Beats Powerbeats 4 review: specs and price
Beats Powerbeats 4
Why is Beats Powerbeats 4 better than the average?
- Battery life?
15hvs7.77h - Driver unit size?
12mmvs9.65mm - Maximum Bluetooth range?
30mvs10.28m
Price comparison
Buy used:
$40
| Product | Store | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerbeats High-Performance Wireless Blu...Powerbeats High-Performance Wireless Bluetooth Headphones - Black - MWNV2LL/A (Renewed) | $64 | ||
User reviews
Overall rating
Features
Build quality
8.0/10
1 votes
Sound quality
10.0/10
1 votes
Design
10.0/10
1 votes
Comfort
8.0/10
1 votes
Battery life
10.0/10
1 votes
Design
Fit
In-ear
The fit of the earbuds.
The first number of the IP rating refers to protection against dust, while the second number refers to protection against liquid. E.g. a first number of 6 denotes that it is completely dustproof, and a second number of 7 denotes that the device can withstand full immersion in water.
weight
26.3g
We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry. A lower weight is also an advantage for home appliances, as it makes transportation easier, and for many other types of products.
has no wires or cables
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
True wireless devices have no cables connecting any part of the device together. This is an important distinction as some wireless earbuds have cables connecting the two earbuds together.
wingtips included
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
These earbuds come with wingtips that can be attached for a more secure fit. Wingtips come in handy for sports and other physical activities. When used correctly, they prevent the earbuds from falling off.
sweat resistance
✔Beats Powerbeats 4
Resistance to sweat makes it ideal for use while doing sports.
is dustproof and water-resistant
✔Beats Powerbeats 4
The device is dustproof and water-resistant. Water-resistant devices can resist the penetration of water, such as powerful water jets, but not being submerged into water.
has stereo speakers
✔Beats Powerbeats 4
Devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better experience.
waterproof depth rating
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
The waterproof depth rating indicates how well the device is protected against water ingress and water pressure. Devices which can withstand more water pressure are better for swimming or diving.
Sound quality
has active noise cancellation (ANC)
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
This type of device allows you to listen at lower volume levels, causing less ear fatigue as you don't have to crank up the volume to overcome background noise. Ideal for plane rides and morning commutes.
has passive noise reduction
✔Beats Powerbeats 4
The device sits tightly in place, creating an acoustic seal which reduces background noise and prevents your music from leaking out.
driver unit size
12mm
The driver unit is the component that produces sound in the device. Bigger drivers are more powerful and can produce better bass.
lowest frequency
20Hz
The lowest frequency at which the device produces audio. The lower the low-frequency response, the stronger and juicier the bass.
highest frequency
20000Hz
The highest frequency at which device produces audio. The higher the high-frequency response, the clearer and crispier the treble.
has Dolby Atmos
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
Dolby Atmos is a surround sound technology that allows sounds to be interpreted as three-dimensional objects. By doing so, Dolby Atmos allows for immersive, 360-degree sound.
impedance
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Impedance is the device’s electrical resistance to the current being pushed through it. The lower the impedance, the easier it is to get higher volume and requires less power.
sound pressure level
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.
has a neodymium magnet
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
Devices with neodymium magnets are lighter and more powerful than those which use ferrite magnets. They also have more bass and clear high notes.
Power
Battery life
15h
The device's battery life (when in use) as given by the manufacturer. With a longer battery life you have to charge the device less often.
Battery life of charging case
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
The battery life of the charging case as given by the manufacturer. A charging case with a longer battery life allows you to recharge your headphones on the go multiple times before having to recharge the case itself.
charge time
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
The time it takes to fully charge the battery.
battery power
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Battery power, or battery capacity, represents the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store. More battery power can be an indication of longer battery life.
has wireless charging
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
It supports a wireless charging standard such as Qi. To charge the device, you simply put it down on a compatible charging pad.
has a battery level indicator
✔Beats Powerbeats 4
An indicator shows you when the device has low battery.
has a rechargeable battery
✔Beats Powerbeats 4
The battery can be recharged and used over again.
Connectivity
Has USB Type-C
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
The USB Type-C features reversible plug orientation and cable direction.
Bluetooth version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data transfers between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves. Newer versions provide faster data transfers.
has LDAC
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
LDAC is a codec developed by Sony for Bluetooth audio. It is capable of a very high bitrate of 990kbps, which provides high resolution audio. It can also automatically adjust to a lower bitrate of 330kbps or 660kbps to increase stability.
has aptX Adaptive
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
aptx Adaptive is an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that is developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps), which means it can adjust the bit rate for different scenarios, such as listening to HD audio or reducing interference from other devices.
has aptX Low Latency
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
aptX Low Latency is a codec developed by Qualcomm. It uses Bluetooth 5.0 technology to provide low latency audio (around 40ms), which is useful when you want to avoid audio lag (e.g. when playing games).
has aptX HD
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
aptX HD is an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that is developed by Qualcomm. It supports high quality 24-bit audio (at a bit rate of 576kbps).
has aptX
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
aptX is a codec used for transmitting audio wirelessly with Bluetooth. It is developed by Qualcomm, and supports 16-bit audio at a bit rate of 384kbps.
has aptX Lossless
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
aptX Lossless is an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that is developed by Qualcomm. It supports high quality 16-bit/44.1kHz audio (at a maximum bit rate of 1200kbps). This codec provides CD-quality audio without any loss of data.
audio latency
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Latency refers to the time it takes for the audio signal to be transmitted to your headphones/earbuds. Lower latency reduces audio lag, and is particularly important when playing games or watching videos.
