The JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 True Wireless are wallet-friendly active noise cancelling (ANC) earbuds. It's fairly uncommon to find ANC at this price point, as most manufacturers tend to make their models otherwise barebones in terms of other features. However, with these buds, you'll also get a companion app with a graphic EQ, presets, and even control remapping, which is a bit surprising. On the downside, it's worth noting that our unit produces a loud screeching sound when the right conditions are met, which can affect your hearing.
Our Verdict
The JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 are mediocre for neutral sound. Out of the box, they have a very bass-heavy sound that bloats the rest of the mix, weakening vocals and instruments. Luckily, their companion app offers a 10-band graphic EQ to help you adjust for this, but it'll take some work to even out the kinks in their sound. It can't make their soundstage any wider or more immersive, though. Since they're in-ear headphones, sound will be perceived as coming from inside your head rather than from the space around you.
- 10-band graphic EQ available.
- Bad passive soundstage.
The JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 are decent for commutes and traveling. These decently comfortable buds are equipped with a noise cancelling system to help reduce some of the low rumbles of bus and plane engines as well as chatty passengers. However, it does a passable job in these environments, so you'll still hear some of what's going on around you. With the ANC on, they last well over six hours continuously, and their charging case holds an extra 3.5 charges if you need it.
- Well-built and decently comfortable.
- ANC does passable job in common scenarios.
The JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 are great for sports and fitness. These decently comfortable buds are rated IP55 for resistance against dust and direct water exposure, making them a solid choice for outdoor runs. Although they don't have stability fins, they stay in place during tough workouts, too, and overall, they feel well-built.
- IP55 rating for dust and water resistance.
- Well-built and decently comfortable.
- Bad passive soundstage.
The JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 are okay for office use. While their 6.5-hour continuous battery life may not last through a full workday without a pitstop in their carrying case, the case supplies over three additional charges in a pinch. They have an ANC system, too, and while it can do a good job of tackling more consistent sounds like the hum of an A/C unit, it has a harder time with irregular sounds like coworkers laughing. The buds themselves have a decently comfortable fit, though.
- Multi-device pairing support.
- ANC does passable job in common scenarios.
The JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 are Bluetooth wireless earbuds that only support SBC codec, so their latency is pretty high. While they have a low latency mode, it doesn't do anything to bring audio delay within a more reasonable range.
The JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 are truly wireless earbuds; you can't use them wired.
The JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 are okay for phone calls. These buds have an integrated microphone that struggles to capture your voice, so it sounds dark and a bit distorted. It can separate your speech from background noise well, so you'll still be heard clearly, even in moderately noisy environments. The buds are also equipped with an ANC system, which helps to cut down some background noise like traffic or ambient chatter.
- Multi-device pairing support.
- Well-built and decently comfortable.
- ANC does passable job in common scenarios.
- Mic has mediocre recording quality.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 come in one color variant: 'Black,' and you can see our model's label here. If you come across another variant of these headphones, let us know in the forums.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 are wallet-friendly buds with a couple of surprising features at their price point. They're equipped with ANC, which helps them compete with other similarly priced products like the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless. They also have a companion app with features like a 10-band graphic EQ, which is a little uncommon sub $100. That said, they fall short in performance compared to the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, which are not only more comfortable but offer even more features.
Check out our recommendations for the best budget noise cancelling headphones, the best budget and cheap wireless earbuds, and the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds under $100.
The TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless and the JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 are both wallet-friendly buds with ANC. However, the JLab offer a lot more features. The JLab have app support, so you can customize their sound to your liking, and they support multi-device pairing. Unfortunately, they can make a shrill and piercing noise if you have the transparency mode to max and obscure the ANC mics. That said, the TOZO have a longer continuous battery life, and they do a better job of blocking out long-lasting sounds like the rumbles of bus engines.
The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless are the more affordable sibling of the JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3, so depending on your needs, you may prefer either one. If money is your concern, the GO Air POP offer the core features without dabbling too much in add-ons. While there's no companion app, a couple of EQ presets are built in. Since they lack an ANC system, they also have a longer continuous battery life. That said, if you're looking for extra features and don't mind paying a little more, then the JBuds ANC 3 are worth considering. They support multi-device pairing, companion app customizability, and even have an ANC system, although it offers an acceptable performance in common scenarios. That said, if you obscure the ANC mics and have transparency mode set to max, you may experience a painful and shrill noise from the buds. Both buds are similarly comfortable and well-built, though.
The Sony WF-C500 Truly Wireless and the JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 share a similar price point but offer slightly different features, so your preferences will play a large part in which is best for you. While both have companion app support, the Sony have a virtual soundstage feature to help immerse you in your audio. They also sound more neutral out of the box, which some users may prefer. That said, the JLab have an ANC system, and while it doesn't offer a mind-blowing experience, it can still help reduce some sound around you. They also support multi-device pairing. On the downside, if you're using the transparency mode at max and obscuring the ANC mics, then you may experience a painful high-pitched noise.
At this wallet-friendly price point, you'll find both the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless and the JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 jam-packed with extra features. That said, the Anker are a better choice overall. They also have a better full-range noise isolation performance and a longer continuous battery life. However, the JLab's mic offers a better overall performance. Unfortunately, if you have the transparency mode to max and are obscuring the ANC's mics, you may encounter a loud and piercing noise from the buds.
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