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Beats Beats Flex · Photo source

Beats Beats Flex
Photo 1 of 22

Beats Beats Flex · Photo source

Beats

Beats Flex

Released October 2020

Wireless in-ear headphones joined by a flexible neckband cable, with Apple's W1 chip, USB-C charging and magnetic playback controls.

Model history · 2 models, 2017–2020
  1. 2017BeatsXCompare
  2. 2020Beats Flex
Type
In-ear
Noise cancelling
No
Battery
12 h
With case
–
Best codec
AAC
Weight
–

What reviewers say

Reviewers liked the reliable connection, quick charging and magnetic playback controls at a low price. Both found the long cable and fit awkward, and criticised the unbalanced sound. Microphone opinions differed; TechRadar praised calls, while SoundGuys found voices thin and background noise poorly controlled.

From soundguys.com and techradar.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Sound

Type
In-ear
Noise cancelling
No
Bluetooth codecs
SBC and AAC
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)

Battery

Listening time (maker's claim)
Up to 12 hours
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

Bluetooth
5.0
Two devices at once
No
Controls
On-device playback, call, volume and voice-assistant controls
Microphones
Built-in microphone with wind reduction
Fit and ear tips
Nitinol Flex-Form neckband cable; four ear-tip sizes; magnetic earbuds
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)
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

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Up to 12 hours of listening, with 1.5 hours from a 10-minute charge
  • Magnetic earbuds pause playback when joined together
  • Apple W1 pairing and Audio Sharing

Cons

  • No active noise cancellation
  • No published water or sweat resistance rating

Closest rivals

Model
TypeNoise cancellingBatteryWith caseBest codecWeightReleased
SonyWF-C500
In-earNo10 h20 hAAC5.4 gOct 2021
BeatsPowerbeats (2020)
In-earNo15 h–AAC–Mar 2020
BeatsPowerbeats Pro
In-earNo9 h–AAC11 gMay 2019

Previous model: BeatsX.

Sources

  1. beatsbydre.com/uk/earbuds/beats-flex
  2. kyodonewsprwire.jp/release/202010135624
  3. soundguys.com/apple-beats-flex-review-43474
  4. techradar.com/reviews/beats-flex-wireless-earphones

Photo: store.storeimages.cdn-apple.com

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