Beats Flex review
Our Verdict
At $fifty, the Beats Flex is a requite-me, requite-me buy with solid overall performance.
For
- Lengthy bombardment life
- Instantaneous, reliable connectivity
- Potent mics for calls and digital banana use
- Intuitive, responsive controls
- Superb sound for movies and podcasts
Against
- Audio for music could be better
- No IP rating
Tom's Guide Verdict
At $50, the Beats Flex is a give-me, requite-me purchase with solid overall performance.
Pros
- +
Lengthy battery life
- +
Instantaneous, reliable connectivity
- +
Strong mics for calls and digital assistant utilize
- +
Intuitive, responsive controls
- +
Superb sound for movies and podcasts
Cons
- -
Audio for music could exist improve
- -
No IP rating
The Beats Flex is a a modernized (and more affordable) take on the brand's highly pop BeatsX earbuds. To that end, it borrows several cues from its predecessor while welcoming new improvements.
This fix of buds has an attractive design, steady playtimes, seamless pairing to iDevices, and some pretty good call quality, helping put information technology among the best cheap earbuds you lot tin can buy — and the best conditioning headphones too. Even so, it not perfect. As our Beats Flex review explains, inconsistent audio performance theatens to put a downer on things, though at this price it would exist foolish to look past altogether.
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Beats Flex specs
Colors: Blackness, Flame Blue, Smoke Grayness, Yuzu Yellow
Battery life (rated): 12 hours
Size: 4.2 x 0.6 10 34 inches (including cable)
Weight: 0.seven ounces
Connectivity: Bluetooth v.0
Processor: Apple tree W1 chip
Beats Flex review: Toll and availability
The Beats Flex is available at the incredibly low price of $50 and sold exclusively at Apple or Beats. You have a choice of four colors: Blackness, Flame Blue, Smoke Gray, Yuzu Yellowish.
Bundled with the earbuds are a USB-C charge connector, quick start guide, warranty carte du jour, and four sets of ear tips, in various sizes. A carrying pouch would have been greatly appreciated.
Beats Flex review: Design
I get it, wires aren't sexy, simply if this is a production that y'all're considering owning, and then the concept of wires isn't going to sway your decision. The Beats Flex shares a similar silhouette to the BeatsX, though in that location are some noticeable changes.
Beats keeps the full plastic construction intact, along with the tangle-costless wire and magnetized earbud housing, all of which still feel premium. You'll observe the inline mic and multifunctional button on the left module accept been modified for enhanced usability; no more pulling the mic close to your mouth on phone calls.
In terms of style, these are some of the most attractive buds in any price class or category, thank you to Beats' portfolio of assuming, eye-grabbing colors. Flame Blueish and Yuzu Yellow will definitely exist the 2 most popular options for ornate music listening. Black and Smoke Grayness look pretty basic, just what is basic for Beats headphones is withal trendy; the signature B logo is practically synonymous with aspirational lifestyle.
Since Beats has been on an IPX4 kicking with its final 2 wireless earbuds releases (Powerbeats 4, Powerbeats Pro), we were expecting some form of h2o-resistant/waterproof protection on the Beats Flex. Unfortunately, at that place is no IPX rating. Beats did mention the USB-C connector is waterproof and that the buttons are sealed to prevent liquid from seeping in. Whether that's enough assurance to do or swim with the buds, well, that's a run a risk you may or may not desire to take. Personally, I thought the buds staved off excessive sweat well during cardio workouts.
Beats Flex review: Condolement and fit
At 0.66 ounces, the Beats Flex is lightweight and isn't cumbersome to wear around the cervix when not in use. Your ears won't feel weighed down when sporting them during exercises. I would say the comfort level is moderate, as I noticed the inner casing was adding slight pressure to the concha. This will just cause issues if you have a depression pain threshold or use the earbuds for longer than ii hours.
The inclusion of four ear tip options provides a variety of fits to accommodate different ear shapes. Sure, information technology would accept been awesome if Beats added some of the wing tips bundled with the BeatsX, but that doesn't take abroad from the Vanquish Flex's acceptable fit. If yous're worried about them slipping out during runs, don't, because the tips grip onto the ear canal and the modules on each side exercise a fantastic job with weight distribution to keep the buds stabilized.
Beats Flex review: Controls and digital assistant
The Beats Flex makes the most of its real manor, having a vast number of programmed controls that are shared between two modules. The left module takes on the majority of functionality, conveying book rockers on the side, along with a wide microphone grille and MF button to execute the following commands: play/pause (1x printing), skip track (2x press), previous track (3x press), and digital assistant (long press). All you need to know is that the buttons are highly responsive and produce excellent tactility. Good stuff here, Beats.
These buds besides take their own automatic playback/call management arrangement that will suspension/resume music or answer/finish calls when snapping the buds together. No, this isn't the same as wear detection, where all you would need to practise is remove the buds from your ears to finish music. It'southward intuitive and serviceable for when you want to stop songs to engage in brief chats.
As with all Apple audio products, Siri operates flawlessly on the Beats Flex. Beats' advanced mic is capable of picking upwards vocals in loud environments, letting Apple's AI piece of work its magic. Ane of the biggest surprises was how well Google Assistant worked on these buds, awarding me the same authentic functioning equally Siri, only on my Google Pixel 3 XL. Yous'll exist able to shout out voice commands and have care of common tasks like setting up agenda invites or voice-to-text friends with ease.
Beats Flex review: Audio quality
Beats has shown great delivery to enhancing audio on its sound products, commencement with the well-received Studio3 and carrying that momentum over to its revamped Powerbeats lineup. The Beats Flex doesn't follow adapt or live up to its "powerful sound" claims, boasting a flat signature that favors video content and podcasts over music.
