The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are ANC-equipped wireless earbuds. They're an updated version of the Jabra Elite 8 Active, with a slightly tweaked formula that makes them a worthy upgrade for some users. This iteration maintains the same sweat-resistant 'ShakeGrip' coating and ergonomic design that made the original a hit with the running crowd, but adds functionality in the form of a 'smart case' that acts as a Bluetooth LE transmitter between wired devices and the buds themselves. Jabra also advertises some fine-tuning to the ANC, 'Hear-Through,' and Dolby Spatial Audio features.
Given these buds are effectively Jabra's last dance in the consumer market, are they exiting with a whimper or a bang?
Our Verdict
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are great for sports and fitness use. Their ergonomic shape and ShakeGrip rubberized coating make for a stable and comfortable fit, and their IP68 rating means you can bring them with you on wet hikes and dusty bike rides alike. Their simple yet intuitive control scheme makes it a breeze to input controls mid-stride, and their almost eight-hour battery life is enough to get you through all but the most grueling endurance events without a recharge.
- Outstanding noise isolation performance.
- Comfortable, stable fit.
- IP68 rating against dust and water submersion.
- Mic can sound thin and unnatural.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are impressive for commuting and travel. They're comfortable, extremely portable, and well-built enough to endure long-term use on the road. They also feature an outstanding noise isolation performance: a happy marriage between a great ANC system and the high degree of passive isolation provided by their silicone ear tips, which can attenuate traffic noise, airplane engine rumble, and everything in between. They feature almost eight hours of continuous battery life, which is enough for a week's worth of commutes (or one transatlantic flight), with three extra charges available via the case.
- 'Smart case' offers wired playback support.
- Outstanding noise isolation performance.
- Comfortable, stable fit.
- IP68 rating against dust and water submersion.
- Mic can sound thin and unnatural.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are very good for office use. They have a comfortable, stable fit that leaks minimal amounts of audio. Their continuous battery life is just shy of eight hours, which is enough to get you through the average workday without needing a recharge. Their ANC system and passive seal excel at cutting out the sounds of scraping chairs and corporate chit-chat prevalent in the office, so you can focus on your work. Plus, the ability to transmit audio to the buds via the 'smart case' and its wired input means you can play audio from the most ancient of office PCs. Finally, the mic is decent enough if you need to hop on a midday conference call.
- 'Smart case' offers wired playback support.
- Outstanding noise isolation performance.
- Comfortable, stable fit.
LC3/LE Audio codec support.
- Mic can sound thin and unnatural.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are passable for wireless gaming. They can connect to a PC over Bluetooth, but their latency via the SBC codec is too high to be practical for gaming. Subsequent firmware updates now include LC3 support for compatible devices, which can lower latency; however, support is limited. However, the mic sounds alright for true wireless buds, and the headphones are comfortable to wear. That said, these aren't a substitute for purpose-built gaming headsets, and they lack tools like PC software. While you can also use the 'smart case' like a dock to connect to wired devices and listen to the buds wirelessly, the mic is disabled in that mode. Still, the latency with the 'smart case' is lower than that with standard Bluetooth, which improves the gaming experience for single-player games.
- Outstanding noise isolation performance.
LC3/LE Audio codec support.
SBC latency is high via Bluetooth, not much lower when wired.
- Mic can sound thin and unnatural.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are okay for wired gaming. You can connect them to PCs and PlayStation and Xbox consoles by using the 'smart case' as a transmitter. You can plug into its USB-C port using either a conventional USB-C cable or the included USB-C to analog adapter. While latency is lower than via Bluetooth, it's still high enough to be a nuisance for any moderately competitive gamer. You also can't send audio using this connection type, so you'll have to use an outboard mic.
- Outstanding noise isolation performance.
- Comfortable, stable fit.
SBC latency is high via Bluetooth, not much lower when wired.
