Tested using Methodology v1.5
Review updated Jul 17, 2023 at 08:36 am
Latest change: Writing modified May 14, 2024 at 01:19 pm
By Jake Thauvette, Theresa Ketterling, and Yannick Khong
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
+ Create your own
overview test results deals 2 comments
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling No
Mic Yes
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.
See our Neutral Sound Recommendations
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.
See our Commute/Travel Recommendations
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.
See our Sports/Fitness Recommendations
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.
See our Office Recommendations
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.
See our Wireless Gaming Recommendations
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
+ Create your own
- Updated May 14, 2024: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the JLab Audio JBuds 3 True Wireless in App Support.
- Updated Dec 19, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Anker Soundcore P25i/P20i True Wireless in Noise Isolation.
- Updated Jul 17, 2023: Made minor changes to the text bring it up to date.
- Updated Oct 21, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Oct 15, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Oct 01, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Sep 27, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Sep 24, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
TheJLab Audio GO Air POPcome in 'Βlack', 'Lilac', 'Rose' (red), 'Slate', and 'Teal'. We tested them in'Βlack'; you can see the label for the unit we testedhere.
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 aroughly 9-hour continuous battery life, which exceeds other cheap earbuds', including theJLab 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 thebest earbuds and in-earheadphones, the best cheap wireless earbuds, and thebest 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 andhave 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.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
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.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
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.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
Skullcandy Dime True Wireless
The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless arebetter for most purposes than theSkullcandy Dime True Wireless. TheJLab have a muchmore comfortable fit,abetter overall mic performance, and a significantlybetterbattery performance. They alsohave a somewhatbetter noise isolation performance andsound customization features, unlike the Skullcandy. On the otherhand, the Skullcandyhave a more neutralsound profile that some may prefer.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
Anker Soundcore P25i/P20i True Wireless
The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless andthe 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 offera lot more EQ presets than what the JLab have built in.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
JLab Audio JBuds Air ANC Truly Wireless
TheJLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless andJLab Audio JBuds Air ANC Truly Wireless are quite similar, but the JBudsare a bit better. The JBudshave much lower Βluetooth latency and have an ANC feature, although it only offers a slight improvement over theirpassive 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 continuousbattery life and abetter mic recording quality.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 True Wireless
The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless are the more affordable sibling of the JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 True Wireless, 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 youobscure 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.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
Skullcandy Smokin' Buds/Buds XT True Wireless
The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless and theSkullcandy Smokin' Buds/Buds XT True Wirelessare 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 lifeif 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.
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.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
Skullcandy Sesh Truly Wireless
TheJLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless arebetter for most purposes than theSkullcandy Sesh Truly Wireless. The JLabhave a much longer continuousbattery life andabetter overall mic performance, and come withbasic sound customization features.Ηowever, some listeners may prefer the Skullcandy's more bass-heavy sound profile, whichbrings 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.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
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.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro Truly Wireless
TheAnker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Pro Truly Wirelessand 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.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
+ Show more
Test Results
Design
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
Weight 0.02 lbs
Clamping Force
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.
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LEARN ABOUT COMFORT
6.5 Design
OS Compatibility
Ease Of Use Decent
Feedback Decent
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
Noise Cancelling Control No
Talk-Through
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'.
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LEARN ABOUT CONTROLS
9.2 Design
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.
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LEARN ABOUT BREATHABILITY
9.6 Design
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.
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LEARN ABOUT PORTABILITY
7.0 Design
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.
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LEARN ABOUT CASE
7.5 Design
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.
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LEARN ABOUT BUILD QUALITY
7.5 Design
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.
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LEARN ABOUT STABILITY
Design
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Design
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Design
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Design
- JLab Audio GO Air POP truly wireless earbuds
- Charging case
- 3x silicone tip sizes
- User guide
—
Sound
Bass Amount
Treble Amount
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.
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LEARN ABOUT SOUND PROFILE
8.8 Sound
Avg. Std. Deviation
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.
