In today’s world, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to wireless earphones/headphones. With so many different products available, it can be quite tricky to find exactly what you’re looking for.
Price, style, ease of use, and sound quality are some of the factors to take into account when looking for your audio devices. For the active person, it might be a little more tricky to find a suitable pair of earbuds that will work well outdoors when you are exercising and on the move.
That’s why it’s well worth checking out these Air Sport earbuds, but what makes them so special? Let’s find out…
(4 / 5)Whether listening to your favorite new song or to online radio, when it comes to earphone choices, the choice is endless. Price is always a factor; quality is another. Being active means you need something durable. Something that will be able to perform well on the move.
For the active person, it can be a little tricky to find a suitable set that will work well outdoors while delivering comfort and ease of use. No worries, we are here to give you some insight.
Price
This is usually the first aspect of a product that many people look at. And for a pair of quality earbuds, the price is attractive. At less than 100$, these true wireless earphones won’t set you back much. These are, therefore, a great choice for someone on a budget. However, there’s a catch, the earphones and case are made almost entirely out of plastic.
This needs to be sturdy and have ease of use.
The Air Sports are supplied with an oval housing pod that allows for charging. Therefore, whenever the earbuds are placed inside the pod, they will start charging. It is finished in matte black and holds additional battery life for when the earbuds run low. More on that later. The pod itself is charged using a USB connection, and the cable is supplied.
Another feature is sweat resistance. However, they are not waterproof, and the earbuds cannot be fully submerged.
Functionality
This is an important feature when it comes to wireless earphones. And the JLab JBuds Air Sport turn on automatically when you take them out the housing pod. They also automatically connect to one another, saving you some time and effort.
They operate using Bluetooth 5.0, which provides a super stable and very quick hands-free connection. However, some of the controls may take a while to get used to. Each earphone is used to control different functions, the right ear controlling volume up and skip track forward, the left ear controlling volume down, and skipping the track back.
There are also some more advanced functions, such as being able to summon your choice of virtual assistant. Plus, there are three sound settings for different sound preferences – “Signature,” “Balanced,” and “Boost.” Theses are selected by triple-clicking on either of the buds.
Comfort
This is obviously of the utmost importance because earphones need to feel good.
These wireless earphones are able to fit any size ear, and it is supplied with a number of ear-tips to ensure that perfect fit. Some reviewers have said that the comfort overshadows the style. However, we do not agree with that and like the understated professional styling.
The buds themselves have an IP55 rating, which will protect them from dust and water resistance, although they are not fully waterproof. However, they are a bit bulky, but this does make them sturdy enough to be used in most active situations.
Durability
As mentioned, JLab has given the earphones an IP55 rating. Therefore, if you are mountain biking, rock-climbing, or basically doing anything in the great outdoors, these should not be affected by the dust you might encounter. The sweat resistance is also a plus for the gym or even a walk through the park on a hot summer day.
Battery Life
The battery needs to have enough power to last throughout a workout session and be able to be charged with ease. And you don’t want the battery to cut out while listening to your favorite album.
Each of the two earphones holds up to six hours of battery life each. And the housing pod can hold an additional 34 hours of battery life when fully charged, giving you a very impressive 40 hours of battery life when combined.
Connectivity
This should be smooth and not have interruptions, with modern technology, you don’t want to wait for the earphones to connect. But that shouldn’t be a problem because as you take the buds out of the housing pod, they will automatically connect to each other. This needs to occur before you connect them to your device.
They support Bluetooth 5.0 and the high-quality AAC codec, so there should be no issues with signal strength within range or drop-outs.
The Sound
Although these are sport earphones, you won’t normally want any interference from outside. The well-fitting ear-tips ensure this.
Some reviewers have commented that these earphones have an exaggerated bass frequency, but that is typical of products designed for working out when the bass needs to cut through to keep up the ‘workout beat’. However, the mid-range sounds aren’t as clear as they could be and are affected by the low-end. The treble frequencies are clear as expected and cut through nicely.
However, being able to choose from the three sound settings does give you a choice, and you should be able to find your preference.
JLab JBuds Air Sport Pros & Cons
Pros
- Price.
- Powerful bottom-end.
- Three sound functions.
- Resistance to sweat and dust.
- Good housing pod.
- Battery Life.
Cons
- Bulky.
- Buttons can be tricky to use.
Lots of Options Available
Not quite sure if these JLab JBuds are the ones for you? No problem, if you’re looking at products in the same price range, check out our reviews of the Best Earbuds under 100 Dollars. And if you want something even cheaper, then the Best Earbuds under 50 Dollars may be of interest?
However, if you are looking for something more specific, take a look at our reviews of the Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds, the Best Headphones and Earbuds for Sleeping, and the Most Durable Earbuds on the market.
Conclusion
These wireless earphones are great for those on a limited budget. They are also a superb option for those who don’t want to spend money on more expensive earbuds, which will need replacing after a few years of hard use.
However, by paying less, you will miss out on the higher quality sound experience and durability of more expensive models. But if they are only for the gym or an exciting outdoor pursuit, that shouldn’t be an issue.
On the whole, they are a great option for the price, as long as you’re not expecting too much from them.
Happy listening!