TL;DR
The JLab Go Pods ANC offer decent sound and ANC for their affordable price, but they come with significant compromises compared to their slightly pricier siblings, the JBuds Pods ANC. While the sound quality is surprisingly good, battery life is cut in half, call quality is weaker, and the built-in charging cable is a frustrating impracticality. If you're on a tight budget, they're a respectable option, but for a little more, the JBuds Pods ANC offer far better value. Read on to see if the Go Pods ANC are the right fit for you!
The JLab Go Pods ANC represent a more accessible counterpart to the JLab JBuds Pods ANC, which we reviewed recently. While some premium features have been omitted, this is reflected in a more affordable price point. Our previous assessment of the JBuds Pods ANC highlighted its impressive sound quality, excellent battery life, and competitive pricing. The key question now is, how does the JLab Go Pods ANC compare in performance and value?
Design and Comfort
We evaluated the headphones in a light purple finish. The charging case is quite compact, though its construction feels somewhat plasticky and hollow when compared to higher-end models. It is marginally smaller than the JBuds Pods ANC case, but notably, it incorporates a built-in USB-C cable. While JLab promotes this as a smart design choice, our experience suggests a more nuanced perspective, which we will elaborate on when discussing charging performance.
The earbuds offer a secure fit, featuring the prevalent “stem design.” Similar to the JBuds Pods ANC, users with very small ears might experience some discomfort during prolonged wear. The inclusion of three different sizes of silicone ear tips should accommodate most users in finding an optimal fit. A practical advantage is the IP55 water protection rating, ensuring durability against both intense workouts and inclement weather.
Sound Quality and App
Upon connecting the earbuds, we were greeted by a familiar audio profile. Consistent with other JLab earbuds, they default to the “JLab Signature” sound setting out of the box. For a budget-friendly pair of earbuds, the sound quality is surprisingly robust. The energetic and slightly bass-forward sound signature is well-suited for genres like pop and hip-hop, without becoming excessively dominant.
Interestingly, the audio performance of the JLab Go Pods ANC is comparable to that of the JLab JBuds Pods ANC. Despite featuring slightly smaller 10 mm drivers, they deliver a similar level of sound fidelity. As anticipated in this price segment, there is no support for high-resolution audio codecs, with SBC and AAC being the available options. The accompanying app, as observed in our previous evaluations, remains highly capable. It provides a 10-band equalizer for those who prefer to customize their audio experience, alongside precise control over touch functionalities, including the option to disable them to prevent accidental activations.
Additionally, the app offers a movie/gaming mode for reduced latency. A particularly valuable feature is “Safe Hearing,” which allows users to limit the maximum volume, making these earbuds an excellent choice for younger users.
Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Ambient Mode
The active noise cancellation performance is quite similar to that of the JBuds Pods ANC, offering commendable effectiveness for its price point. It effectively attenuates significant low-frequency environmental noise from traffic, buses, and trains. While its ability to filter out human voices is less pronounced, this is generally expected within this product category.
However, the ambient sound mode, termed “Be Aware,” is less impressive. Its audio quality is notably subpar, characterized by a distinct background hiss and an unnatural, metallic rendition of ambient sounds. While it serves its basic purpose for momentary situational awareness, it is not suitable for prolonged use.
Battery Life and Charging
In contrast to the comparable sound quality, battery life presents a significant divergence from the JLab JBuds Pods ANC. Here, JLab has made notable compromises. Without ANC, the earbuds provide approximately 7.5 hours of listening time, reducing to about 5 hours with ANC engaged. The total listening time, including charges from the case, reaches 26 hours. While not exceptional for budget earbuds, this figure pales in comparison to the JBuds Pods ANC, which offers more than double the total endurance (56 hours). As anticipated in this price segment, wireless charging is not supported.
Given that the case is not substantially smaller yet yields significantly reduced battery life, it suggests a reallocation of internal space that could have otherwise housed a larger battery. Indeed, as previously mentioned, the case features an integrated, very short charging cable.
While an always-available charging cable may initially appear convenient, a critical drawback is the absence of a standard USB-C port on the case itself. Charging is exclusively facilitated via the integrated, short tether. This often results in the case dangling precariously from wall outlets or requiring awkward positioning to connect to computer ports. Furthermore, the durability of this fixed cable raises concerns; a damaged cable would render the entire charging case inoperable. This design, while conceptually innovative, proves rather impractical in real-world application.
Call Quality and Connectivity
JLab has also made some concessions in the area of call quality. While the JBuds Pods ANC featured six microphones, the Go Pods ANC are equipped with only two. This difference is evident in call performance. Communication is acceptable in perfectly quiet environments, but once exposed to moderate ambient noise or outdoor wind, voice clarity for the caller deteriorates significantly.
Connectivity is established via Bluetooth 5.4, and the Multipoint feature functions seamlessly, which is a commendable inclusion at this price point. Google Fast Pair support is also integrated, ensuring a very smooth setup experience for Android devices.
Conclusion
Evaluating the JLab Go Pods ANC inherently involves a constant comparison with the JLab JBuds Pods ANC. At the time of testing, the Go Pods ANC were priced at 549 SEK, while the JBuds Pods ANC were available for 690 SEK, representing a difference of approximately 150 SEK. For this modest additional investment, consumers gain significantly superior battery life (more than double), support for wireless charging, enhanced call quality, and the absence of the problematic integrated charging cable.
It is important to acknowledge that the JLab Go Pods ANC are not without merit. They offer a perfectly respectable earbud experience for the cost, including good sound reproduction. However, the compelling value proposition of the JLab JBuds Pods ANC remains undeniable as long as the price gap remains so narrow. Should the JBuds Pods ANC’s price increase, or if the Go Pods ANC receive a significant discount, their appeal would certainly grow. Yet, under current pricing, the JBuds Pods ANC stand out as the more advantageous choice.
JLab provided review samples for this test. Material providers exert no editorial influence on our reviews; our assessments are always independent and focused on the interests of our readers and consumers.
