Today, Apple announced that they will no longer be including a wired set of headphones with an iPhone purchase. This really doesn’t come as a surprise since rumors have been swirling around about this new Apple strategy for a long time now, and consequently, it’s left many wondering if they’ll be “forced” to purchase pricey AirPods. Fortunately, Beats, which is owned by Apple, is introducing a new pair of affordable wireless earbuds today, called Beats Flex. Priced at just $49.99, these are the most affordable pair of headphones that Beats has ever released, and they are designed to work seamlessly with the iPhone.
Beats Flex is an upgrade to BeatsX. It improves on the flexible and convenient design of BeatsX with fresh and useful features. Starting with the design, it sports magnetic earbuds with auto-play and pause. This makes it possible to automatically play and pause the music by detecting whether you have the earbuds on or just wrapped around your neck.
Having it on should feel comfortable thanks to its Flex-Form cable that’s built to be lightweight. And if you need to put them away, you won’t have to worry about unraveling them as the cables are tangle-free.
When it comes to audio, the audio experience has been significantly improved over the BeatsX. To that effect, the buds now feature dual-chamber acoustics with an advanced digital processor for balanced performance throughout the musical spectrum. They’re also fitted with an optimized driver angle and laser-cut micro-venting to relieve pressure in the ears so that you always experience a comfortable fit, even when wearing them for a long period of time.
The headphones also feature a new acoustic driver and an upgraded built-in microphone, so that wind noises are reduced and vocal clarity is enhanced during voice or video calls.
Beats Flex integrates seamlessly into the Apple ecosystem thanks to the Apple W1 chip it carries. This enables features such as one-touch pairing, iCloud sync, and seamless device switching. The chip also allows for audio sharing. Users will be able to share audio with friends who have compatible devices like Beats headphones or AirPods.
While Android users may not have these features out-of-the-box, simply downloading the Beats app from the Google Play Store will unlock additional features.
According to Apple, the Beats Flex support an upgraded, all-day battery that can last up to 12 hours. And should you forget to charge, Fast Fuel charging through the device’s USB-C cable will be able to churn out up to 1.5 hours of playback from 10 minutes of charging.
Notably, Beats Flex’s packaging is Apple’s most environmentally friendly packaging to date. It was created with 87% fiber-based materials, and all the wood fiber used has been sourced responsibly, and the included product tray can be recycled.
The Beats Flex is available to order today for $49 at Apple.com in a choice of Beats Black or Yuzu Yellow, and they will start shipping on the 21st. For other authorized resellers, November 20th is the date to keep in mind for the mentioned colors, but Smoke Gray and Flame Blue color options are expected to become available in early 2021.