The new Beats Pill is a brilliant little speaker for many reasons, especially its affordability for a capable Bluetooth speaker. It’s simple to use; you pair your phone, play music, and you’re good to go. However, despite having just three buttons and a familiar design, it packs deceptive features that you might miss. There are things the Beats Pill can do that other speakers can’t. Here are our favorite Beats Pill tips and tricks for the 2024 model.
The lanyard on the Beats Pill is great for carrying or hanging the speaker. But, there are times when you might prefer to remove it, whether for aesthetics or because it’s in the way. Removing the lanyard is easy. Simply feed the long end back through the loop, and to put it back on, reverse the process. This simple feature adds to the Beats Pill’s versatility.
Another hidden gem is its ability to charge your phone. The Beats Pill can serve as a portable battery charger, which is always handy. Although Beats doesn’t disclose the Pill’s battery capacity, it’s likely greater than your phone’s. To charge your phone, turn off the speaker, plug one end of the cable into your phone and the other into the Beats Pill. Then, press the power button three times. You can even play music while your phone charges.
The power button isn’t just for turning the Beats Pill on and off. It has a range of functions. A single press turns it on and off. Once it’s on, another press shows the battery status. Holding it for three seconds pairs a device. A double tap activates the voice assistant. Holding it while plugging into your phone enables USB-C audio. Finally, a triple tap activates the charging feature for your phone.
The center button, located between the power button and volume buttons, has its own set of functions. It controls basic functionalities and activates interesting features. A single press plays or pauses music. A double press skips ahead. A triple press goes back. Holding it on two Beats Pill speakers activates amplify mode. Pressing the center button and volume up pairs two Beats Pills in stereo mode (the speaker with the pressed buttons becomes the left speaker). Pressing the center button and volume down breaks the pair in either mode. It’s surprising how many features a small Bluetooth speaker can offer.
