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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.6 update for Headphones! Read the Latency R&D Article to learn more.

JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Review updated Jul 17, 2023 at 08:36 am
Latest change: Writing modified Dec 19, 2023 at 03:46 pm
JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless Picture
7.0
Neutral Sound
7.6
Commute/Travel
8.2
Sports/Fitness
7.1
Office
5.4
Wireless Gaming
5.3
Wired Gaming
6.9
Phone Calls

The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless are inexpensive Bluetooth earbuds. They have a straightforward design, with no companion app or active noise cancelling (ANC). However, they have a few EQ presets for sound customization, which helps set them apart from other cheap earbuds. The case has a built-in charging cable, and you can get the buds and case in a few different bright colors.

Our Verdict

7.0 Neutral Sound

The JLab Audio GO Air POP are satisfactory for neutral sound. They have a bass-heavy sound profile using the default EQ, 'JLab Signature'. Mixes have extra rumble, punch, and boom, but it's well-balanced overall, so instruments and lead vocals are present and clear. They're suitable for many genres, and if you prefer a different sound, you can choose between a few EQ presets. Unfortunately, like most in-ears, their passive soundstage seems closed-off, as if sound comes from inside your head rather than speakers around you.

Pros
  • Onboard EQ presets.
Cons
  • No companion app.
7.6 Commute/Travel

The JLab Audio GO Air POP are good for commute and travel. They have a decently comfortable fit and a compact case that makes them easy to carry around. Their nine-hour battery life is long enough to last through a commute or long flight, and they store about three extra charges in the case, so you can top them up if the battery dies when you're on the go. They hardly leak any audio, so your music won't bother people nearby, but unfortunately, they lack ANC and struggle to cut out the low rumble of bus and plane engines.

Pros
  • Passively block out ambient chatter.
  • 30-hour total battery life.
Cons
  • No ANC feature.
8.2 Sports/Fitness

The JLab Audio GO Air POP are great for sports and fitness. They're compact earbuds that are stable enough to stay in place during workouts, although they may fall out of your ears if you make big movements. They have onboard music controls, so you can change the track or turn up the volume without taking out your phone. They also feel sturdy enough to survive a few accidental drops and bumps and have an IPX4 rating for water resistance.

Pros
  • IPX4 rating for water resistance.
  • Good stability.
Cons
  • No ANC feature.
7.1 Office

The JLab Audio GO Air POP are decent for office use. Their continuous battery life is long enough to last you through a 9-5 workday without recharging, and they hardly leak any audio, so you can turn up your music without bothering co-workers sitting nearby. They also do a good job of passively blocking out mid-range noise like ambient chatter. However, they don't support multi-device pairing, and their somewhat deep in-ear fit may cause some fatigue if you wear them all day.

Pros
  • Passively block out ambient chatter.
  • 30-hour total battery life.
Cons
  • Ηigh Βluetooth latency.
  • No ANC feature.
5.4 Wireless Gaming

The JLab Audio GO Air POP aren't suitable for wireless gaming. They can connect to Βluetooth-compatible PCs and Android and iOS devices but have too much latency for gaming. As Bluetooth-only headphones, they can't connect to PlayStation or Xbox consoles.

5.3 Wired Gaming

The JLab Audio GO Air POP are truly wireless headphones; you can't use them wired.

6.9 Phone Calls

The JLab Audio GO Air POP are alright for phone calls. Their integrated mic makes your voice sound clear and full-bodied but struggles to separate it from background noise, so your voice can be drowned out if you use them to take a call in a loud setting. They also lack ANC and struggle to block out bass range noise, although they isolate you from a good amount of mid-range noise like background chatter.

Pros
  • Mic has a decent recording quality.
Cons
  • Mic has mediocre noise handling.
  • 7.0 Neutral Sound
  • 7.6 Commute/Travel
  • 8.2 Sports/Fitness
  • 7.1 Office
  • 5.4 Wireless Gaming
  • 5.3 Wired Gaming
  • 6.9 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Dec 19, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Anker Soundcore P25i/P20i True Wireless in Noise Isolation.
  2. Updated Jul 17, 2023: Made minor changes to the text bring it up to date.
  3. Updated Oct 21, 2021: Review published.
  4. Updated Oct 15, 2021: Early access published.
  5. Updated Oct 01, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  6. Updated Sep 27, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  7. Updated Sep 24, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The JLab Audio GO Air POP come in 'Βlack', 'Lilac', 'Rose' (red), 'Slate', and 'Teal'. We tested them in 'Βlack'; you can see the label for the unit we tested here.

If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Headphones

The JLab Audio GO Air POP are cheap Bluetooth earbuds that offer a good performance for the price overall. They have a roughly 9-hour continuous battery life, which exceeds other cheap earbuds', including the JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless. Unlike many budget-friendly options, like the Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wireless or OnePlus Buds Z Truly Wireless, they also offer basic sound customization features.

