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. Brand collaborations often make me roll my eyes, but Pokemon is the exception. Sure, it's the same Beats Pill under a coat of cute paint, but that's enough for the fans.
The Beats Pill made in collaboration with Pokemon is adorable, but it doesn't add any flair to your portable music listening beyond some visual flair. That said, I immediately wanted one even though I already own the latest Beats Pill in black. I've been a Pokemon fan since the show debuted in the United States in 1996, when I was five and instantly hooked. While I'm not as avid a collector as some, my home is peppered with Pokemon memorabilia, and I love finding something that represents my fandom without being yet another plush. As an Apple fan who has enjoyed Beats for the past decade, a Pokemon collaboration feels like a match made in heaven.
The Beats Pill was revived by Beats in 2024 with a more refined design, a single USB-C port in the back, and the signature "b" on the front. It is dust and water resistant, rated IP67, and has minimal on-device controls. The Pokemon model is gray to pair with the grayscale Mimikyu displayed on the speaker grille, while Pikachu appears in full color beside the ghostly Pokemon, looking a little concerned. Beats included charms with the speaker for the first time: a lanyard charm with the Beats logo on one side and a Pokeball on the other, plus raised electric sparks radiating from Pikachu on the grille.
I wonder whether these charms and sparks will break, wear down, or pop off over time, especially in harsher environments. I have taken the speaker to the lake and beach, and it hasn't shown any damage or scratching. I have some concern about the painted surface and lightning charms, but I'll baby this one more than the other. My single complaint is limiting the release to one colorway. With 1,025 Pokemon in total, Beats gave us just two on a single speaker. I would have liked separate gray Mimikyu and yellow Pikachu models.
Source: AppleInsider · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing