The sturdy back and front grilles provide durability, but as we found on a recent camping trip, they’re not as durable as even the toughest products when it comes to drops and impacts. While listening to music on the deck of our cabin, a friend accidentally dropped the Pill over a 4-foot railing and it bounced down a few stairs. Performance wasn’t affected, but it did leave a couple of dents and a scratch on the edge of the grille. When we got home, we tried a similar stair-drop test with a JBL Flip 5 and an Ultimate Ears Boom 4, and both came out largely unscathed with no noticeable dents.
Ironically, one of the reasons I place the Pill in such a precarious position is the relatively limited number of mounting locations compared to its more versatile competitors. The Pill is certainly rugged enough for outdoor adventures; just pick your mounting locations better than I do.
Fully equipped
Beats has packed the new Pill with a full set of features, including some I had never even thought of. For example, the USB-C digital input lets you connect high-res audio, like the Beats Studio Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommended). As before, you can pair the speaker with another Pill to “amplify” the sound or spread it out as a stereo pair. This works well, but not surprisingly, it doesn’t match up to similarly priced desktop models. Class 1 Bluetooth offers good wireless range (I got up to 130 feet in line of sight before it dropped out), which is especially useful when you leave the party and wander around with your phone.
Other extra features include one-touch pairing and Find My for iOS or Android devices, a built-in speakerphone, access to your phone’s voice assistant, and the ability to flip the USB-C port to output power for charging other devices. There’s no 3.5mm input for connecting a traditional audio device, nor is there any way to EQ the sound, but neither of these are features I often need on a speaker designed primarily for ambiance.
There are a few things about the Pill’s control system that leave me frustrated. Tasks like play/pause, skipping songs, volume, and calls are easy, but doing more in-depth work can require the multi-function key to demand “multi.” When I first tried to power it off, I held down the power key for longer than the required “0.8 seconds,” putting the speaker into pairing mode. A quick tap is required for a battery check, or three taps to charge other devices via the USB-C port. iPhone users have to fuss with the center key to pair two Pills, while Android users can connect with the Beats app. None of this is a big deal, but some of the controls aren’t listed in the Quick Guide, so you might need to look them up online.
The Pill’s incredible battery life makes up for the inconvenience of these minor controls. With up to 24 hours of playback at half volume, the speaker lasts twice as long as its predecessor and cheaper options like the Flip, and easily outlasts the latest UE Boom (15 hours) and the more expensive JBL Charge (20 hours). Since I rarely turned the Pill’s volume up above 30 percent indoors, I got even more playback time in my testing.
Stylish sound
In true Beats style, the Pill takes a calculated and radical approach to its sound signature: the bass is big and powerful, the highs are crisp and vibrant, and the performance is as smooth, glossy, and refined as the speakers themselves. At first, I found it too sculpted and flashy for my tastes, but perhaps thanks to the Apple acquisition, there’s a resigned air about it that keeps it from becoming overly boomy in the bass or brittle in the treble.
Once settled, I began to really enjoy the Pill’s effects sound and its ability to render instruments and effects with clarity and power. The highs retain rich detail and impressive sonic depth regardless of genre, while the full-bodied bass brings bold power to take your favorite tracks on a warm, soothing journey. My wife and I couldn’t help but notice how the speakers sounded warm on surfaces like picnic tables at the campsite, adding a spring to our breakfast.
