Like a solid pair of running shoes, earbuds can be a powerful tool to help you step up your workouts. You can stoke your motivation with a fire playlist for that HIIT workout, tune out for a long run with your favorite podcast, or set the tone for your Warrior One with some meditative compositions. (Some earphones are even specially designed to help you run faster and live healthier.)
JBL (named for founder James Bullough Lansing) is known for its wireless Bluetooth speakers, but the cutting-edge technology and top-notch sound make JBL a solid contender in the earbud arena, too. JBL and Under Armour debuted their first lightweight, cord-free headphones in 2019 with the UA True Wireless FLASH, and JBL continues to stay in step with the competition.
It’s great to have options, and JBL now has a variety of wireless headphones on the market, but it can be overwhelming to decide which ones are right for you. That's why the ACTIVE Reviews Team did the research for you and is here to break down the details and help you find your fit.
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The Best JBL Earbuds - Our Top Picks
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- Best JBL Earbuds Overall: JBL Live PRO+
- Best Quality JBL Earbuds: JBL Tour PRO+
- Best Wireless JBL Earbuds: JBL Tune 225TWS
- Best Budget JBL Earbuds: JBL LIVE 300
- Best JBL Earbuds for Working Out: JBL Endurance Peak II
- Best Noise-Canceling JBL Earbuds: JBL Tune 125TWS
What to Consider When Shopping for JBL Earbuds
Before we dive in, it's good to have a sense of what’s important to you in your JBL earbuds. Here are a few things to consider to help you find the best JBL earbuds for your needs:
Purpose
How you plan to use your JBL earbuds will play a role in which ones will best suit your needs. For example, if you're going to be running or doing HIIT, anti-slip features will be important. If you plan to wear them for longer sessions, battery life and comfort may outweigh water resistance. Once you have an idea of how you're going to use your JBL earbuds, you'll be able to zero in on your priorities.
Battery Life
Another key question to consider when buying JBL earbuds is how often you want to charge them. Most JBL earbuds last about 4-6 hours, although charging cases extend the battery life significantly by allowing you to easily pop the earbuds into the case to recharge while on the go.
Tip:Some earbud sets even allow you to charge just one earbud at a time, so you can rotate them out and not miss a beat…or a call.
Sound Quality
JBL earbuds pack a punch in the sound department. If you're looking for a well-balanced sound experience with adjustable audio settings to customize your listening experience, JBL has you covered.
Controls
If you want the ability to pause your podcast or adjust the volume on your music while you're jogging down the street, then easily accessible controls will be important. The JBL earbuds in this roundup have either a touch surface or buttons to control certain features.
Noise Canceling
Noise-canceling technology offers the ability to limit distractions and help you stay in the zone. JBL’s active noise canceling (ANC) system uses a combination of hardware and firmware to decrease environmental sounds. Some come with two modes: adaptive sound ANC to adjust based on your surroundings, and normal ANC that works continuously. (You can also keep these settings switched off to conserve battery life.)
Fit
Some earbuds come with silicone ear tips to customize how they fit in your ear, or wingtips to create more stability during vigorous movement. The JBL Headphones app also has a fit test to help you achieve a more comfortable and secure fit.
Sweat and Water Resistance
These features will depend on how you plan to use your earbuds. If you like a solid sweat sesh or are prone to getting caught in the rain on your bike route, it could be best to consider earbuds that are sweat-proof and water-resistant.
Best JBL Earbuds Overall - JBL Live PRO+
SPECS
- Earbuds weight: 0.4 oz.
- Charging case weight: 1.7 oz.
- Charging case dimensions: 3.94" x 1.73" x 6.3"
- Batteries: 1 Lithium Polymer battery required (included)
- Battery Life: Up to 7 Hours
- Charging time: About 2 hours for a full charge
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Water resistance: IPX4
- Fit customization: The earbuds come with 5 ear-tip sizes
The JBL Live PRO+ earbuds are our pick for best overall because they have a suite of features and stand up to the competition. These earbuds offer a powerful sound experience that can be tweaked in the JBL Headphones app. The noise-canceling feature helps to tune out the din, with the option to choose from everyday, travel, and active modes in the app. You can also opt for the Smart Ambient feature that allows environmental sounds without removing your headphones. Although voice calls can be a bit muffled depending on your connection, noise and wind isolation along with three mics per earbud help participants hear you on calls. The JBL Live PRO+ earbuds are Bluetooth 5.0, which easily pairs with your device and maintains a strong connection.
