Plugfones Guardian EX1
JLab Jbuds Pods EBJBPODSRBLK124
What Buyers Say
Plugfones Guardian EX1
The Plugfones are a budget-friendly hybrid of earplugs and earbuds, praised for comfort, decent sound, and effective noise reduction in moderate environments. However, some users report durability issues like foam tips breaking off in the ear, and the noise blocking may not suffice for extremely loud settings. The loose audio jack is a minor but recurring annoyance.
Pros
- Comfortable for long wear
- Decent sound quality for price
- Effective noise reduction in moderate noise
- Discreet design for workplace use
- Comes with carrying case
Cons
- Foam tips may break off in ear
- Noise reduction insufficient for very loud environments
- Loose audio jack causes intermittent sound
- No microphone or volume control
- Low-end bass not prominent
JLab Jbuds Pods EBJBPODSRBLK124
The JLab JBuds Pods ANC earbuds are highly praised for their excellent value, offering a rich feature set at a budget-friendly price. Users consistently highlight the comfortable fit, long battery life, and good sound quality, though some note the ANC is decent but not top-tier. The JLab app adds customization options like EQ and touch controls, and features like wireless charging and multipoint Bluetooth are well-received. A few users mention the need to select the right ear tips for optimal sound and a minor app pairing quirk.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Comfortable fit
- Long battery life
- Good sound quality
- Wireless charging support
Cons
- ANC is decent but not top-tier
- Earbuds may fall out during activity
- App pairing quirk on iPhone
- Short USB-C cable included
- Need to select correct ear tips for optimal sound
Scores
Specifications
| Plugfones Guardian EX1 | JLab Jbuds Pods EBJBPODSRBLK124 | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | — | stem |
| Ear Tips | — | 3 sets of gel tips |
| Weight | 0.04 kg★ | 0.12 kg |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | hybrid | dynamic |
| Driver Size | — | 11 mm★ |
| Drivers | — | 1★ |
| Freq Min | — | 20 Hz★ |
| Freq Max | — | 20 kHz★ |
| Hi-Res Audio | — | ✗ |
| Codecs | — | SBC, AAC |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓ | ✓ |
| ANC Type | — | hybrid |
| Transparency | — | ✓★ |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Bluetooth | — | 5.4★ |
| Multipoint | — | ✓★ |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | — | 10 hrs★ |
| Charge Time | — | 0.16699999570846558 hrs★ |
| Fast Charging | — | 10 min for 2 hours playback |
| Charging | — | USB-C★ |
| Case Battery | ||
| Case Battery | — | 56 hrs★ |
| Case Charging | — | USB-C★ |
| Wireless Charging | — | ✓★ |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | — | ✓★ |
| Mic Count | — | 6★ |
| NC Mic | — | ✓★ |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | — | Google Assistant |
| Touch Controls | — | ✓★ |
| App | — | Jlab App |
| Gaming Mode | — | ✓★ |
| Bone Conduction | — | ✗ |
| Water Resistance | — | IP55 |
Pros & Cons
Plugfones Guardian EX1
- Strong anc (73rd percentile)
- Strong social proof (73rd percentile)
- Strong comfort (72nd percentile)
- Below average mic (12th percentile)12th %ile
- Below average connectivity (12th percentile)12th %ile
- Below average build (34th percentile)
JLab Jbuds Pods EBJBPODSRBLK124
- Strong mic (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong connectivity (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong battery (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong anc (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
Pricing
Plugfones Guardian EX1
No current pricing available
JLab Jbuds Pods EBJBPODSRBLK124
Verdict
Scores 87 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 19 of 33 specs.
