Beats Flex Wireless earbuds don’t just put up a fight against Apple’s AirPods – they make you seriously wonder if it’s even worth splurging on a set of those pricey, completely wireless ones. At $30.01 (down from $65.99) these earbuds serve up a winning combination of ease of use, decent sound quality and comfort that you can’t ignore, especially if you’ve spent all your time fiddling with tiny lost earbuds or wincing at the price tag.
Unlike AirPods – which just dangle there and are always at risk of getting knocked out of your ear while you’re jogging or getting dropped down the couch cushions – the Beats Flex holds its earbuds together with a super slim, flexible cable that rests quietly around your neck. This “Flex-Form” cable, made from ultra-durable Nitinol, keeps the earbuds safely in place – so even if you drop one out of your ear, it won’t disappear into thin air. And when you’re not using them, the magnetic earbuds snap together tidily, automatically pausing playback on your Apple device and resuming as soon as you put them back in place.
The Beats Flex come with four different eartip sizes, so you can get a fit that just feels right for you. If you’ve got tiny ears or find earbuds always slipping out, these options can make all the difference. AirPods, with their one-size-fits-most approach, often leave people with sore ears and a dodgy fit during exercise. The Beats Flex cable also helps take some of the pressure of your ears, spreading the weight across your neck so your ears stay comfy all day long.
The Beats Flex also has sound sorted too – using custom-layered drivers to crank out clear audio with a healthy dose of punchy bass that’s perfect for anything from metal to podcasts. While the AirPods Pro have all the bells and whistles – including active noise cancellation and spatial audio – the Flex does a pretty good job of blocking out background noise with its snug fit.
Battery life is another major win for the Flex, as you can get up to 12 hours of playback on a single charge – that’s 6 hours more than the AirPods (or 4.5 hours if you’ve got spatial audio switched on). Need a quick top-up? You can get an extra 1.5 hours out of a 10-minute charge via USB-C – just what you need when you’re running late. AirPods, on the other hand, rely on their charging case to give them a boost – but that case adds bulk and another thing to keep track of. The Flex, meanwhile, keeps things super simple with its straightforward USB-C charging – which works with both Apple and Android devices.
Connectivity is all taken care of thanks to the Apple W1 chip. Pairing with an iPhone or iPad is as easy as just turning on the Flex near your device – and with iCloud syncing, you can seamlessly switch between your Apple products. Android users aren’t left out either – the Beats app lets you quickly pair and check the battery level of the Flex. Now, it’s worth noting that AirPods also use Apple’s chips for super-smooth pairing – but their fully wireless design can sometimes result in the odd dropout in crowded areas. The Beats Flex’s Class 1 Bluetooth, on the other hand, keeps the connection stable even in the most chaotic environments.
Sharing audio is a feature that really sets the Flex apart for Apple users. With Audio Sharing, you can connect a second pair of Beats or AirPods to your iPhone or iPad, so a friend can listen along. And the built-in microphone is a real standout – with wind reduction to boot, making it easy to have clear calls even when you’re outside.