Let’s kick off with the positives as there’s certainly plenty to like about these new budget Beats. First, they include Apple’s clever W1 chip which means, straight out of the box, they will connect seamlessly with your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Simply switch them on, hold them close to your Apple gadget and you’ll see an image of the Flex pop-up on the screen with a single button to pair the earphones. So, you can pick-up an iPad and not have to worry about pairing the Beats Flex all over again. The Apple W1 chip seamlessly integrates Beats Flex to your Apple devices as well if you are using an iPhone or iPad.
However, classical music fans might find their favorite violinist doesn’t sound as full and vivacious here. When you purchase through our links we may earn a commission. At just £50, these beats studio3 are earphones that fall very much within impulse purchase territory. And in even better news, they’ve carried on the brand’s recent good form in being very good everyday earphones indeed.
The latter are pretty well sorted already, but the Flex could use a little help in the audio department. Of course, these are $50 earbuds, so it’s no surprise there’s not an adjustable equalizer. Beats hasn’t done that in the past, and the Flex would be a weird place to start. As is typical with Beats headphones, there’s no companion app on iOS with the Flex. Instead, the company includes everything right inside the Settings menu on iPhone and iPad.
However, they still offer more than other wireless earbuds at this price range. Magnetic earbuds also serve as a feature, primarily for pausing your playback or answering phone calls.Another thing users mention is that the battery likes to swell and burst open the control module. The Beats Flex are Apple’s latest neckband Bluetooth earbuds, and bring many of the fancy features of beats studio3 its AirPods to headphones costing just one third of the price. The Beats app gets zero promotion, and for good reason, as it has very few features. There are only two toggle controls, which are tied to automatic playback and call management. Besides that, you can rename the buds, register them online, view the battery level indicator, or experience a quick tour of the controls.
True wireless devices have no cables connecting any part of the device together. This is an important distinction as some wireless earbuds have cables connecting the two earbuds together. These in-ears are pliable, lightweight, and barely noticeable when you sit with them around the back of your neck. And that’s always been the joy and convenience of any neckband earbuds worth their salt. You should be able to wear them around your neck all day, without noticing them, then pop one or both in when you want to listen to music or make a call. Apple’s W1 chip connects your Beats Flex to Siri, so you can ask about the weather or the time, get directions, and more.
What’s more, the wires that connect the buds seem too long to me. The extra length either flares out from your face or hugs your jawline depending on which way you spin the earbud to put it in your ear. I understand Beats is aiming for universal fit for millions of potential users here, but for me, this created a pretty weird look I never got used to. More so, earbuds offer active noise cancellation and ambient sound mode.
As you’d expect for earphones from an Apple-owned brand, the Beats Flex support the AAC codec but not apt-X. And, thanks to their built-in microphone, they also double up as a Bluetooth headset, so you can take calls and speak to your phone’s virtual assistant. The Beats Flex are a good option for casual music and podcast listeners. You can find a great connection with solid battery life and USB-C charging at such an affordable price.