Beats Solo Buds vs Beats Flex: Which cheap Beats are better?

The Beats Solo Buds are the cheapest true wireless earbuds from Beats. That said, they are still more expensive than the neckband style Beats Flex. If you are looking for Beats earbuds that don’t break the bank, which should you buy? That’s what we’re finding out in this Beats Solo Buds vs Beats Flex comparison.

Editor’s note: this article was published on July 16, 2024, and is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use the Beats Solo Buds compared to the Beats Flex?

The biggest difference between the Beats Solo Buds and the Beats Flex is their design. The Beats Solo Buds have a true wireless design, which means there is no cable connecting the left and right earbuds. On the other hand, the Beats Flex have a neckband design, whereby the left and right earbuds are connected by a wire that rests on the back of your neck.

There are pros and cons to both designs, but the industry has definitely moved away from neckband earbuds. True wireless earbuds are seen as more convenient and less obtrusive, especially while exercising. That said, it can often be easier to lose true wireless earbuds because of how small they are.

When you aren’t listening to music, the Beats Flex earbuds magnetically snap together, and automatically pause your music. On the other hand, when you aren’t listening to the Beats Solo Buds, you can place them inside their pill-shaped case. The case doesn’t have a battery inside it, so unlike the best wireless earbuds, the case won’t recharge the Solo Buds while on the go.

You get multiple ear tip sizes with both the Beats Flex and Beats Solo Buds. While we didn’t experience comfort issues, neither are super secure. There’s also no IP water and dust resistance rating with either set of earbuds. If you’re looking for gym earbuds, the Beats Flex and Beats Solo Buds are not good options.

The Beats Solo Buds have physical buttons on the “b” of each earbud that require a hard press to activate. Using these controls requires pressing the earbuds deep into your ear canal, which is uncomfortable and possibly even a dangerous risk to your eardrums. On the other hand, the Beats Flex have control modules hanging down the cable below your ears.

Is there an app for either the Beats Solo Buds or Beats Flex?

If you own an Android phone, you can access software functionality for both the Beats Solo Buds and Beats Flex through the Beats app. On the other hand, iOS users get full control baked into their OS. That said, there isn’t much to play with here. Notably, neither have an equalizer to adjust the sound, which is a common feature on good wireless earbuds.

The Beats Solo Buds get Find My support on both iOS and Android, whereas the Beats Flex only support location services on iOS. Both support audio sharing on iOS, whereby you and a friend can both connect a set of Beats or AirPods to the same iOS device to watch a movie or listen to music.

How do the Beats Solo Buds and Beats Flex connect?

The Beats Solo Buds have Bluetooth 5.3, whereas the Beats Flex have slightly older Bluetooth 5.0. Both support SBC and AAC. You can instantly pair to iOS devices with either, and once you pair to one device, the earbuds will automatically pair to your other iCloud devices. The Beats Solo Buds also support similar functionality on Android, whereas the Beats Flex do not.

Is battery life better on the Beats Solo Buds or Beats Flex?

According to our battery testing, the Beats Solo Buds last 17 hours and 24 minutes on a single charge. On the other hand, the Beats Flex last 10 hours and 24 minutes. That’s a clear win for the Solo Buds, though both can easily get through a full day of regular use. You can recharge either via USB-C.

Do the Beats Solo Buds or Beats Flex block noise better?

Neither the Beats Solo Buds nor the Beats Flex have active noise canceling. This means you’ll be relying on passive isolation from a good fit in your ears to block out any ambient noise. Our testing favors the Beats Solo Buds here, but again, results will vary depending on your ears. We found the Beats Solo Buds block out an average of 75% of external noise, whereas the Beats Flex only block out an average of 29% of external noise.

The Beats Flex block out some high-frequency noise but struggle to attenuate any low-frequency noise. That means these are not ideal for taking on the train or airplane, as you’ll hear the constant ambient rumble over your music.

Do the Beats Solo Buds sound better than the Beats Flex?

The sound quality of the Beats Solo Buds and Beats Flex is very similar. Both earbuds focus on sub-bass and upper-midrange frequencies. How much bass you hear depends on your ears as well as the fit of the earbuds, but either the Solo Buds or Flex should satisfy most bass heads.

At the same time, both sets of earbuds under-emphasize the highs. If you are looking to hear every detail in your music, neither the Beats Flex or Beats Solo Buds are a good option. If you just want some background beats while you study, either will do the trick.

The charts above show the default frequency response of the Beats Solo Buds and Beats Flex compared to our headphone preference curve. Both stray pretty far from our target, especially in the highs.

Do the Beats Solo Buds or Beats Flex have a better microphone?

The Beats Solo Buds and Beats Flex both have a microphone, but neither sound very good. When you are in a quiet room, the microphones pick up the voice fine, but in a loud environment, they struggle. If you frequently take calls while walking around city streets, you should look at other options.

Beats Flex microphone demo (old):

Beats Solo Buds microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Beats Solo Buds microphone demo (Street):

Beats Solo Buds vs Beats Flex: Price and availability

The Beats Flex were released in 2020, whereas the Beats Solo Buds were released in 2024. Since the Beats Solo Buds are much newer, they have more widespread availability. That said, you have a better chance of finding the Beats Flex on sale. That’s important since the Beats Flex are already normally cheaper than the Beats Solo Buds. A massive disparity in price could make your purchase decision simple.

Should you get the Beats Solo Buds or Beats Flex?

Do you want neckband or true wireless earbuds? If you are okay with the older neckband style, the Beats Flex are a great value buy. If you don’t cables tying you down, then you should consider the Beats Solo Buds. That said, neither option cracks our list of the best earbuds under $100. Despite what the Beats marketing department might want you to believe, there are lots of other good options in this price range.

What should you get instead of the Beats Solo Buds or Beats Flex?

These days, you can get some good earbuds for less than $50. One of our favorites are the Moondrop Space Travel, $24.99 at Amazon. Despite costing less than a nice dinner, the Moondrop Space Travel have great ANC and sound quality.

Another good option are the Edifier TWS1 Pro 2, $49.99 at Amazon. Unlike either option from Beats, these are water-resistant, have noise canceling, and a good companion app.

Frequently asked questions