TL;DR
JLab's JBuds Pods ANC offer a surprisingly feature-rich audio experience for their price. Expect long battery life, wireless charging, and solid Active Noise Cancellation that tackles low-frequency hums effectively. While they miss out on high-res audio and their sound needs a bit of EQ tweaking to truly shine, the Multipoint connectivity and customizable app with unique features like "Safe Hearing" make them a compelling mid-range choice. If you're looking for great value and convenience without breaking the bank, these might be your next earbuds. Dive into the full review to see if they're the perfect fit for your audio needs.
Following our review of the JBuds Lux ANC, where we noted their significant value despite some limitations, we now turn our attention to JLab’s mid-range in-ear model: the JLab JBuds Pods ANC.
The specifications are certainly promising: Active Noise Cancellation, Multipoint support, wireless charging, and impressive battery life. All this is offered at a price point significantly below a thousand SEK. This review will assess whether these features translate into a compelling user experience.
Design and Comfort
The package includes the charging case, a compact USB-C cable, and silicone ear tips in two additional sizes, providing a total of three pairs (including those pre-attached).
The matte black case is compact and highly portable. While it may not project a premium aesthetic, its matte finish effectively resists fingerprints, and the overall construction feels robust. It positions itself clearly within the mid-range segment, avoiding both budget and luxury classifications.
The earbuds themselves incorporate the classic stem design, a form factor prevalent among many manufacturers. They are lightweight and offer a secure fit. With an IP55 rating, they are protected against sweat, making them suitable for gym use, and light rain.
The fit is generally good, particularly for users with average-sized ears. However, individuals with smaller ear anatomies may find the earbud’s body somewhat large or bulky, potentially impacting secure and comfortable placement.
Sound Quality and App
Upon connecting, we initiated listening with the factory settings. Similar to the JBuds Lux ANC, these earbuds default to the “JLab Signature” preset, which delivers an entirely acceptable audio profile. The accompanying app provides a 10-band equalizer and a selection of alternative preset modes. Switching to a neutral curve, however, results in a thin, flat, and notably unengaging sound lacking desired vibrancy. Reverting to “JLab Signature,” or ideally, customizing the curve manually, significantly enriches the audio experience.
The 11mm drivers are capable of delivering robust audio, provided optimal equalization. Following adjustments within the app, we achieved an engaging soundstage characterized by competent bass and clarity. These are not positioned as HiFi-grade earbuds, and they notably lack support for high-resolution codecs such as LDAC (a feature present in the competitor EarFun Air Pro 4+). Instead, they rely on SBC and AAC codecs.
Beyond that, the app generally performs well. It offers a “Spatial Audio” mode, intended to deliver a more immersive soundstage; however, this feature largely comes across as a gimmick rather than a desirable enhancement, and the audio quality diminishes significantly when activated. Conversely, the touch control settings are intuitive and comprehensive, allowing customization of EQ curves, volume, and ANC.
A noteworthy feature, particularly for users sensitive to volume levels or younger audiences, is “Safe Hearing.” This app-based limiter restricts maximum volume output, designed to protect long-term hearing. It’s a straightforward yet considerate inclusion that would be beneficial to see implemented more broadly.
Additionally, a “Movie Mode” is available. This setting subtly adjusts sound quality to substantially reduce latency (to less than 200ms), thereby ensuring accurate lip-synchronization during video playback or gaming.
A notable omission is the absence of “Wear Detection.” Consequently, removing an earbud from the ear does not automatically pause audio playback. While seemingly minor, for users accustomed to this convenience, the necessity of manually pausing via a connected device can feel counterintuitive.
Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Ambient Mode
The ANC functionality performs adequately. It demonstrates particular effectiveness at attenuating low-frequency ambient noise, such as bus engines or train hums, creating a noticeably quieter environment. However, its performance is less consistent with mid-range frequencies, struggling more with voices and abrupt sounds.
The ambient mode, branded as “Be Aware” by JLab, offers adjustable levels via the app, which is a significant advantage. Nonetheless, the audio reproduction can sound somewhat noisy and artificial. While suitable for brief interactions, such as hearing station announcements or engaging in transactions, it is not ideal for continuous use.
Call Quality and Connectivity
A total of six microphones are integrated, intended to optimize call audio quality. In quiet environments, such as a home or a calm office, the performance is commendable. Voice clarity is high, and recipients report no issues in hearing the speaker.
However, in outdoor, windy conditions, the algorithms face challenges. They can occasionally become overly aggressive in their attempts to suppress background noise, which may result in the speaker’s voice cutting out or sounding somewhat “tinny” to the call recipient.
Connectivity is established via Bluetooth 5.4, with robust support for Multipoint functionality. The inclusion of Google Fast Pair is also a welcome feature, significantly streamlining the pairing process with Android devices.
Battery Life and Charging
JLab specifies over 10 hours of playback time for the earbuds without ANC, extending to a total of 56 hours with the charging case. During our tests with ANC activated, we recorded approximately 7 hours, which is highly competitive. Without ANC, performance approached the advertised 10-hour mark.
A notable feature, particularly uncommon within this price segment, is the charging case’s support for wireless charging.
Conclusion
Overall, our assessment of the JLab JBuds Pods ANC is largely positive. While the recommended retail price stands at 990 SEK, at the time of this review, they were available for approximately 690 SEK.
Key strengths include impressive battery life, wireless charging, Multipoint connectivity, and competent noise cancellation. While high-resolution audio support is absent, and the sound quality does not rival top-tier models, these are minor criticisms given the accessible price point.
The most direct competitor is the EarFun Air Pro 4+. While these typically retail for several hundred SEK more, they offer high-resolution audio support and superior sound quality. JLab’s primary advantage, however, lies in its retail availability. The JBuds Pods ANC are readily accessible in Swedish stores, whereas EarFun products often require international ordering.
Therefore, our overall rating is 7 out of 10, contingent on a purchase price within the 700-800 SEK range. At the recommended retail price, the rating would be lower, given the robust competition present in that segment.
JLab sent review samples for this test. The sender of the material has no editorial influence on our reviews; we always write independently with our readers and consumers in focus.
