The Flex, despite being drastically cheaper than the Beats X, sport upgraded audio, including a new driver and laser-cut vents on each bud to relieve ear pressure. Beats has also improved the digital processor that tunes your tunes, and the results are well-balanced. On a layered track with a lot going on like “I Know the End” by Phoebe Bridgers, the Flex easily separated the horns, rollicking guitar, drums, and Bridgers’ screams. The same was true of Fleetwood Mac’s “Silver Springs,” in which the percussion, piano, and guitars backing Stevie Nicks’ impassioned chorus were clear and distinct. We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service.
The boosted bass response is noticeable in the song No Fear No More by Madeon. When I sit in my quiet room, unencumbered by external noise, the bassline sounds overpowering. This makes sense because bass notes are tuned to sound twice as loud as low-midrange notes. However, it plays to my advantage when I walk to the grocery store because I can more easily keep tabs on the main beat. My ears work best with the double-flanged tips, but your mileage may vary. As long you don’t plan on working out with this, the fit shouldn’t pose much of an issue.
Far more so than the AirPods Pro, which also uses this in-ear style and I can happily keep in my ears until they run out of battery. This is very much a personal thing though, and if you’re fine with in-ear buds these will likely be ok for you too. What I do like though is that when you’re not wearing the buds, they clip together magnetically and hang down by your chest meaning they’re always within easy reach. I would beats solo pro wireless say the design is better for gym-goers and runners as there’s less chance of a bud accidentally falling out, however the lack of any sweat resistance disappoints in this regard. Beats has a reputation for doubling-down on the low end, but the Beats Flex are actually a lot more balanced. You don’t get the heavy punch that more expensive earbuds can deliver, but the bass is measured and precise, without getting flabby.
There are four total pairs of silicone eartips included, in various sizes. In addition to the eartips, there’s a short USB-C cable for charging, which connects to an uncovered port on the left compartment. The Beats Flex earphones offers a bass-forward sound signature and the easy connectivity of Apple’s W1 chip for just $50. Although they’re just small earbuds, they pack a 14-hour battery life, 2 hours more than the Flex. On top of extensive controls, the app also lets you enable the auto play feature when magnetically attaching both earbuds. Of course, looking at the price, your expectations have to be relatively low.
If you just need something inexpensive that plays music, Beats Flex fills the role. Sound quality is where Beats Flex loses a lot of points, in my book. 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.