The JBL Tune Flex True Wireless are Bluetooth earbuds with an active noise cancelling (ANC) feature. Unlike other earbuds from JBL, they have a flexible design, as you can use them with silicone 'Sealing' ear tips for better noise isolation or with their 'Open' fit, which allows the buds to rest outside of your ear canal instead of entering them. Their app lets you select which ear tips you're using to optimize the sound and includes a variety of other customization features, including a graphic EQ and presets and controls for the ANC, 'Ambient Aware', and 'Talk-Through' modes.
Our Verdict
The JBL Tune Flex are good for neutral sound. They have a well-balanced sound profile, with some extra rumble and punch in the bass range and clear and detailed instruments and vocals. The app also includes a graphic EQ and presets, so you can adjust the sound to suit you.
- Well-built and comfortable.
- In-app sound customization features.
- Small, closed-off passive soundstage.
The JBL Tune Flex are decent for commuting and travelling. They're very light, portable, and have a comfortable fit for most people. They last for around 6.5 hours of continuous use with ANC on and come with a case with four extra charges, so you can always pop them in for a quick recharge during long trips. However, they have a sub-par noise isolation and won't do much to block out rumbling bus or plane engines.
- Well-built and comfortable.
- Sub-par noise isolation.
The JBL Tune Flex are great for sports and fitness. They have a comfortable, stable fit for most people using the silicone 'Sealing' ear tips. They're rated IPX4 for protection against water exposure like light rain, and they have a wireless design, so you can't snag a wire and yank the headphones out of your ears accidentally. While they have sub-par noise isolation, so they won't block out the sounds of a busy gym, you can use 'Ambient Aware' mode when you want to hear your surroundings, like during a run outside.
- Well-built and comfortable.
- Stable fit with silicone ear tips.
- Sub-par noise isolation.
The JBL Tune Flex are adequate for the office. They're comfortable, sturdy, and have a well-balanced, versatile default sound profile. They last for about 6.5 hours of continuous use and come with a case that holds four extra charges, so you can always recharge at lunch. Unfortunately, they don't have good noise isolation, so they aren't ideal for cutting out distractions like background chit-chat. They leak enough audio that people nearby can hear some of your music if you like loud volume.
- Well-built and comfortable.
- Good noise handling.
- No multi-device pairing.
- Sub-par noise isolation.
- Sub-par mic recording quality.
These earbuds aren't suitable for wireless gaming. They can only connect via Bluetooth, so they won't work with Xbox or PlayStation consoles. They have higher latency with PCs, even with the lower-latency 'Video' mode activated, so your audio and video will be out of sync.
These earbuds are wireless only; you can't use them for wired gaming.
The JBL Tune Flex are okay for phone calls. The mic has a sub-par recording quality, so your voice is understandable but sounds unnatural over the phone. The mic does a good job of separating your voice from ambient sound, so if you make a call from a busy street, sounds won't drown out your voice. However, the earbuds' ANC feature doesn't block out very much noise, so you might have difficulty hearing calls you make from noisy places.
- Well-built and comfortable.
- Good noise handling.
- Sub-par noise isolation.
- Sub-par mic recording quality.
Changelog
- Updated Dec 20, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the JBL Tune Buds True Wireless in Bluetooth.
- Updated Sep 25, 2023: Review published.
- Updated Sep 20, 2023: Early access published.
- Updated Sep 14, 2023: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JBL Tune Flex come in a variety of colors. The standard version comes in 'Black', 'Blue', and 'White'. We tested it in 'Blue', and you can see the label for the unit we tested here. There's also a 'Ghost Edition' version, which features a transparent plastic design for the buds and case and comes in 'Purple', 'Black', and 'White'.
If you come across another variant or your headphones are different, let us know in the forums and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The JBL Tune Flex are Bluetooth earbuds that are designed to be used either with their 'Sealing' silicone ear tips, which provide a more stable fit and better noise isolation, or with the 'Open' tips, which allow the buds to sit outside your ear canal. Like other similar JBL earbuds, like the JBL TUNE 230NC TWS True Wireless and JBL Live Free NC+ TWS True Wireless, they have a well-balanced default sound profile with a little extra bass and in-app sound customization features. However, their ANC doesn't block out much noise compared to some similarly-priced options like the JBL Live Pro+ TWS True Wireless or Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Truly Wireless.
If you're looking for more earbuds, try our recommendations for the best earbuds and in-ear headphones, the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds under $100, and the best JBL earbuds and headphones.
The JBL Tune Buds True Wireless are better in-ears for most purposes than the JBL Tune Flex True Wireless. While both pairs are equipped with ANC and have similarly flat mid-ranges that represent a variety of audio content well, the Tune Buds have a longer continuous battery life and a better noise isolation performance, making them a better choice for commuting. They also feature multi-device pairing, which is great if you want to connect multiple devices to them while working from home or at the office. However, some users may prefer the Tune Flex's stem design and that they come with both 'open' and 'sealing' ear tips, which allows you to choose between a passively isolating seal and one that lets in some ambient noise.
The JBL Live Pro 2 TWS True Wireless are better earbuds for most uses than the JBL Tune Flex True Wireless. While the Tune Flex have a more balanced sound profile out of the box and a more comfortable, stable fit, they have a sub-par noise isolation performance, even with their 'sealing' ear tips. The Live Pro 2 have a great noise isolation performance by comparison and a longer continuous battery life, making them a better choice for commuting and travel. They also have Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, which can be handy if you want to pair to both your laptop and your phone.
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 Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Truly Wireless are better than the JBL Tune Flex True Wireless. The Anker's ANC feature blocks out much more noise, and they support multi-device pairing. They also have a virtual surround sound feature to help create a more immersive listening experience.
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