Beats Solo Buds MUVW3LL/A

With 18 hours of playback from the buds alone and a fit that's nearly impossible to beat, the Solo Buds crush it on comfort and stamina. Sound is above average at the 78th percentile, but you'll have to live without ANC or a battery case, which tanks the commute score to 42.1. At $52–$95, they're a killer value if your ears are your priority.

Let's talk numbers. The 18-hour battery life on the buds alone is a standout. In our database, that puts them ahead of 86% of true wireless earbuds, and Fast Fuel is a nice perk—a 5-minute pit stop gives you an hour of playback. You won't find a charging case to top that off, though, which is a notable omission. For sound, the dual-layer dynamic drivers and axial-aligned design deliver an above-average experience. Our testing places them at the 78th percentile, meaning they sound better than three-quarters of the field. That's solid for the price, with punchy bass that doesn't completely muddy the mids, though purists might want a bit more refinement.

Connectivity is strong with Bluetooth 5.3, scoring in the 82nd percentile. Pairing is snappy and range is typical. The mic with noise control lands at the 66th percentile, so calls are passable but not a highlight. And comfort? That's the real star. On heads with a variety of ear shapes, these are some of the most pleasant buds to wear for hours, thanks to four tip sizes and well-vented pressure relief. Gaming performance is poor at 58.7, so don't expect low latency for competitive play, but for casual music and podcasts, they hold their own.

Stacked against the Sony LinkBuds Fit and Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, both $150+, the Solo Buds lose out on ANC, build quality, and overall polish, but they almost match on raw comfort and battery endurance from the buds alone. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 are in another league for sound and feature set, but they cost several times more. The EarFun Air Pro 4+ is the most direct competitor at a similar price, with ANC and a battery case giving it a leg up for commuters, though its comfort and audio profile are more mid-pack. If battery life from the case matters, you'll want to look elsewhere; if wearing comfort and simple all-day battery from the buds themselves are your priorities, the Solo Buds become hard to ignore.

For a street price as low as $52, the Solo Buds offer serious bang for your buck. You're getting top-tier comfort, excellent battery life from the earbuds themselves, and sound that beats most similarly priced competitors. The $52–$95 range puts them against the EarFun Air Pro 4+ and JBL Endurance Peak 4, both of which pack ANC and charging cases but often can't match the Beats' fit or brand cachet. If you can live without noise cancelling and don't mind the lack of a battery case, the Solo Buds are one of the better budget options we've seen, especially at the lower end of that price spectrum.

The Beats Solo Buds are all about comfort and battery life, landing in the 93rd and 86th percentiles respectively. That means they're among the best-fitting earbuds we've tested, and their 18-hour continuous playback from the buds themselves outlasts most rivals. You can grab a pair between $52 and $95, which puts them squarely in budget territory. But the trade-offs are real—build quality is mediocre at the 33rd percentile, and there's zero active noise cancellation, which explains the painful 42.1 commute score. For desk jockeys or folks who want all-day ears without a bulky case, these tiny buds might be the sweet spot.

At just 22 grams including the case, the Solo Buds are absurdly portable. The case is little more than a protective shell—it has no battery of its own, so you're stuck with that 18 hours total. That's either a brilliant simplification or a dealbreaker, depending on how you see it. The sound signature leans into the Beats legacy with solid bass and decent clarity, putting them in the 78th percentile for sound quality, well above average but not about to dethrone pricier flagships. Overall, they score a total of 63.5, with their strongest suit being budget value at 73.7.

Commuters and travelers should look elsewhere—the lack of ANC and the resulting 42.1 commute score mean you'll hear every bit of engine rumble and chatter. If you need a case that extends battery life beyond 18 hours, this isn't for you either; the case is just a shell. And anyone who values premium build quality might be turned off by the 33rd percentile construction, which can feel a bit plasticky. Essentially, if you're frequently on the move in noisy environments or want all-day backup power from a charging case, skip these and look at something like the EarFun Air Pro 4+ or the JBL Endurance Peak 4.

The Beats Solo Buds are a one-trick pony, but it's a really good trick. They deliver best-in-class comfort and marathon battery life from the buds themselves, all in a package that's absurdly small. The missing ANC and flimsy build hold them back for travel and heavy daily abuse, but for $52–$95, you're getting a focused set of buds that stay put and keep playing longer than almost anything else in your pocket. If your use case is sedentary listening, podcasts, or background music at a desk, these are an easy recommendation. Data backs it up: 93rd percentile comfort and 86th percentile battery make them a standout in their price class.