Features
has ambient sound mode
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
Ambient sound mode uses microphones to pass through ambient noises so that they can still be heard. It’s useful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of what’s happening around you, for example when you’re jogging but still want to be able to hear traffic.
has in/on-ear detection
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
Sensors can detect when they are removed from your ears so that the music is paused, saving battery life.
has find earbuds feature
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
You can use the app to play a sound from your earbuds to help you locate them.
Supports fast charging
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
Fast charging technologies, like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge or MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to reduce the time it takes to charge a device. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in just 30 minutes.
multipoint count
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Multipoint allows you to link to more Bluetooth devices and switch between them. For example you can easily switch calls from one device to another without having to manually disconnect and reconnect.
has a mute function
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
The device has an option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device.
can be used as a headset
✔Beats Powerbeats 4
A headset is one headphone or pair with a built-in microphone. Headsets can be used for apps that require communication i.e. Skype, games with voice chat, mobile phones, etc.
control panel placed on a device
✔Beats Powerbeats 4
There is a control panel on the device body, so you can easily access the volume control or remote without having to interact with a cable or another device it's connected to.
warranty period
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
When covered under the manufacturer’s warranty it is possible to get a replacement in the case of a malfunction. Note: This may vary by region.
Microphone
More microphones result in better sound quality and enable the device to filter out background noise.
has a noise-canceling microphone
✔Beats Powerbeats 4
These microphones are designed to filter out background noise from the desired sound. Especially useful in noisy environments.
mic sensitivity
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
It's the 'loudness' of the sound that the microphone can pick up.
highest mic frequency
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
The highest frequency that the mic can pick up. Better for recording treble.
lowest mic frequency
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
The lowest frequency that the mic can pick up. Better for recording bass.
Miscellaneous
has an open-back design
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
The device is designed in a way that allows sound to go out through the back of the ear cups, which usually have vents or perforations. This design provides very natural and accurate sound.
has a 3.5mm male connector
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
This audio plug allows you to connect to a range of devices which use a standard 3.5mm jack.
has a tangle free cable
✔Beats Powerbeats 4
The cable is designed to minimize tangling.
supports Wi-Fi
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
The device can connect to Wi-Fi.
has a removable battery
✖Beats Powerbeats 4
The battery is removable and can be replaced by the user if broken.
Price comparison
Buy used:
$40
| Product | Store | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerbeats High-Performance Wireless Blu...Powerbeats High-Performance Wireless Bluetooth Headphones - Black - MWNV2LL/A (Renewed) | $64 | ||
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Comments
Gaetano
9 months ago
9 / 10
Powerbeats (4th gen) - the Best Iteration
Gaetano
9 months ago
9 / 10
I’ve had the same pair for three years and am impressed with their sound and build quality. I’m an avid runner, and I use them while I strength train. The volume rocker is important for quick adjustments, I’m so happy it’s there. The battery life is great, I maybe charge them once a week. The two things I like the most are the Lightning Port and the driver size. Sure USB-C would be better, but 90% of my products have a Lightning Port. It supports Quick Charge, so around five minutes of charging gets me an hour of listening time. I recently tried the Beats Fit Pro, but immediately realized the sound quality is different. I don’t normally notice this, I’m not an audiophile, but I could tell they didn’t feel as powerful. Turns out the Powerbeats 4 have 12mm drivers and the Beats Fit Pro have 9.5mm drivers. Although I like the wing tip design and separate beats of the BFP, a powerful driver is more important to me when I do or full sprint or need to make it through my last set. A few things that I learned to live with are the cable between the beats, adjusting it during runs, replacing the films covering the speakers, and gluing the silicone tips to prevent them from falling off. The cable isn’t bad, honestly. It sway better than previous flat cables, this one has a round design. I prefer having it so I can let the beats hang around my neck — it’s more convenient than you think. I do move it while I run, but only about five times during a five mile run (not ideal, but not awful). I just swing my hand around my neck and even out the cable because it tends to favor one side of my neck (might just be me). There’s a small mesh film/cover on the speaker that fell off within a few months. Annoying, but probably because I sweat a lot. I found replacement ones on Amazon for $10. Better quality, already had adhesive, and haven’t moved since I replaced the original ones. The silicone tips kept falling off too, but this happened to me with other silicone-tipped headphones in the past. I used krazy glue and that did the trick. Again, no issues now for years. Overall, these are great headphones. Considering the couple of quirks I have to live with, the battery life, connectivity (H1 Chip, btw) and convenience outweigh all the silly reasons to replace them. I think these are better than the Beats Fit Pros, and a less expensive alternative to the Powerbeats Pros at ~$150 versus ~$250 (plus no giant charging case needed).
Pros
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