From a comfort perspective, these earbuds are easy to wear and go, thanks to the ergonomic shape and lightweight stemmed design. You can manage the touch control settings from the app to customize features like virtual assistant, volume, noise cancelation, and playback. The battery life of the JBL Live PRO+ earbuds is competitive—boasting up to 6 hours with noise canceling turned on. You can also get three charges for the earbuds from the charging case, which has a USB-C connector and compatibility with wireless charging.
The earbuds work especially well for Android users given the Google Fast Pair tech and hands-free access to Google Assistant, although you can also summon Amazon's Alexa. (Note: Android 6.0 or higher is required for full access to Alexa features.)
PROS
- Customizable, top-notch sound
- Comfortable, lightweight fit
- Impressive battery life
- Hands-free access to virtual assistant
- Competitive price tag for the quality and features
- Wireless charging compatibility
- Easy to pair
CONS
- Can't connect to two devices simultaneously
- Voice call quality can be a bit muffled depending on the connection
Best Quality JBL Earbuds - JBL Tour PRO+
SPECS
- Earbuds weight: 0.5 oz.
- Charging case weight: 2 oz.
- Charging case dimensions: 3.94" x 2.09" x 6.3"
- Batteries: 1 Lithium Polymer battery required (included)
- Battery Life: 6 hours music play time with ANC on, plus the wireless charging case holds 3 rounds of charges
- Charging time: About 2 hours for a full charge
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Water resistance: Yes, IPX5
- Fit customization: 5 ear tip sizes and 2 stability fin options
The sleek design, comfortable fit, and competitive battery life make the JBL Tour PRO+ the best quality earbuds on our list. The Dual Connect feature means each earbud connects independently, so you can assign functions to the left or right earbud and take calls from either or both. The hands-free feature gives you the option to summon Alexa or Google Assistant. The companion app comes with a full suite of features to help customize sound preferences and touch-button settings, plus a fit test to help you get the best ear fit. You’ll also see battery level indicators for the earbuds and charging case, and can utilize the Find My Buds feature if you misplace your earbuds.
Another reason these earbuds earned "best quality" is the attention to detail. Each earbud socket in the charging case has its own LED indicator to help ensure they are connected and charging properly. They have about three additional charges in their carrying case and an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life while not in use. You can also use one bud while the other one charges.
The JBL Tour PRO+ earbuds are designed for bass-forward media, and you can use the app to tweak sound settings and enhance audio. You'll get noise neutralization for low-frequency sounds, like a humming refrigerator or a rumbling car engine, but high-frequency sounds like car horns or a grinding blender will just be muffled—you won't get full noise-canceling silence from these earbuds. That said, the Ambient Aware (transparency mode) is a helpful feature that works in real time to allow environmental sounds like conversations into the earbuds. Similarly, the TalkThru feature lets external sounds through the speakers, while also lowering (or pausing) media so you can hear and respond clearly.
PROS
- Sleek and comfortable design
- 5 ear-tip sizes and two wing tips to customize fit
- LED indicators to ensure earbuds are charging properly
- Breathability
- Outstanding sound quality
- Hands-free voice assistant access
CONS
- Noise canceling works best for low-frequency sounds
- Voice quality on calls can be a bit spotty
Best Wireless JBL Earbuds - JBL Tune 225TWS
SPECS
- Earbuds weight: 0.4 oz.
- Charging case weight: 1.7 oz.
- Charging case dimensions: 3.94" x 1.73" x 6.3"
- Batteries: 3 Lithium Polymer batteries required (included)
- Battery Life: 5 hours
- Charging time: 2 hours
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Water resistance: No
- Fit customization: Ear tips are not available for this model
The JBL Tune 225TWS easily earns the "best wireless earbuds" spot on our roundup for the ability to deliver excellent sound quality without the cords of conventional headphones. Playlists and podcasts come to life with the impeccable sound you would expect from the speaker pros at JBL. The semi in-ear design is a good choice for those who want to maintain some awareness of your surroundings while enjoying your playlist. The truly wireless earbuds offer a solid Bluetooth signal, plus compatibility with Google's Fast Pair makes Android connections a breeze. For calls, the longer stalk helps to pick up your voice more clearly.