- Mic can sound thin and unnatural.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 have decent audio reproduction accuracy. They don't deviate much from their satisfactory sound profile and have decently matched left and right drivers. The bass response will have you grooving to basslines without masking the balanced mid-range, which renders vocals and lead instruments transparently. The treble range is also balanced, and the buds have low harmonic distortion. There's a graphic EQ and presets available in the app for further tuning possibilities, though. However, you can always use the Dolby Spatial Audio feature to help create a virtual soundstage instead.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless have superb noise isolation. They do a remarkably good job blocking out the low rumble of train engines, as well as the sound of chatty coworkers in an office. In fact, they excel at blocking out mid-range sounds, like blaring car horns, and also do a good job of blocking out high-pitched sounds, like fan whine.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 have a decent mic. While the mic doesn't render your voice in the most natural way, you'll still be easily understood on calls, thanks to its great noise handling performance. Even if you're in a busy office, the person on the other end of the line will hear you clearly. If your device is compatible, the LC3 Bluetooth codec can also provide a higher-quality recording.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 have great frequency response consistency. Once you find a good fit, you can expect consistent audio from one wear to the next.
Performance Usages
Changelog
-
Updated Dec 02, 2025:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.0, which adds the following tests: Stereo Mismatch, Group Delay, Cumulative Spectral Decay, PRTF, Harmonic Distortion, and Electrical Aspects. We've added new performance usages and updated the text throughout the Sound tests and side-by-sides.
- Updated Nov 25, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0, which updates our sound tests and adds performance usages. You can read more about this in our changelog.
-
Updated Aug 22, 2025:
We've updated the verdicts for the Wireless Gaming and Phone Calls boxes, and the Recording Quality, Battery, and Bluetooth Connection boxes after retesting with firmware 2.4.4 (1033) to check LC3/LE Audio functionality.
-
Updated Apr 25, 2025:
We've updated Noise Isolation with results from our investigation of user-reported ANC issues.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are the next generation of the Jabra Elite 8 Active, and you can see their label. They come in four color variants: 'Navy,' 'Black,' 'Coral,' and 'Olive.' If you encounter another variant of these headphones, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
TheJabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are an updated version of the Jabra Elite 8 Active. They come with some notable improvements over the last iteration, like a 'smart case' that allows you to connect devices via a wired connection and send audio, which the case then transmits via Bluetooth LE to the buds themselves. The noise isolation performance is a notable step up, both across the full range and in common scenarios. There's not much to differentiate their noise isolation performance from that of the flagship Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2, either, and we even found the Elite 8 Active performed better in our full-range isolation testing. That said, the more premium model offers Dolby Atmos compatibility with head-tracking capabilities, which can help create a more immersive listening experience.
If you're looking for similar options, consider our recommendations for the best headphones for running, the best Jabra earbuds and headphones, and the best earbuds and in-ear headphones.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are a better choice for most use cases than the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless. Both buds offer similar levels of comfort and stability, though the Jabra are better built with an IP68 rating against dust and water damage. The Jabra headphones have a 'smart case' that allows you to connect devices via a wired USB-C or AUX connection. While the Sony headphones are well-known for their excellent noise isolation performance and passively isolating tips, the Jabra buds offer even more attenuation, and their silicone tips also provide a solid seal. The Jabra have a better-quality mic with better noise handling. That said, the Sony headphones have access to Hi-Res audio through their proprietary LDAC codec.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 represent a better value than the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2. While both buds offer a comfortable, stable fit, the 8 are designed for more rugged use, featuring an IP68 rating against dust and water damage. Although you'd expect the 10, Jabra's flagship earbuds, to perform better in noise isolation, we found that there was practically very little difference in performance between them, with the 8 performing slightly better in our full-range testing. As a result, there's not much to justify the additional outlay on the 10 unless you're dead set on their Dolby Atmos head-tracking capabilities or prefer their oblong-shaped tips.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are the next generation of the Jabra Elite 8 Active. They keep many of the features that made the original popular: a comfortable fit, great build quality with the slip-proof ShakeGrip coating, and the ability to tweak the sound further via the EQ and presets in the app. The newest iteration has some notable upgrades that make it a better choice for most uses. A new 'smart case' allows you to playback audio from wired sources by plugging them into the case's USB-C port. There's even a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter provided, though it can be a bit finicky to use. The new version also has a substantially improved noise isolation performance, which more effectively blocks out ambient noise in common scenarios.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 and the Apple AirPods Pro 2 have similar feature sets. They both have exceptional noise isolation performance, meaning you're unlikely to be disturbed on a plane or in the office. However, if you're planning on taking calls, the Jabra have the better mic. While the AirPods Pro 2 don't have a dedicated app and EQ like the Jabra, their implementation of Spatial Audio has head tracking, which the Jabra don't support. Though neither has immediate access to high-quality audio codecs, the Jabra can use their case to transmit data to the earbuds using the LC3 codec, which can support higher-quality audio. The dealbreaker for many will be compatibility: the Apple earbuds fit seamlessly with other Apple products, thanks to their H2 chip, and offer many iOS-exclusive features. If you're already heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods Pro 2 are a good bet.
