JBL TUNE T110

The JBL TUNE 110 ranks in the 90th percentile for sound and the 95th for comfort, which is wild for a 12 USD pair of wired earbuds. The calls score of 23.7 is rough, and connectivity sits near the bottom at the 13th percentile. If you want cheap, great-sounding earbuds for music only, these are a steal. If you need to take calls, skip them.

Let's talk about that sound score first, because it's the headline. The TUNE 110 ranks in the 90th percentile for sound quality, which puts it ahead of most earbuds in our database, including plenty that cost five or ten times more. The 9mm dynamic drivers cover a 20Hz to 20kHz range and the 16Ω impedance means they're easy to drive from basically any phone or laptop. The bass is the star here, deep and punchy without completely drowning out the mids. It's the kind of tuning that makes pop, hip-hop, and electronic music feel alive.

Comfort is even better, landing in the 95th percentile. At 13g, these are light enough to forget you're wearing them, and the in-ear fit stays put during a commute or a workout. The mic performance is where things get rough. The 40th percentile mic ranking translates to muffled, distant-sounding calls. The single-button remote works for play/pause and answering calls, but the actual call quality is mediocre at best. And the build quality sits at the 34th percentile, so don't expect these to survive years of daily abuse.

Against the Sony WI-C100, the TUNE 110 actually holds its own on sound, with both landing in strong territory. But the Sony has better build quality and a more reliable mic, which matters if you take calls. The Anker Space A40 and Soundcore P31i are wireless with ANC, so they're playing a different game entirely, though they cost significantly more. The Baseus Bass BP1 Pro is the closest competitor in spirit, another budget wired option with bass-heavy tuning, but the JBL edges it out on comfort. The TOZO Crystal Pods offer wireless convenience at a similar budget price, but you're trading away the 90th percentile sound for that freedom. If pure audio quality per dollar is your metric, the TUNE 110 wins. If you need calls, wireless, or durability, look elsewhere.

At 12 USD in the US, the TUNE 110 is basically an impulse buy. You're getting sound quality that ranks in the 90th percentile for less than the cost of a fast food meal for two. The CAD price of 15 is similarly reasonable. But then you look at the EUR price of 79 in Germany and it all falls apart. At that price, you're paying nearly seven times the US cost for the same plastic earbuds with a mediocre mic and bottom-tier connectivity. If you can get these for 12 to 15 in your local currency, the value is hard to beat. If you're looking at the 79 EUR listing, run.

The JBL TUNE 110 sits at a weird crossroads. On one hand, the sound quality lands in the 90th percentile and comfort hits the 95th, which is frankly absurd for a pair of wired earbuds that costs around 12 USD in the US. On the other hand, the overall score of 38.3 out of 100 tells you this thing has some serious gaps. The calls score of 23.7 is the weakest area by a mile, and the connectivity ranking is near the bottom of our database at the 13th percentile. You're getting a very specific tool here, not an all-rounder.

But here's the thing. If you just want cheap earbuds that sound good and feel fine in your ears, the TUNE 110 delivers where it counts. The 9mm dynamic drivers push out that JBL Pure Bass signature, and the 13g weight means you'll barely notice them. The tangle-free flat cable is a nice touch too. Just don't expect to take calls on these without some frustration.

If you take phone calls regularly, the TUNE 110 will frustrate you. The calls score of 23.7 is the weakest area by a wide margin, and the mic ranking in the 40th percentile means your voice will sound distant and muddy to whoever's on the other end. The build quality at the 34th percentile is another reason to skip if you're hard on your gear. And if you're shopping in a region where these cost 79 EUR, the value proposition completely collapses. At that price, you can get wireless earbuds with better mics, better build, and actual connectivity features.

The JBL TUNE 110 is a one-trick pony, but it's a really good trick. The 90th percentile sound and 95th percentile comfort at a 12 USD price point make these an easy recommendation for anyone who just wants decent wired earbuds for music. The 23.7 calls score and 13th percentile connectivity are dealbreakers if you need a headset for work or frequent phone calls. But as a backup pair, a gym pair, or a cheap way to get good sound, the TUNE 110 delivers more than it has any right to.