Our Verdict
Decent for mixed usage. They're better-used for sports although they isolate enough for commuting and have a decently balanced sound for more critical listening. Unfortunately, they have too much latency for gaming and watching movies, and their wireless connection is often unstable, which may be a deal breaker for some.
- Above-average sound quality.
- Good isolation.
- Compact and portable design.
- Very high latency.
- No volume controls.
Above-average for neutral listening. The JBL Free have a well-balanced bass, mid and treble ranges that sound relatively neutral and should cater well to most music genres and tastes. However, since they're closed-back in-ears, they have a poor soundstage which means they won't be the ideal headphones for more neutral listeners. Their high-mid/low-treble is a bit recessed, which may make some instruments and vocals sound slightly distant. Overall though, their sound quality is good and sounds balanced enough for most listeners.
Above-average for the commuting. They're portable and passively isolate better than some noise-canceling headphones we've tested. They also have an easy-to-use control scheme but lack volume buttons, which is slightly disappointing since you will have to pull out your phone or Bluetooth device whenever you want to increase the volume.
The JBL Free are great headphones for sports. They're truly wireless with a stable and decently comfortable in-ear fit. They're lightweight and portable with an easy-to-use control scheme. They're also stable enough to workout with, provided you can achieve a good fit with the extra rubber sleeves. Unfortunately, they have no volume controls and their unique design is not as stable as some of the other truly wireless headphones.
Above-average for office use. They isolate well and barely leak. This makes them suitable to use in a lively or quiet office environment. However, they do not have many connection options and have too much latency for watching videos. Their battery life is also not ideal for long listening sessions but does last quite long overall.
Below-average for gaming. The JBL Free have a mediocre-at-best microphone, and way too much latency to be suitable for gaming. They also do not have a companion app, which means they won't be as customizable as most gaming headsets.
Changelog
- Updated Feb 05, 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 Jun 17, 2019: We've updated the Base/Dock score of this review to reflect what a truly wireless charging case should be scoring. We had previously scored this incorrectly.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The JBL Free are decent mixed usage headphones with an above-average sound quality. They are compact truly wireless in-ears that you can have on you at all times and they're stable enough for sports and casual use. However, their unique shape will not be as comfortable for all users and they have a couple of reliability issues with their wireless Bluetooth connection compared to some of the other truly wireless in-ears below.
See also our recommendations for the best truly wireless earbuds, the best headphones under $100, the best wireless headphones under $100, and the best wireless earbuds for running.
The JBL Free Truly Wireless 2018 are slightly better truly wireless headphones than the Apple AirPods (1st generation) when they have a stable connection. The JBL have a more isolating in-ear fit that will be better for noisy environments and are a bit more stable for running and working out. The JBL also leak a little less than the Apple and have a better sound quality, thanks to their stronger bass range that caters to more tracks. On the other hand, the Apple have a more stable wireless connection, better range, a longer battery life, and lower latency, especially on iOS devices.
The JBL Free Truly Wireless 2018 are slightly better truly wireless headphones than the Jaybird Run Truly Wireless, but have a lot more flaws with their wireless connection, which may be a deal-breaker for some. The Jaybird have a customizable sound, so you can adjust them to match what you're listening to. They also have a bit more tip options and sizes, which make them slightly more comfortable than the JBL. On the other hand, the JBL have a better-balanced default sound quality. They also come with a better case that's slightly more portable overall and provides a longer battery life than the Run.
The Samsung Gear IconX Truly Wireless are a better headset overall when compared to the JBL Free Truly Wireless 2018. The Samsung have a lot more features including 4GB of onboard storage and a somewhat customizable sound profile. They're also easier to carry around, are a bit more comfortable and stable for the gym, and come with a much better charging case. On the upside, the JBL have a slightly better default sound. They also have longer battery life and are a bit easier to use, but do not provide any volume controls compared to the Samsung.
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.
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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