Jabra - Elite 4 Active True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Headphones - Mint

There are tons of earbuds out there now, and no one model is perfect for everyone. Each person has different needs and budgets (and ears). The Jabra Elite 4 “true” noise canceling earbuds are priced in the mid-range category at just under $120 retail, but offer true noise canceling which you sometimes have to pay a bit more for in others. Since we’re working more from home now, having true noise canceling tech is helpful to drown out distracting background sounds (do NOT use while driving, though). My ears are picky, though. Initial pairing with your phone isn’t hard with the press of both bud’s buttons, and once the initial pairing is done, they will turn on and re-pair again with your phone automatically when removed from the case (and turn off when returned to the case). Note, there may be a firmware update when you first connect and it does take a few minutes to complete with no status bar in the app, so just wait it out. The downloadable app (more below) walks you through the process. You can get the Jabra Elite 4 in either black (mine) or Navy. They fit snugly in your ear using the small, medium, or large silicone ear tips that come with them. Comfort level is pretty good – Something I can wear for a few hours or so comfortably, though maybe not all day. The Elite 4 are IP57 rated for water resistance, so sweating isn’t a big problem, nor normal amounts of rain. Once charged in their case, you get up to 7 hours of use (I got just a bit more since I don’t crank the volume up a lot, though using it for calls will drain them a little quicker, as does using full noise canceling). Popping them back in the case will charge them again for up to 21 hours in the case, before you need to recharge the case itself (via USB-C cable – included). The case only has one LED on the front that tells you how much battery you have left based on color (Green, Yellow, Red, etc). I would prefer maybe a four-block LED so you could tell if it’s 100%, 75%, 50% or 25% charged though – as these are easier to see than trying to make out a color. The “Sound +” app for your phone will allow you to make more precise adjustments to the sound with their equalizer. You can turn on noise canceling completely by tapping the side or using the app, so you hear almost nothing of your surroundings (this works very well), or you can allow ambient noise to come through a bit in different levels so you are more aware of your surroundings while using them (this also works very well). Music is clear and again, adjustable to your likes with varied preset sound settings or the ability to adjust it manually – I don’t listen to things cranked up to full, but even higher than normal I really haven’t heard any distortions. They have 4 microphones – for the most part, those I have talked to using them for calls, said I sounded natural and they didn’t hear any distortions, though I did have to speak slightly louder than my normal tone of voice in order for them to hear me as though I was just on my phone. A single click answers the phone and a double-click hangs up. You can just use one bud if you’re using these primarily for phone calls, too. Combinations of taps and holds on the bud sides will let you adjust volume, next track for songs, etc. You can access Alexa via the buds directly and it does work – I’m not really an Alexa fan so don’t see this as something I’ll heavily use, but it’s there if you like or need it. Music and volume controls are through a series of clicks or hold-clicks on either/and/or bud. So, the build quality is really good. Sound in-ear is really good. Voice calls are fine. Battery life is very good compared to some others that cost even more. Comfort level is subjective, and I’d say good for me, but your mileage will vary depending on the shape/size of your ears – they do fit snugly if you use the right size tip. While they’re not absolutely perfect, I still give them 5 stars because what you do get for the money is an excellent value. Thumbs up!

