Apple is working on an updated version of its popular Beats Solo on-ear headphones, according to code located in the iOS 17.4 release candidate that Apple put out today. MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris found several references to the Beats Solo 4 headphones, including images.


The Beats Solo 4 look similar to the Solo 3 headphones, but have design tweaks that bring them in line with the Beats Studio Pro. Spatial Audio is supported according to the code, but we don’t know what other features to expect at this time.

There are three colors in the files, including black, pink, and blue. We can expect some of the changes that were brought to the Beats Studio Pro last year, such as improved sound quality and support for Personalized Spatial Audio. The headphones will support the same gestures as the Studio Pro, with a press on the “b” button to play/pause and answer calls, a double press to skip songs, and a long press to activate Siri. Apple will also likely swap the old micro-USB port for a new USB-C port to bring the headphones in line with the rest of its products.

Apple first released the Solo 3 headphones way back in 2016, and while there have been multiple color updates, nothing else has changed since then. The Solo 4 will be the first major update to the on-ear headphones in many years.

Popular Stories

Six Reasons to Wait for Next Year’s iPhone 17

Apple’s iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models concurrently, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple’s 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip…

iOS 17.4 to Add This ‘Groundbreaking’ New Messaging Feature

With iOS 17.4, set to arrive in March 2024, Apple is bringing a new cryptographic security feature to iMessage called PQ3. This “groundbreaking” and “state-of-the-art” protocol provides “extensive defenses against even highly sophisticated quantum attacks,” according to Apple. Let’s break down what that means. Apple’s iMessage service already supports end-to-end encryption, but security…

Apple Explored These Notch and Dynamic Island Designs for iPhones

With the iPhone 14 Pro models in 2022, Apple introduced the Dynamic Island, which can morph and expand to display system alerts, sports scores, and a variety of other information. The feature makes the space surrounding the front camera and Face ID sensors useful compared to the notch on older iPhone models. Apple explored a variety of ideas for the iPhone’s notch area over the years before…

What to Expect at Potential Apple Event in March: iPads, Macs, and More

Apple often holds its first media event of the year in March, so the company could be just weeks away from announcing new products. Below, we have outlined what to expect from a potential Apple Event this March. Past Apple Events in March Apple has held five events in March since 2015:Monday, March 9, 2015 Monday, March 21, 2016 Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Monday, March 25, 2019 Tuesday,…

iOS 17.4 Coming Soon With These New Features for Your iPhone

In a press release last month, Apple confirmed that iOS 17.4 will be released in March, and the update includes several new features and changes for the iPhone. Key new features in iOS 17.4 include major App Store changes in the EU, Apple Podcasts transcripts, and an iMessage security upgrade. The update also adds new emoji and includes preparations for the launch of next-generation CarPlay…

Game Developers Describe ‘Smell of Death’ Around Apple Arcade

Some game developers are dissatisfied with Apple Arcade amid concerns about the subscription service’s future, a new report claims. Sources speaking to mobilegamer.biz described a “smell of death” around Apple’s games subscription service and noted the difference between the company’s investment in TV and music, and its interest in games. “At the very top of the company there needs to be a …