Apple Discontinues urBeats3 After Releasing Beats Flex

Apple this morning quietly introduced new Beats Flex headphones, marking the launch of the brand's most affordable wire-free headphones to date.

urbeats3
Beats Flex are priced at just $50, and are identical in design to the BeatsX earphones. With lower-cost Bluetooth-based Beats headphones now available, Apple has discontinued the UrBeats headphones that it previously offered under Beats branding.

UrBeats3 were priced at $60 and were available in Lightning and 3.5mm versions, and with their discontinuation, the Beats brand is no longer offering affordable wired headphone options. The $130 wired Beats EP headphones are still available, though.

For those who prefer wired headphones, Apple still sells EarPods with Lightning and 3.5mm connector options for $19 each, but EarPods no longer come free with iPhones.

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4

Thursday November 13, 2025 11:35 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4, and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware is 8B21, all up from the prior 8A358 firmware released in October. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 3...
Tim Cook WWDC 2018

Report: Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO 'as Soon as Next Year'

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:40 pm PST by
Apple is preparing for Tim Cook to step down as CEO of the company "as soon as next year," according to the Financial Times. The company's board of directors and senior executives "recently intensified preparations for Cook to hand over the reins," the report said. While the report said that Apple is unlikely to name a new CEO before its next earnings report in late January, it went on to ...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket Now Available to Order, But Already Selling Out

Friday November 14, 2025 6:20 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. iPhone Pocket is available to order on Apple's online store starting today, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. However, it is already completely sold out in the United...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple m5

Apple's 2026 Mac Plans

Friday November 14, 2025 3:23 pm PST by
Most of Apple's Macs are slated to get M5 chips across 2026, and there's a possibility we'll even see the first M6 chips toward the end of the year. Updates are planned for everything from the MacBook Air to the Mac Studio. MacBook Air (Early 2026) The MacBook Air will be one of the first Macs to get a 2026 refresh, with an update planned for the first few months of the year. The MacBook...
best early black friday deals

Best Black Friday Apple Deals Live Now - Save on AirPods, iPads, and Apple Watches

Saturday November 15, 2025 1:45 pm PST by
We're officially in the month of Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When ...
tvOS 26 Profiles

tvOS 26.2 Adds a Useful New Feature to Your Apple TV

Friday November 14, 2025 10:02 am PST by
Starting with the upcoming tvOS 26.2 update, currently in beta, additional profiles created on the Apple TV no longer require their own Apple Account. In the Settings app on the Apple TV, under Profiles and Accounts, anyone can create a new profile by simply entering a name and indicating whether the profile is for a kid. The profile will be associated with the primary user's Apple Account,...
walmart new ornametns

Walmart Black Friday Deals Begin Today With Low Prices on Headphones, TVs, and More

Friday November 14, 2025 7:55 am PST by
Walmart's Black Friday sale has officially kicked off today, with an online shopping event that's also seeing some matching deals in retail locations. There are quite a few major discounts in this sale, including savings on headphones, TVs, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Walmart. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us...
CarPlay Pinned Messages

iOS 26.2 Adds New CarPlay Setting

Thursday November 13, 2025 6:48 am PST by
iOS 26 extended pinned conversations in the Messages app to CarPlay, for quick access to your most frequent chats. However, some drivers may prefer the classic view with a list of individual conversations only, and Apple now lets users choose. Apple released the second beta of iOS 26.2 this week, and it introduces a new CarPlay setting for turning off pinned conversations in the Messages...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 3

Monday November 17, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
Apple provided developers with the third beta of an upcoming iOS 26.2 update, and there are still new features that are being added with each beta that we get. We've rounded up all of the changes that Apple made in beta 3. AirDrop Apple added new AirDrop functionality, providing a way for two people to share files temporarily without having to add one another as contacts. iOS 26.2...

Top Rated Comments

az431 Avatar
67 months ago

I have yet to find a pair of Bluetooth headphones that does not have any noticeable lag for video or games.
Sigh.
10 years using Bluetooth headphones, and not a single one had any lag.

And just FYI, sound does lag in real life.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jcshas Avatar
67 months ago
I still love my Beats X for working out. I also own a pair of AirPods Pro, but the Beats X stay in my ears better during workouts.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B4U Avatar
67 months ago
I have yet to find a pair of Bluetooth headphones that does not have any noticeable lag for video or games.
Sigh.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iSayuSay Avatar
67 months ago

That‘s a bummer. I’ve had my BeatsX for about 2 years without any issues. The battery life is diminished but fortunately they’re still going strong.
Same experience here. I’ve had my BeatsX for almost 3 years before I sold it because I get bored and want new features of H1 chip. Now I’m rocking the new corded Powerbeats for workouts.

Yep I sold it because it’s still work, in a proper condition and still hold 3-4hours of playback between charge after I use it almost daily, for 3 years!!

Can’t say the same for the wife’s original AirPods. Two years in and it’s practically useless. The case battery is still fine but the buds’ barely survive an hour before the low-battery note chiming in. Not to mention a few times that one bud is dead, won’t charge or connect for no reason.

I will keep buying corded wireless headphones until true wireless is more reliable and ready with proper battery life. Way too delicate and quirky as it is, especially for $200++
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
480951 Avatar
67 months ago

16 years using Bluetooth and a current member of Bluetooth SIG, every single one still have latency.
Please kindly share the ones that you found no lag so that I can stop buying new ones and end up with more disappointment. :)
I haven‘t had a single lag issue with voice since Bluetooth 4. My AirPods Pro work flawlessly with my AppleTV. Same with my cheap $30 Skullcandy headphones. The $20 Redmi Airdots I purchased? Definite lag though. If it’s there it must be milliseconds and imperceptible to me because I look for it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iSayuSay Avatar
66 months ago

FYI BeatsX are wireless. True fact ;) their not the “true” wireless meaning no cable but you’re still using Bluetooth.
LOL okay mate.. like I said.. corded wireless or neckband style wireless, or wired-wireless headphones. Whatever you want to call it. But the point is, I love BeatsX (and now my new Powerbeats) being more reliable, simple and live longer. Single Bluetooth module, single battery status, single piece design that is harder to lose for workouts. And most importantly I can actually turn them off.

With AirPods, you can't really turn it off so it continuously cycle the battery (hence the terrible lifespan). Even when sit in the case doing nothing, the buds keep sipping into the case's battery for some reason. No volume rocker also turned out to be a PITA for our use. There's also three effin' batteries status to maintain, THREE!

Look mate, I'm not trying to argue anything. You love AirPods or true wireless for what it is? Great, but it's not for me, nor my wife. I just hope Apple keep making new corded wireless in the future, because I will keep buying it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)