Physically, the design language is similar to the previous version, which I have been using for almost half a year. The case is slightly bigger, but is still quite portable, and I appreciate the matte black finish because it does not attract smudges or fingerprints. The cap stays up when opened, which makes it easier to take out the buds and place them back in. There is a subtle branding on the front above the status LED light, and a USB-C charging port in the back. It’s a quite simple but sleek design in my opinion. The buds themselves retained that triangular shape, which allows them to be easily handled. In my experience, this design fits very well and are very comfortable. After using them for an entire battery cycle, which by the way is short of 6.5 hours, and during several activities, I did not experience any fatigue, soreness, or discomfort. Even when sweating profusely, they stayed in place while doing movements such as jumping jacks and the like. By the way, these are rated IP57, which means that a lot of sweat or little rain will not be a concern. The seamless connection technology makes them super easy to pair. Having Bluetooth 5.2, they stayed well connected while walking around my medium-sized apartment. Since they offer aptX codec, I did not notice any significant lag or sync issues -especially when playing videogames. I appreciate that I can control all important functions from the buds such as play, pause, call handling, voice assistance, and most importantly for me, volume. The downside -for me at least, is that these are push controls, and often I had to press a bit hard to make something happen. This causes the bud to jam further into the ear, and more than once I felt the air “pop”. Pressing the buttons can be somewhat cumbersome when running. I would’ve liked an “always-on” voice assistance mode to relieve this. Also, you can use these buds independently, for those who use one bud occasionally. The ANC is rather impressive. While walking around a busy street, the buds were able to suppress almost all lower rumbles, engine sounds, and planes (I live close to an airport). I am not traveling now, but I tested them by simulating a plane’s cabin low frequency and crowd noise and they did very well. The HeartThrough or ambient mode is decent enough. I still feel it’s a bit unnatural, but it is an essential feature for a sports earbud. I am quite pleased with the sound signature coming from these buds out of the box. Choosing the right size gel tip and creating a good seal, the 6mm drivers deliver full, crisp, clear sound that is sure to please most music lovers. The bass is impactful, precise, and has a level of sub-bass (subwoofer-like) that adds body to the sound. The midrange is well represented and neutral, allowing rhythm instruments, vocals, and choruses to be well defined. The treble soars high without being harsh or fatiguing. And just in case, you have a full EQ and presets in the Sound+ App to ensure you get the sound you want for any genre. The call quality, as expected from Jabra, is superb. I was heard loud and clear and my voice, albeit still retaining that typical wireless lack of bass. Still, they sounded full and almost natural. I was further impressed when taking a call outdoors in traffic, as the 4-mic array seems to be doing its job. I did experience some wind noise, but not enough to be distracting. The battery is not too shabby. Again, it lasted 6.5 hours or so on one sitting and the case makes it about 28 hours. There’s also a quick-charge option where a few minutes in the case adds several hours of playback. Unfortunately, the case does not support Qi wireless charging. Additionally, the robust Sound+ App brings significant customization by offering updates, control schemes, ANC/Ambient levels, full EQ, “Find My Buds”, and more, furthering the Elite 4’s value. Having multi-point connectivity would’ve sealed the deal for me. In the end, I find the Elite 4 to be of great value. They are simple, have an elegant design, are comfortable and functional -not just for sports, but for everyday listing.

I found the Jabra - Elite 4 Active True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear headphones to be essentially excellent. As you can see, they are meant to be a stable, comfortable, fixed in the ear application, not wrap around the neck nor wrap around the ear wire style. They have various sound modes such as active noise cancellation, ANC hear through, or off, and equalizer control with the app and other controls accessed by tap on the ear bud. The box contents include the ear buds, the storage case that can charge them without connection to some outside charging source, ie., wall outlet, computer, or portable charging, the USB cord, 3 different-sized ear tips, and brief getting started instructions. These earbuds will flash various colors-green for charge, red for need to charge, blue for Bluetooth pair connection, and purple for software/firmware update-they pair to the Jabra app for download. My ear buds came with some charge so I was able to get going right out of the box. By the way, the charging case is tiny, 2 1/4" L, 1 1/2" H, and 7/8" D, easy peasy to carry in pockets, purse, or any fanny pack, it measures. Novices to this style need not worry as the ear buds are labeled next to the magnetic piece on the back side with a R, for right, and a L, for left, ear. The magnetic sensors literally snap them into their case so that they appropriately sync/attach to the case for charging. Their claim to fame is immersive sound with great comfort and I agree with that. Tap and/or push on the right/left ear bud to adjust what ever it is you want to do, whether it is volume up or down or advance or go back. By the way, when I got a telephone call the ear buds automatically turned off whatever it was that I was listening to and with me tap to answer my phone, there it went-phone calls are seamless and the built-in mic allows the user to have a perfect, static free conversation with the person on the call without yelling, etc., and the phone caller hears really has no idea that the user is conducting their call using these ear buds. Just to note, the volume can be controlled either on the buds or your phone, and the Jabra app controls sound modes-ANC, hear through, or off, music equalizer, and music presets (see attached screenshots). Actually, I only found 1 negative with these. I am someone that needs to go to sleep with either the read of a book, a TV on timer or listening to something on earphones Bluetoothed to my phone. However, my husband wants dark and no sound so in order to accommodate him, I usually listen to something on my wrap around the neck earphones. I tried to substitute these ear phones for that purpose. As a side sleeper, they are comfortable enough to be in the ear while sleeping and I would put the right one in if I was sleeping on my left side, but invariably, the ear bud would dislodge itself during my course of sleep. I have not had them that long and will continue to work with the different shed tips to see if I get a better fit, but I do not believe this was one of the applications Jabra engineers intended when they were designing these. Overall, in my opinion, these are moderately-priced for the comfort, quality of sound, and the extensive features that they can utilize by the user.

