Throw some First Light by Lindsay Stirling at it and they’re fine and rich. A little classical from Beethoven despite the wildly varying tempos volumes and even cranked up there’s no distortion and the sound is entirely pleasant. Wire-free options also aren’t without their issues; I myself have had trouble with the charging cases on both the base model AirPods and the Pro version.
That’s quite the feature list for a pair of budget earphones but, arguably, the most impressive attribute of the Beats Flex is their sound quality. Third, the microphone itself has been moved to the neckband and is set, recessed, in its own little chamber near your neck, to keep it sheltered from any wind. It’s joined on that left collar by the volume rocker on the top, which is super easy and convenient to use, plus the rounded multi-purpose button which you use to play, pause and skip tracks. To replace the BeatsX wireless neckband earbuds, Beats Flex is an even more paired down set of basic headphones. There isn’t a whole lot going on with these super low-cost headphones, but considering they’re from Apple and they’re part of the Beats line, I could see the Beats Flex being a runaway hit for this holiday season. They’re not mind-blowing, but that’s to be expected from a £50 pair of earbuds.
The Beats Flex are also compatible with Apple’s audio sharing feature, which lets any two W1 or H1-equipped headphones or earbuds listen simultaneously to content from an iOS device. Getting great sound from a set of earbuds depends a lot on how they seal against your ear canal. With four sizes of silicone tips to choose from, most people should be able to get a secure and comfortable fit with the Beats Flex. The default set of tips is the medium size, and these proved to be very comfortable for me.
We think they’re more comfortable than the Beats Flex and more likely to stay snug in your ears. The last feature that’s worth pointing out is that the Beats Flex – like all W1 or H1 Chip headphones – will have iOS’s new audio sharing feature that allows you to share music between two pairs of headphones. It’s not a killer app by any means, but it is nice if you’re in a house with multiple Apple or Beats headphones and like to share music.
Another cool feature is Audio Sharing which lets you share what you’re listening to with other Beats headphones or Apple AirPods. By bringing them near your Apple device, you’ll just need to tap the pop up to activate it, and each of you will be able to control your own volume. Beats really knocked it out of the park with the Power Beats Pro, its first fully wireless earbuds, and then again with the Beats Solo Pro – the company’s first on-ear noise-cancelling headphones. You’d expect the Beats Flex to follow the same trajectory, but in truth they are a different animal in terms of performance and audio quality.
There is one thing that Beats has gotten right with every new wireless earbuds’ release. Right now, I am describing these two features of flex wireless headphones below. A friend of mine was looking for a budget-friendly set of headphones from a well-known brand. He wanted to use them for casual listening but also while doing workouts at the gym, he expected to be pumped up by his favorite jam on occasion. He asked me for my advice for a suitable pair of earphones that would match his needs.
The earbuds’ housing is relatively small and unintrusive. Its smooth surface prevents the in-ear headphones from poking into your ears. Since the cable likes to twist, it’s sometimes difficult to locate the on-device controls. You’re constantly brushing the modules with your fingers searching for the correct button. The Flex earbuds are well designed with a balanced fit featuring two pods either side of a flat, semi-flexible cable that rests on the back of the neck. The earbuds are then connected to the pods via further flat, flexible cables.
The staccato guitar chords hit their mark and will instantly stimulate rhythmic foot taps, while the steady hi-hat and Sting’s isolated vocals are reproduced superbly. I was also impressed by well how the Beats Flex handed the synth basslines on Frank Ocean’s “Swim Good” and opened up the soundscape for the singer to flex his harmonizing talents. Since Beats has been on an IPX4 kick with its last two wireless earbuds releases , we were expecting some form of water-resistant/waterproof protection on the Beats Flex. Beats did mention the USB-C connector is waterproof and that the buttons are sealed to prevent liquid from seeping in. Whether that’s enough assurance to exercise or swim with the buds, well, that’s a risk you may or may not want to take. Personally, I thought the buds staved off excessive sweat well during cardio workouts.
One downgrade from the X to the Flex is the quick charge. Midranges are slightly different too, and they do have a marginally weaker sound to them particularly if you throw a busy track at them with a lot of activity. The real challenge here for me has been more in the ongoing comfort arena, because I found that more than a few hours with a cable pushing against my neck just a bit annoying. Pairing the Beats Flex is a pretty simple process, beats flex review and rather predictably, it’s weighted towards users of Apple devices. If you’ve got a current model iPhone, simply powering up the Beats Flex should be enough to bring up a pop-up window inviting you to pair as needed. Apple does provide support for Android users who will need to pair through their device’s Bluetooth menu, along with an Android Beats app that handles pairing with a single touch and allows for firmware upgrades.
You also can’t charge your Beats Flex from your iPhone or iPad. These devices use the Apple lightning connector, which is also not compatible with your USB-C port. Honestly, I think it’s a great idea to pick up an extra cable anyway, in case you lose yours in the future.