The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless (also known as the JBL Wave Beam in some markets) are simple in-ears designed for on-the-go use. They're budget-friendly buds that offer a few extra features compared to similarly priced models, especially since they give you access to a parametric EQ and presets for sound customization in the JBL Headphones app. Use their Ambient Aware mode when you want to stay aware of your surroundings, or activate TalkThru mode if you want to hold a conversation without removing your earbuds. However, these headphones lack some more premium features, such as a dedicated ANC feature.
Our Verdict
The JBL Vibe Beam are decent for sports and fitness. These small and lightweight in-ears are easy to bring to the gym, and their portable charging case helps protect them along the way. They're even rated IP56 for dust and water resistance, so you can use them for outdoor workouts in the park. That said, their unique shape isn't ideal for all ears, and they can fall out from more intense movements, so you'll want to be careful with them.
- IP56 rating for dust and water resistance.
- Small and lightweight design.
- Easy-to-use controls.
- Very good microphone recording quality.
- Can move around from more intense head movements.
- Not comfortable for all ears.
- No ANC.
- No multi-device pairing.
The JBL Vibe Beam are okay for commuting and travel. Their small, lightweight design makes them easy to bring along with you, especially since they fit most pockets. They last around eight hours on one charge, and you can always recharge them on the go using their case. Various settings like Ambient Aware and TalkThru give you some control over how much noise you hear from your surroundings, too. However, without a dedicated ANC feature, these headphones can't block out more bass-heavy sounds like bus and plane engines.
- IP56 rating for dust and water resistance.
- Small and lightweight design.
- Easy-to-use controls.
- Very good microphone recording quality.
- Can move around from more intense head movements.
- Not comfortable for all ears.
- No ANC.
- No multi-device pairing.
The JBL Vibe Beam are fair for office use. These headphones have a roughly eight-hour battery life that will get you through most work days, especially since they come with a case for easy on-the-go charging. They lack ANC, but they still passively block out most office chatter. Plus, you can control how much sound you hear through the headphones, with an Ambient Aware mode to let in some background noise, as well as a TalkThru mode to hear what your coworkers are saying without removing your buds.
- Easy-to-use controls.
- Very good microphone recording quality.
- Not comfortable for all ears.
- No ANC.
The JBL Vibe Beam aren't designed for wireless gaming. You can connect them to your PC over Bluetooth, but their latency is very high in their default Audio mode. You'll want to switch to their Video mode in their companion app, which reduces latency. However, you'll still encounter lip-sync issues, which can make or break your gaming experience.
You can't use the JBL Vibe Beam with a wired connection.
The JBL Vibe Beam have decent audio reproduction accuracy. On the plus side, they don't deviate much from their balanced sound, which suits all kinds of audio. Bass drums feel suitably thick and punchy, and vocals sound present and detailed. Unfortunately, they're let down by mediocre matching of the left and right drivers, so centrally panned elements like bass guitars can feel slightly lopsided.
The JBL Vibe Beam earbuds don't have an active noise cancelling (ANC) system. As a result, they can only block out noise passively, via the seal they create with your ears. That said, they do an acceptable job on that front and are decent at blocking out mid-range noises like chatty coworkers. But they do a worse job blocking out bass-range noise like the rumble of passing trains. On the plus side, they leak almost no audio.
The JBL Vibe Beam's mic is satisfactory. It has a very good recording quality that clearly reproduces your voice. That said, the mic does a worse job at separating your voice from any noise around you, so these aren't the best if you need to take calls in busy environments.
The JBL Vibe Beam earbuds have excellent frequency response consistency. With a good fit, you'll experience consistent audio delivery with every wear.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Nov 25, 2025:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.0, which adds the following tests: Stereo Mismatch, Group Delay, Cumulative Spectral Decay, PRTF, Harmonic Distortion, and Electrical Aspects. We've added new performance usages and updated the text throughout the Sound tests and side-by-sides.
- Updated Nov 18, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1, which features minor updates to our sound tests.
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Updated Dec 05, 2024:
Several Sound tests have been updated following Test Bench 1.8. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
- Updated Dec 02, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.8, which updates our target curve and Sound tests. You can read more about this in our changelog.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JBL Vibe Beam are available in several different color variants: 'Beige,' 'Mint,' 'White,' 'Blue,' and 'Black.' We tested the Black variant, and you can see the label here. We expect the other variants to perform similarly. In some markets outside North America, these headphones are known as the JBL Wave Beam.
If you come across another version of these headphones, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The JBL Vibe Beam join the JBL Vibe 100TWS True Wireless as a part of the manufacturer's more budget-friendly in-ear lineup. They're fairly simple headphones that lack some more premium features like ANC. However, they come with app support, a longer battery life, and ambient noise control features similar to those of the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS True Wireless.
See also our recommendations for the best wireless earbuds, the best budget wireless earbuds, and the best wireless earbuds for running.
The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless and the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless are similarly performing buds with different looks, so depending on your preferences, you may prefer either one. While both buds have a similar battery life and companion app support, the Vibe Beam have an ear stem design, and their carrying case has a lid. Conversely, the Vibe Buds have a pure earbud design, which is more comfortable and stable.
The Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless and the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless are wireless in-ears with slightly different strengths. While they're both reasonably comfortable and have a very similar battery life performance, the Skullcandy headphones feature Bluetooth multi-point, making it easy to connect multiple devices while you're at the office or on the go. However, the JBL have a better mic recording quality and noise handling, making them a better choice for calls. They're also compatible with the excellent JBL Headphones app, which lets you customize the sound with a parametric EQ.
The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless have the edge over the Anker Soundcore P25i. While both buds are well-built, the JBL have a more balanced sound profile, which some users may prefer, and have a better overall battery performance. Their companion app also offers a parametric EQ, so you can really fine-tune their sound to your liking. That said, the Anker are more comfortable.
If you're looking for wallet-friendly earbuds, both the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless and the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless are good choices. The JLab are more stable and more comfortable than the JBL, so they're the better option for a light workout. Their case also stores three additional charges, compared to the JBL's two, so they're the set to choose if you're often out and about for long days. On the other hand, the JBL have a better microphone recording quality, easier-to-use controls, and come with a companion app to customize their sound to your liking.
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.
Test Results
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