Beats Beats Flex vs Beats urBeats (2012)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| BeatsBeats Flex | BeatsurBeats (2012) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | October 2020 | 2012 |
| Sound | ||
| Type | In-ear | In-ear |
| Noise cancelling | No | No |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC and AAC | None (wired) |
| Noise cancelling detail | – | Passive isolation from fitted ear tips; no active noise cancelling. |
| Chip | Apple W1 | – |
| Drivers | Layered drivers with dual-chamber acoustics and pressure-relief microvents | – |
| Audio features | Apple Audio Sharing; magnetic auto-play and pause; no active noise cancellation (TechRadar) | Flat analogue audio cable (iPhoneItalia). |
| Battery | ||
| Listening time (maker's claim) | Up to 12 hours | No battery (wired) |
| Battery life detail | Rechargeable lithium-ion battery; Apple's playback test used 256 Kbps AAC tracks at 50% volume | – |
| Fast charging | A 10-minute USB-C Fast Fuel charge gives up to 1.5 hours of playback | – |
| Design | ||
| Headphone cable | – | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | – |
| Two devices at once | No | – |
| Controls | On-device playback, call, volume and voice-assistant controls | Cable remote supports playback, track selection, scanning, volume, calls and voice commands on compatible devices; available functions vary by device. |
| Microphones | Built-in microphone with wind reduction | Microphone built into the remote cable. |
| Fit and ear tips | Nitinol Flex-Form neckband cable; four ear-tip sizes; magnetic earbuds | In-ear fit with interchangeable tips in different sizes and designs; metal earpiece housings (iPhoneItalia). |
| Dimensions | 16 mm height; 18.6 g for the complete earphones and cable, rather than one earbud | – |
| Water resistance detail | No water or sweat resistance rating published | – |
| Works with | Apple W1 and Class 1 Bluetooth; Apple Find My and Beats app for Android; Bluetooth 5.0, SBC and AAC codecs and no simultaneous Bluetooth multipoint (SoundGuys) | 3.5 mm headphone plug. The original APAC guide lists compatible iPod, iPhone, iPad, HTC, BlackBerry and Android devices. This entry follows the retail version rather than the HTC bundle's different remote. Apple's August 2012 retail price list already includes black and white urBeats; an October announcement therefore does not establish their first sale. The release retains year precision. |
| Colours | Beats Black and Yuzu Yellow at launch; Smoke Gray and Flame Blue followed in early 2021 | – |
| In the box | Earphones, four sizes of ear tips, USB-C charging cable, Quick Start Guide and warranty card | Earphones, interchangeable tips and carrying case; iPhoneItalia also lists a cable clip and documents in its reviewed retail package. |
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