I just picked up these Jabra Elite 4 Active earbuds and so far, I love them. These earbuds have been perfect for running on the road as well as in the woods, rain, or shine. For earbuds, they come with a lot of helpful features. I like the HearThrough hearing option as you can hear your surroundings when listening to music, this makes exercising outside a whole lot safer. I was a little surprised at first when I found out the buds have an actual button on each of the buds instead of a heat sensor-style button. At first, I was skeptical, but the buttons are easy to press and are in a natural position, this type of button also helps reduce accidental button presses from rain, or when wiping sweat away, turns out I really enjoyed that feature. These earbuds come with three different size rubber earpieces, so you get the best sealed fit for the best sound quality. The fitment is great and once they are in your ears they almost disappear, and you can’t feel them even being there. the app must be downloaded with these earbuds, there are so many awesome features that come along with the app. For starters, you can program the button on the buds to do many different things, such as track forward or back, volume control, Spotify control, play, pause, and set up what type of voice assistance you want to use, I chose Alexa. Along with button configuration, the app is where you can toggle Active Noise Canceling (ANC), HearThrough, equalizer, or even Hands-Free Voice Control! This app has so many options to improve the listening experience. Another great feature is that these earbuds can find your earbuds if they are lost with “Find My Jabra”, this feature calms my nerves about losing the little case. The app gives so much customization and really helps these earbuds come to life the way you want them to, the app is very intuitive and easy to use. These new Jabra elite 4 earbuds have up to 7 hours of battery life before needing to go back in the case. Making phone calls while using these earbuds is clear on both ends because they have 4 microphones built-in, and they work flawlessly. These earbuds can also be set up as a remote control for a Jabra video conferencing device. Lots of neat features with these buds. The case is small and discrete, allows 28 hours of battery life, and even has USB-C with quick charge! I love that the case comes with a USB type C connector cable, although it is not Qi/wireless charging compatible. The look of these earbuds is great, but the purpose they serve is far greater. The buds are sweat and water-resistant with an IP57 rating. The sound quality is fantastic, and I am surprised how well they hit. I won’t recommend these earbuds to an audiophile or wanting superior sound, but for exercising and being capable of hearing your surroundings, these are fantastic. Overall, I am pleased with these earbuds, and I pack them with me wherever I go, the Gym, weekend backpacking trips, work, everywhere.

