It’s been almost a decade since Apple launched the Beats Pill Plus, and while it was on the market for about five years, it was discontinued in 2022. However, in recent months we’ve seen leaks for a new Beats Bluetooth speaker, including celebrities testing it out in the wild.
So while we had an idea of what it would look like, we didn’t know what kind of hardware it would contain until recently. 9To5Mac spoke to sources close to the case and published a wealth of information about the 2024 Beats Pill. Everything from the specs inside to our first good look at the device itself – i.e. not in the hands of a racing driver.
According to the leak, the upcoming model will look similar to the 2015 Pill Plus speaker, but with a few changes. It’s larger than before, now measuring 218 x 71 x 71 mm (8.6 x 2.8 x 2.8 inches), but despite the extra volume, the new Beats Pill will actually be lighter at 680 grams.
One thing you’ll notice is that the buttons on the top don’t pop out, but are now recessed into the speaker. The inputs are the same and in the same places: volume on the right and power on the left.
Sonic upgrade
For charging, USB-A is out and a more modern USB-C port is in. The speaker also supports Bluetooth 5.3 and comes with a lanyard for easy portability.
As for audio, 9To5Mac’s sources ‘promise’ that the 2024 Beats Pill is a sonic upgrade from the previous generation. Apple and the team at Beats are apparently equipping the speaker with “a redesigned racetrack woofer” capable of “expelling 28 percent more engine power (and) moving 90 percent more air volume.” This means that the bass coming from the Beats Pill will sound a lot better.
The accompanying tweeters have also been “redesigned”, but the details here are still unknown. All that is said about the tweeter is that it is in a “secure housing for extra stability.” One change, however, is that the audio outputs point upwards at a 20-degree angle to ensure the sound isn’t blocked by objects.
New functions
The new pill is said to last up to 24 hours on a single charge, which is double that of the previous model, according to 9to5Mac. The device is rumored to be more rugged overall and has an IP67 resistance rating to survive dust bumps and brief submersion underwater. Most notably, the speaker is compatible with iOS and Android smartphones, as well as Beats’ latest earbuds and headphones. It even supports Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find My Device networks, so you can find the Beats Pill 2024 if it goes missing.
Pricing and launch date for the Beats Pill are both still unknown, but the previous Pill Plus cost $250 in 2015, so we’d expect a similar price range. Images in the report show the new pill in three different colors: black, red and gold.
While we’ve got you, check out Ny Breaking’s list of the best Bluetooth speakers for 2024.