How does it perform?
The Beats Pill delivers where it counts most for a portable speaker: battery life that actually lasts. Testing confirms 23.5 hours at 50% volume—legitimately double the Pill+’s 12 hours and better than most competitors. But push past 50% volume and the experience degrades fast. Independent testing measured below 1% THD at moderate volumes but very noticeable distortion when cranked. The redesigned racetrack woofer delivers bass that’s present even at 25% volume, outputting 79 dB at 3 feet—13 dB louder than a HomePod mini. IP67 water and dust resistance survived real-world rain exposure without sound degradation, too.
What’s it do best?
The Beats Pill excels at all-day portable use without compromising on sound quality, but only at reasonable volumes. That tested 23.5-hour battery life at 50% volume means multi-day trips without hunting for outlets, and Fast Fuel charging provides genuine emergency power when you need it. The IP67 rating means it can handle actual outdoor abuse too, from poolside splashes to rain exposure. Lossless USB-C audio is a big plus, and means the speaker can transform into a legitimate mini soundbar for laptops and recent iPhones, with macOS even recognizing the built-in microphone for video calls. And the microphone isn’t your run of the mill barely-serviceable mic either; voice call quality impressed multiple reviewers with clear pickup within 7 feet indoors.
Audio Performance Quality
Frequency Response Range
Frequency coverage determines how accurately a speaker reproduces music across all audible frequencies.
Manufacturer Claimed: 40Hz to 20,000Hz
Real-World Assessment: Bass present at 25% volume, narrower effective range than claimed
The Pill delivers more bass than similarly-sized competitors, with reviewers noting sub-bass intensity even at low volumes. Independent testing suggests the effective low-frequency extension falls short of the 40Hz claim, though the redesigned woofer system—featuring 53% more pistonic area and 28% greater motor force than the Pill+—produces 90% more air volume displacement. The single racetrack neodymium woofer with N50H magnet grade includes 16 radial ribs to minimize distortion.
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
Distortion measurements reveal how cleanly a speaker reproduces sound at various volumes.
Moderate Volume (50%): Below 1% THD
High Volume (75-80%+): Very noticeable distortion, significant sound degradation
Maximum Volume: Sound quality deteriorates substantially
Testing reveals a stark divide. At 50% volume and below, the Pill maintains clean reproduction with minimal distortion. Push past 75% and problems emerge, with one technical reviewer noting white noise hiss from 20-40Hz, clipping from 150-220Hz, and harsh upper treble. Another noted “very noticeable distortion above 80% volume.” Some consumer-focused reviews claimed “no hint of distortion even at limits,” but objective measurements tell a different story. The speaker simply isn’t designed for sustained high-volume use.
Maximum Output and Sensitivity
Sound pressure capability determines loudness and efficiency across environments.
Measured Output: 79 dB at 3 feet
The Pill punches above its weight class in raw output. That 79 dB measurement at 3 feet delivers genuinely loud playback for small gatherings, though reviewers noted bass impact drops off when standing a few feet away. The 20-degree upward tilt helps direct sound toward listeners at desk height, but placement matters: sound quality and bass response will improve when positioned lower rather than on high shelves.
Sound Character and Tuning
The “character” of a speaker is a lot like saying what the “flavor” of the sound is that’s coming out of it. Every speaker is different, everyone’s tastes are different.
Sound Profile: Energetic with emphasized bass, detailed vocals, bright highs
Strengths: Clear vocal reproduction, distinct instrument separation, proper bass thump
Weaknesses: No EQ adjustments available, harsh treble at high volumes, mono downmix
The Pill delivers Beats’ signature energetic sound profile without the excessive boom that plagued earlier models. Vocals come through with rich detail, instrument separation impresses for the size, and the low-end delivers genuine thump without muddying mids. One technical review noted the neutral sound signature shows “decent mid for clear voice” but “strong treble lets it down with harsh and aggressive notes.” The lack of any EQ or presets disappointed multiple reviewers, too, as it would have made taming the treble easy. USB-C wired audio dramatically improves highs compared to Bluetooth though, and it reduces vocal harshness on tracks that sound gritty wirelessly.
Stereo Imaging and Soundstage
Soundstaging refers to the idea of an actual “stage” for the sound to live on, with good soundstaging giving you a feeling of where any given instrument or vocal lives in the mix, be it up or down, left or right, high or low.
Single Speaker: Mono downmix, no stereo separation
Dual Speaker Setup: Excellent stereo separation with impressive soundstage
As a single unit, the Pill downmixes all stereo content to mono, which is a significant limitation compared to competitors offering genuine stereo from one speaker. Connect two Pills in Stereo Mode and the experience transforms with well-executed left/right channel separation and a “phantom middle” that creates convincing soundstage.
Connectivity Performance
Bluetooth Range
Wireless connectivity determines range, stability, and ease of pairing.
Typical Range: 30 feet indoor
Line of Sight Range: 130 feet measured
Testers achieved 25 meters through walls and about 30 meters line of sight, with one measurement hitting 130 feet in optimal conditions. If you have a habit of wandering away from your speaker with your phone, you won’t have to worry about the sound suddenly cutting out.
