Jabra might not be the most recognizable name in the true wireless market, but the company’s earbuds have proven capable of beating the likes of Apple, Bose and Samsung in our tests and can often be found for cheaper than their top rivals. The excellent (and sadly discontinued) Jabra Elite Active 75t enjoyed a long reign on our best wireless earbuds rankings and even got us to ditch our AirPods Pro for a while. And now that Jabra’s earbuds run the gamut from the affordable Elite 3 to the higher-end Elite 10, there’s something for everyone in the lineup.
Picking the right pair of Jabra earbuds has gotten a little trickier as the lineup has grown. Several of their newest creations have been well-received, earning spots on multiple category roundups from best budget earbuds to best workout headphones.
Fortunately, we’ve tested all of Jabra’s current buds extensively and are ready to make that decision easy for you. Whether you want quality sound for cheap or you’re willing to invest in something built to last from the gym to the office, here are the best Jabra earbuds to buy now.
Jabra’s latest flagship buds package multiple smart features, strong noise cancellation, and versatile sound into a chic design.
Energetic sound, intuitive features, powerful ANC, and a reliable, sweat-resistant fit make these buds the perfect workout companion.
Best Jabra earbuds: Jabra Elite 10
$250 at Jabra or $250 From $220 at Amazon and Best Buy
The Elite 10 are Jabra’s best buds to date. Everything from build quality to sound architecture is on point, undercutting many luxury models at their current sale price.
Frequency response is terrific with deep bass that gives contemporary tracks more punch. The adjustable EQ and multiple presets in the Sound+ app let you tweak different sound characteristics: lows, mids and treble. LE Audio boosts streaming quality with minimal latency. Then there’s Spatial Sound, Jabra’s 3D audio format powered by Dolby Atmos for immersive listening. It emphasizes instruments and vocals surprisingly well and exhibits precise head detection.
The Elite 10 hold their own against the most acclaimed true wireless noise-cancellers. Jabra updated its ANC technology to be two times stronger than the previous version. We tested it in numerous real-world noise conditions and were impressed by how well it suppressed unwanted sounds. All low and mid-frequency sounds went unnoticed, while a handful of high frequencies (e.g., a crying baby, whistles) entered the soundscape, but weren’t distracting. HearThrough continues to make its case for best ambient listening mode, pulling in noises and vocals more clearly than Apple and Sony’s top buds.
Craftsmanship has also been upscaled. The glossy multifunctional button, suede-like exterior and teardrop shape are nice touches that give the Elite 10 a distinctive and swanky appearance. IP54 dustproof and waterproof certification makes these some of the most durable noise-canceling buds out there. Jabra’s wireless charging case is just as attractive and holds up to 36 hours of playtime.
Call quality could be better, but for that to be the buds’ only significant flaw says a lot about their quality, which is outstanding.
Best Jabra sports earbuds: Jabra Elite 8 Active
$200 at Jabra, Amazon and Best Buy
While we still consider the Beats Fit Pro to be the best workout earbuds, a recent matchup against the Elite 8 Active showed that Jabra’s newest sports buds were equally exceptional for avid exercisers.
Jabra’s bass-forward sound profile was ideal for adrenaline-inducing workouts, producing impactful lows that blended nicely with crisp mids and clear highs. We were able to make the sound more boomy by manually adjusting the bass levels via the customizable EQ. Spatial Sound widened the soundstage to hear percussive instruments and other rhythmic elements more clearly. The feature was also beneficial for recovery mode; instrumentals and orchestral recordings had a euphoric presence that soothed the body.
Listening with ANC on boosted bass levels, though the technology excelled most at reducing ambient noise across different frequencies. Common gym distractions such as chatty exercisers, clanking metal, squeaking shoes and music blasting from the ceiling speakers were silent. Daytime runs were peaceful, thanks to Jabra’s enhanced mic array that blocked out street noises and wind at a high level. Switching to HearThrough kept us highly aware of oncoming traffic during nightly walks.
Jabra’s gel tips formed a tight seal. However, it was the liquid silicone material wrapped around each bud that optimized comfort and fit, while also preventing corrosion. IP68 certification translates to dust protection and waterproofing at up to 1.5 meters of submersion. The wireless charging case comes dust- and water-resistant (IP54) and holds 56 hours of additional playtime when fully charged.
