Our Verdict
Decent for mixed usage. The Jabra Elite Sport are good headphones for working out with a customizable sound. They come with a variety of tips and fins, but the larger sizes are not the most comfortable so they won't be the ideal truly wireless pair of headphones for all listeners. On the upside, they isolate well enough for commuting, and they have easy to use controls. They also barely leak which is good for noise-sensitive environments like the office. Unfortunately, they have too much latency for gaming and watching movies, and their slightly bulkier design is not as stable as some of the other in-ears.
- Stable and breathable for sports.
- Good range and wireless connection.
- Good customizable app.
- Not as comfortable for everyone.
- Sub-par microphone.
Average for neutral listening. The Jabra Elite Sport have a decently balanced mid-range and a good bass that packs a punch but slightly overpowers instruments and vocals. Unfortunately, the higher frequencies are a little recessed which makes instruments and vocals feel slightly distant an lacking in detail. Overall, they should sound good enough for most, but their slight lack of clarity and poor soundstage (due to their small closed back earbud design) won't be ideal for more neutral listeners.
Above-average for the commuting. They will easily fit into your pockets and come with a great case that makes them quite portable. They also passively block enough noise for commute and travel, although they won't be the ideal headphones for louder environments. They have a decent control scheme and they barely leak so you can mask some of the ambient noise by turning your volume up. Unfortunately, they are not the most comfortable headphones to wear on long trips, especially when using the larger stability fin sizes.
The Jabra Elite Sport are great headphones for running and working out. They're stable, breathable, lightweight and portable with a fairly easy-to-use control scheme once you get used to it. However, their size and stiff stability fins make them a bit uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time and slightly less stable than the other truly wireless in-ears we've reviewed. They won't move much while in your ears but you may have to adjust them somewhat frequently to get a more comfortable fit, or when using the controls which sometimes breaks the seal that they create within you rear canal.
Above-average for office use. The Jabra Elite Sport isolate well enough for an office environment and they barely leak. This makes them suitable to use in a quiet office. However, they do not have many connection options and have a bit too much latency for watching videos. Their design may also get a bit fatiguing after a couple of hours of continuous listening depending on the shape and size of your ears.
Below-average for gaming. The Jabra Elite Sport have a sub-par microphone, and a bit too much latency to be suitable for gaming. They're Bluetooth only headphones that will not be compatible 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 May 31, 2018: Review published.
- Updated May 29, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Jabra Elite Sport are decent headphones for most use cases and do especially well for sports. They have a tough, rugged in-ear design that's a bit bulkier than most but should be durable enough to last you a while. They have a decent but slightly sharp sound, and they come with a great sports-oriented app that gives you a lot of tracking data for your workouts. Unfortunately, their size and stiff stability fins will not be as comfortable as some of the other truly wireless in-ears compared below. They also do not isolate as much in loud environments but should block enough noise for most commutes, especially if you're playing your music at higher volumes. See our recommendations for the best true wireless earbuds, the best headphones under $200, and the best wireless earbuds for working out.
The Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless and the Jabra Elite Sport Truly Wireless have about the same performance overall. The Bose have a more comfortable earbud fit that you can wear for a lot longer than the Jabra. They also have a much better default sound but do not have an EQ like the Jabra. On the upside, the Jabra have a more rugged design, better controls, and a more compact case that will easily fit into your pockets, unlike the Bose. They also have more customizable options and more sports-optimized app that gives workout data. The Jabra are slightly better sports headphones overall and isolate better in noisy conditions, but do not sound as good as the Bose even with a good EQ.
The Jaybird Run Truly Wireless are slightly better headphones overall when compared to the Jabra Elite Sport Truly Wireless. The Jabra have a more rugged, durable design with better controls. They also have a better case that's sturdier and a lot more compact than that of the Jaybirds. The Jabra also have more sports-oriented features with their app, a longer battery life, and better controls than the Jaybirds. On the other hand, the Run have a more comfortable in-ear fit that most will prefer over that of the Jabra. They also have a better default sound quality and come with a more streamlined app that delivers a good EQ, so you can better adjust them to sound the way you like.
The JBL Free would be a better truly wireless headphone overall than the Jabra Elite Sport if they didn't have a spotty wireless connection that will be a deal-breaker for most. The Jabra Elite Sport have a much more durable design. They also come with a customizable companion app that lets you EQ their sound quality and has better health tracking features. The JBL, on the other hand, are a bit more comfortable than the Jabra. They also have a better-balanced default sound and easier to use controls, although they do not have any buttons for volume, which is a bit disappointing.
The Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless are slightly better truly wireless headphones than the Jabra Elite Sport Truly Wireless, but not by much. The 65t have a slightly better noise isolation performance with their silicone tips, although isolation will be strongly dependent on how well they fit in your ears. The 65t also have a more streamlined app, a slightly better default sound (although both headphones can be EQed), and slightly longer battery life. On the other hand, the Elite Sport have a better, sturdier design overall. They also come with more tip sizes to help you find the right fit and come with a much better case to carry the headphones in. Their app has more features for sports and working out, but it's a bit more challenging to use.
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