Audio Latency
Audio latency is pretty straightforward: it’s the time delay between video or a game and the audio itself.
iOS Performance: Low latency suitable for video content
Gaming: Acceptable for casual gaming applications
Latency measurements show acceptable performance for most video and casual gaming scenarios. The SBC codec latency exceeded 100ms average, but reviewers noted no lip-sync issues when testing with TVs.
Power Management and Battery Performance
Battery Capacity and Duration
Battery capacity is straightforward: how long can the speaker operate between charges?
Real-World Testing (50% volume): 23.5 hours average
Real-World Testing (80dB high volume): 7.5 hours
Real-World Testing (100% volume): 6 hours 45 minutes
With Dual Pairing and High Volume: ~19 hours
Apple’s 24-hour claim holds up remarkably well at 50% volume…but volume dramatically impacts runtime, as you might expect. One week of daily use at moderate volumes won’t require a single charge. But if you’re in the habit of cranking your speakers, expect 6-8 hours realistically. Using the USB-C port to charge other devices will also drain the Pill’s battery in a flash.
Charging Performance
A huge battery is great, but if it takes all day to charge, you’re going to be less enthusiastic about taking your speaker with you. Faster charging means less downtime and more on-the-go time.
Charging Time (0-100%): 2.0-3.5 hours depending on power supply
Fast charging requires a capable power supply. Testing showed 2.5 hours with a 45W charger, but closer to 3.5 hours with lower-wattage adapters. The lack of any fast-charging standard means you’re waiting multiple hours for a full charge regardless.
Fast Charging Capability
Quick charging features enable extended usage from brief charging sessions.
Real-World Testing: Testing confirmed 2-hour playback from 10-minute charge
Fast Fuel proved genuinely useful in testing, with reviewers praising the feature for quick power boosts during travel or impromptu gatherings. It’s one of the Pill’s most practical advantages over competitors.
USB-C Power Bank Function
Some portable speakers can pull double-duty as a power bank. If they do, it’s worth knowing how fast they can actually charge your phone.
Efficiency: One hour charges Pixel 7 Pro 0-25% using 26% of Pill’s battery
The power bank feature adds utility for day trips without requiring a separate battery pack, but you might want to pack one anyway. There’s no fast charging available out of the pill, but it can come in hand in a pinch, and you can reverse the feature to charge the Pill from your phone if needed.
Build Quality and Durability
Water and Dust Resistance
IP67 rating provides protection against environmental exposure, including rain and dust.
IP Rating: IP67 (submersion to 1 meter for 30 minutes, dustproof)
Real-World Testing: Survived rain exposure without sound degradation
The IP67 rating passed real-world validation—one reviewer used it in rain without issues. This is a major upgrade from the Pill+ which lacked any water resistance rating, which means you can freely use the speaker in the shower, by the pool, or at the beach without issue. Just make sure you rinse the pool and salt water off the speaker.
Setup and Usability
Initial Pairing and Connection
Pairing should be easy and painless for any Bluetooth device, otherwise you’re going to have a bad time with your speaker every time you have to pair to it, or pair new things to it.
Connection Speed: Quick and easy on both platforms
Pairing Issues: Some users reported initial connection failures
Fast Pair support delivered the promised one-tap connection experience for most users. However, multiple reviewers documented connection failures during initial setup—one noted repeated “Connection failed: try again?” errors with an iPhone 15 Pro Max running current iOS and a Pixel 6. The issues resolved after multiple attempts but indicated inconsistent pairing reliability at launch.
Software Integration
Everything comes with software these days, and how well it integrates into your preferred ecosystem is going to make or break how pleasant the device is to use. Speakers are no different.
Notable Absence: No EQ or tone adjustments available
Both iOS and Android users get functional control apps, with iOS offering slightly better integration via dedicated settings. The Beats Android app provides audio sharing modes, call function assignment, and the Tone Volume feature for adjusting sound effect volume. The complete absence of EQ or any tone controls frustrated multiple reviewers, and rightly so, because even a simple EQ could have helped deal with the harsh treble.
Control Interface Design
This covers how good the actual controls on the speaker are, from how the buttons feel and respond to how easy they are to read.
Button Feel: “Squishy” with polarizing tactile feedback
The top-mounted control layout follows standard portable speaker conventions, but the buttons themselves earned mixed reactions. Some found the squishy feel “deeply satisfying,” while others found it “somewhat unsettling.”
Voice Call Performance
Some speakers come with onboard mics that allow you to use them as a conference call speaker/microphone combo, and good performance means you (and the people you’re talking to) won’t hate the experience.
Microphone Quality: Excellent within 1-2 feet, adequate up to 7 feet indoors
Background Noise: Intelligent noise controls with mixed results
Voice call performance surprised reviewers. Pickup quality impressed within the optimal 1-2 foot range and remained perfectly adequate at 7 feet indoors. It’s not perfect though, as one user noted their friend heard kids in the background despite claims of background noise elimination, suggesting the intelligent noise controls work selectively.
