Magnetic earbuds make listening that much easier by automatically playing music when they’re in your ears and pausing when they’re attached around your neck1. There’s one thing to note, though, as Apple doesn’t make any mention of IP rating for water or sweat-resistance – and none of its promotional photos for the Flex shows them being used for exercise either. So the emphasis here seems to be more on general use when you’re out and about during the day, rather than on sport or exercise.
The iPhone 12 may have got the headlines, but Beats Flex demonstrate that what’s left out can be just as important as what’s left in. It’s more flexible and convenient, plus the Flex-Form cable is extremely lightweight and made of durable Nitinol material. You can nicely place them around the neck or collar and they are quite comfortable to wear, as if the cable fits the body shape and pleasant to the touch. I always like to give an honest review from a neutral position. I hope my may help you to choose the right earbuds.
The dual-chamber acoustic design with laser cut micro-venting and digital processor make the Beats Flex sound … I never thought I’d say I like the sound of AirPods better, but in this case, I do. For a broader look at Apple’s audio range, read our guide to theBest Beats headphones.
If someone starts loving features such as Audio Sharing, or the general fit and aesthetic of the Flex, perhaps that’ll lead them to eventually upgrade to its top-of-the-line pairs. And if not, the Flex is good enough to stand on their own, even if their sound is average and they don’t come with more premium features such as noise-cancellation. Beats Flex are a great match for Apple Watch SE, iPhone SE, or even those times when you misplace your AirPods and really don’t want to drop a couple hundred dollars on wireless headphones. Finally, the microphone is positioned inside the case, far enough from the mouth, but still allows to obtain good sound quality for phone calls. The Beats Flex’s Apple’s W1 allows for seamless pairing with Apple devices. And like Apple AirPods, they support Audio Sharing so you can listen with a friend who also has Beats headphones or AirPods.
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. Once you download the app and give it the appropriate permissions, then you’ll be walked through a similar pairing experience as you would on iOS.
They are significantly cheaper than their predecessors and Apple’s AirPods, but little has been sacrificed in sound or function. The headphones have simple pairing, seamless switching and a strong Bluetooth connection. They work just as well with Android devices, thanks to the Beats app, as they do Apple ones. The Beats app on Android offers many of the same features as available on an iPhone, including assistance with pairing and battery status popups, as well as handling updates and various settings. In the world of true wireless Bluetooth earbuds, the older-style neckband models typically occupy the cheaper end of the market.
That’s a really handy feature if you want to while away long flights and train journeys by watching TV and films together. Beats Flex represent a different approach from the premium audio company, and it’s one that it has mostly nailed here. They offer solid audio output, good battery life and that all important style factor. Realistically, you can get the same or better audio for cheaper elsewhere though, so whether these are right for you is down to style versus substance.
The vocals are delivered cleanly and clearly, though some sibilance is added to the mix. The earphones are compatible with Bluetooth 5.0 and support AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs, but not AptX. A Class 1 Bluetooth rating means they support connections up to 300 feet, which is well beyond the typical 30-foot range you get with most Class 2 Bluetooth devices.
Of course, there are still some features only reserved for Apple users, like Apple’s easy pairing feature, and Audio Sharing. Magnets that hold earbuds together can also pose a minor cosmetic problem. After constantly clapping the buds together, you might create scratches. Of course, that’s only cosmetics and doesn’t impact performance. Furthermore, every wired headphone’s weak point are strain reliefs.
My preference would just be a cable that hangs under my neck or around the back of my neck. The neckband got in the way during activities with a lot of movement (especially crunches!). The linguini cord goes where it wants to and ends up rubbing against our chin. The original Beats X sold beats solo pro wireless for around £120-£130 in the UK, and over the last few years they’ve slowly slipped down to £60-£90 depending on where you looked. The new Beats Flex rock out of the gate at just £49, a significantly lower entry point and makes them a really affordable set of wireless earphones.