Beats Flex Review After 5 Years: The Earphones I Never Have to Look For

Hi there :) I’m a systems engineer in Tokyo. Work keeps me busy, so I’m always looking for small ways to make everyday life a little lighter.

Have you ever stood at the door thinking, “Wait, where did I put my earphones?” It’s only a few minutes each time, but every day, it quietly adds up. In the five years since I started using Beats Flex, I’ve barely had to look for my earphones at all.

I’ve loved music since junior high, and I’ve tried all kinds of earphones and headphones. Here’s what I want from a pair:

I don’t lose them. They don’t wander off.
I can start listening the moment I want to
They connect to my iPhone right away

Beats Flex does all three.

Beats Flex: the basics


Price	¥10,800 (about $68), tax included (Bic Camera Yurakucho, November 2026)
Weight	18.6 g (0.66 oz)
Battery	Up to 12 hours
Fast charging	10 minutes for about 1.5 hours of playback
Charging	USB-C
Chip	Apple W1

Dollar amounts use about ¥160 = $1 (November 2026).

That’s 18.6 g including the cable. The earbuds are magnetic, and when you snap them together, the music pauses.

The Beats Flex shelf at Bic Camera Yurakucho, with a ¥10,800 price tag

According to the sign in the store, it’s not covered by AppleCare+. Good to know before you buy.

I lost an AirPod. Twice.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s lost a single AirPod. I’ve done it twice. They’re so small that they just slip away somewhere, don’t they?

And if I remember right, Find My on the iPhone couldn’t track down just one of them. Is that still the case…?

Around my neck, so I never lose them

The two Beats Flex earbuds are connected by a single cable. When I’m not listening, they just hang around my neck.

Wearing Beats Flex around the neck. When not in use, the earbuds hang at the chest

The cable is thin, so it’s less noticeable than you’d think. When I’m walking around, I tuck it into my top so it doesn’t swing.

Lift them to your ears, and you’re listening

Just lift them from your neck to your ears, and the music’s on. No case to find, no lid to open.

Lifting the Beats Flex from around the neck to the ears with both hands

It has Apple’s W1 chip, the same as the first AirPods, so it connects to my iPhone right away. I use these every day, so not having to wait is a real plus.

I want to upgrade, but they won’t break

I’ve used them almost every day for five years. I’d kind of like a new pair by now, but they just won’t break. Maybe it’s because there’s no charging case, so there’s less to go wrong.

I recommended them so often that my husband bought a pair too.

The box of the Beats Flex my husband bought, in yellow

He picked Yuzu Yellow, a greenish yellow. Cute in a different way from the white.

The sound is plenty for the price

Next to high-end earphones, the sound isn’t anything special. But compared with other earphones in this price range, I think it’s more than good enough.

One thing to know: there’s no noise canceling.

The verdict

I try other earphones, and somehow I always come back to Beats Flex. For someone like me who wants to live light, they’re the best fit.

This is for you if you’re:

Someone who’s lost a single earbud before
Someone who wants music the second you want it
Someone who cares more about easy than perfect sound

Next on my list are Shokz bone-conduction headphones. I’ll write about them once I’ve tried them. Hope this helps :)