The black Beats by Dr. Dre Pill XL Portable Speaker delivers room-filling sound with punching bass and pristine highs - all from a compact, portable capsule-shaped speaker.

The Beats Pill+ is decent for playing podcasts. You can pair up to two devices at a time, which is useful if you want to switch your audio source frequently between your phone and laptop. It's also quite portable, and its battery lasts just under eight hours.

Beats also sold a much beefier and pricier portable speaker called Beats Pill XL. I loved mine, but then it was recalled due to a potential fire hazard. Existing Pill XL speakers were turned into Apple Store gift cards when returned.

The Beats Pill XL was introduced by Beats by Dre in November 2013.

At $299.95, the Pill XL isn't an inexpensive portable Bluetooth speaker, and is significantly larger than most portable options.

$299.99

up to 12 hours Charge Beats Pill+ The Beats Pill+ can play for up to 12 hours with a 3-hour charge. When you turn the Beats Pill+ on or off, the Fuel Gauge lights blink to show how much charge is left in the battery.

A: No, this speaker is not water resistant.

Beats headphones tend to be rather pricey, especially compared to other brands. The quality of the more recent models we've tested better matches their premium price point. However, they still feel a bit expensive for what they offer. Noise cancelling not on par with the competition.

Product information

Side-by-Side Comparison The Beats Pill+ is a slightly better speaker than the JBL Charge 4. The Beats can play stereo content, unlike the JBL. However, the JBL is a better-built speaker with longer battery life, lasting over thirteen hours on a single charge.

A: No, this speaker is not water resistant.

Side-by-Side Comparison The Beats Pill+ is a slightly better speaker than the JBL Charge 4. The Beats can play stereo content, unlike the JBL. However, the JBL is a better-built speaker with longer battery life, lasting over thirteen hours on a single charge.