If you can find it, the Beats Pill featuring Pikachu and Mimikyu is a cute addition to anyone’s collection, even if you already own the non-Pokemon one.
I’ve rolled my eyes at many brand collaborations, but the one that never fails to catch my attention is Pokemon. Sure, it’s the same Beats Pill under a nice coat of paint, but for fans, that’s enough.
The Beats Pill made in collaboration with Pokemon is adorable, but it doesn’t add any flair to your portable music listening beyond a visual touch. That said, I immediately knew I wanted one even though I already have the latest Beats Pill in black.
I’ve been a Pokemon fan since that fateful day when the show debuted in the United States in 1996. When I was 5 years old, I saw it on TV and was immediately hooked.
While I’m not as avid a collector as some, my house is full of Pokemon memorabilia. I always love the chance to get something that can represent my love for Pokemon without being yet another stuffed animal.
As an Apple fan and someone who has enjoyed Beats for the past decade, a collaboration with Pokemon is a match made in heaven. Let’s get into this model and what Beats Pill offers in case you weren’t aware of the 2024 reboot of the classic product.
Beats Pill x Pokemon review: design
The Beats Pill was revived by Beats in 2024 with a new, more refined design, with a single USB-C port on the back and that signature “b” on the front. It is a dust- and water-resistant design with an IP67 rating and has minimal controls on the device.
Beats Pill x Pokemon review: a little more style
The Pokemon model is gray to match the grayscale Mimikyu prominently displayed on the speaker grill. The yellow electric mouse Pikachu appears next to the ghostly Pokemon, looking a little worried and rendered in color.
Beats has included some charms with the speaker for the first time. The lanyard has a Beats logo charm on one side and a Pokeball on the other.
There are also raised electric sparks radiating from Pikachu onto the speaker grill. I wonder if these will break, wear out, or peel off over time, especially if used in harsher environments.
One of my main use cases for the Beats Pill was taking it with me to places like the lake or the beach. It showed no damage or scratches and, if anything, still looks substantially new.
Beats Pill x Pokemon review: playful packaging where you can raise your ears on the box
I have some concerns about this painted surface and lightning spells, but I guess I’ll babysit this one a little more than the other.
I really liked the 2024 version of Beats Pill. It’s more rounded and easier to hold than the previous Beats Pill+, plus it comes with that lanyard.
My only complaint about the Pokemon release is limiting it to a single colorway. There are 1,025 Pokemon in total, and Beats has given us two of them on a single speaker.
At the very least I would have liked to see the gray model with Mimikyu and the yellow one with Pikachu as two separate speakers. This could have made a pretty nice stereo pair.
Beats Pill x Pokemon: features
You can pair the Beats Pill with a second by holding the center button on both for a few seconds. This amp mode simply plays the music of both.
Beats Pill x Pokemon review: Lossless high resolution on a USB-C cable
Stereo mode can be enabled after entering Amplify mode by holding down the center button and the volume up button until the light flashes blue on the speaker you want to be the left one. It’s a little fiddly to manage these modes by pressing buttons versus an app or AirPlay interface, but it gets the job done.
If you listened to Beats Pill or Beats headphones about ten years ago and decided you hated the sound signature, try it again today. Apple’s ownership of Beats seems to have had some influence over time.
Beats isn’t quite Bose, but the highs are much richer in recent years, and Beats Pill proves it with its updated tweeter. Don’t worry though, Beats is still all about the bass found in a lot of modern music, so the woofer can really push some air.
In testing these speakers as a stereo pair, I noticed how loud and bass-rich they can get. I’m quite happy with the audio performance, although audio is a very personal thing and your mileage may vary.
Beats Pill x Pokemon review: good audio in a portable package
The woofer is powerful enough to noticeably vibrate the air in front of the speaker, even at lower volumes. Of course, the speaker is still portable and won’t compete with something like the large HomePod with its giant woofer and multiple tweeters.
At the same price as a HomePod mini 2, some customers may choose between these. They serve very different purposes, but I would say the Beats Pill is the better speaker.
The HomePod mini 2 is part of Apple’s whole-home audio system and smart home control via Siri. There is no “Hey Siri” support in Beats Pill.
Additionally, since Beats is a popular brand outside of the Apple ecosystem, the proprietary chipset allows for equally easy pairing with iPhones and Android smartphones. Beats does such a good job on Android that some Android users don’t realize it’s an Apple subsidy.
You’ll get approximately 24 hours of audio on a single charge of Beats Pill. It can also provide some battery to a connected iPhone in a pinch.
Beats Pill x Pokemon review: easy pairing, even on Android devices
The USB-C connection is also useful because it can handle high-resolution lossless audio. There is a perceptible difference in the audio quality of music between standard, lossless, and high-resolution lossless, especially at high volumes.
This is not a high-end sound system, but the speaker works well. Note that you will need to go to Settings -> Apps -> Music to enable lossless or high-resolution audio playback when streaming or downloading music.
Also, if you have already downloaded music, you will need to delete it and download it again in higher quality. Only then will you notice the difference in the audio, and honestly, it’s hard to tell with some songs.
I’m not an audiophile, but I appreciate the option that exists for Beats Pill and that it works with Apple Music.
The best there ever was
The Beats Pill 2024 is by far my favorite portable speaker I’ve ever owned. I’m very happy to see a Pokemon themed collaboration and hope Beats and Pokemon can do more in the future.
Beats Pill x Pokemon review: one for the fans
I saved the nerdier stuff for the end, so here goes. Don’t think I forgot about the Pokemon themselves.
Pikachu is probably the most recognizable mascot on Earth, beating out even Mario. It is an electric mouse that stores electricity in its cheeks.
I’ve always loved Pikachu, but I prefer the old fat Pikachu design. The new one is a little too cute.
Mimikyu is a newer Pokemon from the Sun and Moon generation. He is a ghost hiding under a rag costume designed to look like Pikachu.
Mimikyu’s eyes are actually the small holes at the base of the costume. Image source: Pokémon
Mimikyu chose this disguise in the hope that he could make more friends: he is a little jealous of Pikachu’s popularity. Anyone who tries to peek beneath the disguise mysteriously dies within hours.
I like that Beats and Pokemon chose October for the release of this product, as it’s a little nod to Mimikyu’s spooky nature. However, the timing of the release was hilariously overshadowed by Apple’s “Welcome Home” press releases.
But that didn’t seem to matter, as the Beats Pill sold out immediately. I can easily recommend this Pokemon collaboration, if you can find one.
At the very least, go get a Beats Pill or two, they make great portable speakers.
Beats Pill x Pokemon – Pro
- Excellent audio that gets loud without distortion
- High resolution lossless support via USB-C
- Stereo mode with two speakers
- This one has Pokemon
Beats Pill x Pokemon – Cons
- There are portable speakers with comparable audio at a lower price, but those won’t have Pokemon
Rating: 4 out of 5
It’s a Beats pill with Pokemon painted on it. What else can I say?
Where to buy the Beats Pill x Pokemon collaboration
The Pokemon-themed Beats Pill sold out immediately, but will presumably be restocked over time. The Beats Pill can be purchased from the Beats website and Target for $149.99.