The compact size is impressive, with a charging case that can easily fit in the palm of your hand or slip into your pocket. The design of the JBL Tune 225TWS earbuds offers a stable fit, with the stem providing enough balance to help earbuds stay in place for moderate movement. The JBL Tune 225TWS earbuds have physical buttons to navigate and control overall functionality. You can tap the multifunction buttons to answer/end calls, play/pause media, and skip tracks, but you have to use your phone to control the volume on the earbuds.
Overall the JBL Tune 225TWS earbuds are a great option if you want to cut the cord but still have the reliability and quality of traditional headphones.
PROS
- JBL's signature sound quality without the wires
- Easy pairing with any Google’s Fast Pair compatible device
- Battery life is competitive
- Allows some ambient noise, so you can be aware of your surroundings
- Multiple color options
- Lightweight
CONS
- Not water resistant
- Volume for the earbuds is only accessible from your phone
Best Budget JBL Earbuds - JBL LIVE 300
SPECS
- Earbuds weight: 0.5 oz.
- Charging case weight: 1.9 oz.
- Charging case dimensions: 3.94" x 1.81" x 6.3"
- Batteries: 1 Lithium Polymer battery required (included)
- Battery Life: 6 hours
- Charging time: 2 hours for a full charge
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Water resistance: Yes, IPX5
- Fit customization: 3 ear-tip sizes and 4 wingfin enhancers included
If you want a solid set of earbuds with less of a financial investment, the JBL LIVE 300 buds pack a lot of power for the price tag. Set-up is a breeze—as soon as you open the box the earbuds go into pairing mode. Then just make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your device and let it finish syncing. Like other JBL earbuds, you can use the JBL Headphones app to access controls, customize EQs, update firmware, or locate your earbuds. The app also gives you access to set up TalkThru and activate Ambient Aware to alert you to your surroundings.
It's worth clarifying that these are not noise-canceling earbuds. Most listeners will appreciate the sound quality, although the bass response could be adjusted for some genres in your library using the app. The JBL LIVE 300 earbuds also support stereo call audio, so you can take phone calls while on the go. The microphone quality is similar to other true wireless earbuds on the market—a little muffled depending on your environment and connection, but clear enough to have a coherent conversation.
The JBL logo on each earbud serves as a touch spot for customizable controls. Automatic ear detection recognizes when you remove or insert the earbud and auto-plays or pauses your media. The earbud battery lasts up to six hours with constant streaming and you can get about two full charges in the case, which takes about two hours to charge. You can also juice up the earbuds with a quick 10 minutes in the case for an hour of listening. An external LED light encompasses the USB-C input and fades white while the earbuds are charging.
PROS
- Charges quickly
- Smart features like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
- Noise isolation
- Ambient Aware and TalkThru modes
- Sweat-proof and water-resistant with an IPX5 certification
- Lightweight
CONS
- Not noise canceling
- No wireless charging
Best JBL Earbuds for Working Out - JBL Endurance Peak II
SPECS
- Earbuds weight: 0.9 oz.
- Charging case weight: 2.7 oz.
- Charging case dimensions: N/A
- Batteries: 1 Lithium Polymer battery required (included)
- Battery Life: 6 hours
- Charging time: 2 hours
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Water resistance: Yes, IP67
- Fit customization: 3 different ear tip sizes and 1 wingtip enhancer
If you're a serious pavement pounder, there are a lot of great earbud options to consider, but the JBL Endurance Peak II earbuds will likely become your new favorite workout buddy. Aptly named, these earbuds are designed to endure all those grueling training sessions. Plus, the secure ear hooks and streamlined technology mean you'll be able to fully focus on your exercises without having to fidget with your earbuds and phone controls. The IP67 rating makes these earbuds extremely durable against the elements, whether it's a steamy cycling class or a rainy trail run. Although not made for swimming, these earbuds can withstand submersion for up to 30 minutes. Hands-free calls and voice assistant access let you stay connected and in control without losing your mojo. The JBL Endurance Peak II earbuds are compatible with Siri, Google Assistant, and Bixby. It's worth mentioning that the JBL Headphones app doesn’t support the JBL Endurance Peak II.
