Are Beats earbuds like the Flex actually worth it?
Worth it, if you want the anti-lost-earbud design more than true wireless
around $50price at time of review — check Amazon for current
- Worth it ifYou want earbuds that physically can't get separated and lost in a bag
- Skip it ifYou're on Android, where the W1 chip's pairing tricks and Audio Sharing don't apply
Amazon shoppers rate it 4.3 out of 5 across 60,221 ratings. That is their number, not ours.
By Daniel Kruger, consumer tech · updated 2026-07-28
As an Amazon Associate, Is It Worth It Reviews earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra, and it has never changed a verdict.
You know the drill with cheap wireless earbuds: dig them out of your pocket and they're tangled, or one bud's dead because it slipped loose in the case overnight. Beats earbuds like the Flex sidestep that problem by never fully separating from each other in the first place. The band rests around your neck, the buds dangle loose until you want them, and the real question is whether that trade, one cable instead of two floating pieces, is worth giving up true wireless.
Here's the trick: the Flex-Form cable is spring steel wrapped in silicone, holding a light curve so it sits on your collarbone instead of sliding around your neck. Each earbud has a magnet in the tip, so when you're not listening, they snap together under your chin, and that's what triggers Auto-Play/Pause: pull them apart and the music starts, snap them together and it pauses itself, no button hunting required. Underneath, it's running Apple's W1 headphone chip, which is really a fast-pairing radio: hold the buds near an iPhone and they show up on screen without opening Bluetooth settings, and that same chip lets you switch between your phone and laptop without re-pairing each time. Class 1 Bluetooth, the same spec found in some over-ear headphones, gives it more broadcast power than the tiny Class 2 radios in most true wireless buds, which is why the connection tends to hold up when your phone's across the room. None of this changes the sound, it's entirely about keeping the buds attached to something and to your device with fewer steps.
So the Flex isn't really competing with true wireless earbuds on convenience, it's competing on the thing those buds get wrong most often: a lost bud, or one side dying early because it fell out of the case wrong. You're buying a tether, not a gap. That's a fair trade if what actually annoys you about earbuds is fumbling and losing pieces, not the wire itself.
Worth it if
- You want earbuds that physically can't get separated and lost in a bag
- You're on an iPhone and want near-instant pairing without digging into settings
- You'd rather have a light neckband than manage a charging case daily
Skip it if
- You're on Android, where the W1 chip's pairing tricks and Audio Sharing don't apply
- You want fully wireless buds with nothing connecting them at all
- You specifically want the smallest, most invisible earbud profile
Not for Android users chasing the fast-pairing convenience, or anyone who wants zero cable touching their neck.
If you want earbuds you can shove in a bag without a case and never lose a piece, this is a quiet yes at its price. If you specifically want nothing touching your neck, or you're on Android where the fast-pairing trick and Audio Sharing don't work, look elsewhere; the W1 chip's convenience is built for Apple devices.
Check price on Amazon · around $50 or Add it to your Amazon cart to sit on it
Before you go
Are Beats earbuds really worth it?
For the price, yes, if what you want is a reliable neckband design that keeps the buds attached to each other so you never lose one; if you want true wireless, look at a different model.
Is Beats better than AirPods?
They serve different needs: AirPods are fully wireless with no cable, while the Flex uses a neckband so the buds stay connected, which trades a small wire for never misplacing a bud.
How do I reset my Beats earbuds?
Hold the power button on the in-line remote for about 15 seconds until the light flashes, which clears the current pairing so you can set it up again as new.
Full spec sheet
| Product Dimensions | 3.15 x 1.26 x 4.8 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 0.6 ounces |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. |
| Charging Time | 12 hours |
| Item Weight | 17.01 g |
| Units | 1 Count |
| Number Of Items | 1 |
| Brand | Beats |
More electronics reviews.