The tech world has had an eye fixed on the Beats by Dr. Dre audio brand since Apple acquired it back in July. We're now getting our first glimpse of the Apple-owned Beats, as the Dr. Dre stable has just announced its first new product post-purchase just in time for the holidays: the Solo2 Wireless on-ear headphones.
The Solo2 headphones, pricing around $300, follow on the heels of the market leading Solo model, according to Beats Electronics/Apple. What is most noted for being new with this release is the integration of wireless Bluetooth functionality, which lets one enjoy streaming audio up to 30 feet away from a compatible device, such as an iPhone.
Control for the headphones is built into the “b” and volume buttons on one of the ear cups. From here you can take phone calls, change songs and manipulate the music volume. There’s also an integrated microphone for use when a call does come in, allowing for nearly hands-free operation.
The headphones have a claimed 12 hours wireless usage time, and can be recharged in about 2 hours by plugging in an included USB charging cable. This cable also allows for usage even when the battery is drained when connected to an external power supply. Should you need to know the status of your battery, tapping the power button will light up a series of LEDs to let you know how much charge is left.
Physically speaking, the Solo2 model sports a curved design, which supposedly helps to improve comfort. This is augmented by padded, pivoting ear cups said to offer passive noise blocking. Body color choices will include red, white, black and blue when it becomes available this month.
Source: Beats by Dr. Dre
