BeatsX Review: If Apple's AirPods Aren't Your Thing
February 17 2017 - 08:29AM
Dow Jones News
By Nathan Olivarez-Giles
The BeatsX earphones are the latest attempt by Apple Inc. to
nudge us into a wire-free future. They're also the most convincing,
thanks to a smart design that feels just as at home in the gym as
it does at the office.
Last year, Apple dropped the headphone jack from the iPhone 7
and introduced the revolutionary ( but easily lost) AirPods. Now,
the $150 BeatsX come with the best part of the AirPods inside:
Apple's W1 chip for effortless pairing with iPhones, iPads, Macs
and Apple Watches.
To connect an Apple device, just turn on the headphones. As long
as your nearby Apple device is running an updated version of the
company's latest software (iOS 10, macOS Sierra or watchOS 3), a
pop-up screen will ask if you want to pair the headphones. It
usually shows up in a second or two.
You can also pair the BeatsX with Android phones, but they can't
make use of the W1 chip. You have to take the conventional approach
of adding BeatsX in Bluetooth settings. As with other Bluetooth
devices, pairing can sometimes take a few attempts.
Apple says the W1 chip, also found in the sportier $200
Powerbeats3 and the on-ear $300 Solo3 Wireless, consumes about a
third of the power of a normal Bluetooth chip. As such, BeatsX
delivers an impressive 8-hour battery life.
Despite the thin, flat, tangle-free cable that ties the earbuds
together, the BeatsX never felt like a bother to wear. That cable
rests around your neck, but the headphones are lightweight and
soft, with a rubberized coating. On a run, the Beats stayed snugly
in my ears and the cable was sturdy enough to not thwap against my
neck.
BeatsX were a welcome contrast to tethered rivals like the $300
Bose QuietControl 30 or the $200 Sony H.ear In Wireless, both of
which rely on plastic horse collars that sit stiffly around your
neck.
Like other earphones, the snug fit of the BeatsX is due in part
to different-size interchangeable rubber tips for your ears. They
delivered clear, balanced sound for music and phone calls, though
their small size means there's a lot less bass response than
typical Beats headphones.
Many competing headphones from Bose, Sony, JBL, Jaybird and
others sound about as good. BeatsX is differentiated more by its
understated look and its iPhone-friendly wireless tech. Since it
charges with a Lightning cable, iPhone owners carry only one wire
-- and Android owners must put up with two.
Another benefit: When not in your ears, the earbuds magnetically
connect to one another, keeping the headset from falling off your
neck. I wish more headphones did this.
While Apple's AirPods certainly deserve the attention, I can't
choose them over the BeatsX. AirPods fit nicely, and they're good
for train rides and using at my desk or at home. But I'm not
confident that I can run with them without eventually losing one. (
And replacing a lost AirPod isn't cheap.)
Powerbeats3, with their rubber ear hooks, are built for workouts
and marathons, but they're too clunky and ostentatious to wear in
other settings.
With a clean, minimal design, the BeatsX fit in pretty much
everywhere.
Write to Nathan Olivarez-Giles at
Nathan.Olivarez-giles@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 17, 2017 08:14 ET (13:14 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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