Beats Solo 4 vs Apple AirPods 4

What published reviews say about each, where the two differ, and who each one suits.

Summed up from 15 published reviews

Beats

Solo 4

The Beats Solo 4 offers strong battery life, portability, flexible connectivity, and clear calls, but lacks ANC and receives mixed sound and long-session comfort feedback.

Best for: Long-battery listeners wanting simple iOS and Android pairing.
Skip it if: You need ANC, rich sound, or all-day comfort.

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What reviewers say about the Beats Solo 4

Apple

AirPods 4

AirPods 4 offer improved open-ear sound and comfort, with useful ANC in the premium version but compromises in isolation and battery life.

Best for: Apple users wanting comfortable open-ear audio, calls, and optional ANC.
Skip it if: You need sealed fit, deep bass, or maximum noise cancellation.

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What reviewers say about the Apple AirPods 4

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Specs side by side

Spec	Beats Solo 4	Apple AirPods 4
Fit	On-ear	In-ear
Ear cups	Closed-back	–
Connection	Wireless	Wireless
Noise cancelling	No	No
Best for	Music, Travel	Music, Travel
Microphone	Built-in mic	Built-in mic

Rows where the two differ come first.

Where only one fits

fit: Solo 4On-ear; AirPods 4In-ear

What reviewers like, and what they don't

Beats Solo 4

Beats claims 50 hours; two reviews measured longer. 1 3 4 5
Lightweight, foldable construction suits everyday portability. 2 4 6
One-tap pairing, Find My, and strong iOS/Android support. 1 5 8
USB-C charging and passive 3.5mm wired listening offer flexibility. 1 3 5
Call quality is generally clear in quiet and noisy settings. 1 2 5 7
No ANC; passive isolation struggles in loud environments. 1 2 4 5
Some reviewers describe thin sound and an average soundstage. 2 3 5 6
On-ear pressure and fatigue can emerge during long sessions. 2 4 6 7
Lacks water and sweat resistance. 1 6

Apple AirPods 4

Comfortable open design preserves ambient awareness without ear-canal pressure. 3 4 5
Sound improved over earlier AirPods, with stronger bass. 1 2 5
ANC variant handles steady, low-frequency ambient noise effectively. 1 2 7
Call quality and wireless performance receive strong praise. 1 2 7
Personalized Spatial Audio noticeably expands the soundstage. 1 2 4 6
ANC remains weaker than AirPods Pro 2 and top rivals. 1 2 7
Battery life is shorter than AirPods 3 and some rivals. 1 2 6
One-size open fit can feel unstable or uncomfortable. 2 3 5
Bass depth and passive isolation trail sealed earbuds. 2 5

Sources

We don't test products ourselves. This page sums up 15 published reviews, read on October 21, 2026; each point above links to the reviews that make it.