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 if you just bought a new iPhone and want a pair...

Affordable price; Fast-charging; Auto-play/pause

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

The Beats Flex are a set of good value, feature-rich Bluetooth earbuds from Apple. They are significantly cheaper than their predecessors and Apple’s AirPods, but little has been sacrificed in sound or function.

long battery life; good sound; W1 chip; good with Android or iPhone; seamless device switching; instant pairing; good controls; USB-C charging; good value for premium earbuds.

not water resistant; W1 older than H1 and lacks automatic switching between Apple devices; neckband design may not suit everyone; not repairable; battery not replaceable.

One of the announcements last week that flew under the radar since it wasn't explicitly mentioned during Apple's event was the introduction...

The Beats Flex wireless headphones pack solid sound and intuitive design into a valuable package....

Great price; Solid audio quality; Great materials

Not workout ready; No noise canceling

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 listen to music, Beats' budget in-ears will fit the task perfectly.

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);