They have wires connecting the earbuds to each other but Bluetooth to the phone. It goes without saying, but at this price the Beats Flex also doesn’t offer noise cancellation, either. He currently focuses on audio, reviewing the most coveted headphones in the market for both Tom’s Guide and Laptop Magazine. Beats’ upgraded mic array does provide improved voice calling, though the Beats Flex’s call quality remains a level below any of the Powerbeats models and the BeatsX.
Apple products are always expensive, so we were pleasantly surprised by the £99/$99 price tag of the newHomePod mini. And, without making any big fuss, the Apple-owned Beats By Dr Dre has released another product that offers great value for money, in the form of the new Beats Flex earbuds. On the contrary, I’d argue the Beats Flex offer a more enjoyable listen than the pricier Powerbeats beats solo pro wireless Pro, high praise indeed for a pair of headphones that cost less than a third of the price. Despite that, they’re comfortable to wear for extended periods and the earbuds are magnetic so they’ll stay locked together around your neck when not in use. Rather neatly, they’ll also pause the music automatically when clipped together and play again when you pull them apart.
Pair that with low weight and you have the perfect mix for a runner’s fit. Our Halloween Tidal playlist continues to Danny Elfman’s orchestral original score, Tales From The Crypt, and the brass section comes through musically strong and full-bodied. The cymbal crashes, darting strings and woodwinds feel slightly recessed, but it’s a competent performance nevertheless. So, while Android users get a basic Bluetooth experience, Apple’s W1 chip here elevates things to the next level for iOS users. Audio Sharing, which lets you connect two pairs of compatible AirPods and Beats to a single device, to simultaneously listen to the same content, is another bonus.
The $50 I spent on these was more than worth it considering I almost bought a pair of Samsung ear buds for $180. These may not be the best sounding headphones from Beats, and the neckband feels like too much extra, but the price is nothing to sneeze at. As for treble and midrange, that’s really where these ‘buds have the biggest impact. Cameron Summerson is Review Geek’s former Editor in Cheif and first started writing for LifeSavvy Media in 2016. Cam’s been covering technology for nearly a decade and has written over 4,000 articles and hundreds of product reviews in that time. He’s been published in print magazines and quoted as a smartphone expert in the New York Times.
You may have forgotten, but Apple bought Beats a few years ago for a lot of money. And while the company puts most of its efforts into the AirPods and AirPods Pro, it hasn’t completely forgotten about the Beats brand. The new Beats Flex is basically a tweaked pair of BeatsX at a lower price point. The Beats Flex has Apple-exclusive features, but it also plays well with Android phones. Attached to the Flex cable are two buttons that let you adjust the volume, control playback and activate the voice assistant, which is particularly handy when you’re on the move. IF YOU’RE looking for a pair of cheap wireless earphones to get a loved one for Christmas, you could do a lot worse than the Beats Flex.
There’s no “Hey Siri” built-in, no carrying case, no wireless charging, and they lack the more advanced microphone and voice isolating technology. That said, they sound great, offer good noise isolation, a great battery, and are both sweat and water-resistant. Plus, USB-C charging is more future-proof than any other Apple headphones right now. They’re great for the price if you’re looking for everyday headphones that sound good and last through workouts.
You only have to turn the Beats Flex on for the initial pairing, and they show up in your Bluetooth menu. Not only do you get a reliable range, but there’s also no visible audio lag in both videos and mobile games, even on Android devices. Thanks to beats flex review silicone ear tips with a wider dome, they completely seal off the ear canal. The difference in background noise loudness before and after is quite noticeable. The app even adds functionalities to Android users, which are otherwise reserved for iOS.
Earbuds lack an official IPX rating or sweat resistance, meaning that even a sweaty workout can pose a problem. That’s primarily due to the neckband, which adds to the weight and can start pulling on earbuds. However, for the price, not everything can be perfect, and beats flex review the overall decent sound quality of the Flex lacks clarity, detail, and transparency. The Beats Flex are one of the easiest-to-recommend pairs of Beats headphones to date. That’s mostly because of the price, of course, but there are no major mis-steps here either.