Beats says it developed new acoustic drivers to produce "accurate bass and precision across the frequency curve," though the results are more miss than hit. Ofttimes, I heard some hissing on older recordings, or the reverberation on sure tracks (ex. Chaka Demus & Pliers "Murder She Wrote") created semblances of distortion. The live bass on A Tribe Called Quest's "Blackness Spasmodic" didn't land the aforementioned as it did on more warm-tuned earbuds like the Powerbeats four or Jaybird Tarah, and it even hindered clarity, which made the rappers' vocals sound filtered.
When finding the right tracks, these buds showed me the type of sound quality Beats set out to engineer. Pull upwardly The Police'due south "Roxanne" to hear what I'm talking almost. The staccato guitar chords hit their marking and will instantly stimulate rhythmic foot taps, while the steady how-do-you-do-hat and Sting's isolated vocals are reproduced superbly. I was as well impressed by well how the Beats Flex handed the synth basslines on Frank Body of water's "Swim Skilful" and opened up the soundscape for the singer to flex his harmonizing talents.
Again, the best audio is experienced outside of music, with Beats' drivers emphasizing vocals to hear dialogue better. I loved using these buds to take in my daily dose of political news via CNN clips, along with other YouTube content I normally binge during downtimes. Even poorly recorded podcasts like The Game Informer Show received a heave in clarity.
I aspect the cleaner audio presentation and small glimpses of bass resonance to the Beats Flex's nifty isolation. A proper fit establishes a tight seal that blocks out ambient noise from coming into the soundscape, and so you can enjoy full sound to the best of the buds' capabilities.
Beats Flex review: App and special features
The Beats app (iOS, Android) gets naught promotion, and for good reason, as it has very few features. There are only two toggle controls, which are tied to automatic playback and call management. Besides that, you can rename the buds, register them online, view the battery level indicator, or feel a quick tour of the controls. Firmware updates are available too.
Where the real functionality comes into play is in Apple'south W1 chip. Information technology's the older sibling to the more than powerful and faster H1 bit institute in the AirPods Pro and contempo Powerbeats models, but it's nevertheless a smoother operator. Apple'due south like shooting fish in a barrel-pairing characteristic gets you instantly connected to whatsoever iPhone or iPad linked to your iCloud business relationship. Bluetooth v.0 integration also makes it simpler to pair with Android smartphones, which is a major plus since Apple has made information technology frustratingly difficult to get older Beats headphones and AirPods running on Google'southward mobile Os.
Audio sharing is available as well, significant yous tin can stream audio from one device onto a second pair of Beats headphones or AirPods. That's about it. You don't get any of new software perks that H1-equipped devices currently have like automatic switching or standard features (east.g. adaptable EQ, customizable controls) establish on competitor models.
Beats Flex review: Battery life
If in that location's one thing that Beats has gotten correct with every new wireless earbuds' release, it'south bombardment life. The Beats Flex doesn't disappoint, rated at 12 hours on a full charge. Based on my testing, it'due south really near xi hours, which is still highly sufficient for those who want a week'due south worth of playback before charging. I used the earbuds for almost ane.5 hours daily over the form of v days and even so had 30% power left in the tank. That was plenty to jump on two very long Skype calls before charging.
Battery direction is impressive as well. I saw battery life drop from sixty% to 55% when using the buds sporadically during a two-hour span. You can even leave them paired to a device for hours, inactive, and the battery levels will barely drib.
The Beats Flex delivers college playtimes than popular models in its price range like the Jaybird Tarah (6 hours) and Jaybird X4 (8 hours), even the BeatsX (viii hours). On the flip side, you lot have newer models like the JLab Epic Sport2 crushing information technology with 20 hours. This isn't a deal-breaker, especially since Beats' buds come up equipped with USB-C and Fast Fuel charging to cyberspace you 1.5 hours of use on a ten-infinitesimal charge. Y'all'll either accept to carry around a USB-C charger or a ability bank with a USB-C port to recharge on the go, but that'southward a small compromise.
Beats Flex review: Call quality and connectivity
Beats' upgraded mic array does provide improved voice calling, though the Beats Flex's call quality remains a level below whatever of the Powerbeats models and the BeatsX. When taking my wife's calls outside, she could hear my voice clearly, but too heard the external noises effectually me; the construction taking identify next door and wind were unavoidable. She did praise the volume levels and liked that even with such distractions, I was still audible. Existence on Zoom calls inside the business firm was more rewarding, with a few clients complimenting how loud and clear I sounded.
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. What nigh wireless range? I'm glad you asked. The standard stable connection for most true wireless earbuds is about 30 to 35 feet abroad from an audio source, and these buds surpass that marking past about x feet. It felt joyous and liberating to stream music around the house while my telephone was charging in the bedroom. I didn't experience whatever dropout during calls, nor was at that place whatsoever stuttering when streaming Spotify.
Beats Flex review: Verdict
No affair the strengths or weaknesses, the reality is that consumers are going to consider buying the Beats Flex based solely on one cistron: toll. It'due south the truth. So, is Beats' newest release worth the $50? Definitely. And with that said, y'all can balance assured knowing there volition be plenty of goodness that comes from the purchase.
This includes a fashion-forwards blueprint with personalized fit, lengthy battery life, strong mics for effective call quality and Siri use, and exceptional connectivity on both iOS and Android. Yous merely take to exist aware that while audio is decent, at that place are other better-sounding, characteristic-laden models available at the same cost signal.
All the same, the overall performance the Beats Flex gives you should warrant a college price, then consider these buds an uber-generous offer from the trailblazing audio brand.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/beats-flex
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