The Jaybird Run XT Truly Wireless are a slight upgrade of the previous version, the Jaybird Run Truly Wireless, but they're still very similar. These headphones are a great choice for the gym, thanks to their very stable fit and IPX7 certification for water resistance. They're also versatile enough for daily use, thanks to their decent noise isolation, which will help give you some peace on your daily commute and keep you concentrated in the office. Unfortunately, their control scheme can be hard to use and lacks some common functionality. Their out-of-the-box sound profile is fairly well-balanced with a bit of extra bass, but you can easily customize them via a parametric EQ within their companion app.
Our Verdict
The Jaybird Run XT are decent headphones for mixed usage. Their out-of-the-box sound profile is a bit cluttered and bass-heavy, but their companion app gives you access to a parametric EQ, so you can customize the way they sound. They're stable enough for most strenuous workouts, and their in-ear fit isolates a decent amount of ambient noise. Unfortunately, their 4.5-hour battery life won't be long enough to get through a full workday, but they charge in under an hour, which is great.
- Fairly versatile sound profile.
- Good customization options in app, including parametric EQ.
- Compact and stable sports design.
- Poor controls.
- Slightly bulky in-ear design may not be comfortable for long periods.
The Jaybird Run XT are alright for neutral sound listening. They have a deep and punchy bass with just the right amount of thump and body, but they tend to sound a bit boomy and muddy in the upper bass region. Their mid-range is very good and even, but unfortunately, the treble range lacks detail on voices and lead instruments and sounds fairly sharp on S and T sounds. On the bright side, you can fully customize their sound through a parametric EQ in their companion app.
The Jaybird Run XT are a good choice for commuting or travel. They do a good job of isolating out ambient noise, and they'll even help a little at blocking out the low rumble of bus or plane engines. While their battery life should be long enough for your work commute, you might need to take breaks to charge them during long flights. On the bright side, they barely leak any audio, so you should be able to listen at higher volumes without disturbing people surrounding you.
The Jaybird Run XT are great for sports. As the name suggests, they're designed for sports and, thanks to their stability fins, they don’t move around during physical activity. Like with most in-ears, they won't cause your ears to get hot, and they're certified IPX7 for water resistance. Unfortunately, their button layout can be a bit difficult to use since you have to choose between volume controls and being able to skip tracks, which is a little disappointing.
The Jaybird Run XT are fair for the office. They isolate well against work environment noises like ambient chatter and A/C systems, and since they barely leak, you can listen at higher volumes without disturbing your coworkers. Unfortunately, their battery will need to charge every 4.5 hours, and their slightly bulky in-ear fit isn't the most comfortable for long listening sessions.
The Jaybird Run XT aren't recommended for wireless gaming. They have very high latency on PC and iOS, which will likely result in some lag. While their latency should be low enough on Android for gaming, their integrated microphone is mediocre overall.
The Jaybird Run XT are Bluetooth-only headphones that you can't use wired.
The Jaybird Run XT are mediocre for phone calls. Like with most Bluetooth in-ears, their integrated microphone makes them good for taking calls on the go, but unfortunately, their microphone doesn't perform very well. Your voice will sound muffled and lacking in detail and will easily get drowned out in even moderately noisy environments.
Changelog
- Updated Feb 20, 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 Apr 09, 2019: Review published.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Jaybird Run XT are great headphones for sports, but perform quite similarly to the previous model, the Jaybird Run Truly Wireless, but are now certified IPX7 for water protection against immersion in water. If you already have the original model, they might not be worth the upgrade if you don’t need the extra water resistance.
See our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds, the best wireless earbuds for running, and the best true wireless earbuds.
The Jaybird Vista and Jaybird Run XT Truly Wireless are very similar sports headphones, but the Vista are a slight improvement. They are a bit more comfortable, and their case is noticeably smaller, which makes it easier to slide it in your pockets. Their controls are easier to press, and they feel a bit better built, as well. They also offer a bit more battery life. On the other hand, the Run XT take less time to charge, and their fit isolates better against ambient noise.
The Jaybird Run XT Truly Wireless are an upgraded version of the Jaybird Run Truly Wireless and are slightly better, but may not be worth the upgrade if you have the first ones. The XT have better wireless range and now have an official IPX7 rating for water and sweat resistance, which the original didn’t have. The XT also offer slightly more battery life, but that’s about it. Weirdly enough, the newer XT models have way more latency than the original model, which wasn’t great to start with.
The Jaybird Tarah Pro Wireless and the Jaybird Run XT Truly Wireless are both great pairs of headphones for sports. The Tarah Pro have better controls, feel slightly more durable, and last much longer off a single charge. On the other hand, the truly wireless design of the XT makes them more portable, as well as eliminates the possibility of their cord getting snagged while working out. The XT's case also charges via a standard micro-USB cord, while the Tarah Pro use a proprietary charger.
The Jaybird Run XT Truly Wireless are more versatile headphones than the Apple AirPods (1st generation) due to their good isolation performance and the fact that you can easily change the EQ inside their companion app. The Jaybird are great for sports, and they fit nicely into the ears to block ambient noise, which is useful for commuting and using at the office. While both headphones offer about the same battery life on a single charge, the Apple's case offers way more additional charges. Also, the Apple are more comfortable and less bulky to carry around in their case and feel better made than the Jaybird.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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