Test Results
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 have a warm sound profile that still sounds balanced through the mid-range. The bass range is slightly boosted, so kicks and basslines come through with a tangible sense of boom and slam. The mid-range is virtually flat, resulting in vocals and lead instruments that sound clear and detailed. The treble is generally well-controlled, apart from a gentle roll-off of the highest frequencies.
There are a few EQ presets to choose from if you'd like to mix up the sound. We also observed that switching between ANC modes induced almost no changes in the sound profile, although using the microphone to take a phone call would result in a more noticeable drop-off in audio quality.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 have impressive frequency response consistency. You'll be rewarded with consistent audio delivery between listening sessions once you achieve a good fit with the right pair of ear tips.
The bass compliance is remarkable. The response is slightly emphasized compared to our target curve across the entire range. In practice, this means low-end elements, like kicks and basslines, sound clean and full without being overbearing. It's well-suited to the detuned bass and guitars in songs like Deftones' Change (In the House of Flies) and can even do justice to an 808-filled Metro Boomin production.
The mid-range compliance is outstanding. The response is very aligned with our target across the entire range, resulting in crystalline vocal reproduction. There's a very slight bit of emphasis in the top part of this range that helps vocals shine a little more.
The treble range is outstanding in its compliance with our target. It matches our target curve across the lower half of the range, so the upper harmonics of vocals sound smooth and natural. While there are some more deviations from the mid-treble onwards, most of these occur in the high-treble, a range we lose sensitivity to over time.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 have good peaks and dips performance, meaning they generally follow their own warm sound profile. A small dip in the high-bass thins out some of the warmth in bass guitar relative to the mid-bass punch. A series of peaks and dips in the treble can cause sibilants like S and T sounds to sound dull or bright depending on their pitch.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 have decently matched left and right drivers in terms of both phase and amplitude. As long as you take the time to get a good fit, you'll hear accurate stereo panning.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 have satisfactory group delay performance. The group delay falls right below the audibility threshold, so you won't hear any problems like loose or flabby bass.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 have amazingly low harmonic distortion. Even at dangerously high listening levels, your audio is reproduced cleanly.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 come equipped with Dolby Spatial Audio, which can help create a more immersive, open sound. You can enable this via the companion app. Unlike the Jabra Elite 10, they don't feature any head-tracking capabilities.
These are the settings used to test the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2. We used the small silicone tips for all sound testing and the medium tips for isolation testing. Our results are only valid when using these settings.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are similar to the Jabra Elite 8 Active in appearance. These headphones retain the same rounded, ergonomically shaped design with a rubberized, slip-proof coating. They come in a few color variants, including 'Navy,' 'Black,' 'Coral,' and 'Olive.'
Due to their similar design to their predecessor, these buds also have a similarly comfortable fit. While their body is on the larger side, it's still small enough to fit in smaller ears, and once you find the right pair of ear tips, they fit securely in your ear canal. Those who dislike deep in-ear fits will appreciate how these avoid putting pressure on your ear canal, avoiding the plunger-like effect that can occur with such fits.
