IF YOU’RE in search of a pair of low cost wi-fi earphones to get a cherished one for Christmas, you may do lots worse than the Beats Flex.
Beats, which is owned by Apple, is best-known for producing fashionable, dear over-ear headphones, however has chosen a unique route for the Flex neckband buds.
Apple has launched its newest wi-fi earphones, the Beats FlexCredit score: Beats
Transport for simply £50/$50, they provide lots of the options of Apple’s £159/$159 AirPods however at lower than a 3rd of the fee.
The gadget seems lots just like the now-discontinued Beats X, that includes a flat, versatile cable that hooks the buds collectively and rests on the again of your neck.
Nevertheless, they connect with your cellphone through Bluetooth, making them technically “wi-fi”, regardless of the cable.
For me, the design doesn’t look pretty much as good as that of true wi-fi earphones just like the AirPods, however ensures you received’t lose one in every of your buds.
A versatile cable hooks the buds collectively and rests on the again of your neckCredit score: Beats
They’re even magnetised and might stick collectively to assist preserve them tidy after they’re in your drawer or simply hanging round your neck.
Hooked up to the Flex cable are two buttons that allow you to modify the amount, management playback and activate the voice assistant, which is especially helpful while you’re on the transfer.
All in all, the Flex buds boast a tried and examined design that manages to really feel premium regardless of the worth tag.
So how do they sound? For his or her value, the Flex buds provide an outstanding sound that’s completely good for informal listening.
They put out punchy bass and good treble with out hitting the standard highpoints of Beats’ luxurious Powerbeats Professional.
The Flex buds don’t have the noise cancellation know-how provided by pricier manufacturers, however do an honest job of blocking out the noise of passing automobiles and different potential disturbances.
I discovered the buds had been comfortable for one or two hours at a time, however began to really feel a bit cumbersome when worn for longer than that.
That’s okay although, as they’re very a lot designed for informal day-to-day listening, slightly than lengthy stretches throughout an entire afternoon or night.
The Flex expenses through USB-C and the battery lasts a powerful 12 hours, which means I used to be in a position to go days at a time with out charging them.
This can be a honest whereas longer than the 9 hours provided by the Powerbeats Professional, or the entry-level AirPods’ five-hour battery life.
Nevertheless, these pricier true wi-fi buds do include charging instances that assist you to juice them up on the go – not like the Flex.
Apple has caught the older W1 headphone chip in its new buds, slightly than the brand new H1 chip, however you continue to get all the moment setup and synced pairing throughout units that make Apple’s audio tech a pleasure to make use of.
Total, I’d say the Beats Flex are a implausible possibility for anybody in search of great-sounding earphones however need to keep away from breaking the financial institution.
They don’t provide the higher sound high quality boasted by Apple’s higher-end tech, and their design definitely received’t swimsuit everybody, however for the worth, they’re an absolute steal.
Remaining verdict: 4/5
We pay to your tales! Do you have got a narrative for The Solar On-line Tech & Science group? E-mail us at [email protected]
