Beats Flex review: wireless earbud basics done right

Apart from an aptX codec, the Flybuds C1 lack any other premium features or customization that you find on the Flex. Like all Apple headphones, the Beats Flex use SBC and AAC, the latter being a default Bluetooth codec. Multipoint for seamless switching beats solo pro wireless between devices is possible thanks to the W1 chip, but only between Apple devices. On iOS, you can see a traditional pop-up animation with battery percentage. You can get a similar experience on an Android device if you download the Beats app.

We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you. Where our site links to particular products or displays ‘Go to site’ buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. Beats has a reputation for bass-heavy tuning, but that’s only moderately present in terms of audio presentation. The actual audio is quite pleasant for headphones in this price range, although not to the level of, say, the PowerBeats Pro or Apple’s AirPods Pro.

They’re a distinctly low-cost set of wireless Bluetooth headphones that could be a good match for iPhone 12 buyers, given that Apple no longer includes any level of bundled headphones with its new phones. They’re overall a very capable pair of headphones, although the banded design does introduce some comfort issues, especially if you want to use them on the go. Full Flex functionality is plug, play and all part of the package on most Apple devices, and that includes SBC and ACC support for beats studio3 high-end sound quality. Switch to Android with the free Beats companion app and while you don’t lose any functionality per se, there’s no aptX or aptX HD to bump the Bluetooth audio quality. Don’t worry about the battery life, as a rechargeable lithium-ion battery powers this Beats Flex Wireless Earphones. In our time with these affordable wireless earphones, we struggled with them feeling tight in our ears and there are definitely better earphones if your music is all about the bass.

beats flex review

It does a poor job of rejecting background noise, so you may want to do everyone a favor and either use your smartphone, or get a dedicated headset for extended calls. If you’re on Android, the process is a little different. Apple sneakily includes the easy connect card onto Android phones, but this requires you to download the Beats app first.

It all takes about one to two minutes, and you’re ready. Just press and hold the power button on the right-hand side control module for 1 second. You’ll need to also have your phone open, and Bluetooth turned on.

Thanks to the Apple W1 chip, Beats Flex integrates nicely with iPhone/iPad offering a quick, one-touch setup and seamless interaction within iOS. Beats Flex is available now in Beats Black and Yuzu Yellow, with Smoke Grey and Flame Blue coming early 2021. Earbuds are magnetic which helps when you are not wearing them on your ears, plus has auto-pause/play. Once you turn on the headphones, your phone will give you detailed step-by-step instructions on how to pair them.

While they’re stable enough for light exercise, they don’t have ear tips or stability fins to help keep them in place, unlike the Jaybird Tarah Pro Wirelessor the Beats Powerbeats 4 Wireless. Their companion app also doesn’t offer a lot of extra features either. Apple rates the Beats Flex as being capable of up to 12 hours of battery life, and if you’re using them with an iOS device – or via the Android Beats App – you can track that usage and power draw over time. One of the advantages that a neckband style set has over true wireless buds is that there’s logically a lot more space to put batteries into the Beats Flex, and Apple has clearly taken advantage of this.

It won’t affect battery life in any significant way unless you end up taking them off for the night and forget to power them down with the button. Thinking back to BeatsX, those earphones were introduced beats solo pro wireless in early 2017 with a price tag of $150. While Android users will get a fairly basic Bluetooth earphone experience with Beats Flex, the included W1 chip takes things to the next level for Apple users.

As long as you grab the earbuds the right way, their flat cables keep themselves out of your face. The earbuds themselves are the same size as the BeatsX, though Apple claims there’s a new proprietary layered driver inside. Inside the box, you’ll find the Beats Flex, a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, three sizes of silicone eartips , and some paper documentation including the de rigueur Beats sticker. Still, the overall performance the Beats Flex gives you should warrant a higher price, so consider these buds an uber-generous offer from the trailblazing audio brand.