Apple iPod Hi-Fi vs Beats Pill (2012)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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iPod Hi-Fi compared with Pill (2012)

	AppleiPod Hi-Fi	BeatsPill (2012)
Overview
Released
Released	February 2006	October 2012
Sound
Type
Type	Portable speaker	Portable speaker
Channels
Channels	stereo	–
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos	No	No
Drivers
Drivers	Two wide-range drivers in isolated enclosures and a ported woofer; Macworld reports two 80 mm drivers and one 130 mm woofer	Four-speaker system with Beats Audio processing
Amplifiers
Amplifiers	Built-in amplifier; Apple did not publish a power rating	–
Frequency response
Frequency response	53 Hz low-end figure reported by Macworld from Apple; no official full-range specification found	–
Connections
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	No	No
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	No	Yes
AirPlay
AirPlay	No	No
Voice assistants
Voice assistants	None	None
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	No built-in Wi-Fi	–
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	No built-in Bluetooth	NFC tap-to-pair and connection takeover; remembers eight paired devices and reconnects to the most recent; aptX support
Ports
Ports	30-pin iPod dock; 3.5 mm auxiliary input accepts analogue stereo or Mini-Toslink optical digital audio; no video output or computer sync port	Separate 3.5 mm input and line output; Micro-USB charging connector (T3)
Streaming
Streaming	Plays music from a separately connected AirPort Express through the auxiliary input; no wireless receiver built in	–
Design
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 15 hours	Up to 7 hours
Weight
Weight	6.6 kg	0.325 kg (better)
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Six D-cell batteries or mains power; Apple told Macworld up to 15 hours at normal listening levels and approximately five hours at maximum volume. Macworld measured just under 11 hours with alkaline cells	Rechargeable lithium-ion battery; maker claims seven hours at an average 80 dB, with a warning at 20% remaining; switches off after 30 minutes without a signal
Controls
Controls	Touch-sensitive volume buttons on top and included infrared Apple Remote for volume, playback and track changes	Power, volume and Beats button for pairing, playback and calls; volume buttons disabled when line output is in use
Microphones
Microphones	–	Built-in speakerphone microphone with echo cancellation; calls pause music
Size
Size	17.0 × 6.6 × 6.9 inches and approximately 6.6 kg without batteries, measured by iLounge; approximately 7.6 kg with six D-cell batteries	–
Colours
Colours	White enclosure with removable black fabric speaker grille	Black, White and Red at launch
In the box
In the box	Apple Remote, removable grille, AC power cord and ten Universal Dock adapters	Speaker, USB cable and power supply; carrying case, carabiner and 3.5 mm cable identified by both reviews