Our Verdict
The Beats Powerbeats 4 are alright for mixed use. While they're compact and comfortable enough to wear for long periods, they struggle to reduce background noise, which can be a problem at the office or on public transportation. Their ear-hook design is stable and they're a great choice for sports. They also have a well-balanced but slightly dark sound profile that can be good for critical listening. However, they aren't compatible with PS4 or Xbox One and their latency on Android and PC may be noticeable if streaming video.
- Stable ear-hook design suitable for sports.
- Neutral, balanced sound.
- Comfortable in-ear fit.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Extremely limited interface with no customization or controls.
The Beats Powerbeats 4 are good in-ears for neutral sound. However, while they have a well-balanced bass and mid-range, their uneven treble makes them sound dull and lifeless. Like most in-ears, they also don't have a wide or spacious soundstage.
The Beats Powerbeats 4 are fair for commuting. While they struggle to reduce almost any background noise, they're comfortable enough to wear for long periods. They don't take up a lot of space, so you can put them in most pockets when not in use. With their 19 hours of battery life, you should be able to weather even the longest flights without having to pause to recharge.
The Beats Powerbeats 4 are great for sports. These compact headphones can easily fit in most pockets while their ear-hook design is comfortable and stable enough for more strenuous workouts. Their wireless connectivity also reduces the chances of your cable snagging and pulling them out of your ears, although not as much as truly wireless headphones like the Beats Powerbeats Pro. While Beats advertises them as sweat and water-resistant, they don't have an IPX rating.
The Beats Powerbeats 4 are passable for office use. They're comfortable enough to wear for long periods, but they don't reduce almost any background noise so you may hear office chatter. If you turn up the volume to drown out the noise, some of your audio may also be audible to those nearest to you. On the upside, their excellent 19-hour battery should easily last you a couple of full work days before you need to recharge them again.
The Beats Powerbeats 4 aren't recommended for wireless gaming. Since they're Bluetooth-only, they aren't compatible with Xbox One or PS4. While you can connect them to a Bluetooth-enabled PC, their disappointing microphone and high latency make them a bad choice for gaming.
The Beats Powerbeats 4 are Bluetooth-only and can't be used wired.
The Beats Powerbeats 4 are sub-par for phone calls. Their microphone records voices as thin and slightly muffled. It also struggles to separate speech from background noise in loud environments. If you're trying to listen to whoever's on the other line, you may have difficulties as these headphones struggle to block out background noise.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Beats Powerbeats 4 are the newest generation in the Powerbeats series and have improved battery life and charge via lightning cable. While they have a similar ear-hook design and balanced sound profile to the Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless, they also lack a true companion app or a charging case with extra charges. See our recommendations for the best wireless earbuds for running, the best wireless earbuds under $100, and the best earbuds and in-ears.
The Anker SoundBuds Curve 2019 are slightly better-performing headphones than the Beats Powerbeats 4 Wireless. While they're both similarly comfortable and stable, the Anker have a more bass-heavy sound than the Beats which some may prefer and are better at noise isolation. However, the Anker have a slightly less durable build, and their continuous battery life is just a touch less than the Beats, but they also charge slightly faster.
The Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless are the predecessor of the Beats Powerbeats 4 Wireless. The Powerbeats3 have an adjustable neck cable and in-line controls. They also have a warm, thumpy bass that some listeners may enjoy. However, the Powerbeats 4 have a longer battery life and use a lightning cable to charge.
The Beats Powerbeats 4 Wireless are similarly performing headphones to the Powerbeats Pro Truly Wireless. Although the Powerbeats 4 have a neck cable and they lack a carrying case that can hold additional charges, they have a similarly balanced sound and ear-hook design. The Powerbeats 4 also have a longer continuous battery life but they lack a stand-by mode like the Powerbeats Pro.
The Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless are similarly performing headphones to the Beats Powerbeats 4 Wireless, but are slightly better for outdoor sport use. The Bose are semi-open earbuds and while they let in more background noise, their design makes it easier for runners to stay aware of their surroundings. On the downside, the Bose also have a shorter continuous battery life than the Beats but their case holds two additional charges and the headphones have an auto-off timer.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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