Will the Beats Solo 5 launch before 2029?

Beats has released some decent headphones and earbuds during its tenure. For example, the Beats Fit Pro are one of the most cherished OS-agnostic workout earbuds money can buy. Likewise, the Beats Studio Pro are compelling noise canceling headphones (provided you can secure a good fit). The Beats Solo 4, however, leave much to be desired. On-ear headphones are a diminishing fancy among music fans anyway, and that’s before you dig through the pitfalls of the Beats Solo 4. With many features needing improvement, it is little wonder fans are hopeful for the Beats Solo 5.

There have been no official announcements from Apple about the Beats Solo 5 yet. Given that the Beats Solo 4 were released relatively recently, rumors are also sparse. While refining my wishlist to just five improvements was difficult, here are all the features I want to see when the Beats Solo 5 come to market.

A more comfortable fit

I remember owning the Sony MDR-ZX330BT on-ear headphones many moons ago. With no padded headband and too much pressure exerted on the ears, they quickly resigned themselves to my desk drawer. It isn’t a one-off story — on-ear headphones are prone to causing greater discomfort than their in-ear and over-ear counterparts. This is because our outer ears are generally less tolerant of weight and pressure than our skull.

Despite their 217g frame, the Beats Solo 4 do not distribute their weight evenly. Instead, they exert pressure on the outer ears to hold them in place. Pressing the buttons on the earcups too hard can also dislodge the headphones from your head. The headband has minimal padding, and the faux-leather earcups attract heat and moisture. The result is a pair of headphones that are neither suitable for exercise nor comfortable for long listening sessions. The Beats Solo 5 should wear over-ear cups and a padded headband to increase comfort and improve the fit.

A cheaper price tag

It used to be the case that flagship features cost flagship prices. However, you can now spend less than $100 and receive some of the best wireless headphones on the market. For example, the JLab JBuds Lux ANC cost $79.99 and quell 50 – 75% of low-frequency ambient noise with ANC. They also beget superior sound quality, USB-C audio, thick headband and earcup padding, and over 44 hours of battery life. Downloading the JLab app also provides a 10-band custom EQ, a volume slider, and adjustable ANC modes.

The Beats Solo 4 are twice as expensive and lack many of the above features. For example, the cans do not support active noise cancellation, and the poor fit leads to less-than-ideal sound isolation. Downloading the Beats app on Android also only provides firmware updates, Find My Device, and call control customizations. There are no high-quality Bluetooth codecs to choose from, and the headphones have no protection from dust and water. For $200, you’d expect to receive feature-rich cans and a comprehensive companion app. The Beats Solo 5 should cost significantly less than their predecessor if they have a similarly mediocre feature set at launch.

Improved sound quality

For many years, Beats enjoyed a reputation as one of the most bass-heavy headphone manufacturers on the market. For example, the Beats Studio3 Wireless accentuate sub-bass and lower-midrange frequencies between 50 and 500Hz by over 6dB. Such overemphasis can cause auditory masking of fundamentals, like guitars, vocals, and synths. It can also introduce distortion when subjected to tracks with a lot of bass. The result is a pair of headphones with questionable sound quality that can cause ear fatigue over long periods.

To many people’s surprise, the Beats Solo 4 took a step in the opposite direction. Unlike their ancestors, the headphones underemphasize bass and midrange frequencies between 20Hz and 800Hz. They also overemphasize high-end frequencies between 3kHz and 9kHz, which can cause ear fatigue when listening for too long. Mids suffer too and are more subdued than our house curve would like. It’s not often we bash Beats headphones for not having enough bass — how times have changed. The Beats Solo 5 would benefit from stronger bass reproduction and a more tempered high-end when they come to fruition.

More pronounced and comprehensive controls

Beats is arguably one of the most recognizable headphone brands on the market. Striking a fine balance between fashion and simple user experiences, it is little wonder the company has captured consumers’ attention since its inception in 2006. From the stylized lower-case “b” logo and minimalist aesthetic to celebrity partnerships, Beats remains a competitive headphone manufacturer. For example, the 2022 Kim Kardashian Beats Fit Pro became the brand’s best-selling collaboration, selling out across international Apple stores.

Unfortunately, appearances aren’t everything. The Beats Solo 4 may look dapper, but their sleek and minimalist exterior sacrifice handy controls. For example, the “b” button on the left earcup controls music playback and calls. Likewise, there is a power button and a ring for adjusting the volume. But that’s where the controls end. You’d be forgiven for missing them, too, given that the clicky buttons appear flush against the chassis. The Beats Solo 5 will need more pronounced and comprehensive controls to stand out from their predecessor.

An EQ in the Beats app

Customizing headphone sound profiles is not reserved solely for audiophiles. We all have our preferences, and it’s always worth spending time honing sound to your liking. For example, bass heads prefer headphones with low-end emphasis, while podcast listeners often prefer headphones with prominent midrange. Headphone manufacturers usually provide EQ presets or a multi-band custom EQ to alter headphone frequency curves to our liking.

