Great price ; Comfortable ; Very good sound quality ; Very good call quality ; Easy pairing with Apple products

Quick charging is slower than BeatsX ; Controls can be a bit finicky to use ; USB-C charging cable doesn’t fit regular USB ports ; No official IPX rating

Flexible rubber neckband stops you losing them ; Work well with Apple products ; Comfortable and isolate noise well

Battery life and sound quality is just okay ; You can’t use all the features with Android ; Connecting cable is too long

These connected wireless earbuds are a bargain, they have loads to offer for Apple users. You can hook them up to the Apple Find My network and you can share your audio with other Beats headphones and Airpods. You will have to make some sacrifices in...

Affordable price Fast-charging Auto-play/pause

Sound is a steep v-shape Tricky fit without wingtips Limited codec support

The Beats Flex bring the brand-name wireless headphones to the masses at a lower price, but it’s not without making some big sacrifices in sound quality and design. We don’t love them as much as the top-tier AirPods Pro or even the Powerbeats Pro, but...

Punchy lows ; Durable build ; Extra features for iOS users

Treble is rounded off ; Fit may be an issue

A solid, decent-sounding set of entry-level wireless in-ears – and you’ll never worry about losing one

Improved battery life ; USB-C connector ; Easy-to-use controls

Not rated for sweat resistance ; So-so noise isolation ; No automatic device switching

The new $49.99 Beats Flex are neckband-style earbuds with 12-hour battery life, easy-to-use controls, and decent sound quality. They’re the first Beats earbuds with a USB-C connector, a sign that the company is trying to appeal more to Android users.

Flexible and durable design ; Lightweight and convenient to wear ; Sound is genuinely brilliant for the money ; W1 chip for easy iPhone pairing

In-ear feel a bit pressured at times ; Fit sometimes needs adjusting as no ear fins ; No official waterproof rating (although is weather resistant)

It's hard to imagine a more complete pair of affordable neckband in-ears on the market right now, whether you're an iPhone or Android user. If all you need is something that stays around your neck all day and lets you conveniently answer calls and...

Most affordable Beats earbuds so far ; Apple W1 makes pairing easy ; Music quality punches above the price tag ; Great battery life

Doesn't get Apple's newest audio chipset ; Auto-pause is a little clunky ; Beats doesn't include a carrying pouch ; No water resistance

Good build quality. Reduces mid-range noise like office chatter. Comfortable, stable fit.

No IP rating. No EQ. Mediocre performing integrated mic. Struggles to cut down bass-range noise. No NFC or multi-device pairing.

The Beats Flex are okay for neutral sound. Their bass-heavy sound profile is better-suited for genres like EDM and hip-hop, especially as their underemphasized treble range veils vocals and dull sibilants. Due to their closed-back, in-ear design, they...

Attractive price ; Versatile design ; Commendable battery life

Hit and miss sound ; Not true wireless ; No sweat or water resistance

So close to being brilliant, the Flex still represent fifty quid well spent