Our Verdict
Average for mixed usage. The JBL E25BT have an easy-to-use and wireless in-ear design that's lightweight and portable. They sound good enough for most and have very low leakage and somewhat okay noise isolation to be a decent option for commuting, sports, and the office. Unfortunately, they lack customization options, they feel slightly cheap, and since they are Bluetooth-only headphones, you will not be able to use them passively if the battery dies and their wireless latency will not be ideal for watching movies and gaming.
- Simple and compact design.
- Breathable and stable enough for sports.
- Very low leakage.
- Mediocre-at-best noise isolation.
- Poor microphone quality.
Decent for neutral listening. They have a good bass range that will sound punchy and exciting with most tracks, if a little boomy at times. They also have a decently balanced mid-range and won't sound too sharp with instruments and vocals like some of the other wireless in-ears we've tested. They should sound good and balanced enough for most, but more neutral listeners may not like the small soundstage.
Decent for commuting. They're compact and fit into most pockets. They also have a good control scheme that you can use on the go with your phone. They do not block as much noise as typical in-ear designs but since they barely leak even at high volumes you can mask some of the ambient noise with your music without distracting anyone around you.
Above-average for sports. These headphones have a decently stable in-ear fit, they're wireless and small enough to carry around on your person wherever you go. They also have a good and easy to use control scheme, but unfortunately, the module on the back of the cable makes them slightly unstable, but the provided neck clip somewhat mitigates this issue if you attach it to the back of your shirt.
Decent for office use. They barely leak even at high volumes so you can mask the ambient noise of a lively office by playing your music a little louder without distracting your colleagues. Unfortunately, they are not the most isolating in-ears we've tested so some noise will seep into your audio in loud environments.
Sub-par for gaming. They have a mediocre-at-best mic that will not be compatible with consoles. They lack customization options and have a bit too much latency to be a suitable choice for gaming.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Jul 27, 2018: Review published.
- Updated Jul 25, 2018: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The JBL E25BT have a simple and straightforward wireless in-ear design that's decent enough for most use cases. They have a moderately balanced audio reproduction that will sound good enough for most listeners and a decently long battery life that will last you a full workday. They're easy to use with a good control scheme and a slightly more comfortable in-ear fit than typical in-ear designs, thanks to their small earbuds. Unfortunately, they do not come with a lot of tip options, their build quality though better than some similarly designed models, still feels a bit cheap, and they do not block noise well enough to be the ideal option for commuting. On the upside, their low leakage does help since you can mask a lot of ambient noise the louder you play your music. See our recommendations for the best budget earbuds, the best Bluetooth earbuds under $50, the best cheap wireless earbuds, and the best wireless earbuds for iPhone.
The Jaybird Freedom are much better headphones overall than the JBL E25BT. The Jaybird have more customization options, they're more comfortable, and they're more suitable for sports thanks to their multiple tips and stability fins. The Jaybird also have better build quality than the JBLs. On the upside, the E25BT can pair with two devices simultaneously, so you can quickly switch between your phone and tablet. They also have a longer battery continuous battery life than the Jaybird and do not need a cumbersome charging clip.
The Beats BeatsX Wireless are better all-around headphones for most uses than the JBL E25BT Wireless. The Beats have a better and more premium build quality, a much greater wireless range, and a very fast charge time. They also sound better than the JBL overall, although they do struggle more with high frequencies. The JBL, on the other hand, can pair with multiple devices at once for easy switching between Bluetooth sources and have a longer battery life.
The JBL E25BT Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Skullcandy Jib, but not by much. The JBL have a better build quality and a longer-lasting battery life. The E25BT also have a slightly better-balanced sound and better cable management, so the module on the back of their cable will not bounce around as much if you use the clip. On the other hand, the Jib have a better mid-range and will not sound as sharp on some S and T sounds.
The JBL E25BT are better headphones overall than the Sony WI-C300. The JBLs also have a higher-end build quality and a flatter battery module with better cable management. The E25BT also have longer battery life and a more balanced sound with deeper bass. The WI-C300, on the other hand, support NFC, which makes them slightly easier to pair with mobile phones.
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