The Flex have the same battery popup and connection features as Apple’s AirPods on iPhones and iPads, but also on Android devices via the Beats app. The earbuds stick back to back via magnets so pause the music and to help prevent tangled cables when stored. But the Flex do not support Apple’s latest automatic switching between Apple devices, which swaps to whichever device – iPhone, iPad or Mac – that’s currently active.
The simplicity and low price are what makes the Flex so appealing in the first place, though. They’re a great upgrade from the normal wired earbuds that ship with many phones, like the standard EarPods that used to come with iPhones. If you’re still using an old set of wired buds, this is the best upgrade path for you (assuming you’re not willing to drop at least double the price on a set of true wireless buds, of course). They sound pretty good, are incredibly comfortable, and last about 12 hours on average. The Flex-Form cable provides all-day comfort with durable Nitinol construction while four eartip options offer a personalized fit.
Now that we know the iPhone 12 won’t come with any EarPods, there are bound to be some people who will have to rush to buy headphones for their shiny new device. We analyzed a total of 1,751 reviews for this product out of which, 1367 reviews were received in the last 6 months. Beats says a new proprietary acoustic platform offers accurate bass and precision across all frequencies , while the drivers measure 8.2mm. The magnetic buds that debuted on the X make a welcome return, and the cable is a little longer than you might expect as Beats’ style is for it to curl round and sit on either shoulder. Sounds fiddly, but in practice the Flex do this naturally, and that’s down to what they’re made from.
The timing shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, considering Apple owns Beats and it knows most iPhone owners need some sort of headphones or earbuds. Even if it’s a basic pair that gets the job done, without all the bells and whistles like active noise-cancellation. At $11 off, Beats Flex headphones have never been cheaper. They feature the same Apple W1 chip found in the Beats Solo3, a built-in mic, USB-C charging support, and up to 12 hours of battery life on a full charge. Beats work with Apple and Android devices via the free Beats companion app. Unlike “true wireless” earbuds, the Flex are still connected by a fairly long wire that can hang either in front or behind your neck while you wear them .
It uses Bluetooth 5.0 technology to provide low latency audio , which is useful when you want to avoid audio lag (e.g. when playing games). It is capable of a very high bitrate of 990kbps, which provides high resolution audio. It can also automatically adjust to a lower bitrate of 330kbps or 660kbps to increase stability.
Beats has come up with another collaboration, and this time it’s with Amsterdam-based fashion brand Daily Paper. As part of Daily Paper’s spring/summer 2022 collection,… Some say it is because of the sweat as it is not water-resistant.
Available in four fun colors, there’s certainly plenty to love here—especially at this price point. One of the best things about neckbuds is that the actual buds are quite light, which makes for a pretty comfortable fit. True wireless buds have a lot going on under the hood, so they’re often weightier than non-TW earbuds, which leads to more ear fatigue and discomfort. It’s still very beats studio3 much present, though you may be underwhelmed if you’re the “give me all the bass you can stuff into my brain” type of listener. I find the balance to be very good for most listening purposes, but I personally prefer a bit more low end in music than what the Flex offers. That said, it’s not something I’ve noticed myself missing after just a few minutes of listening to the Flex.
The multi-purpose button is located on a different face of the left remote to the volume controls, meaning you never inadvertently press one instead of the other. And this multi-purpose button only very subtly protrudes, so it’s unlikely you’ll knock it by accident. At either end of the U are elongated plastic housings that contain the battery, electronics (including the Apple-designed W1 Bluetooth chip), as well as the USB-C charging port and the power/pairing button. These plastic housings are where Apple has focused most of its redesign (cost-cutting?) efforts.