I've been using the Jabra Elite 4 earbuds for the last 4 days and I have really been enjoying them. They were pretty easy to set up and connect to my iPhone. I highly recommend that you download the Jabra app for it. It will allow you to update the firmware (The earbuds have updated twice in the last week). You can also adjust how strong the active noise cancelling is with the app, and adjust the EQ to your liking. So far the Neutral and Energize presets are my favorite. "Neutral" sounds pretty balanced and "Energize" has deeper bass while raising highs also so that the bass doesn't drown out trebles and highs. I really like that setting for Electronic, Metal and Rock music. These earbuds have become my gym buddies. I usually workout for about 2 hours when I go to the gym and battery life lasts the whole workout, and the noise cancelling is a great feature to have for the gym. It helps keep out the loud sounds you always hear in a gym. And if you want to lower or turn off the noise cancelling so that you can hear your surroundings, you can! Jabra says that these earbuds are dust and water / sweat resistant. I have not tried using them out in the rain, or dunking them in water ( I would not advise you try that) But they surely have not been damaged by my sweat. I have medium length hair currently and my sweat does drip down to my ears currently. The earbuds are very comfortable for extended periods and the standard rubber tips fit my ears perfect. They come with 2 extra sets of rubber tips. A size smaller and a size larger. I don't know if I would call myself an audiophile but I am definitely a bit of an earbud / headphone junky. I love buying and trying out new earbuds and headphones often. That being said.. I would say that the sound quality of the Jabra Elite 4 exceeded my expectations. They have a nice warm and punchy tone. Bass sounds good and thumps just enough to get your adrenaline going. Mids and Highs are well tuned out of the box. And if you don't like the out of the box sound, you can easily adjust the EQ to your preference with the mobile App. I listen to everything from Spanish rock, to classical and metal, and these earbuds can handle it all nicely. Battery life on the earbuds and charging case is excellent, they will definitely get you through at least 2 maybe even 3 days of heavy use before needing to charge the case. If you're just a casual user, you'll probably be able to go a week without charging the case. Would I recommend these? For sure. The case is very nice and compact, the earbuds are very comfortable in my ears and sound quality and active noise cancelling are quite good.

I have been enjoying these buds for the past week in various activities, some sweaty and some not, and find them a joy to use. Out of the box, the buds had enough charge on them to get them set up and operating, but after a week of use, when the Jabra app offered a firmware upgrade, neither the buds nor the charging base had enough juice to allow me to start the download. I have continued to use them to listen to music without issue until I have a chance to charge them back up to complete the firmware upgrade. Based on my experience, you will easily get the promised seven hours of listening, and up to 28 hours if you include the charging case. Put the buds back in the charger for a quick charge, and you are fully charged after an hour. The buds are sweatproof with IP57 durability. This doesn't mean you can use them while swimming, but even the most strenuous workout should not harm them. I liked the way these buds firmly seated in my ears. They are not likely to come out with any excercise activity. But although the box advertises "punchy bass", my experience shows you will have to work to get that. I was alarmed at how tinny the buds sounded when I first placed them in my ears. You have to twist them for the best seal, and the sweet spot is quite critical. I enhanced the bass further by using an equalization profile for extra bass. With those adjustments, the sound was just fine. The effectiveness of the active noise cancellation is very difficult to evaluate. I have not used another ANC device, so I don't have a basis of comparison. The app has three settings: Off, On and Hear Through. The default is off. If you are doing something (like jogging or running) where you NEED to hear surrounding sounds I would think off would be the preferred setting. Hear through is designed to let more of the sounds around you be heard, with some ANC. With ANC on, I thought I could perceive less background noise. I certainly could not hear the robot vaccum in the next room, but I could hear it when it got into my vicinity. I do wish I had been able to test the ANC in flight, where I suspect it would be most effective. Alas, I am not flying in the near future. I did notice an asterick by the ANC feature on the box that the "hear through" is adjustable after a firmware upgrade. I look foward to that enhancement. I reccomend these buds for those in the active life. With or without the ANC, they offer good sound and durablity for the price point.

I go thru headphones at the gym pretty fast. I either break them or lose them. These so far have had very good sound. You get 3 sets of ear pieces to find a better fit. There is a lost headphones feature, but only for when the headphones are in the case. It is super accurate though. Pros: walking around the gym, these do not drop out with a bunch or other people using Bluetooth headphones. Very nice equalizer The voice on zoom calls was very good IP57 rated, so get them wet. Do not swim in them. A 2 year warranty can come in handy. USB-C charging is the way to go Cons super top heavy and fall out when my ears get wet. the control buttons are in the same place to push the headphones back in my ears ANC did nothing for me at the gym. firmware updates take a long time. no wireless charging

The in-ear headphone is very light and simple to operate from the hardware itself. It has the active noise cancelling that can be controlled via appikcation, and from the heaphone itself as well. It is easy to connect with the phone and also verified its connection with garmin watch being able to listen and control via watch. On the sound note, it is quite immersive as listen to the music, and it can be controlled the equalizer from the application. The only downside I noticed is the use of the controls on the headphone I have to push too much against to my ear. In short, it is good and affordable headphone with good number of features via application.