If you’re an Android user, these connect using Bluetooth but won’t give you the features above. You can hook them up to the Beats app where you can switch features on or off. That’s limited to automatic pausing and playing of the music as well as automatic call answering which will pick up your calls when you detach the buds from one another and put them in your ears.
Unfortunately, they struggle to isolate bass range against noise like bus or plane engines. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, might we also recommend the Beyerdynamic Blue BYRD . This will run you quite a bit more at around $139 USD, but you get an IPX4 rating, aptX codec support and very good sound quality to boot. Beyerdynamic’s Bluetooth earbuds also support multipoint connectivity so you can connect to two devices at once.
There’s no charging case provided with the Flex – which would be a lot to ask at this price – but Apple says the Flex is designed for all-day use, and quotes 12 hours of listening time on a full charge. And, like other Apple and Beats headphones, the Flex has a ‘fast fuel’ feature that gives you 1.5 hours of playback time from a quick 10-minute charge. Connectivity is a hallmark on all Apple-related products, and as I previously mentioned, the W1 chip does a solid job of pairing to devices on multiple platforms.
Well, you have to pair it first before you start listening to your music. You can stream audio such as songs, podcasts, or movies with Beats Flex and another set of Beats or Apple headphones. These are wireless Bluetooth earphones, yet I haven’t explained its Bluetooth till now. People around you cannot hear any sound even if you are listening at a high volume. There is a good amount of focus in the mids around 1000 Hz.
In the last few years, audio technology has progressed drastically, and headphone has become more innovative and offers more features than ever before. Despite a durable plastic coating and six spare silicone tips, it’s worth noting the Flex have no IPX rating, so they’re not sweat or beats flex review water-resistant. A shame, but then neither were the more expensive X, so if you want workout earphones perhaps consider the Powerbeats range. Over in our headphones guide, you’ll still find plenty of other discounts if either of the more affordable earbuds just aren’t going to cut it.
Although the clarity isn’t great, which is probably due to the fact that the integrated microphone is facing into a shirt and not towards your mouth. Basically, the app gives you all the features and settings otherwise baked into iOS (on iOS, you don’t have to download any app, all the settings are already in the Bluetooth menu). That might be a problem if you own an iPhone since they use the Lightning port.
Considering both sides of the wire feature an in-line controller, the Flex are surprisingly light. 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. Speaking of the controls, let’s take a quick look at those. Like pretty much everything else about these, they’re pretty simple. The power button is on the right side, and … that’s literally it. The left side houses the USB-C charging port—a nice departure from other Beats, which rely on Apple’s Lightning cable for charging—the volume rocker and multifunction button.
Upgraders will miss the optional wing tips that were bundled with BeatsX, but Beats Flex still include four ear tip options for a variety of fits. Beats Flex wireless earphones are compatible with Android devices and easily connects via Bluetooth. With the Beats app, available for download in the Google Play Store, you’ll get features like quick-pairing, device status (i.e. battery levels), and firmware updates. And the USB-C charge connector provides a single charging solution across both Android and Apple platforms. These earbuds are essentially an evolution of the neckband-style Beats X from 2017. They now charge via USB-C and have longer battery life , while a ten-minute ‘Fast Fuel’ charge that gives 1.5 hours of playback.
Lee has been Reviewed’s point person for most television and home theater products since 2012. Lee received Level II certification in TV calibration from the Imaging Science Foundation in 2013. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversees reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. He also reviews headphones, and has a background in music performance. The Beats Flex may have a small wire, but they also pack solid sound and big battery life for that stellar price point. You’re getting quality materials and a few key extras, too.
The back of the buds will snap together when they dangle down from your neck. While the Flex doesn’t have wear detection that automatically pauses when you remove them from your ears, they will pause when the two earbuds are stuck together. And the audio will resume on its own when you pull them apart.