We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-25 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want marathon battery life plus app-based sound tuning for everyday listening, choose Sony WH-CH520; if you need spatial audio and a secure, workout-ready fit, choose Beats Solo 4. That's the short version. Below I break down exactly where each one wins so you can stop second-guessing and just pick.
• Sony WH-CH520 — biggest strength: up to 50 hours of battery life with a quick-charge function that delivers 1.5 hours of playback from a 3-minute top-up, plus EQ customization in the Sony Headphones Connect app.
• Sony WH-CH520 — biggest trade-off: on-ear fit with no active noise cancellation, and no headphone jack — it's wireless only.
• Beats Solo 4 — biggest strength: Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, giving a more immersive, "around your head" listening experience.
• Beats Solo 4 — biggest trade-off: Beats lists up to 40 hours of battery life — ten hours less than the Sony on paper — and it's heavier at 1.1 pounds.
• Who the Sony is for: students, commuters and remote workers who want long battery life, multipoint pairing and adjustable sound on a budget.
• Who the Beats is for: listeners who want an immersive spatial-audio experience and a flex-grip fit that stays put during movement.
The WH-CH520 is built around convenience. Bluetooth multipoint lets it stay connected to two devices at once — so you can jump from a laptop call to your phone without re-pairing. Pairing itself is streamlined with Swift Pair and Fast Pair, and you control everything with physical buttons on the ear cups rather than taps, which I find far less fiddly when you're wearing gloves or walking.
Battery is the headline. Sony rates it at up to 50 hours, and the quick-charge function gives you 1.5 hours of listening from just a 3-minute charge. That combination is genuinely useful if you're the kind of person who forgets to plug things in — a few minutes near a USB-C cable on the way out the door is enough to get through a commute. There's also a Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) to restore high-frequency detail in compressed tracks, and EQ settings in the Sony Headphones Connect app so you can shape the sound yourself.
On calls, the built-in microphone with noise cancelling works to reduce ambient noise so conversations come through more clearly. The adjustable headband and soft ear pads keep the on-ear design comfortable over longer sessions, and at 331 g it's light enough to wear for hours. It's wireless only with no headphone jack, and there's no active noise cancellation — so if you need to block out a loud train carriage, that's a real limitation. Buy it if you want endurance, multipoint and tunable sound. Skip it if silence-on-demand is non-negotiable.
The Solo 4 leans into sound immersion. Custom acoustic architecture and updated drivers are tuned for what Beats calls a powerful, high-fidelity sound signature, and the standout feature is Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. In practice, that means supported content can feel like it's positioned around you rather than just in front of you — a genuinely different experience for movies, spatial-music mixes and games. Note the fine print: it requires compatible hardware and software, works with compatible content in supported apps, and not all content is available in Dolby Atmos. Creating a personal Spatial Audio profile requires an iPhone with a TrueDepth camera, and the profile syncs across Apple devices running the latest OS.
Fit is the other pillar. The Solo 4 uses an ultralight ergonomic design with a flex-grip headband and ergonomically angled, adjustable ear cups for a stable hold — that's the kind of build that stays put when you're moving, which is why it appeals to active listeners. UltraPlush ear cushions are designed for comfort and durability, and active noise cancellation helps cut down background noise.
The trade-offs are worth naming. Beats lists up to 40 hours of battery life, which is shorter than the Sony's figure. At 1.1 pounds it's also the heavier of the two. And like the Sony, there's no headphone jack — wireless only. Buy it if spatial audio and a secure fit matter more to you than maximum runtime. Skip it if you're on Android only and specifically want the personal spatial profile, or if you need the longest possible battery.
• Best for battery life → Sony WH-CH520. Up to 50 hours on a single charge, versus up to 40 hours for the Beats.
• Best for a quick top-up → Sony WH-CH520. A 3-minute quick charge yields 1.5 hours of playback.
• Best for immersive audio → Beats Solo 4. Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking has no equivalent on the Sony.
• Best for noise reduction → Beats Solo 4. It has active noise cancellation; the Sony's noise control is listed as none.
• Best for switching between devices → Sony WH-CH520. Bluetooth multipoint plus Swift Pair and Fast Pair make juggling a phone and laptop easy.
• Best for sound customization → Sony WH-CH520. DSEE processing and app-based EQ let you tune the signature to taste.
• Best for workouts and movement → Beats Solo 4. The flex-grip headband and angled, adjustable ear cups are designed for a stable fit.
• Best for lighter weight → Sony WH-CH520. At 331 g it's meaningfully lighter than the Beats at 1.1 pounds.
• Best for iPhone-centric spatial audio users → Beats Solo 4. The personal profile requires an iPhone with a TrueDepth camera.
If you care about price before you decide, check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page — that's the one variable that can flip the math for you.
I'd buy the Sony WH-CH520. In my opinion, it wins the everyday-use contest: up to 50 hours of battery, a quick charge that rescues you in three minutes, multipoint pairing, app-based EQ and a lighter build at 331 g. The Beats Solo 4 is the better pick if spatial audio and a workout-secure fit are what you're chasing — but for most people doing commutes, calls and long listening sessions, the Sony's endurance and flexibility are harder to beat.
Not universally. The Sony wins on battery (up to 50 vs up to 40 hours), quick charging, multipoint and weight. The Beats wins on spatial audio and active noise cancellation. Pick based on which of those matters most to you.
Yes — its noise control is listed as active noise cancellation. The Sony WH-CH520 does not have active noise cancellation, though it uses noise cancelling on the microphone to keep calls clearer.
The Sony. It's rated at up to 50 hours, while the Beats Solo 4 is rated at up to 40 hours. The Sony also adds a quick-charge function: 3 minutes gets you 1.5 hours of playback.
No. Both the Sony WH-CH520 and the Beats Solo 4 are wireless-only with no headphone jack, so you'll rely on Bluetooth for all listening.
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