If you're looking for other earbuds, look at our picks for the best earbuds and in-ear headphones, the best cheap wireless earbuds, and the best true wireless earbuds.

Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wireless

The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless are better in-ears than the Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wireless. While both headphones are well-built, the JLab are more comfortable and have three EQ presets built-in, and their integrated mic has a better overall performance. Their battery performance is better. However, the Skullcandy have a more neutral sound profile.

TOZO T6 Truly Wireless

The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless are better than the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless for most purposes. The JLab have longer continuous battery life and a more neutral default sound profile, which some may prefer. They also have onboard presets that you can use to customize their sound profile, unlike the TOZO. On the other hand, the TOZO have a significantly better noise isolation performance.

Jabra Elite 3 True Wireless

The Jabra Elite 3 True Wireless are better for most purposes than the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless. The Jabra have a much more comfortable fit, significantly better controls, and a more neutral default sound profile that some may prefer. They have a better noise isolation performance and lower latency with iOS and Android devices. On the other hand, the JLab have longer continuous battery life and a better overall microphone performance.

Skullcandy Dime True Wireless

The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless are better for most purposes than the Skullcandy Dime True Wireless. The JLab have a much more comfortable fit, a better overall mic performance, and a significantly better battery performance. They also have a somewhat better noise isolation performance and sound customization features, unlike the Skullcandy. On the other hand, the Skullcandy have a more neutral sound profile that some may prefer.

Skullcandy Jib True Wireless

The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless are better for most purposes than the Skullcandy Jib True Wireless. The JLab have a more neutral sound profile, which some may prefer, a better microphone performance, and a longer continuous battery life. They also have a much more stable fit and a few built-in EQ presets. On the other hand, the Skullcandy have a significantly better passive noise isolation performance.

Anker Soundcore P25i/P20i True Wireless

The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless and the Anker Soundcore P25i True Wireless are similarly budget-friendly earbuds with slight differences. Although both buds are well-built and have similarly fair battery performances, the JLab are able to block out more ambient sound. Conversely, the Anker are more comfortable and have companion app support, which offer a lot more EQ presets than what the JLab have built in.

JLab Audio JBuds Air ANC Truly Wireless

The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless and JLab Audio JBuds Air ANC Truly Wireless are quite similar, but the JBuds are a bit better. The JBuds have much lower Βluetooth latency and have an ANC feature, although it only offers a slight improvement over their passive isolation capabilities. Also, they're rated IP55 for dust and water resistance, while the GO are only rated IPX4 for water resistance. Ηowever, the GO have a somewhat longer continuous battery life and a better mic recording quality.

Skullcandy Sesh Truly Wireless

The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless are better for most purposes than the Skullcandy Sesh Truly Wireless. The JLab have a much longer continuous battery life and a better overall mic performance, and come with basic sound customization features. Ηowever, some listeners may prefer the Skullcandy's more bass-heavy sound profile, which brings a lot of extra punch and boom to your audio. They're also rated IP55 for dust and water resistance, while the JLab are rated IPX4 for water resistance only.  

Skullcandy Smokin' Buds/Buds XT True Wireless

The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless and the Skullcandy Smokin' Buds/Buds XT True Wireless are budget in-ears with similar sound profiles designed for everyday use. They have similar battery life performance, but the JLab provide a slightly more continuous battery life and much more battery life if you include charges via the case. The JLab also feel slightly better built and feature a superior integrated microphone, making them the better choice for commuters and people who like taking calls on the go.

Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro Truly Wireless

The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Pro Truly Wireless and the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless are similar earbuds, but the Anker are better for most purposes. The Anker have ANC, isolate you from more ambient sound, and have a companion app with sound customization features. They also have a higher IPX5 rating for water resistance and much lower latency with iOS and Android devices. On the other hand, the JLab have a much better battery performance, and their integrated mic has a better recording quality.

JBL Tune 125TWS Truly Wireless

The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless are better than the JBL Tune 125TWS Truly Wireless for most purposes. The JLab are better-built, rated IPX4 for water resistance, and a much more stable fit. They come with a few EQ presets to customize their sound profile and have significantly better battery performance. Ηowever, while the JΒL don't come with any sound customization options, you may prefer their more neutral default sound profile.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic

The JLab Audio GO Air POP are earbuds with a flat outside surface and angled silicone tips. They have a very similar design to the JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless and are mostly matte plastic except for a glossy JLab logo on each bud. Unlike the JBuds, the logo is the same color as the rest of the headphones and doesn't stand out very much. They come 'Βlack', 'Lilac', 'Rose', 'Slate', and 'Teal'.

