They’ve done a lot to shake that association in recent years though, and we think that Beats Flex offers a pretty solid performance for the cost. The earbuds themselves are magnetic, attaching to each other back to back when not in use. The neckband is also flat and designed to prevent your Beats Flex headphones getting tangled up when they’re in your pocket, and let us just say thank the lord for that.
Unfortunately these songs also highlight how anemic the mids sound, so proceed with caution. On that note, there’s also no real way to tweak the EQ if you’re not happy with the default sound – which is a bit of a bummer. Well, you can use the multi-feature button, but the Beats Flex are also equipped with a sensor that will automatically pause the music when you take them off, and resume the music when you put them beats studio3 back on. Not only is that handy, but it can save you a ton of battery life, too. Beats has shown great commitment to enhancing sound on its audio products, beginning with the well-received Studio3 and carrying that momentum over to its revamped Powerbeats lineup. The Beats Flex doesn’t follow suit or live up to its “powerful sound” claims, boasting a flat signature that favors video content and podcasts over music.
I half wondered if Apple mistakenly underpriced these when I saw the price, or perhaps had compromised them to get a lower price, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find that it isn’t the case. I’ve yet to see another pair of earphones at the price point that offers such a balance of features and respectable audio. There are a few sacrifices made along the way, unsurprisingly.
A small left side indicator, a grill for a microphone, and a play/pause/skip button. Both earbuds also stick together with the help of magnets. That gives them additional functionality you can adjust in settings. First of all, Beats Flex have 3 different physical buttons built into the 2 control modules.
The only significant shortcoming considering their low price is that the Flex don’t come with any waterproofing. 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. If you need longer battery life, Sony makes several behind-the-neck models with hours of battery life, like the bulkier C400 and the WI-C310. There’s some added thump to the drum loop, and the sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat are delivered with power and depth—these earphones will not disappoint lovers of boosted bass.
And despite 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.
Thankfully the anti-tangle cable design works, and the cable shouldn’t ball into a giant knot in your pocket. Looks similar to the BeatsX, there are a couple of notable design changes. As a result, the earphones feel better balanced and you don’t have that impulse to pull the microphone closer to your mouth when you’re making calls. They don’t offer the better sound quality boasted by Apple’s higher-end tech, and their design certainly won’t suit everyone, but for the price, they’re an absolute steal. Give it something a little less intensive from Shift K3Y and the sound is great.
The circular one controls the playback and calls Siri the voice assistant, the on/off button is for power and pairing, and the rocker is to adjust volume. These earphones have Apple’s W1 wireless chip, not the newer H1 or U1, which beats flex review also acts as a way for iPhones to precisely track the location of devices. This will no doubt prove to be an excellent addition to a pair of future Apple or Beats headphones, letting you find exactly where you left them.
Another big feather in the Beats Flex’s cap is the quality of the materials and the overall design. Apple sent us the “Yuzu Yellow” model for testing, and while the coloration is pleasingly subdued , I’m just as impressed by the build quality and intuitive control placement. An advanced acoustic platform featuring custom layered drivers provides premium sound with ultra-low distortion and rich, accurate bass. MacRumors attracts a broad audience of both consumers and professionals interested in the latest technologies and products. We also boast an active community focused on purchasing decisions and technical aspects of the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Mac platforms.
A conquered continuing from the bass range to the low mid can be found. These earphones utilize a dual-chamber acoustic design and a layered driver to attain outstanding stereo separation with rich and precise bass response. When you buy a new pair of earphones, their comfortability must be a great concern for you. Before going through the in-depth Beats earbuds review, I am going to mention some key specs and their pros – cons. When you purchase through our links we may earn a commission. Fast charging technologies, like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge or MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to reduce the time it takes to charge a device.