Forget AirPods: Jabra Elite 4 earbuds are budget-friendly and feature-rich

High quality earbuds do not need to be costly. We discovered firsthand again in 2021 when ZDNET examined the Jabra Elite 3, $80 wireless earbuds that competed with AirPods’ audio high quality at a fraction of the associated fee. 

Right now, Jabra is again with the new Elite 4, a successor that continues to hold out its more-for-less mission, however now for $99. It is costlier than its predecessor, however with the addition of ANC, Qualcomm aptX help for lossless audio, multipoint connection, and as much as 28 hours of battery life, the brand new buds are arguably simply as disruptive to the premium audio market because the final.

The Jabra Elite 4 retains the identical ergonomic design because the Elite 3, requiring a twist-and-lock mechanism to make sure a comfortable match. That is implausible in case you plan on utilizing them throughout high-movement duties like exercises and operating. Whereas I discover earbuds with longer stems extra snug to put on — they do not construct up as a lot stress within the ears, I used to be pleasantly shocked that I did not have the urge to take away the Elite 4 even after 4 hours of continuous put on.

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The charging case’s light-weight construct is one other stand-out characteristic of the Elite 4; it not solely slips into my entrance pocket with ease however does not really feel like a burden to hold round. It costs by way of USB-C port, with the buds rated at 5.5 hours of playtime per cycle and as much as 28 hours in complete. I applaud Jabra for the advance in general in-case battery life, although wi-fi charging would’ve taken it up a notch.

The brand new Jabra Elite 4 now include energetic noise cancellation (ANC), and it performs pretty nicely. Extra producers are persevering with to undertake the noise-canceling operate which, in and of itself, is a plus. With them on, I can not hear the jingle-jangle of my pet’s collar as he trots round or the lawnmower within the yard. It is all in regards to the music enjoying in your ears.

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My solely quibble with the brand new sound modes has to do with the inconsistency in general sound high quality. My testing of transparency mode, which included the twangy harmonium of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain”, sounded clear and vibrant. Nevertheless, with ANC turned on, there was a delicate but noticeable underwater-like filter that made the tune really feel softer than regular. So, whereas I normally use ANC as a sound enhancer, the Elite 4’s transparency mode is the star of the 2. 

Jabra has outfitted the Elite 4 with 4 microphones and 6mm audio system, giving the earbuds a marginal enchancment in name high quality — a characteristic I believe is commonly ignored. 

Within the fashionable age of hybrid work, loads of earbuds boast “clear name high quality,” however few truly ship. In my testing, the Jabra Elite 4 not solely fulfilled that promise however takes the cake. I can hear my calls completely and even my mother commented on how clear my voice sounded throughout our day by day catch-up. One of the best half is that the Elite 4 now helps Bluetooth multipoint, making it straightforward to swap from one related machine to a different.

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Whereas I am nonetheless ready for Jabra to include wi-fi charging and in-ear play and pause detection into its budget-friendly line of earbuds, there isn’t any doubt the Elite 4 make for a strong funding at $99 — particularly for working professionals who want a strong mic — with out compromising on high quality. You’ll be able to snag a pair for your self starting today in 4 colours: darkish grey, navy, lilac, and light-weight beige.