The JBL TUNE 230NC TWS True Wireless are wallet-friendly in-ears with a stem design. Like their sibling product, the JBL Tune 130NC, they have companion app support, so you can fine-tune their performance to your liking. Their noise cancelling (ANC) performance falls short of similarly-priced competitors like the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro Truly Wireless.
Our Verdict
The JBL 230NC are decent for neutral sound. Out of the box, they have a slightly bass-heavy sound profile that delivers extra thump, rumble, and boom to mixes. That said, their companion app offers a parametric EQ and presets that you can use to help customize their sound to suit your tastes. They have outstanding frequency response consistency, so you won't experience bass and treble delivery deviations.
- Comfortable, well-built design.
- Parametric EQ and presets available.
- Bad passive soundstage.
The JBL TUNE 230NC are good for commuting and travel. These headphones have a lightweight and very portable design, making it easy to take them on the go. They also have a comfortable fit, and their continuous battery life of over eight hours with an additional three charges in their carrying case can last through long days on the road without too much of an issue. However, although they have an ANC system, they still struggle to block out the low rumble of bus and plane engines.
- Comfortable, well-built design.
- 8.7-hour continuous playback time.
- ANC doesn't block out bass-range noise well.
The JBL TUNE 230NC are great for sports and fitness. These lightweight in-ears have a comfortable and stable in-ear fit suitable for jogs in the park or working out at the gym. They're also certified IPX4 for protection against water splashes, have over eight hours of continuous playback time, and have easy-to-use controls.
- Comfortable, well-built design.
- Certified IPX4 for water resistance.
- Bad passive soundstage.
The JBL 230NC are satisfactory for office use. They have a comfortable fit, and their over eight-hour continuous playback time can last through a shift at the office. Their carrying case supplies three extra charges, which is handy in a pinch. While their ANC struggles to block out bass-range noise, they do better to cut down office chatter.
- Comfortable, well-built design.
- ANC can cut down ambient chatter.
- 8.7-hour continuous playback time.
- Sub-par recording quality.
- Bad passive soundstage.
- No multi-device pairing.
The JBL 230NC are compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs. However, their latency is likely too high to be suitable for gaming. While they have a low latency 'Video Mode' that can help reduce audio lag, it may not be enough to prevent syncing issues between your audio and visuals.
The JBL 230NC are wireless earbuds, and you can't use them wired.
The JBL TUNE 230NC are passable for phone calls. Unfortunately, their integrated mic has a sub-par recording quality, so your voice sounds dark and muffled. While the mic can separate speech from moderate ambient noise well, if there are very loud sounds around you, your voice is also drowned out, which can be frustrating if you need to take a call from a busy street. That said, even though their ANC offers a mediocre overall performance, it can help block out ambient chatter around you if you're taking calls from the office.
- Comfortable, well-built design.
- Sub-par recording quality.
Changelog
- Updated Jun 27, 2023: We've updated this review's text to ensure its accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Sep 29, 2022: We've added a comparison between these earbuds and the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS True Wireless in Noise Isolation.
- Updated Dec 21, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Dec 17, 2021: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JBL TUNE 230NC come in four color variants: 'Black', 'Blue', 'Sand', and 'White'. We tested the 'Black' variant; you can see our model's label here. If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The JBL 230NC are a sibling of the JBL Tune 130NC TWS Truly Wireless and have an ear stem design rather than an oval earbud look. Overall, they perform very similarly to the TUNE 130NC, with very good battery performance and a customizable sound. However, they offer a mediocre noise isolation performance, falling short compared to other budget-friendly in-ears like the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro Truly Wireless.
Check out our picks for the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds, the best noise cancelling earbuds, and the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds under $100.
JBL TUNE 230NC TWS True Wireless are better than the JBL Tune Flex Wireless. The earbuds have similar features, but the TUNE 230NC have a better noise isolation performance and a longer battery life. They also leak less audio. However, the Tune Flex have lower latency using 'Video' mode, so you won't have audio syncing issues while watching a video on your phone.
The Apple AirPods Pro are better in-ears than the JBL TUNE 230NC TWS True Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable, the Apple are better built, have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and have a significantly better noise isolation performance. They also have an H1 chip for seamless pairing with your Apple devices. However, the JBL have a companion app that offers a parametric EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking. They also have significantly better battery performance.
JBL Live Pro 2 TWS True Wireless have a slight edge over the JBL TUNE 230NC TWS True Wireless. The Live Pro 2 have a significantly better noise isolation performance, thanks to their ANC system, and they support multi-device pairing, meaning you can connect them with up to two devices at a time. However, the TUNE 230NC have a more comfortable and stable fit. Their sound profile is a bit more neutral, which some people may prefer.
The JBL Tune 130NC TWS Truly Wireless are similarly performing in-ears as the JBL Tune 230NC TWS True Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the 230NC have a more stable in-ear fit and better battery performance. The 130NC have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their ANC can block out more ambient noise.
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