14 DAY TRIAL // It turns out that the New Studio Wireless Headphones aren't the only new audio product that Beats has just released. There are two speakers as well, although they, too, are light and wireless.
Beats invested more of its PR's word count into the New Pill and the New Pill XL. Understandably so, since they have more features to brag about, and there are two of them.
The Pill is lightweight and has a handle, and that's most of what we can say about it. The Pill XL is the star here, as it has a very peculiar ability in that it can sync with another one of its kind.
That's the wonder of the Tap to Amplify technology. Just tap them together and they'll start singing the same song.
Tap to Stereo is another asset. Tap two Pill XLs together twice and you'll turn one into the left channel and the other into the right channel.
The best part is that this "tap to" functionality doesn't rely on any attachments or applications. For that matter, neither do the other perks, like the 5-light LED battery fuel gauge that says how much of the lithium battery's charge is still available.
Speaking of which, said battery should be able to last for 15 hours without recharge. And if you forget about it without shutting it off, never fear! After ten minutes with no signal detection, it will shut off on its own.
Not only that, but you can actually charge your phone off the Pill XL. It's like it doubles as a battery pack.
NFC is the final asset, as it allows the device to easily pair with other NFC-enabled Bluetooth devices, which is most phones, tablets and laptops nowadays.
"There is still enormous opportunity around wireless in consumer electronics, and in the audio category specifically," said Ben Arnold, industry analyst from The NPD Group.
"Additionally, we're seeing that consumers are increasingly buying multiple pairs of headphones and speakers to suit their various lifestyle needs so the opportunities and growth potential in this category are endless."
Beats Pill will retail for $199.95 / €199.95 and the Beats Pill XL for $299.95 / €299.95, starting December 2013.