatically.

There is also a Beats application on Google Play, but all its usefulness comes down to updating the headphone software and displaying the charge. There are no sound settings, controls or microphones here.

The quality of the Bluetooth connection is decent: in an apartment, the headphones keep a stable connection, even if the smartphone is in the next room. The built-in microphone also does not cause any complaints in headset mode.