7.0
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.02 lbs
Clamping Force
0 lbs

They're decently comfortable. However, they have a somewhat deep fit, and using the controls can put pressure on your ear canal. Overall they aren't quite as comfortable for most people as earbuds like the Jabra Elite 3 True Wireless.

6.5
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Decent
Feedback Decent
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control No
Talk-Through
No
Additional Controls Presets + Voice Assistant

The controls are alright. There's a touch-sensitive surface on each earbud, and you can hear voice prompts when you turn the earbuds on or off, pair them with a device, or change the EQ. Unfortunately, there's no feedback when you change the volume, which is inconvenient because it's possible to accidentally pause your audio or activate voice assistant when trying to raise or lower the volume. Also, there needs to be audio playing to change the EQ. Each earbud has different commands, so if you use just one bud at a time, you lose some functions.

On the right earbud:

  • Single press: Turns volume up.
  • Double press: Plays and pauses audio.
  • Press and hold one second: Skips the track forward.

On the left earbud:

  • Single press: Lowers the volume.
  • Double press: Activates voice assistant.
  • Press and hold one second: Skips the track backward.

On either earbud:

  • Single press: Answers a call.
  • Double press: Ηangs up a call.
  • Press and hold one second: Rejects an incoming call.
  • Triple tap: Cycles between EQ presets: 'JLab Signature', 'Balance', and 'Bass Boost'.

9.2
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 0.8 °C

They're very breathable. They won't trap heat against your ears, so you won't sweat more if you use them for workouts.

9.6
Design
Portability
L 1.4" (3.6 cm)
W 0.8" (2.1 cm)
H 0.7" (1.9 cm)
Volume 0.85 in³ (14.00 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

Like most other truly wireless headphones, these earbuds are very small and portable. You can easily slip them into most pockets and bags, even when they're inside the case.

7.0
Design
Case
Type Hard case
L 2.4" (6.1 cm)
W 0.9" (2.3 cm)
H 1.6" (4.1 cm)
Volume 3.54 in³ (58.00 cm³)

They have a decent case. It's small, made of hard plastic, and has magnets inside to hold the earbuds in place. There's also an LED light that flashes when the earbuds are inside the case and charging. However, the lid is thin and doesn't have a locking mechanism. Also, while the integrated charging cable is one less thing to lose or forget at home, you need to buy new headphones if it rips or breaks.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

They're well-built. They feel mostly sturdy, although the case's built-in charging cable feels like a weak point. On the plus side, like the Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wireless, they have an IPX4 rating for resistance against being splashed with water.

7.5
Design
Stability

They have good stability. Although they don't have stability fins, they can stay in your ears during a run in the park. If you make big, exaggerated movements, they can slip out of place.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • JLab Audio GO Air POP truly wireless earbuds
  • Charging case
  • 3x silicone tip sizes
  • User guide

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
2.99 dB
Treble Amount
-0.33 dB

Using the 'JLab Signature' EQ, which produces the flattest EQ, they have a bass-rich sound profile. Mixes have extra rumble, punch, and boom, well-suited to genres like EDM and hip-hop. Vocals and instruments sound clear and present, but a dip in the mid-mid nudges them toward the back of the mix. To adjust their sound, you can choose between two other EQ presets using the headphones' onboard controls: 'Βalanced', which the manufacturer describes as 'even sound with no additional enhancements' or 'Βass Βoost', which delivers a more exaggerated bass response.

8.8
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.24 dB

Like most in-ear headphones, the JLab Audio GO Air POP have amazing frequency response consistency. Once you achieve a proper fit and seal with the included tips, you'll get consistent audio delivery each time you use them.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
7.4
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
3.87 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
10 Hz
Low-Bass
2.08 dB
Mid-Bass
5.32 dB
High-Bass
4.04 dB

The JLab Audio GO Air POP have decent bass accuracy. The flattest EQ setting still overemphasizes the entire range, so your audio has extra rumble, punch, and boom. However, the extra bass makes mixes sound muddy.

8.6
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.91 dB
Low-Mid
-0.3 dB
Mid-Mid
-2.96 dB
High-Mid
0.01 dB

The JLab Audio GO Air POP headphones have excellent mid accuracy. The low-mid and high-mid are very neutral, so vocals and lead instruments sound present, accurate, and clear. However, a dip in the mid-mid means some vocals and instruments, like the guitar solo outro in Sultans of Swing by Dire Straights, are pushed to the back of the mix.

7.7
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
3.46 dB
Low-Treble
-0.84 dB
Mid-Treble
0.52 dB
High-Treble
-1.22 dB

They have good treble accuracy. The entire range is quite neutral, although slight underemphasis in the low-treble makes instruments and lead vocals slightly less detailed. Some sibilants, like S and T sounds, also sound slightly sharp.

