The catch
Beats Solo3 Wireless
Micro-USB charging sets it apart from Solo 4.
Side by side
Beats Solo3 vs Solo 4: Solo 4 adds USB audio but no ANC
Quick verdict
Solo 4 is the one to get for USB-C charging, digital USB audio and the longer playback claim. Solo3 deserves a look only when the exact older-model offer is attractive and Bluetooth plus passive analog cover your needs. ANC is absent from both.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Rated wireless playback runs one-quarter longer
Against Solo3’s 40-hour claim, Solo 4’s 50-hour claim is 25% higher.
Where this comes from
Beats Solo 4 claims 50 hours of wireless playback, while Solo3 claims 40 hours. ANC is absent on both. The calculation is (50 minus 40) divided by 40 times 100 = 25%.
The catch
Beats Solo 4
It lacks both active noise cancellation and Transparency mode.
Beats Solo3 Wireless
- Why pick it
- Micro-USB is already what you use, and Bluetooth or analog audio is all you need.
- A complete new Solo3 offer costs far less.
- The catch
- Micro-USB charging sets it apart from Solo 4.
Beats Solo 4
- Why pick it
- One USB-C cable for both charging and audio is what you want.
- Ten more rated wireless playback hours would suit you.
- The catch
- It lacks both active noise cancellation and Transparency mode.
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What this page compares
Beats Solo3 and Solo 4 compared on charging port, digital USB audio, passive analog and battery claims, plus when an older-model offer still makes sense.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
USB-C is the only cable type I carry
With Solo 4, charging and USB listening both fit that cable choice.
- Beats Solo3 Wireless
- Caution
- Beats Solo 4
- Better fit
I need a digital cable link to my laptop
Digital audio cannot come in through the Micro-USB on Solo3.
- Beats Solo3 Wireless
- Not suitable
- Beats Solo 4
- Better fit
I came across cheap, genuine Solo3 stock
A Bluetooth-and-analog routine can still work with it, though condition and the supplied cables should be checked.
- Beats Solo3 Wireless
- Good
- Beats Solo 4
- Depends
Noise cancellation for a flight is what I want
ANC is missing from both, whatever the generation gap.
- Beats Solo3 Wireless
- Not suitable
- Beats Solo 4
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
Rated wireless playback runs one-quarter longer
Against Solo3’s 40-hour claim, Solo 4’s 50-hour claim is 25% higher.
How we worked this out
Beats Solo 4 claims 50 hours of wireless playback, while Solo3 claims 40 hours. ANC is absent on both. The calculation is (50 minus 40) divided by 40 times 100 = 25%.
With USB-C, one cable category goes away
Over USB-C, Solo 4 can both charge and receive digital audio. Solo3 uses Micro-USB to charge and needs a separate analog path for wired sound.
How we worked this out
Charging and audio both run over USB-C on Solo 4, while Solo3 only charges, over Micro-USB.
The ANC answer is the same after the upgrade
An active-noise-cancellation requirement is failed by both, although one is newer.
How we worked this out
Neither has ANC, and both have passive analog.
Plug in your setup
Which headphones suit the way you listen?
Start with how you listen. Charging over USB is not the same as playing audio over USB, and some headphones need power even on a cable. These answers are placeholders until you apply your own.
Beats Solo3 Wireless
Passes these checksPlays over Bluetooth.
Beats Solo 4
Passes these checksPlays over Bluetooth.
Battery figures are maker claims for the stated mode. They do not reflect measured travel time. Volume, codec, calls and battery age all change runtime. Closed earcups can still leak some sound. Weight alone does not predict comfort. USB audio needs a compatible source and cable. This check does not judge sound quality, mic quality or amplifier power.
Option A
Beats, Solo3 Wireless
Solo3 Wireless
This older on-ear model still has a cable fallback that needs no battery. If you want USB-C charging or digital USB audio, Solo 4 is the more sensible buy, so compare the whole package before settling on an older offer.
- Best for
- An older, cheaper offer that keeps an analog backup
Facts we checked
- Playback is rated by Apple at up to 40 hours.
- Micro-USB is used for charging.
- When the battery is depleted, a compatible RemoteTalk analog cable still works.
- For storage, the on-ear design folds.
Option B
Beats, Solo 4
Solo 4
Solo 4 is the pick for a compact on-ear pair that connects wirelessly, over USB-C and through a battery-free analog cable. If noise cancellation is part of what you need, Studio Pro is the better choice.
- Best for
- A folding on-ear pair that takes either a USB or an analog cable
Facts we checked
- It weighs 217 g.
- The rating is up to 50 hours of Bluetooth playback.
- Digital audio and charging both work over the included USB-C cable.
- No battery power is needed with the included 3.5 mm cable.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Beats Solo3 Wireless | Beats Solo 4 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charging | Micro-USB | USB-C | With Solo 4 you do not have to carry a separate older charging cable. |
| Digital USB audio | No | Yes | A new listening path comes with Solo 4, and not merely a different connector. |
| Wireless playback claim | Up to 40 hours | Up to 50 hours | Ten hours are added by the new claim. |
| Passive analog | Supported with compatible RemoteTalk cable | Supported with included 3.5 mm cable | Listening can go on after battery depletion with either. |
| Active noise cancellation | No | No | ANC does not come with the upgrade. |
| Form factor | Folding on-ear | Folding on-ear | In broad terms the fit and packing style stay on-ear and folding. |
| Modern spatial feature | Do not assume current head tracking | Personalized Spatial Audio with compatible devices | Before counting the feature as part of your setup, check the device requirements. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Beats Solo3 Wireless
- It cannot do digital USB audio or active noise cancellation.
With Beats Solo 4
- Because the pads rest on your ears, low weight alone does not ensure the fit you like.
Decision guide
How to decide
Go with Solo 4 for USB-C charging, digital USB audio and the longer playback claim. Solo3 is worth considering only if the exact older-model offer is appealing and Bluetooth plus passive analog are enough for you. Neither model has ANC.
A low price on the older model needs context
Solo3 is a legacy design. Set a genuine new offer against the current Solo 4 package, and do not assume every low listing comes in the same condition with the same accessories. If passive listening is why you picked it, a missing RemoteTalk cable matters too.
What the new cable path does counts for more than the connector name
USB-C matters here because it carries audio along with power, which lets Solo 4 work as a digital wired headphone on a compatible source. The Micro-USB port on Solo3 cannot do the equivalent job.
Neither is the answer if ANC against cabin noise is the goal
Both stay non-ANC on-ear headphones. If cabin noise is the problem you want to fix, going from Solo3 to Solo 4 changes the wrong part of the specification.
What this page can’t tell you
- Nothing here says how much battery health old inventory has left.
- Manufacturer maxima, and not measured performance, are the basis for the playback comparison.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the headphones we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
Only 2 of the 60 models checked meet every need here: “I want music even with a dead battery”, “My bag has no space left”, “I want to get audio over a USB-C cable”, and “I want a pair that weighs 250 g or less”.
2 models fit, out of 60 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “I want music even with a dead battery”, “My bag has no space left”, “I want to get audio over a USB-C cable”, and “I want a pair that weighs 250 g or less”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beats Solo3 Wireless |
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| Beats Solo 4 |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Beats Solo3 Wireless
Micro-USB is already what you use, and Bluetooth or analog audio is all you need.
See price & reviews on AmazonBeats Solo 4
One USB-C cable for both charging and audio is what you want.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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