This isn’t true for the Beats Solo 4. As stated earlier, the Beats companion app is starkly limited compared to its rivals. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Wearable, Sony Connect, Jabra Sound+, and JBL Headphones apps, the Beats Solo 4 app lacks a native EQ. Subsequently, fans must either download a third-party EQ app or submit to the headphones’ questionable default frequency curve. This is a misstep, especially given that the Beats Solo 4 do not form a tight seal against the ear. The Beats Solo 5 must have an EQ in the Beats app to compete with other flagship headphones.

Will there be a Beats Solo 5?

Beats continues to invest in its earbuds and headphone categories. For example, the Powerbeats Pro 2 launched on February 11, 2025, and have some of the best workout-oriented features on the market. These include excellent noise cancellation, Apple’s H2 chip, ear hooks, and a nifty built-in heart rate monitor. The last uses optical sensors and a green LED light that flashes over 100 times per second to calculate your heart rate during workouts. While not a direct fitness tracker replacement, the earbuds are handy for athletes who like their wrists unencumbered by smartwatches.

There has been no official announcement from Apple about the Beats Solo 5. Instead, anticipation is building for the Beats Fit Pro 2, Apple AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods Max 2. Given that the Beats Solo 4 launched last year, the Beats Solo 5 are unlikely to arrive anytime soon.

• Beats Solo 2 — May 6, 2014
• Beats Solo3 — September 7, 2016
• Beats Solo 4 — May 2, 2024

It is tricky to predict when Apple will release new Solo-series headphones. For example, the Beats Solo3 took two years and four months to arrive after the Solo 2 launched on May 6, 2014. Shockingly, fans had to wait seven years and eight months for the Beats Solo 4. If history were to repeat itself, we should not expect the Beats Solo 5 to hit shelves until early 2032. However, if we take the average period between all three headphone releases, we could see the Solo 5 launch in 2029. Either way, we are likely many years away from the Beats Solo 5 being realized.

Should you wait for the Beats Solo 5?

The Solo 4 are not the strongest string in Beats’ bow. As such, we do not recommend you pay full price for them. Instead, it may be worth holding off until you find a discounted pair. The headphones can often be purchased from major retailers like Amazon and Best Buy for less than the asking price. The Beats Solo 5 are unlikely to reach shelves for several more years. In the meantime, it is worth considering all the pros and cons of the Beats Solo 4 and other alternatives.

If you enjoy on-ear headphones and a simplified user experience, the Beats Solo 4 ($199 at Amazon) could be for you. With music peaking at 75dBSPL, the headphones provide an astonishing 84 hours and 18 minutes of battery life. Fewer charging cycles mean the battery should degrade less quickly than rival headphones. When you need to boost, you can top up the cans for 10 minutes to receive five hours of additional playtime. The headphones run Bluetooth 5.3 and connect via the SBC and AAC codecs. You can also connect to your device via the included 3.5mm and USB cables, even when the cans run out of charge. The foldable hinges and fabric carrying case are a nice touch for frequent commuters. Those who enjoy immersive audio can also use spatial audio with head tracking.

If you’re willing to ditch the on-ear design and crave a bassy sound profile, grab the Sony ULT WEAR ($199.99 at Amazon). Thanks to their well-thought-out over-ear design, these are infinitely more comfortable than the Beats Solo 4. You don’t have to forego foldable hinges either, and the earcups adorn a list of easy-to-find buttons. The ULT WEAR runs Bluetooth 5.2 and supports connectivity via the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. There is also Bluetooth multipoint for those with multiple devices, and you can connect via the 3.5mm TRS cable when desired. Battery life lasts over 32 hours with a 10-minute top-up, providing 5 hours of listening time. Unlike the Beats Solo 4, the Sony ULT WEAR have decent noise canceling that consistently attenuates ambient sounds by 25dB above 80Hz.

The price-savvy among you should consider the aforementioned JLab JBuds Lux ANC ($79.99 at Amazon). For considerably less than the Beats Solo 4, fans receive superior comfort, excellent sound quality, and decent enough noise canceling. The cans support Bluetooth 5.3 and connect to your source device wirelessly via SBC or with a USB-C cable. Battery life is ace and lasts 44 hours on a single charge. You can charge the headphones for 10 minutes to receive four hours of listening time when you need a boost. Onboard controls are comprehensive and intuitive, and the headphones fold to fit snugly in a backpack. The JLab app is where you find all the little extra treats, such as a 10-band EQ, a volume limiter, adjustable ANC modes, and vital firmware updates.

Finally, Beats enthusiasts who enjoy a good workout should grab the Beats Fit Pro ($159 at Amazon). While wireless earbuds are not everyone’s cup of tea, the Beats Fit Pro are revered for their comfortable fit and OS-agnostic feature set. The tapered and angled ear wing tips help to secure a robust fit even during rigorous exercise regimens. Likewise, their IPX4-rated exterior protects against omnidirectional water splashes and sweat. The Beats app also yields listening modes, control customizations, battery life checks, and firmware updates. Noise canceling is decent, and the earbuds have a frequency response that most people will find pleasing.

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