Apple Debuts Beats 'Active Collection' Headphones With New Colors for Solo2, Tour2, and Powerbeats2

[MacRumors]

Apple today updated its lineup of Solo2 Wireless, Tour2, and Powerbeats 2 Wireless headphones, adding a trio of new colors as part of a new "Active Collection." The Beats Tour2 In-Ear Headphones, Solo2 Wireless Headphones, and Powerbeats2 Wireless In-Ear Headphones are now available in simple primary shades of Blue, Yellow, and Red.

Get to work. New Active Collection out NOW. http://t.co/ypeqBjDJir #ChargedUp pic.twitter.com/7zj1375cYG - Beats By Dre (@beatsbydre) September 23, 2015

There are no changes to the hardware or the pricing of the three sets of headphones, and the Active Collection joins the existing range of color options for each product. Apple will likely begin offering the new Active Collection in its retail stores in the near future, and each of the three products is available immediately from the online store.

Both the Active Collection Solo2 Wireless Headphones and the Powerbeats2 Wireless In-Ear Headphones will ship out to customers immediately with next day shipping, but the Tour2 In-Ear Headphones lists a delivery date of Tuesday, September 29.

Pricing for the Active Collection starts at $129.95 for the Tour2, with the PowerBeats2 priced at $199.95 and the Solo2 priced at $299.95.

Article Link: Apple Debuts Beats 'Active Collection' Headphones With New Colors for Solo2, Tour2, and Powerbeats2

 

[Dilster3k]

So ugly, so not Apple. Disgusting.

 

[Brien]

What happened to the Apple that kept product lines simple? There seem to be dozens of colors for these things now.

 

[cloudness]

Not sure to understand how merely changing colors make them any more "active" than their previous versions. What about waterproofing those that aren't? Making them lighter? Less prone to shaking when jogging? Better battery life? I'd bet part of the Music deal was that Jony Ive would keep away from redesigning the whole line of headphones.

 

[campyguy]

Now I won't feel so "obvious" when I'm wearing my Grado SR325e cans when I'm out and about, and I'll repress any urges to break out the neon spray paint and touch them up a bit to, uh, conform.

 

[macduke]

I wish Apple would come out with some slick Bluetooth EarPods that will work with the Apple Watch too and don't have gross Beats logos all over them. Maybe even using aluminum—perhaps matching the iPhone 6S colors? Preferably priced around $69 but I'm willing to pay up to $99 if they're good enough and aluminum.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Apple understood early on that wearables are about fashion and choice. Ask people on the street and you'll hear a near-unanimous opinion that Beats stuff is the most visually appealing. For Apple especially I think this move will prove prescient long-term. Wished they would switch out those mini-USB connectors to Lightning or USBc though.

Geeks providing fashion advice incoming.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

What happened to the Apple that kept product lines simple? There seem to be dozens of colors for these things now.

The product lines are simple - other than differences in color, how many Beats models are there? But as anyone in the auto industry will tell you, "You can have any color you want, so long as it's black" was not a successful long-term strategy for Henry Ford.

 

[WinstonRumfoord]

Whoa, these are unfortunate looking. I can't believe they actually made them look worse?!?

I'll echo guy above that coming out with some decent wireless buds to accompany apple watch should be a top priority..

 

[MH01]

Stop playing the iPod game, and just adding colours. Let's see the Beats range evolve hardware wise!

 

[Keane16]

What happened to the Apple that kept product lines simple? There seem to be dozens of colors for these things now.

As the guy above said, you're confusing product lines with colour options.

Ever since Steve returned and launched the successful iMac line they've had colour options on many of products. The original iMac had a total of thirteen choices and that was launched back in 1998...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMac_G3

 

[garylapointe]

The product lines are simple - other than differences in color, how many Beats models are there? But as anyone in the auto industry will tell you, "You can have any color you want, so long as it's black" was not a successful long-term strategy for Henry Ford.

I thought he did pretty good with that strategy....

(He's not the guy who failed because of such a strategy.)

Gary

 

[riverfreak]

Apple understood early on that wearables are about fashion and choice. Ask people on the street and you'll hear a near-unanimous opinion that Beats stuff is the most visually appealing. For Apple especially I think this move will prove prescient long-term. Wished they would switch out those mini-USB connectors to Lightning or USBc though.