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LEARN ABOUT FREQUENCY RESPONSE CONSISTENCY
Sound
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LEARN ABOUT RAW FREQUENCY RESPONSE
7.4 Sound
Std. Err.
Low-Frequency Extension
Low-Bass
Mid-Bass
High-Bass
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.
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LEARN ABOUT BASS ACCURACY
8.6 Sound
Std. Err.
Low-Mid
Mid-Mid
High-Mid
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.
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LEARN ABOUT MID ACCURACY
7.7 Sound
Std. Err.
Low-Treble
Mid-Treble
High-Treble
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.
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LEARN ABOUT TREBLE ACCURACY
7.3 Sound
Peaks
Dips
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.
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LEARN ABOUT PEAKS/DIPS
9.3 Sound
Weighted Group Delay
Weighted Phase Mismatch
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
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.
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LEARN ABOUT IMAGING
0.8 Sound
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
PRTF Size (Avg.)
PRTF Distance
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.
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LEARN ABOUT PASSIVE SOUNDSTAGE
0 Sound
Head Modeling
Speaker Modeling
Room Ambience
Head Tracking
Virtual Surround
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LEARN ABOUT VIRTUAL SOUNDSTAGE
7.4 Sound
WHD @ 90
WHD @ 100
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.
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LEARN ABOUT WEIGHTED HARMONIC DISTORTION
Sound
Firmware
Power
Connection
Codec
EQ
ANC
Tip/Pad
Microphone
These are the settings used to test the JLab Audio GO Air POP. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.
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LEARN ABOUT TEST SETTINGS
7.0 Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
Noise Cancelling No
Bass
Mid
Treble
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.
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LEARN ABOUT NOISE ISOLATION
9.4 Isolation
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
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.
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LEARN ABOUT LEAKAGE
Microphone
Integrated
In-Line
Boom
Detachable Boom
Mic Yes
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LEARN ABOUT MICROPHONE STYLE
7.4 Microphone
Recorded Speech
LFE
FR Std. Dev.
HFE
Weighted THD
Gain
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.
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LEARN ABOUT RECORDING QUALITY
6.3 Microphone
SpNR
Noise Gate
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.
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LEARN ABOUT NOISE HANDLING
6.8 Active Features
Battery Type
Continuous Battery Life
Additional Charges
Total Battery Life
Charge Time
Power-Saving Feature
Audio While Charging
Passive Playback
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.
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LEARN ABOUT BATTERY
0 Active Features
App Name No App
iOS No
Android No
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
ANC Control
Mic Control No
Room Effects
Playback Control
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
These buds don't have companion app support, but if this is important for you, you'll want to consider the JLab Audio JBuds ANC 3 True Wireless instead.
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LEARN ABOUT APP SUPPORT
6.7 Connectivity
Bluetooth Version
Multi-Device Pairing
NFC Pairing
Line Of Sight Range
PC Latency (SBC)
PC Latency (aptX)
PC Latency (aptX HD)
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
iOS Latency
Android Latency
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.
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LEARN ABOUT BLUETOOTH
0 Connectivity
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
Non-BT Latency
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LEARN ABOUT NON-BLUETOOTH WIRELESS
0 Connectivity
Analog Audio
USB Audio
Detachable No
Length N/A
Connection
Analog/USB Audio Latency
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.
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LEARN ABOUT WIRED
Connectivity
Analog
Wired USB
Non-BT Wireless
These earbuds are fully compatible with Βluetooth-compatible PCs, but you can't connect them to your computer in any other way.
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Connectivity
PS4 Analog
PS4 Wired USB
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
PS5 Analog
PS5 Wired USB
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
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LEARN ABOUT PLAYSTATION COMPATIBILITY
Connectivity
Xbox One Analog
Xbox One Wired USB
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
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LEARN ABOUT XBOX COMPATIBILITY
2.2 Connectivity
Type
USB Input
Line In
Line Out
Optical Input
RCA Input
Dock Charging
Power Supply
These headphones come with a charging case with a built-in USB-A charging cable. It doesn't have any inputs.
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LEARN ABOUT BASE/DOCK