Our Verdict
Decent for mixed usage. The Jabra Elite 65e have a good design that's durable and portable. They also provide a good amount of isolation for noisy environments and a great control scheme with a lot of functions. They're stable enough to run with and a suitable option for commuting and for the office. Unfortunately, being Bluetooth-only headphones, they won't be the ideal option for gaming or home theater. They also have a mediocre to average sound quality that won't be for everyone but at least you can EQ it via their customizable Sound+ app.
- Above-average noise cancellation.
- Rugged and flexible design.
- Comfortable earbud fit.
- Mediocre sound quality.
- Laggy when watching videos.
- The neckband design won't be for everyone.
Passable for neutral listening. Our measurements show a mismatch that is not as audible. So if you can get them to match with correct positioning, these headphones sound decent and provide a good amount of bass, a moderately well-balanced midrange, and okay treble range. They sound a bit recessed on instruments and vocals, but the pronounced high frequencies and bass range give them an exciting audio reproduction on most tracks. Unfortunately, they can sound a bit sibilant with already bright songs, and they do not have the best soundstage so they won't be the ideal option for more neutral listeners. On the upside, you can EQ their sound quality with Jabra Sound+ app.
Above-average for commuting. They are comfortable, portable and isolate well enough in loud environments to be suitable for the noise or public transit. They also have a decent control scheme and battery life.
Good for sports use. The Jabra Elite 65e are comfortable and stable enough to run with. Thanks to their around-the-neck design, they will rarely fall to the ground even when exercising intensely. However, the neckband can sometimes get caught on items of clothing which may pull the earbuds out of your ears, but it doesn't happen that often and depends on what you're wearing.
Above-average for office use. They barely leak even at high volumes and isolate well enough to block the chatter of a lively workplace. They're comfortable, they have a good control scheme and a decent battery life that lasts long enough for a typical workday.
Below-average for gaming. They have a decent mic and comfortable design but a bit too much latency to be suitable for gaming. They're also Bluetooth-only headphones that will not work with your consoles.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Jun 29, 2018: Review published.
- Updated Jun 27, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Jabra Elite 65e are decent mixed-usage headphones with a good design and isolation. They have a flexible neckband and magnetic earbuds that makes them a bit more manageable and portable. They also cancel a fair bit of noise which makes them a suitable option for commute and travel. However, their sound quality is not as balanced as some of the similarly designed around-the-neck models compared below. See our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds, the best noise cancelling headphones under $200 and the best earbuds with a mic.
The Beats BeatsX Wireless are slightly better wireless headphones than the Jabra Elite 65e Wireless, although not by much. The Beats have an in-ear design that blocks as much noise passively as the active noise-canceling Jabra. They're also a bit more portable, with a more flexible headband that will easily fit into most pockets. The Beats also have a slightly better default sound, but you can't EQ it like with the Jabra. On the other hand, the Jabra have better battery life, a more comfortable earbud fit, and a better build quality that feels a lot more premium and durable than the Beats. Unlike the Beats, the Jabra also supports Bluetooth 5.0 and multi-point pairing, so you can seamlessly switch between two devices.
The Bose QuietControl 30 are a better wireless headset than the Jabra Elite 65e. The QC 30 isolate better in noisy environments, which make them a bit more suitable for commute and travel. They also have a better-balanced sound quality that will cater better than the Jabra to most music genres. The Jabra, on the other hand, have a customizable sound profile and a more feature-packed app support that gives them a lot of control over their active features. They also have a better in-line mic which makes them more suitable for making calls.
The Jabra Elite 65e are a better around-the-neck headset than the Samsung U Flex. The Jabra Elite 65e are noise cancelling earbuds, so they perform a bit better in noisy conditions and are a bit more comfortable to wear than the Samsung Level U Pro. The Elite 65e also have a better microphone and a sturdier, more premium looking build quality that's flexible enough to fit into some pockets, unlike the U Pro. On the upside, the Level U Pro are a slightly better value for their low price point, and they also support more codecs so you can use them to watch TV if you have Bluetooth source that supports aptX-LL (Low Latency).
The Jabra Elite 65e Wireless are slightly better wireless earbuds than the Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless, but not by much. The Bose have a slightly more compact design for sports. They also have a better-balanced sound quality that most will prefer over that of the Jabra although you can not EQ them. The Jabra, on the other hand, are noise cancelling so they do a little better in noisy conditions. They also have a much better microphone for making calls and a customizable app that gives them more options than the Bose. They also last longer on a single charge, although the Bose have a longer battery life overall when you include their charging case.
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