What you need to know about Jabra earbuds
Before you pick up a pair of Jabra earbuds, there are some key things to keep in mind about the entire range. The company’s buds are fairly platform agnostic — they pair well to both iPhone and Android devices via Bluetooth, with a free Sound+ app that lets you do things like adjust sound profiles or activate special features. Some Jabra earbuds — such as models in the Elite 4, Elite 8, and Elite 10 series — have Android-exclusive features (i.e., Google Fast Pair and Alexa support), but they still work very well on all types of phones. Newer releases come with Spatial Sound (aka spatial audio) that support Dolby Atmos, like the AirPods 3, AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2.
Virtually all Jabra buds offer a HearThrough mode, which amplifies the world around you to help you stay aware of your surroundings (think Transparency mode on Beats Fit Pro or AirPods Pro).
And save for the Elite 3, almost all of Jabra’s recent earbuds have active noise cancellation (ANC), which we’ve found to be very reliable for blocking out unwanted noise when working or out on a walk. Jabra earbuds also generally excel at calls, with all entries holding up well during phone chats and work meetings.
Jabra vs. the competition
The true wireless market belonged to Jabra when they launched the universally acclaimed Elite 65t and Elite Active 75t several years back. Since then, competitors like Apple, Bose, and Sony have all stepped up their efforts. The best-selling AirPods Pro 2 have well-rounded performance, highlighted by dynamic sound, strong ANC, and unique features that tie into Apple’s ecosystem. Newer rivals like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds deliver the best true wireless noise cancellation and spatial audio. Another suitable adversary is the Sony WF-1000XM5, which blend class-leading sonics and elite noise reduction into a gorgeous design. The latest models in Jabra’s Elite collection give all of them a run for their money.
Other Jabra earbuds to consider
Jabra Elite 7 Pro
From $160 at Amazon
Jabra’s previous crown holder comes with the same benefits as the other buds on this list and are especially ideal for calls. Technologies like “MultiSensor Voice” use four microphones and a custom sensor to eliminate unwanted background noise (such as wind), while picking up vocals as clearly as possible. We’ve found this to translate well in everyday use. And during voice recording tests, they did a better job separating our voice from background noise compared to Jabra’s cheaper buds, even if they weren’t quite as crisp as competitors like the Galaxy Buds Pro. ANC and ambient listening can be adjusted between 5 levels for full control over how much noises is blocked out or let in. A rated runtime of 8 hours means nonstop listening during commutes. Despite their high (but oft-discounted) retail price of $199, they hold up well against luxury models like the $249 AirPods Pro, especially when it comes to sound quality and features.
Jabra Connect 5T
$170 $130 at Best Buy
The Connect 5T are basically the business-ready version of the Elite 5 and outperform both the AirPods Pro 2 and QC Ultra Earbuds in call quality. Jabra’s stellar six-mic array produces crystal-clear sound on both ends with minimal background interference, plus it performs exceptionally well for voice assistance from Google Assistant and Siri. Multipoint technology provides solid connectivity between two devices at the same time. These buds also share the audio specs as the Elite 5, but sound slightly better, and come with signature features like ANC and EQ. A chic wireless charger completes the package.
Jabra Elite 3
$50 at Amazon
Jabra earbuds haven’t historically been the cheapest, but the Elite 3 buck that trend with an $50 price tag that frequently drops below that during sales. These buds provide very good sound quality, a superb fit with multiple ear tips and around nine continuous hours of battery life — that’s some of the best we’ve tested on any pair of buds. You even get the same HearThrough mode found on Jabra’s more expensive models for amplifying the outside world when you need to stay alert — it’s perfect for when you’re walking through a city or at the airport. Some trade-offs you’ll deal with are the cheap plastic case and diminished bass performance compared to other Jabra buds. ANC is also missing, something you’ll find on most other brand entries, as well as the brilliant (and sometimes even cheaper) EarFun Air Pro 3. But there are few earbuds at this price that offer the high quality performance the Jabra Elite 3 do.
Jabra Elite 4
$100 $76 at Amazon
Fitness enthusiasts will lean towards the sportier Elite 4 Active, but the Elite 4 are the greater value and superior-sounding model. Frequencies are better balanced, so you can hear every detail of your favorite songs while enjoying rich bass. Expect fantastic call quality. ANC is satisfying for the price and silences many street noises from cars to construction tools to pedestrians. Jabra’s feature suite is available in the Sound+ app too. Battery life is decent at 7 hours per charge (5 hours with ANC on), but the charging case holds an additional 21 hours to extend playtimes on the go.