It’s very easy to get lost in the latest Apple announcements. It used to be that the company gathered journalists and all those involved and held one event every six months for two hours, where they talked about new products and plans. Now everything is different: life has moved online and on November 10 we are waiting for the third autumn announcement by Apple, most likely, it will be dedicated to computers on its own processors. Well, in general, autumn for Apple came out somehow unrealistic, there have never been so many new products. It all started with the iPad, then there was the announcement of iPhones, and somewhere in between they introduced and started selling Beats Flex, the company’s most affordable headphones. In fact, this is a further evolution of Beats X – let’s quickly unpack and listen.

Design

Very little time has passed since the iPhone 12 went on sale, and I’m already used to these small boxes! Yes, a smaller carbon footprint, but also more convenient logistics, more shelf space in a supermarket, and, in general, somehow neater and more decent. Take a look at the Beats Flex and Beats X boxes in comparison:

Box in the style of Apple, closed with a tag, everything is neatly folded inside.

Nozzles, cable, but the cover is no more here. They were donated to reduce their carbon footprint. Or just to reduce packaging.

There are other changes as well. Instead of Lightning, now USB Type-C, and this is probably good, now everyone has a lot of such cables. The controls have changed a bit: the answer button is smooth, located next to the microphone, there is also a volume rocker. The power button has a small indicator light.

The cups stick to each other when you connect the headphones, then there is no sound when they are disconnected – the iPhone immediately sends sound to Flex, the function can be turned on or off in the smartphone menu. Also, by separating the cups, you can answer the call.

It is convenient to wear headphones around the neck, but the right section of the cable constantly fell on the cheek, a little ticklish. I’m already so used to wireless models that I can’t calmly perceive the old familiar form factor, it just infuriates me. Although Flex is convenient to fold and put in your pocket. But look what an unappetizing design:

Connecting to the iPhone is the simplest, you need to turn on the headphones and wait until the menu appears on the screen.

The settings are standard, except that they gave a little more control for the magnets on the cups. Well, the software version number is now displayed right here, and not in the iPhone settings.

The nozzles resting on the ear were also removed from the kit – only the usual ones remained. If you wish, you can buy / get attachments for Beats X and in such an inexpensive way significantly improve ergonomics.

Features and opening hours

Headphones are available in four versions: black, ash gray, as well as in the colors “Blue Flame” and “Yellow Citrus”. There are no gray and blue headphones in Russia yet.

It uses the W1 chip (Apple’s most advanced audio solution). Working hours 12 hours, which is good. There is a fast charge, ten minutes of connection gives an hour and a half of music playback. There will be a dedicated Beats app available on Google Play for headphone management, software updates, and feature customization – as far as I know, it appeared just along with Flex. Need to try!

Sound

Like the AirPods, the Beats Flex is first and foremost an advanced headset with punchy bass and excellent voice reproduction. And this is not a reproach at all! The setting is universal, I liked listening to music, watching YouTube, playing. There are no delays and failures in signal transmission, for this we must say thanks to Bluetooth Class 1 – no, this is not a Bluetooth version, this is just a class, and the class tells us about the operating range. But the Bluetooth version in Beats is not voiced, as are the supported codecs – I’m sure that there is AAC here. Good voice quality, you can talk even on the street if you bring the microphone closer. Everything is very even and smooth.

If you’re an audiophile, don’t even go near the Flex. But for every day and for any content it’s good.

Verdict

On the one hand, these are excellent headphones for their price: easy connection to Apple products, USB Type-C charging, long battery life, bright design (if you buy a bright-colored model). It’s all right with the sound. And the thing costs 4990 rubles! Should I take it?

On the other hand, Apple has diligently accustomed us to True Wireless, and now even the coolest headphones with at least some kind of cable are perceived as an anachronism. For 4990, the choice of TWS models is truly huge, I’m not talking about Aliexpress, where you can buy a pair of headphones in different colors at once and change them depending on your mood. Honestly, even a year ago I would have written: “Yes, everything is OK, buy it.” But now I train with Beats Powerbeats Pro, actively use AirPods and AirPods Pro, listen to music on Beoplay H95 in the office, and even if there were no money at all, I would prefer to borrow / take a loan / save up, but buy AirPods, rather than trying to save at your own convenience.

Don’t think, Flex will definitely find its consumer. Still, 4990 is not 18,990 or 14,990, before the New Year, the “flexes” will be perfectly disassembled, and before other holidays too. But I would like to see Beats Flex 2.0 in TWS format in a year.

I think you do too.