For just $50 you get all of the conveniences of Apple brand headphones without paying the higher price. With all of that balance and clarity, however, comes a flat sound. Whether you’re listing to Tom Petty or DaBaby, it all sounds the same, and I mean that in a bad way.
As it happens, quite a bit, and yet almost nothing — they certainly stay true to the roots of what the Beats X are and that is a damn good thing. Be sure to follow us on Twitter for the latest deals and more. Sign-up for our newsletters and have our best offers delivered to your inbox daily. Digging out a set of EarPods from the bottom of an old iPhone box – where, I’d wager, most end up staying – I was struck by just how much better the Beats Flex sound. They’re the cheapest point of entry into Beats ownership, the $49.99 price tag half what the old BeatsX would’ve cost you.
Laser cut micro-venting and the off-centre angle of the buds is said to offer ear pressure relief and aid audio delivery. The Flex are based on the Beats X, which cost £130 when they were released three years ago, featuring an early iteration of Apple’s W1 chip. The W1 is still here, but battery life sees a leap from eight to 12 hours, and that’s just one beats solo pro wireless of the many upgrades found on the Flex for a massive £70 saving on its predecessors. So dropping a pair of pocket – and wallet – friendly fifty quid wireless earphones feels completely out of character. And yet here we are, and here are the Flex – we live in unprecedented times. The Beats Flex deliver satisfying sound and have a very good battery life.
On the flip side, you have newer models like the JLab Epic Sport2 crushing it with 20 hours. This isn’t a deal-breaker, especially since Beats’ buds come equipped with USB-C and Fast Fuel charging to net you 1.5 hours of use on a 10-minute beats solo pro wireless charge. You’ll either have to carry around a USB-C charger or a power bank with a USB-C port to recharge on the go, but that’s a small compromise. The Beats app gets zero promotion, and for good reason, as it has very few features.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. However, music listening is pretty pleasant overall especially if you are going to use the Beats Flex for exercising or running around the block. It is not designed for immersive music listening session while you are sitting on the couch with your eyes closed for sure.
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.