These buds have great, intuitive controls that are easy to memorize and can even be customized. You can see a quick rundown of the controls. The outer surface of each bud is a touch-sensitive button that you can use to input commands with clicky, tactile feedback. Audio feedback is provided for various actions, like switching between ANC modes, entering Bluetooth pairing mode, or reaching maximum volume. There's also a white light on the case that lights up, accompanied by audio feedback, when you use the case as a transmitter.
As with many other true wireless earbuds, the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are extremely portable. They can easily be slipped into a bag or pocket, although you'll need to use the case as a transmitter if you opt for a wired connection type.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 come with a sturdily constructed case that's the same size as the one that comes with the Jabra Elite 8 Active or the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2. The case features magnets to secure the buds in place, as well as a solid lid and sturdy hinges. The case itself carries an IP54 rating for protection against dust particles and water splashes. You can also use the case to playback audio from wired sources. All you need to do is connect the case to a USB-C or AUX audio source while the buds are out of the case. Press the case button once, and the light will switch from green to white, indicating a successful connection.
These buds have a great build quality. They're rated IP68 for extensive protection against dust and water damage, and their case is rated IP54 for protection against dust and water splashes. The buds are primarily constructed from a soft, liquid silicone called 'ShakeGrip,' which is also used in the case. The case exterior is made of a tougher plastic. The ear tips are made of soft, pliable silicone and come in sets of three. While they're fairly resilient to damage, excessive force is required to remove them from the buds, which can result in tearing over time if you frequently switch tips.
Despite lacking the stabilizers of fins, these buds offer a very stable fit once you find the right pair of ear tips. Assisted by their 'ShakeGrip' rubberized coating and ergonomic fit, they can stay in place regardless of how much sweat you work up during your workouts.
- Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 headphones
- 3x ear tips
- Charging case
- USB-A to USB-C charging cable + 3.5mm adaptor (80cm/31.5")
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty/safety information
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless have a remarkable full-range noise isolation performance. Their ANC can effectively attenuate against external noise across the entire frequency range, blocking out both low rumbles and high-pitched squeals alike. These buds performed even better than the top-of-the-line Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 Wireless, which could be attributed to their improved passive isolation seal on our B&K 5128 testing head. You can see the difference between the two tips.
While multiple users have reported issues with the Jabra headphones' ANC performance, we were unable to replicate the bulk of the issues after a thorough investigation. We tested the earbuds before and after updating to firmware 1.2.2 (1033) in regular use and multiple spot checks. Spot checks with transient noises like spoons smashing together and sustained noise from a faucet (alternating on and off) did not result in any behavior outside the norm for ANC technology. That said, we were able to replicate loud feedback once by cupping one of the buds in one hand and closing it. If you experience similar or other unexpected behavior with the earbuds, please let us know in the comments.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless do a superb job of blocking out noise from common scenarios. They're very effective at cutting out the low rumble of plane engines, as well as the scraping of chairs and clicking pens in an office environment. However, they really excel when it comes to blocking out blaring car horns and curb-side chatter. If you're interested in headphones that offer similar real-world noise isolation performance and are user-repairable, consider the Fairphone Fairbuds.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless have a wind noise reduction feature you can enable via the app. This can help reduce some of the irritating noise created when the ANC attempts to eliminate wind noise frequencies. However, using this feature can alter the efficacy of the ANC across the entire frequency range.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless leak very little audio. Regardless of the volume, you won't bother anyone positioned near you.
The mic's recording quality is okay. It's very similar to the previous generation, as your voice sounds relatively full-bodied; however, the roll-off in the treble range still means it doesn't sound entirely natural. If you make a lot of calls with your headphones, check out our article on the best earbuds for phone calls. If your device is compatible, you can connect the buds using the LC3 (LE Audio) codec (firmware 2.4.4 or later), and we found, subjectively, that the audio captured by the mic has a higher fidelity. Unfortunately, the codec isn't compatible with our rig, so we weren't able to record a demo.