Geeks providing fashion advice incoming.

Wow, really? They use micro or mini USB for charging? It really would be convenient if they could charge with the same lightning cable you already carry for your phone. I'm surprised they don't.

Does anybody have any impression of using the wireless in-ear for running? I am currently using LG Bluetooth. The sound sucks and the neck dongle isn't very comfortable.

 

[2457244]

I'm very happy with my sporty Plantronics BackBeat FIT bluetooth headset. Those set me back about 99,- but they are worth it.. No need for 200,- Apple Beats fancy gear.

 

[RightMACatU]

Every time I see the words "active" and "collection" together for any device that can either receive or transmit I walk away

Beside, US$200 for PowerBeats2 got me walking away even earlier.

 

[goobot]

So ugly, so not Apple. Disgusting.

Last time I checked these are Beats.

 

[Cwolk]

I wish Apple would come out with some slick Bluetooth EarPods that will work with the Apple Watch too and don't have gross Beats logos all over them. Maybe even using aluminum—perhaps matching the iPhone 6S colors? Preferably priced around $69 but I'm willing to pay up to $99 if they're good enough and aluminum.

That is exactly what I've wanted for years. Especially now with the Watch. They are going have to come out with them soon- their own will be outdated. Maybe with the refresh next year along iPhone 7.

 

[Dephtones]

Never understood the fascination with beats. They're way overpriced for what they are. Plenty of headphones out there that are better for a fraction of the price. It's your money do what you want. I just think it's silly

 

[joueboy]

What happened to the Apple that kept product lines simple? There seem to be dozens of colors for these things now.

It's now a rainbow colors in Cupertino. Somebody must love pink so bad and call it rose gold so it's not obvious.

 

[spaceballl]

As the guy above said, you're confusing product lines with colour options.

Ever since Steve returned and launched the successful iMac line they've had colour options on many of products. The original iMac had a total of thirteen choices and that was launched back in 1998...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMac_G3

Not exactly true... when it launched, it was in ONE color: bondi blue.

 

[malexandria]

Really loved my Power Beats, but they fell apart for no reason and now I have the Power Beats 2 and they kind of suck - pretty uncomfortable so I'm returning them. I hate that every company is now pushing wireless in ear headphones. I refuse to get something else that I have to worry about charging. Anyone have any recommendations that are in ear with a over ear clip (and wired) that's similar to the original Power Beats?

 

[jmgregory1]

Apple, in pushing a wireless lifestyle, really needs to figure out bt EarPods. Bluetooth is already at the point where it uses minimal energy and has certainly acceptable sound quality. But to keep offering wired headsets with the iPhone seems like they're just giving up on moving this last bit of the iPod past forward.

Apples own bt headset was fantastic, small, well designed, very much an Apple look. With improvements in bt technology over the years, if Apple brought this headset back, I'd be first in line to get one.

 

[Keane16]

Not exactly true... when it launched, it was in ONE color: bondi blue.

Very true, but it was only 5 months after release that it was available in a handful of colours. And then expanded to the 13.

My point was merely to show that there was no 'old Apple' way - ever since Steve's return colour options have been seen across many product lines.

 

[kmj2318]

So far the only thing apple has done with these headphones is make them in new colors. Also, the mix of dark grey and colors is really ugly.

 

[driceman]

Wow, really? They use micro or mini USB for charging? It really would be convenient if they could charge with the same lightning cable you already carry for your phone. I'm surprised they don't.

Does anybody have any impression of using the wireless in-ear for running? I am currently using LG Bluetooth. The sound sucks and the neck dongle isn't very comfortable.

I very much enjoy my PowerBeats Wireless. I think the sound is pretty solid for being Bluetooth earbuds rather than headphones, and I tend to put the cord that connects the earpieces behind my head so they're not bouncing around in front of me. The parts that wrap around your ear work pretty well too- I've never had any issues with them falling out while running.

These colors make them much less attractive, however. The black and red ones were a worthy investment if you ask me. I get that $200 is quite a bit to ask (I paid $130 with an employee discount where I worked at the time), but they do come with Apple's warranty now and after all, they should last you several years.