In the interest of symmetry, and I would assume to help with battery life, there’s a second rectangular casing on the right side. It holds the power button on the bottom ridge — exactly opposite the USB jack. The button also has a multi-color LED that lets you know when the Flex is charging, connected or in pairing mode.
The right controller handles power, while the left features a rocker button for volume control, the USB-C input, and a small button for play/pause or track skipping. 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 beats flex review 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. For a budget pair of earphones, a lot of thought has gone into the design.
There is, however, a connected tone, so at least you’ll know when they connect. There’s just a weird disconnect between turning them on and waiting for them to connect where it’s not clear if they’re actually on. Although there’s plenty of detail, until they’re turned up rather loud, the Beats Flex rather lack the dynamism and liveliness of more workout-orientated headphones such as the Adidas RPD-01. For Android users, it isn’t as easy, but the Flex work just like any other Bluetooth earphones and can be paired in the usual way. You can also download the Beats mobile app to enable faster pairing, check battery status and install firmware updates.
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 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 beats flex review you find exactly where you left them. For the price, the Beats Flex are a good value that Apple owners, in particular, should strongly consider if they’re looking for a great alternative to buying a set of true wireless earbuds. Until now, the most affordable set of Beats wireless headphones was the $100 BeatsX. As you might expect from an Apple product, using them with an iOS device has its perks.
If anything the brand has become more competitive, with a newly refined sound, cultivated in Cupertino. While these are a budget pair of earbuds , they still maintain that premium look and feel that you’d expect from the company. The rubber neckband feels sturdy while still being flexible, and the earbuds themselves are simple but stylish. The only complaint we have is that the neckband was a little too long for us, which meant it occasionally bunched up and pushed out the earbuds if we were wearing a big coat or scarf. They’re light, as you’d expect from a pair of wireless earbuds, weighing in at 0.66 ounces. There is no bulky carry case to drive that figure up, which is both a positive and negative depending on your point of view, as you also don’t have anywhere convenient to store them when not in use.
We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you. Where our site links to particular products or displays ‘Go to site’ buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. Beats has a reputation for bass-heavy tuning, but that’s only moderately present in terms of audio presentation. The actual audio is quite pleasant for headphones in this price range, although not to the level of, say, the PowerBeats Pro or Apple’s AirPods Pro.
At $50 (£50, around AU$70), you won’t feel bad if you lose them, and they offer most of the same features as other, more expensive Beats buds. They don’t have a deep in-ear fit, and the cable is lightweight and shouldn’t be tiring to wear. Unfortunately, the ear tips can fall out of your ears if they don’t form a good seal, but on the plus side, there are a few different sizes of silicone tips included so you can find the best fit for you. They’re comfortable, lightweight, and can be worn around your neck when you’re on the go.
Beats doesn’t include any kind of pouch with its $50 earbuds, so you’ll just have to carry them loose. Apple has stuck with its W1 headphone chip inside the Beats Flex, giving them the usual instant setup process and synced pairing across devices tied to your iCloud account. It would’ve been nice to have the newer H1 chip, since that’s required for the automatic switching feature between iPhone, iPad, and Mac that’s included as of iOS 14 and macOS Big Sur.
Plenty of far more expensive neckband earphones fail at this basic test. Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks. If you need longer battery life, Sony makes several behind-the-neck models with 15 to 20 hours of battery life, like the bulkier C400 and the WI-C310. At 0.66 ounces, the Beats Flex is lightweight and isn’t cumbersome to wear around the neck when not in use. Your ears won’t feel weighed down when sporting them during exercises.