Our Verdict
The Samsung U Flex are sufficiently versatile headphones for most use cases. They have a good battery life and an excellent wireless range. They have a flexible and comfortable design that won't be too cumbersome but isn't as portable as the BeatsX. They also have a relatively poor isolation performance so they won't be the best headphones to use in loud environments. Unfortunately, their app is limited to Samsung-only devices which will not be ideal for some listeners especially since the Level U Pro does not have that constraint.
- Low leakage.
- Great wireless range.
- Easy to use and portable design.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Sharp audio reproduction.
- Limited customization options.
Average for neutral listening. They have a decent audio reproduction but sound a bit too sharp on already bright tracks. Unfortunately, you can only EQ them with Samsung devices so they won't have the best sound quality for neutral listening. They also have a small closed-back in-ear design that cannot produce a spacious soundstage.
Above-average for commuting. They're lightweight, easy to carry around and have a good control scheme. However, they do not block as much noise as some of the other in-ear headphones we've tested so they won't be the best option for noisy commutes or flights.
Good for sports. The Samsung U Flex have an around-the-neck design that's stable enough for running or jogging. They're also lightweight, portable and wireless. However, the in-ear tips do slide a bit in the ear canal during more strenuous activities, and the bulky neckband can sometimes pull the earbuds out of your ears, which won be ideal for more intense sports.
Above-average for office use. They don't block a lot of noise, but thanks to their incredibly low leakage, you can mask some of the office chatter, by playing your audio at high volumes and not disturb others.
Below-average for gaming. They have a mediocre-at-best microphone, and a bit too much latency to be suitable for gaming. Their app also does not offer as many customization options typical for gaming headphones.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Mar 22, 2018: Review published.
- Updated Mar 20, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Samsung U Flex have an easy-to-use and decently portable design. They're comfortable and flexible enough to fit into some pockets and they sound decently well-balanced, although they can be a bit sharp on already bright tracks. They have a good battery life and a decent wireless range but unfortunately, their app is limited to Samsung only devices which means they won't be as customizable as some of the other competing around-the-neck headphones. Overall, they're one of the best cheap earbuds, the best earbuds under $50, and the best Bluetooth earbuds under $50 for build quality that we have reviewed so far.
The Samsung Level On Wireless are a better choice if you want on-ears, but if you prefer a slightly more portable design, then an go for the Samsung U Flex instead. The U Flex are more portable than the Level On and the Level U Pro, thanks to their flexible neckband design that will fit into some pockets. They also have a bit more customization options than the Level On when connected to a Samsung device, although not by much since they aren't noise cancelling headphones. The Level On, on the other hand, have a longer battery life and support more codec options than the U Flex. Also, since they are noise cancelling, they do a little better in noisy conditions. They also have better sound quality.
The Samsung Level Over Wireless are a much better wireless headset than the Samsung U Flex if you prefer over-ears to in-ear headphones. The U Flex are a lot more portable than the Level Over Wireless. They're also more breathable and stable for sports and physical activity. On the other hand, the Level Over Wireless have a better default sound quality that you can customize with any Android phone, not just Samsung devices like the U Flex. They're also noise cancelling headphones, so they're a bit more suitable for noisy conditions and commuting, and they have a longer battery life than the U Flex.
The Samsung U Flex and the Samsung Level U Pro have about the same performance overall. The U Flex are better-built and look more premium than the U Pro. They also have a more flexible neckband that makes them a bit more portable since you can fit them into some pockets, unlike the U Pro. The U Flex also have more customization options, but only on Samsung devices, unlike the U Pro which have the same features on all Android phones that support the Level app. The U Pro also isolate a bit better than the U Flex, but that is heavily dependent on the fit you can achieve with the provided in-ear tips. On the upside, the Level U pro have a lot more codec options, making them suitable for watching movies if you have the right Bluetooth transmitter with aptX-LL.
The Samsung U Flex Wireless are better headphones than the Sony WI-C400 Wireless. Their sound quality is noticeably better, especially in the bass range, and they offer some customization options if you have a Samsung device as well. While their battery life is slightly shorter, they take less than half the time to charge fully, and you can also use them when charging. They can connect to two devices, have better wireless range, and also lower latency. They also feel more durable and better-built than the Sony WI-C400. The Sonys have NFC compatibility that the U Flex don’t have.
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