Beats Revives the Pill Speaker with New Design and Features
After months of anticipation, Beats has officially announced the return of the Beats Pill with a range of upgrades and a lower price point of $149.99. This new version features a completely redesigned speaker, comprising of a single tweeter and a single woofer, a removable lanyard, USB-C and Bluetooth connectivity, 24 hours of battery life, and IP67 water and dust resistance.
The most noticeable change in the new Beats Pill is the 20-degree upward tilt, which should improve sound projection. According to Beats, the updated design offers "more powerful, room-filling sound, bigger bass, and improved tonality" due to the revamped woofer and tweeter combination. The new Pill is also 10% lighter than the Pill+ and comes with a removable lanyard for easy carrying. It is available in Matte Black, Champagne Gold, and Statement Red and features a soft-touch silicone housing and a metal speaker grille with the iconic Beats "b" logo.
As with previous models, you can sync two Pill speakers together. Users can choose between Amplify Mode for louder sound or Stereo Mode for left and right channel separation. Beats has also improved the speakerphone capabilities with a noise-learning algorithm to reduce ambient noise and better capture your voice during calls.
The new Pill retains on-device controls for music, volume, pairing, and power, and now charges via USB-C. This connection can also be used for lossless audio from a laptop or other devices and can charge your phone from the speaker's battery. The speaker offers up to 24 hours of battery life, with a Fast Fuel feature providing two hours of use after a 10-minute charge. One-touch pairing is available for both iOS and Android, and the Pill supports Find My and Find My Device for easy location tracking. The IP67 rating ensures durability against dust and water, making it a reliable companion for various environments.
The new Pill includes four buttons: Power, Center, and Volume Up/Down. These buttons offer multiple functions, such as activating Siri or Google Assistant, controlling media playback, and configuring paired speaker modes. The Power button also provides battery status and reverses charging direction when needed.
Weighing in at 24 ounces (680 grams) and measuring over 8.5 inches long by 2.8 inches deep and high, the new Beats Pill remains portable enough to toss in a bag, though it might not be the most convenient to carry by hand. The revamped Beats Pill is available for pre-order today in black, red, and gold, with shipping starting on June 27.