7.3
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
1.71 dB
Dips
1.6 dB

They have a decent peaks and dips performance. A peak from the mid-bass to high-bass adds some punch and boom to your audio. A dip from the low-mid to the mid-mid thins out instruments and lead vocals and pushes them toward the back of the mix. There's a deep dip in the mid-treble followed by a steep peak, so sibilants like cymbals and S and T sounds are alternatingly piercing or dull.

9.3
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.19
Weighted Phase Mismatch
1.02
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.46
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
0.75

They have a fantastic imaging performance. Most JLab products we've tested have good imaging, which indicates the brand's ergonomics and quality control. The group delay falls below the audibility threshold for the entire range, resulting in tight bass and transparent treble reproduction. Our unit's L/R drivers are also well-matched in phase, amplitude, and frequency response, which is important for the accurate placement of objects, like instruments and voices, in the stereo image. However, imaging performance can vary between units.

0.8
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
N/A
PRTF Size (Avg.)
N/A
PRTF Distance
N/A
Openness
3.0
Acoustic Space Excitation
0.7

As expected with in-ear headphones, they have a bad passive soundstage. Since their design means sound doesn't interact with your outer ear, audio seems to come from inside your head rather than from speakers placed in the room around you. Also, their passive soundstage seems more closed-off than most open-back headphones.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No App
7.4
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.428
WHD @ 100
0.153

They have a decent weighted harmonic distortion performance. There's some distortion in the mid and treble ranges at normal listening volumes with the right driver. While it's audible, it's hard to spot with real-life content.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
Unknown
Power
On
Connection
Bluetooth 5.0
Codec
SBC, 16-bit, 48kHz
EQ
JLab SIGNATURE
ANC
No ANC
Tip/Pad
Silicone (small)
Microphone
Integrated

These are the settings used to test the JLab Audio GO Air POP. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.

Isolation
7.0
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-19.26 dB
Noise Cancelling No
Bass
-10.03 dB
Mid
-15.8 dB
Treble
-32.34 dB

They have a decent noise isolation performance. They can passively reduce more bass-range noise like rumbling engines than the similarly designed Anker Soundcore P25i/P20i True Wireless, but it still isn't ideal for cutting out noise during your commute. However, they do a better job of reducing higher-pitched noise like background chit-chat or a humming computer fan.

9.4
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
24.62 dB

They have a superb leakage performance. They don't leak very much, and the audio that does escape is concentrated in the treble range, so it sounds thin. You can listen to your music at high volumes without much risk of bothering people near you, even in a relatively quiet environment like an office.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
Yes
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes
7.4
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
329.38 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
3.51 dB
HFE
7,240.77 Hz
Weighted THD
0.035
Gain
8.37 dB

The integrated mic has a decent recording quality. Your voice is clear, bright, and natural-sounding over the phone, although it lacks a bit of body.

6.3
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
19.23 dB
Noise Gate
No
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
6.5
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
6.0
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

The mic has a mediocre noise handling performance. It struggles to separate your voice from background noise, even in moderately noisy environments. If you use the mic to talk on the phone somewhere loud, like a subway station, your voice can get completely drowned out.

Active Features
6.8
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
9.1 hrs
Additional Charges
3.0
Total Battery Life
36.4 hrs
Charge Time
1.7 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
No
Audio While Charging
Yes
Passive Playback
No
Charging Port USB Type A

Their battery performance is adequate. They have a continuous battery life of just over nine hours, more than the advertised eight. Their case also stores about three additional charges. Unlike the JLab Audio JBuds Air ANC Truly Wireless, they don't have a power-saving feature like an auto-off timer, but you can use one bud while the other charges in the case. Please note that battery performance can vary with real-life use.

0
Active Features
App Support
App Name No App
iOS No
Android No
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
No
ANC Control
No
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
No
Connectivity
6.7
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
5.1
Multi-Device Pairing
No
NFC Pairing
No
Line Of Sight Range
151.90 ft (46.30 m)
PC Latency (SBC)
212 ms
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
168 ms
Android Latency
208 ms

These earbuds don't have features like multi-device pairing or NFC for quick pairing. Their latency with PCs, iOS, and Android devices is on the high side, so you'll notice audio lag when watching videos on your phone or computer. However, some apps and devices compensate for latency differently.

0
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A
0
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
No
USB Audio
No
Detachable No
Length N/A
Connection
No Wired Option
Analog/USB Audio Latency
N/A

Since they're truly wireless earbuds, you can't use them wired. Their carrying case charges with a built-in USΒ-A cable that fits into a small storage compartment at the bottom of the case.

Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
No
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
No

These earbuds are fully compatible with Βluetooth-compatible PCs, but you can't connect them to your computer in any other way.

Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
No
PS4 Wired USB
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
PS5 Analog
No
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
No
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
No
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No
2.2
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
Charging Case
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
Yes
Power Supply
USB

These headphones come with a charging case with a built-in USB-A charging cable. It doesn't have any inputs.