One of the first questions to ask of any pair of earphones to use while you work out is whether they will stay in place as you run, or jump about at the gym. Dspite not carrying an IP rating for dust or water protection, a source at Beats tells me the Flex are in fact quite capable of dealing with a sweaty workout. The USB-C charging port is waterproof and the controls have all been sealed against moisture. Positioned on the left earbud wire, it was ideally located to capture speech. The Beats Flex are almost as good, but the location of the mic on the Flex neckband does result in slightly worse quality.
That’s likely a deliberate decision so that they don’t cannibalise the sales of the pricer Powerbeats and Powerbeats Pro, which are squarely aimed at the fitness market. They’re billed as a Class 1 Bluetooth device, meaning they’ll deliver a range of at least 20 metres, and that seems to be in keeping with what I’ve experienced. I always like to give an honest review from a neutral position. I hope my Beats Flex review may help you to choose the right earbuds.
Your voice sounds boxy, thin, and somewhat dull or indistinct. Stay tuned to the world you love with all-day wireless Beats Flex Earbuds. Built-in microphone with wind reduction for elevated voice clarity. In short, Apple bought the Beats in 2014 for a huge amount of money. Apple released a few Beats products after this initiation.
The earphones look like they’d be good for the gym, but there’s actually no IP rating, so we can’t recommend wearing them in the rain, getting them sweaty, or rinsing them off. That said, Beats reps inform us that the USB-C connector is waterproof, and the buttons are sealed to prevent potential liquid ingress. So there is a degree of water resistance here, but without a rating to give us a concrete idea of just how water resistant the earphones are, you’d be wise to avoid getting them wet. The in-ear fit is secure, particularly because the design eliminates any cable tug.
The plastic feels hard and of good quality, with all the pieces tightly glued together. You shouldn’t experience any problems during regular use, where the neck band doesn’t beats flex review move much. You can hear instruments and effects slightly out of your head. While the MiniDSP H.E.A.R.S measured a considerable boost in the bass, it isn’t so bad.
Unfortunately, they lack an EQ to help tweak their sound to your liking. Headphones store-bought and tested, supported by you via insider access, and when you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Ear tips don’t have integrated wings to lock buds in your ears.
For just $50 you get all of the conveniences of Apple brand headphones without paying the higher price. With all of that balance and clarity, however, comes a flat sound. Whether you’re listing to Tom Petty or DaBaby, it all sounds the same, and I mean that in a bad way.
Because these are just so cheap, you can’t expect them to sound amazing. They hardly compare to their more expensive Beats counterparts. The sound focuses on the high-end and low end while ignoring the mids, which can make some tracks sound a little empty. Because they sit inside your ear canal, they do isolate noise well though which means you can focus on the music without any distractions. Speaking of weird, because the wire is stiff, I found myself fiddling with the buds way more than necessary.
Plus, they’re designed for workouts, so you don’t have to worry about mucking these up. One downside is they only last for six hours on a charge. On Android, you’ll need to download the Beats app from the Google Play Store. Once installed, you’ll have access to quick pairing, battery levels and any firmware updates that may come along in the future. What you can’t do on either iOS or Android is adjust the EQ or customize the on-board controls.