The flexible ear hook lets you adjust the headphone to your size and comfort level to create a sturdy, secure fit. Dual connect means each earbud works independently, so you can use one at a time. The battery is built to go the extra mile with 30 hours of playback—6 hours in the buds and 24 hours in the case. Keeping in line with the intention of these earbuds, they are better at providing top-notch sound for a killer workout than taking audio calls. But if you do need to multitask, each earbud has its own microphone system, so you have the option to take calls in mono or stereo mode with decent quality.
PROS
- PowerHook design provides a secure fit
- Dual connect to use each earbud independently
- Voice assistant access
- IP67 rating means excellent durability
CONS
- Does not have active noise cancelation
- The case is a bit bulky compared to other earbud cases
- Isn't supported by the JBL Headphones app
Best Noise-Canceling JBL Earbuds - JBL Tune 125TWS
SPECS
- Earbuds weight: 0.5 oz.
- Charging case weight: 2.1 oz.
- Charging case dimensions: 3.94" x 1.73" x 6.3"
- Batteries: 3 Lithium Polymer battery required (included)
- Battery Life: 8 hours
- Charging time: 2 hours
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Water resistance: No
- Fit customization: 3 different ear tip sizes
If you're looking to block out distractions from the outside world, the in-ear seal of the JBL Tune 125TWS earbuds is your best bet. All you'll hear is the well-balanced sound of your favorite soundtrack or the crystal-clear reading of your next audiobook. On the flip side, the earbuds also handle noise "leakage," so your treadmill neighbor won't overhear your NSFW cardio playlist. You can also take calls with clarity thanks to the integrated microphone.
The low-profile design tucks into your ear and provides a well-balanced sound profile, while physical buttons are located on the side of each earbud to access the controls. These earbuds can last up to 8 hours on a single charge (although real-life use can vary depending on your audio habits). The earbuds can get about three full charges from the charging case, which uses a USB-C charging port.
The JBL Tune 125TWS earbuds and case are exceptionally portable thanks to their compact size, so you can easily pop them into your gym bag or waist belt. The earbuds support Bluetooth 5.0, but not multi-device pairing. The Bluetooth range is on par with other earbud competitors, getting about 40 feet.
PROS
- Noise canceling with balanced sound
- Substantial battery life
- Comfortable fit for long-term wear
- Lightweight
CONS
- Charging case doesn't support wireless charging
- Isn't supported by the JBL Headphones app
FAQs About JBL Earphones
Does JBL make good earbuds?
JBL is arguably one of the best-known sound giants on the market, so you're definitely getting top-notch sound quality with JBL earbuds. JBL has a variety of wireless headphones on the market with cutting-edge technology. JBL earbud features include hearty battery life, competitive Bluetooth range, noise cancellation, and water resistance. Many JBL earbuds are also supported by the JBL Headphones app for an extra layer of customization. The companion app comes with a full suite of features to help customize sound preferences and touch-button settings, plus a fit test to help you get the best ear fit. You’ll also see battery level indicators for the earbuds and charging case, and utilize the Find My Buds feature if you misplace your earbuds.
Are JBL earbuds good for phone calls?
Like many wireless earbuds, your call quality will depend on the style of earbuds you have, your connection, and your environment. Some JBL earbuds have multiple microphones that are designed to better amplify your voice. Earbuds with longer stems also help to make your voice clear to those on the other end of the line. Some JBL earbuds have a dual connect option, so you can take calls with one or both earbuds, creating a mono or stereo experience.
Do JBL earbuds work with Apple?
Yes, JBL earbuds are compatible with iPhones and other Apple devices. JBL wireless earbuds can easily connect with your iPhone via Bluetooth. Most of the time this happens automatically when you pair your phone or device, but you can also manually connect your Apple product when your Bluetooth setting is switched on and pairing mode on your earbuds is activated.