The JBL UA True Wireless Flash are great sports headphones that stand out thanks to their good audio reproduction and their rugged build quality. They're versatile for a wide variety of music genres, are sweat-proof and waterproof, and their bulky design feels durable for most intense sports. Their fit is good and fairly comfortable, on top of sealing off ambient noise, making them well-rounded for most everyday uses. Unfortunately, they won’t be great for watching videos due to their very high latency, and some may feel like four hours of battery life isn’t enough for a single charge. On the upside, they also offer a 12-month subscription for Under Armour’s fitness app called MapMyRun.
Our Verdict
The JBL Under Armour True Wireless Flash are decent for mixed usage. They have good audio reproduction for in-ears, and their small design is easy to carry around in your commute or at the gym. They also create a good seal in your ears, which isolates a good amount of ambient noise, which is good for public transit or at the office. They're designed as sports headphones thanks to their stability fins and waterproof build. They don’t have the longest battery life for flights or a normal workday, but they’ll be fine for working out. However, their latency is very high, and you shouldn't use them for watching video content and gaming.
- Durable and stable fit for sports.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Great passive isolation performance.
- Very high latency.
- In-ear fit might not be for everyone.
The JBL Under Armour True Wireless Flash are alright for neutral sound. These in-ears have a good audio reproduction with excellent bass range and mid-range and a good treble. Their bass is slightly thumpy, but some may prefer this. Vocals and leads are accurately reproduced, but they could feel ever-so-slightly nudged to the back of the mix for some. They're very versatile for a wide variety of music genres, but their treble is slightly uneven, which some may not hear. The in-ear fit might not be ideal for long neutral listening sessions as some may feel discomfort after a while.
The JBL Under Armour True Wireless Flash are good for commuting. Their fit blocks out a good amount of ambient noise, including the deep rumble of bus and plane engines. They’ll be a good option for public transit, and since they barely leak, you can mask even more noise by raising your listening volume. Additionally, they're easy to carry around thanks to their portable design, but they don’t have very long battery life on one charge, which won’t be the best option for long rides and flights.
The JBL Under Armour True Wireless Flash are great for sports. They're designed for working out and will be suitable for most sports. They fit securely inside the ear and don’t move much when being active. Their stability fins will help keep them in place, and since you get different size options, you can find the most stable one for you. They also don’t trap heat inside your ears, meaning you shouldn’t sweat more than usual when wearing these during your workouts.
The JBL Under Armour True Wireless Flash are decent for the office. They do a great job blocking out work environment noise like ambient chatter and fan noises like A/C systems. They also barely leak, so you shouldn’t bother surrounding colleagues with what you’re listening to. However, their battery life won’t be long enough for you to use them during a full workday; you’ll need to charge during lunchtime. Also, the in-ear fit might not be the best to wear for a few hours, as some may feel discomfort.
The JBL Under Armour True Wireless Flash are bad for gaming. The microphone won’t be good enough for online gaming, and their latency is too high for video games. The delay between sound and video will be too noticeable and won’t be suitable for this use. They also don’t have good battery life, and overall, will be a very poor choice for gaming.
Changelog
- Updated Mar 02, 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 May 24, 2019: Review published.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The JBL Under Armour True Wireless Flash are good sports headphones that set themselves apart by their great build quality and audio reproduction. They're also comfortable for in-ears. However, their latency is very high, and some may feel like four hours of battery life isn’t enough.
See our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds for running and working out, the best Bluetooth earbuds, and the best true wireless earbuds.
The JBL UA True Wireless Flash and the Jaybird Run XT Truly Wireless are both great sports headphones, but the JBL might have a small edge over the Jaybird for people who want great performance out of the box. They have a better default sound profile, but they don’t have an app with an EQ that can let you customize their sound signature like the Jaybird. On the other hand, you’ll get a battery performance out of the Jaybird, but their control scheme is more limited and harder to use as you need to push the buds inside your ear canal even more, which can be uncomfortable.
The JBL UA True Wireless Flash are better sports headphones than the Jabra Elite Sport Truly Wireless. They are more comfortable and more stable for most sports. They also have a better audio reproduction and are also more versatile for different uses, thanks to their better isolation performance. On the other hand, they don’t have volume controls like the Jabra do, which may be a deal-breaker for some. The Jabra also have a companion app, although the options and controls are limited. Also, our Jabra unit had a noticeable mismatch between the drivers.
The JBL UA True Wireless Flash are better headphones than the Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless for most. The JBL are more versatile thanks to their closed-back design that isolates well against ambient noise. They’ll be a better option for commuting, but as sports headphones, it comes to preference. Outside runners might prefer the semi-open design of the Bose to stay aware of their surroundings. The Bose earbud design is also a bit more comfortable, and they have better sound quality and a slightly better battery. On the other hand, you’ll get better range with the JBL, and they have a better microphone for calls. Their case is also more portable and sturdier, on top of being waterproof.
The JBL UA True Wireless Flash are better headphones than the Sony WF-SP700N Truly Wireless. They have better audio reproduction, are more stable for sports, and even if the Sonys are ANC headphones, the JBL have a better isolation performance. The JBL control scheme is easier to use and their build quality feels more high-end, on top of being rated IPX7. They also have about twice the battery life of the Sony. Overall, the JBL are better in almost every aspect, but they don’t support NFC like the Sony do.
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