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Beats Pill 2.0 Bluetooth Speaker Review Overview
While the second-generation Beats Pill comes in a range of colors, this review focuses on only the white model. The Pill 2.0 wireless speaker is designed to enable you to listen to music and take calls, all while being wireless. So, does it deliver on this purpose?
To find out, we tested it for audio performance and features, as well as assessing its price and battery life in comparison to other top 10 Bluetooth speakers. There are pros and cons, as well as unique features, all of which we explain below.
Main Features
To be the best Bluetooth speaker, the White Pill 2.0 has to have at least a handful of great features. Here are the top three:
- Goes very loud
- Speakerphone capacity
- Simple Bluetooth pairing
The Dr. Dre wireless device weighs 11.2 ounces (0.7 pounds) and measures 7.5” x 2” x 2”. It has an internal microphone, an integrated audio amp, active amplification, and both wired and wireless options. The lithium ion rechargeable battery has a run time of about 7 hours and is rechargeable via USB.
The transmission range is 33 feet, which means you can change songs and alter volume from your smartphone within this distance of the speaker. It is a considerably shorter distance than the 100-feet Bluetooth range of the UE Megaboom. The Beats Pill 2.0 in white comes with a USB cable, 3.5mm audio cable, and a wall charger.
Unique Appearance
We like the look of this speaker. It is shaped like a large pill, with a speaker grill along the front. The rounded shape is modern and fun. The control buttons are easily within reach and enable you to play/pause, power on/off, change tracks forward/back, put the volume up/down, and answer/end calls. With its small size, it is easily portable, which is great when you are on the go.
Advantages: Is it Amongst the Best Bluetooth Speakers?
A benefit of Dr. Dre’s Pill 2.0, beyond its ease of portability, is its loudness. Given the small size of this portable speaker, the big volume that came from it amazed us. It is amongst the loudest for its size in our top 10. If you want to impress your friends with large sound or are in an open space like a campground, this wireless speaker will likely meet your audio needs.
The Bluetooth speaker also has NFC capability, meaning that it can pair easily with your Bluetooth-enabled phone, tablet or laptop simply by tapping it to the speaker. The process of listening to music is, therefore, simple and fast.
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You can even tap two Pills together to get stereo sound. When we did so, as part of our research for this Beats Pill 2.0 Bluetooth speaker review, one Pill became the left outlet, and the other speaker was the right outlet.
The white Beats Pill 2.0 has an integrated mic that enables the unit to double as a speakerphone. Bluetooth conferencing can be handy for anyone in business who is on the move and wants an easy hands-free way to answer calls. The speakerphone in the 2.0 model sounds better than the original Pill, so we think there has been some fine-tuning done on it.
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Pointing Out the Disadvantages
As we already touched on in our Beats Pill 2.0 Bluetooth speaker review, the Bluetooth range of this portable speaker is somewhat limited. Also, while the speaker is loud, its sound quality falls short of what we expected.
We tried both the wired and wireless options. In both instances, the music that emitted from the speaker sounded thin. It also didn’t have a strong bass. As a result, instruments seemed to fall flat in songs we played. The high end also seems to be overpowering at times. On a positive note, the sound is better than that of the average smartphone’s speaker.
Lastly, the design is not as rugged as some other top 10 Bluetooth speakers. For example, it lacks the durable, waterproof casing you get with JBL’s Charge 3. The Beats Pill 2.0 Speaker also feels a bit flimsy when you hold it in your hand.
The Intended Audience
This Dr. Dre portable speaker will appeal to anyone looking for a speaker that looks playful and emits loud sound. The grab n’ go design will suit a person with an active lifestyle or a businessperson who travels a lot as it is small and lightweight, so it fits easily into your bag.
The price will also delight a consumer who wants to a speaker from a well-known brand without having to invest an exorbitant amount of money. Of the best Bluetooth speakers we have reviewed, the White Pill 2.0 provides great functionality for its price range (it is within the low-end range).
Concluding Comments: The Beats Pill 2.0 Bluetooth Speaker Review
While the White Beats Pill 2.0 by Dr. Dre is not perfect in sound quality, it has an innovative design and provides big sound for such a small size. It also enables you to change tracks and volume on it remotely from your smartphone and is easily portable.
The wireless unit can function as a speaker as well as a speakerphone, which makes it a versatile device that is worthy of a place amongst the best Bluetooth speakers we have tested thus far. In your search for the ideal unit to play music, you may want to try it.
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