The mic has an impressive noise-handling performance. It takes a few seconds for the mic's noise gate to activate in moderately noisy environments, like a crowded street. However, during this initial adjustment period, the mic effectively separates your voice from the background, maintaining clarity. It performs similarly well in noisier environments, like a subway station, where your voice remains audible despite all but the loudest noises.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless have a good battery life performance. They offer a comparable battery life performance to the last generation, just shy of eight hours off a single charge. The case holds an extra three charges. There's even a fast charge feature advertised that grants you up to one hour of charge from five minutes of charging. The auto-off timer and standby mode can also help you stretch the battery life to its limits. We retested the continuous battery life using the LC3 (LE Audio) codec (added to firmware 2.4.4), and found that it extends the battery life to nine hours under the same standardized testing conditions.
The Jabra Sound+ app is great. It lets you adjust the sound using the five-band graphic EQ and presets and toggle through ANC and 'Hear-Through' modes, the latter of which uses the mics to feed some external noise into your audio. You can also access the Dolby Spatial Sound settings, remap the controls, or play back soothing ambient audio soundscapes to help you fall asleep. You can see a video of how the app works. On the other hand, if you want even more hands-on control, the nine-band EQ and adjustable ANC strength of the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro Truly Wireless are an appealing alternative for Android owners.
The earbuds come with a 'smart case' that doubles as a wireless transmitter, in case you want to plug wired devices directly into it. You can plug USB-C devices directly into the case or use the included 1/8" (3.5mm) TRS to USB-C adapter. Once you've connected your device, press the button on the case and wait until the light turns white to confirm that you've paired the buds. This system is ideal for users who want to connect their buds to devices like older AV equipment or in-flight entertainment interfaces. There's a fair bit of latency with both USB-C and analog input types, though, which makes them impractical for gaming.
That said, we had some connection issues when using the provided USB-C to 1/8" (3.5mm) adapter, which meant we often had to connect, re-connect, and generally play with the connection to get audio to play from both buds. We suspect this is an issue with the adapter rather than the case itself, as we also encountered the same problem with the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2.
They have great Bluetooth connectivity, aided by the extremely functional 'smart case' that serves as the focal point for connections. You can use the case as a Bluetooth transmitter by plugging devices, like older TVs or PCs, directly into the case via the included USB-C cable or a USB-C to analog adapter. The case then transmits audio to the buds using Bluetooth LE Audio. We found during testing that we could achieve more consistent audio using a USB-C connection, although the USB-C to analog adapter was sometimes finicky.
You can connect up to two devices simultaneously to the buds directly using Bluetooth, with AAC or SBC codecs. However, latency via the SBC codec is high enough that you'll notice sync issues between your audio and video if you're watching a movie. That said, different apps and devices compensate for latency in different ways, so your experience may vary. There's also LC3 (LE Audio) Bluetooth support as of firmware 2.4.4 (1033). According to reports, using the LC3 (LE Audio) codec is expected to reduce latency. However, one drawback of the codec is that it's picky when it comes to device compatibility, so we were unable to obtain a latency measurement using our rig.
These buds are compatible with PCs via a standard Bluetooth connection, offering both audio and mic functionality. That said, if you need to use a wired connection type, you can always plug your PC into the 'smart case' using a USB-C or analog cable; however, we recommend using a USB-C cable for a more stable connection. This connection method only provides audio support, so you'll need a standalone microphone if you want to communicate with others.
You can connect your PlayStation console to the 'smart case' via a USB-C or analog cable; however, we recommend using a USB-C cable for a more stable connection. This connection method only provides audio support, so you'll need a standalone microphone to communicate with your teammates. If you plug directly into your controller, you'll have to contend with the adapter hanging off the edge of your controller.
You can connect your Xbox console to the 'smart case' via a USB-C or analog cable; however, we recommend using a USB-C cable for a more stable connection. This connection type only allows you to receive audio, so you'll need a standalone microphone to communicate with your teammates. If you plug directly into your controller, you'll have to contend with the adapter hanging precariously off the edge of your controller.
The 'smart case' is multi-function. It charges your earbuds and functions as a transmitter for wired devices. You can connect the case via the USB-C port to USB-C or 3.5mm audio ports and listen wirelessly to the earbuds. It only receives audio from your device and sends it to the earbuds, though, so the mic won't work with wired devices. The case can also be charged wirelessly.