Beats are back and a 2024 update to their Pill speakers offers some genuinely surprising and exciting new features.

Beats are making a comeback. After years of silence, the audio brand, created with Dr Dre and owned by Apple, are stepping back onto the portable speaker scene with a triumphant new Pill.

The 2024 upgrade of Beats’ pill brings it up to the present with lossless audio compatibility. Connect a device via USB-C to make use of its potential to play Hi-Fi, lossless audio. Will you be able to hear that extra definition? Possibly not, as it’s still a mono, portable speaker – even if it’s a good one. There is the option to wirelessly link two Pills for true stereo sound.

Beats have improved their drivers for a richer sound. They claim that their “racetrack-style woofer” has reduced low-end distortion whilst offering 90% more air volume displacement that the discontinued Pill Plus.

For regular audio streaming, the 2024 Pill works with the latest Bluetooth technology. There is also an auxiliary port to provide an array of options to suit your playback needs.

Leaning into its portability, the new Pill has doubled its promised battery life to a maximum of 24 hours. This makes it a much greater offering for weekend trips, beach hangouts, and parties outdoors as you’re guaranteed a long playback without needing to charge.

A photo of the 2024 Beats Pill portable Bluetooth speaker.

The speaker features a simple button array for controlling volume, connecting the Pill, and turning it on and off. Double-pressing the power button activates your connected phone’s voice assistant, however you can’t activate voice assistants by voice.

The Beats Pill, 2024 edition, comes with a sleek new look and an array of new features that make it a strong offering for a modern, portable speaker to choose for your expeditions. It is available for $149.99 now.

Overall, the 2024 Beats Pill focuses on delivering superior audio performance, improved battery life, and a more stylish and durable design, all while maintaining the compact portability that the Beats Pill series is known for.

Beats are on a comeback for 2024. Earlier this year, they announced their first true wireless earbuds available for less than $100. This year has been the first product launches from Beats since they discontinued the Pill Plus in 2022.

Beats reveal their first <$100 true wireless earbuds