ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Beats’ newest Tablet speaker is out there for $150 in 5 colorways: Assertion Crimson, Matte Black, Champagne Gold, Navy Blue, and Blush Pink.
- A powerful battery life and a refined, clear design set the Beats Tablet aside from its rivals.
- Nevertheless, Beats’ overemphasized, bass-forward sound can masks the opposite elements of a tune.
The Beats Tablet (2024) is at present on sale for $100, $50 off its unique value. Beats just lately launched two new Tablet colours, Navy Blue and Blush Pink, bought completely at Walmart and Goal, respectively. Proper now, the brand new colours and different unique collaboration colours are on sale at Amazon, Goal, Finest Purchase, and Walmart.
Bluetooth audio system are as well-liked as ever, as Sony, Bose, JBL, and extra have proven by refreshing and revamping their choices simply in time for summer time. The competitors is so scorching and stuffed with heavy hitters that it pulled Beats out of retirement.
With the newest Beats Tablet, Apple has reversed its departure from the Bluetooth speaker recreation. For reference, the final Beats speaker was the Tablet+ from 2015.
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I used to be curious to see what upgrades the Beats Tablet (2024) gives. Luckily, I used to be internet hosting mates all weekend and had the proper alternative to see if the brand new speaker had what it took to fulfill our audio wants. Must you improve to the brand new Tablet or put money into Bose, Sony, or Soundcore as an alternative? Learn on as I try and reply this query.
The Beats Tablet delivers a bass-forward sound profile, just like most of the firm’s different audio system and headphones. Digital music with heavy, skipping basslines, like Charlie XCX’s Membership Classics, sounded electrifying and full, with a heavy emphasis on the decrease frequencies.
I want Apple would license AirPlay to Beats, however I think withholding this function is supposed to go away HomePod gross sales unhurt. When I’ve visitors over, I prefer to play music from my iPhone to my Sonos Arc through AirPlay, which streams over Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth, so my incoming notifications do not disrupt the music. AirPlay additionally permits me to take my cellphone with me outdoors to greet visitors with out interrupting the continued jam session.
The brand new Tablet speaker stays true to its tagline, “Critically loud.” For its measurement, this factor will get loopy loud. Lil Wayne’s 6 Foot 7 Foot shook the desk I set the Tablet speaker on with sufficient quantity to fill each nook of my home.
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That mentioned, you may pair two Tablet audio system collectively to entry Amplify and Stereo Mode for optimum quantity. Amplify Mode makes use of two audio system to play the identical audio output, whereas Stereo Mode permits for left/proper audio playback.
A redesigned woofer system helps the Tablet obtain tremendous loud volumes, and Beats says the newest Tablet has a 90% improve in air quantity displacement in comparison with its predecessor, the Tablet+. This determine explains how the Tablet’s subwoofers can transfer extra air, however greater is not all the time higher.
That is why, at louder volumes, the Tablet speaker struggles to keep up readability. My visitors aren’t audio snobs — the bass was leaping and everybody was singing alongside to our favourite songs — however I seen. Bose and Sonos’ choices might have a extra clear, crisper sound, however Beats bests everybody with endurance. By Sunday night, I had sufficient battery life to occasion for one more weekend with out plugging the speaker in to cost.
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The Tablet speaker has a 24-hour battery life, double that of equally priced rivals. Like all of Beats’ newer merchandise, the Tablet speaker is exclusive in its compatibility with iOS and Android gadgets, together with options like Discover My and one-touch pairing for iOS and a companion app and Bluetooth multipoint pairing for Android.
The Tablet debuts with a redesigned kind issue, sporting rounded edges and a lanyard for enhanced portability. Apple’s design affect on the Beats model is harking back to Sonos’ design philosophy of making merchandise that coexist with anybody’s house decor decisions. Sony’s Ult Discipline 3 speaker and JBL’s Cost 6 speaker have extra rugged, angular design options, whereas Bose, Sonos, and Beats go for a muted, subdued look.
With an IP67 score, the Beats Tablet is dustproof and might survive unintentional drops within the pool. In case your visitors have an excessive amount of enjoyable, the Tablet can face up to spills, bumps, and splashes. My take a look at unit endured a number of drops and speckles of drinks with out skipping a beat (no pun meant).
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Beats ditched the mini USB port for a USB-C port, which gives lossless audio and might intelligently cost or be charged by your different gadgets when plugged in.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The Beats Tablet (2024) gives many extra options than its predecessor, and for $50 much less. After the Solo Buds, Beats wanted a product to redeem itself — and the Beats Tablet does the job.
When you’ve got fond recollections of the older Beats Tablet audio system, and you are still rocking an outdated Bluetooth speaker, the Tablet is the improve you want. Its low-key design permits it to mix into any atmosphere, and its all-day battery life can maintain the occasion going for hours. Plus, its compatibility with native iOS and Android options makes it the proper companion for folks with mixed-device ecosystems.
Nevertheless, if you need a Bluetooth speaker with a extra refined sound and much more compatibility along with your Android and Alexa-enabled gadgets, take into account the Sonos Roam 2. If portability is not your precedence, however you need a speaker that higher blends into your house decor, take into account the Bose SoundLink House.
This text was initially revealed on June 24, 2024, and was up to date on June 13, 2025.