There’s a slight peak between the low to mid-treble, but it shouldn’t be very noticeable. All ranges fall within acceptable limits, which should result in clean and pure audio reproduction. It includes a lot of functions, but isn’t the most intuitive. There are audio cues for some commands, but the multi-purpose button on the left module used for most functions isn’t very clicky.
The lack of aptX support is frustrating, but AAC is perfectly acceptable at this price point. I think Beats, after including basically the same ear tips for years, could get a little more innovative in that department. The buds, which are lightweight and generally comfortable to wear, beats solo pro wireless magnetically clasp together. Your music automatically pauses when they’re clasped and unpauses when you pull them apart. Some people have complained that the BeatsX’s magnets weren’t strong enough, but the Flex’s buds adhere together nicely, so the magnets appear to be stronger.
Comfort is great, and you can wear them all day long without experiencing fatigue. However, the fit isn’t ideal, as earbuds quickly pop out during light sports activities. Speaking of chips, despite having one, a companion app for Android gives you the ability to check battery status percentages and lets you customize features, just like on an iOS device. A quick 10-minute charge will give you an hour and a half of music.
It’s a simple enough configuration—the indicator light near the power button turns red when you have less than one hour of battery left, and flashes red when you’re running out of juice. Beats Flex is a good pair of headphones and a decent choice if you’re picking up an iPhone 12 and don’t want to spend more on AirPods. The smarts that come from the W1 chip is great to have at this price and the sound quality is ok, if a bit flat. (This isn’t really about comfort, but whatever.) It’s also a simple sort of app—there’s no EQ or customizable controls, really.
You only have to turn the Beats Flex on for the initial pairing, and they show up in your Bluetooth menu. Not only do you get a reliable range, but there’s also no visible audio lag in both videos and mobile games, even on Android devices. Thanks to silicone ear tips with a wider dome, they completely seal off the ear canal. The difference in background noise loudness before and after is quite noticeable. The app even adds functionalities to Android users, which are otherwise reserved for iOS.
With a 10-minute charge, you receive 1.5 hours’ worth of playtime. However, as soon as you start jumping or running, beats flex review the neckband jumps too. Consequently, it starts moving from left to right, loosening the grip of the earbuds.
However, we would have liked the cable between the two boxes to be a little longer, especially if it rests on a jacket and not directly on the neck. Beats Flex wireless earphones are an affordable alternative to the brand’s $150 Powerbeats. Right now, you can nab them for an incredibly low price before Prime Day.
Simply switch them on, hold them close to your Apple gadget and you’ll see an image of the Flex pop-up on the screen with a single button to pair the earphones. So, you can pick-up an iPad and not have to worry about pairing the Beats Flex all over again. It’s too early to know if Beats Flex will overcome the reputation that BeatsX gained for being not-so-durable. There’s no water resistance rating like Powerbeats and AirPods Pro offer, but the $49 Beats Flex price is a better fit than the original $149 BeatsX price.