JBL Live Beam 3
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 896637-0020
What Buyers Say
JBL Live Beam 3
The JBL Live Beam 3 earbuds receive largely positive feedback for their excellent sound quality, deep bass, and innovative charging case with a touchscreen that allows control without a phone. Users appreciate the customizable EQ, effective noise cancellation, and comfortable fit, though some note the ANC is not the best and the case battery life could be better. However, a significant minority report severe issues with firmware updates causing one earbud to stop working, poor customer support, and bugs like random reconnection or settings resetting, leading to a strong warning against purchase.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Deep and rich bass
- Innovative touchscreen charging case
- Customizable EQ via app
- Effective noise cancellation
Cons
- Firmware update failures causing earbud malfunction
- Poor customer support
- Case battery life subpar
- ANC not the best
- Bugs like random reconnection and settings reset
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 896637-0020
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) receive mostly positive feedback for their excellent noise cancellation, sound quality, and comfortable fit. Users appreciate the customizable EQ, sweat resistance, and long battery life, though some report issues with build quality, occasional disconnections, and a beeping sound. Overall, they are considered a strong competitor to AirPods Pro, especially for home use and workouts.
Pros
- Excellent noise cancellation
- Great sound quality
- Comfortable fit
- Customizable EQ
- Sweat resistant
Cons
- Build quality issues (plastic case)
- Occasional disconnections
- Beeping sound reported
- Not waterproof
- