The Jabra Elite Active 45e Wireless are designed as sports headphones, but their sound quality is sub-par, and their fit might not be comfortable for everyone. They have a semi-open design that resembles the Plantronics BackBeat Fit Wireless, but they're more portable and delivers audio more consistently. These headphones are well-built and are rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, which is excellent. They're very stable due to their ear-hook design and will be a good option for outside runners who want to be aware of their surroundings. Unfortunately, these headphones won’t be very versatile, and you should only use them for sports.
Our Verdict
The Jabra Elite Active 45e are mediocre for mixed usage. They have an uncommon design and fit that is unsuitable for most uses. They're designed as sports headphones that let you hear your surroundings. They don’t block ambient noise, so they won’t be great to use at the office or when you are commuting in public transit. Their wireless latency might also be a bit high for watching video content and gaming.
- Durable build with IP67 rating.
- Good control scheme.
- Stable and breathable for sports.
- Poor audio quality.
- Design might not fit everyone well.
- Poor isolation, by design.
The Jabra Elite Active 45e are sub-par for neutral sound. They lack a lot of bass, and their treble range is noticeably overemphasized and uneven. We also measured a noticeable mismatch between our unit’s drivers, especially in the treble range. Overall, these headphones will be better suited for background music when running or working out.
The Jabra Elite Active 45e are sub-par for commuting. Their design doesn’t create an air-tight seal that would block out ambient noise well. They barely isolate against any noise, which means they’ll let in lots of deep rumbles from engines. Their battery life is also a bit short for long trips, and they might not be the most comfortable option to wear for hours.
The Jabra Elite Active 45e are very good for sports. These were designed for physical activity. Their ear-hooks are very stable, and their earbud design allows you to stay aware of your surroundings when running outside. They're very breathable, and you shouldn’t sweat more than usual when using them. They're also wireless, which means you won’t have to worry about a cable getting stuck on something and yanking the headphones out of your ears.
The Jabra Elite Active 45e are sub-par for the office. They don’t block out work environment noise like ambient chatter and A/C systems, and their battery life will be a bit short for a full normal workday. Also, their fit might not be comfortable for everyone, and you might feel ear soreness after a while. On the upside, they can connect to two devices simultaneously, like your PC and phone, and have pretty good wireless range.
The Jabra Elite Active 45e are bad for gaming. These headphones’ latency will be too high for gaming, and their microphone performance won’t be on par with a gaming headset’s boom microphone. They also aren’t the most comfortable headphones for long gaming sessions. Overall, you shouldn't use them for gaming.
Changelog
- Updated Mar 27, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated May 29, 2019: Review published.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Jabra Elite Active 45e are good sports headphones that set themselves apart by their design and are great headphones for outside runners who want to stay aware of their surroundings. Unfortunately, their fit won’t be great for everyone, and they don’t have the most balanced sound profile.
See our recommendations for the best overall headphones for running, the best Bluetooth earbuds for working out, and the best wireless earbuds.
The Jaybird X4 Wireless are better headphones than the Jabra Elite Active 45e in almost every aspect. Their sound quality is better, their earbud-like tips are more comfortable, their app offers more customization, they have a slightly better battery life, and they isolate more ambient noise due to their air-tight seal and closed-back design. On the other hand, the Jabra have a mic-mute function that the Jaybird lack, and you don’t need a proprietary cradle to charge them. The Jabra will be a better option if you want headphones to run outside with while being aware of your surroundings.
The Jabra Elite Active 45e Wireless are better headphones than the Plantronics BackBeat Fit Wireless. Their control scheme is better and easier to use, and they are more portable. While both headphones have poor audio quality and barely isolate, the Jabra have the edge over the Plantronics thanks to their app that offers a good 5-band EQ. The Jabra also have better wireless range.
The JBL Endurance Sprint Wireless are better headphones than the Jabra Elite Active 45e. Their closed-back design is more versatile as they isolate more ambient noise, and their sound signature is accurate and well-balanced. They also offer better battery life than the Jabra. On the other hand, the physical control scheme of the Jabras is better than the very sensitive touch area of the JBLs. You also get an app that offers a few customization options and can connect them to two devices. They also feel a bit more secure inside the ears. The Jabra will be a better option if you want headphones to run outside with while being aware of your surroundings.
The Beats Powerbeats 3 Wireless are better headphones than the Jabra Elite Active 45e Wireless. They're more comfortable, and their audio quality is superior. They also have slightly better isolation performance, and they offer about twice the battery life of the Jabra. On the other hand, you can’t EQ them, which you can do on the Jabra. You can also connect the Jabra to two devices, and they have a mic-mute function for calls. The Beats will also be a better option if you want headphones to run outside while being aware of your surroundings.
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