What makes a music icon? Some would say it’s having a sound like no-one else out there. Others would point to timeless style and piercing through pop culture with flair and intent. Or maybe it’s the ability to bring people together through the power of music. And if you manage to encompass all of these qualities, chances are you’ve got an audience for life.

That’s why the long-anticipated return of the Beats Pill has everyone excited. You knew you’d made it if the Beats Pill made a cameo in your music video back in the 2010s, popping up alongside everyone from Miley Cyrus to Nicki Minaj – as well as our personal favourite, its literal gag-worthy turn in Britney Spears’s Work Bitch. The Beats Pill brand is still powerful, and for its new era it’s got a raft of slick upgrades that live up to its reputation.

Reengineered and redesigned, its glow-up still centres on that pill-shaped casing it is famous for, but this time around with a soft silicone finish in three colours including Matte Black, Statement Red and Champagne Gold. But it’s inside the Beats Pill where a good majority of the innovation plays out. The sound quality is vastly improved for blasting out your favourite classics both inside and outside the home. The bass is deeper and fuller, there are crisper highs and richer mid-tones. Extra stability within the speaker helps reduce any distortion, delivering an enhanced acoustic experience.

It’s the little details that make the biggest impact – particularly the 20-degree upward tilt that helps project sound further and minimise any reflected sound. There’s a removable carry lanyard for when you’re on the go, and with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance it has increased durability for the outdoors. Not only does the powerful sound make it perfect for parties and gatherings when played on its own, but the ability to pair it in Amplify Mode with another Beats Pill takes the audio experience to club-levels of oomph. If you’d rather left/right output, there’s Stereo Mode too.

Improved battery life takes it to 24 hours playback on a single full charge; there’s compatibility and quick pairing with iOS and Android devices; it now comes with a USB-C port; it has industry-leading Class 1 Bluetooth connectivity; and you can use it as a speakerphone to easily take calls, with the Beats Pill able to suppress unwanted noise around the speaker and target your voice more clearly. With undeniably good sound, sleek design, the ability to bring people together and its status as a pop culture phenomenon, the Beats Pill remains as popular as the songs and superstars it plays. Music icons don’t always need to be singers, they can be speakers too.

Beats Pill, available from beatsbydre.com/uk/ priced at £149.99