Our Verdict
The JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless are passable for neutral sound. They have overemphasized bass that fans of EDM and hip-hop may enjoy but others may find too boomy and muddy. The treble range is also uneven, which makes some sounds veiled and dark while others are sharp and piercing. On the upside, there are three EQ presets built-in.
- Breathable and stable for sports.
- Integrated USB charging cable in the case.
- Minimal leakage.
- Short battery life and long charge time.
- No companion app.
- Very high latency.
The JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless aren't bad for commuting. While they don't reduce a lot of the low sounds made by bus engines, they do a much better job cutting speech. They're also fairly comfortable and easily portable. Disappointingly, their continuous battery life is only 3.3 hours and depending on your commute or travel, this might not be enough. While the carrying case comes with 10 additional charges, it takes a while to charge them.
- Breathable and stable for sports.
- Integrated USB charging cable in the case.
- Minimal leakage.
- Short battery life and long charge time.
- No companion app.
- Very high latency.
The JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless are great for sports and fitness. They're portable and stable, especially if you're using the included stability sleeves. They're also fairly comfortable and include three sets of differently sized ear tips so you can find your best fit. Their in-ear fit is also very breathable so you shouldn't sweat more than usual as they don't trap much heat in your ear.
- Breathable and stable for sports.
- Integrated USB charging cable in the case.
- Minimal leakage.
- Short battery life and long charge time.
- No companion app.
- Very high latency.
The JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless are okay for office use. They're fairly comfortable but pressing on the controls can push them deeper into your ear. They reduce a good amount of chatter and you can also turn up the volume without bothering your coworkers. However, these earbuds have short continuous battery life and won't get you through a 9-5 work day. Despite the carrying case holding 10 additional charges, it can take almost two hours for them to fully charge.
- Breathable and stable for sports.
- Integrated USB charging cable in the case.
- Minimal leakage.
- Short battery life and long charge time.
- No companion app.
- Very high latency.
The JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless are poor for wireless gaming. They can't be used on the PS4 or Xbox One. While they can be used on PC, their high latency, mediocre microphone, and three-hour battery life can limit your gaming experience.
The JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless are Bluetooth-only headphones and can't be used wired.
The JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless are adequate for phone calls as their recording quality is just okay. You'll still be understandable, but your voice will sound muffled and thin. It struggles to isolate background noise from speech in louder environments. On the upside, if you're taking calls from your office, these earbuds reduce background chatter so you can focus on your call.
- Breathable and stable for sports.
- Integrated USB charging cable in the case.
- Minimal leakage.
- Short battery life and long charge time.
- No companion app.
- Very high latency.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 22, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 06, 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.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless are mediocre Bluetooth earbuds. There isn't anything that sets them apart from other earbuds other than their carrying case's integrated charging cable which can be prone to more damage since it's exposed. The battery performance of these headphones also falls short of other truly wireless competitors as it can take about two hours to charge them while delivering only 3.3 hours of continuous playback time. If you're set on wireless headphones, check out our recommendations for the best truly wireless headphones, the best wireless headphones under $100, and the best Bluetooth earbuds under $50.
The Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless are slightly better truly wireless headphones than the JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless. The Jabra have a companion app that lets you EQ their sound profile and have a more isolating fit against ambient noise. Their battery life is noticeably better, offering about two more hours of continuous playback than the JLab. They can also connect to two devices and have less latency. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more straightforward experience and mostly listen to bass-heavy music, then the JLab might offer better value and be a better choice.
The SoundPeats TrueFree/True Wireless and the JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless are fairly similar headphones and perform almost identically when it comes to sound. However, the JBuds Air offer volume control on their one-button scheme, which the TrueFree are lacking. The recording quality of the integrated microphone is also better than the TrueFree. On the other hand, the SoundPeats don’t have an integrated charging cable and their case lacks a lid to protect the headphones.
The Anker Soundcore Liberty Air are better truly wireless headphones than the JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless. While they don't have volume control, the Anker have a much better sounding audio reproduction, and their fit blocks out more ambient noise, which is good for commuting. The Anker come with a smaller case and offer better battery life, on top of taking less time to charge. However, their stalk design is a bit more fragile than the dense JLab and is slightly less stable for sports.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds are better truly wireless headphones than the JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless. They are more comfortable, have better sound quality, noticeably better battery life, and are have a good companion app that offers customization options and controls. You can also get volume controls if you have the app, or else you won’t have it by default like on the JBuds Air. Their case is also compatible with wireless Qi chargers. On the other hand, if you don’t need an app and like to listen to bass-heavy music, the JBuds Air might offer better value and can be a better choice.
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.
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