Beats Pill Plus Portable Bluetooth Speaker Review

Manufacturer Description:

Beats Pill+ is designed to go wherever you do and fill the room with a rich clear sound field that has as much power as it does definition. With a sleek interface, the Beats Pill+ is intuitive to use and brings people together with engaging features for a unique shared listening experience.

Introduction:

Beats might have been on the market for a while, but the Beats Pill+ is the company’s first product after being acquired by Apple. The Beats Pill+ shares minimal hardware upgrades from the original Beats Pill, but is it enough to warrant its $229 price? Let’s find out.

Manufacturer’s Specification:

  • Input Type: 3.5mm Stereo Jack
  • Other Features: Stereo Bluetooth
  • Power Source: Battery Power
  • Batteries: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion
  • Height: 2.5 in./6.36 cm
  • Width: 2.72 in./6.92 cm
  • Length: 8.27 in./21 cm

Design:

Reminiscent of the earlier Beats Pill model, the Beats Pill+ resembles the same pill-shaped design. It’s a bit heavier, but overall it’s quite sturdy and compliments Apple’s own design aspects. It comes with a rubberized exterior for easy gripping and at the same time, offer a more splashproof design. It isn’t waterproof just to be clear, but you can safely use it outside on a rainy day.

Like Apple, controls are minimal, with the volume controls located at the top along with the power button that comes with the same LED lights that indicate the battery charge level. The Beats logo located on top is used for playback and for pairing the compatible devices using Bluetooth. The good thing is that you can also connect secondary Bluetooth devices on the Beats Pill+ without having to disconnect the first one.

Video Review

At the back you will find a USB port for charging devices (it can act as a portable battery) and an auxiliary in port for wired connections. A Lightning port is also present, similar to what iOS devices use and a Lightning cable is included in the package. These ports are covered by rubber flap and cleverly hidden from within the speaker design.

Setup:

The Beats Pill+ does not feature Wi-Fi or NFC, which is quite of a letdown since Apple had the opportunity to have included AirPlay support on the speaker. The Beats Pill+ connects primarily by Bluetooth, and you have the option to connect two Beats Pill+ speakers and have them play the same music stream or separate stereo channels.

There is also a free companion app available on iOS and Android smartphones. The app lets you switch between Amplify, Stereo and DJ modes, which would usually require another Beats Pill+ speaker for it to function.

Performance

The Beats Pill+ did not have any problems connecting to our Apple devices, even some of the Android smartphones I’ve paired it with. The Beats Pill+ lacks aptX support, which enhances sound that plays over Bluetooth. Still, it performed well above our expectations.

The Beats Pill+ delivers a fuller and wider sound experience, evident by the fact that it managed to fill an entire room of sound despite its size. Bass is a little on the low side, but it didn’t impact my overall listening experience. Sound was even across the mids while maintaining sharp trebles.

The Beats Pill+ gave me about 12 hours of battery life – good enough to take it out on picnics and other outdoor activities. Aside from the LED lights indicating the battery status, you can also check the battery level on the Notification Center of your iOS device.

Supplied Accessories:

  • Beats Pill+
  • Lightning cable
  • Power Adapter
  • Carrying case
  • Beats stickers

Pros & Cons:

Pros

  • Excellent sound output
  • Charges through Lightning port
  • 12-hour battery life

Cons

  • Does not support Airplay or NFC
  • Expensive

Conclusion:

The $229 price for the Beats Pill+ might be steep, but it does deliver a decent, wireless sound experience. It does lack the Wi-Fi and NFC support, but the Lightning compatibility and the fact that it pairs nicely with Apple’s products make it an ideal choice.

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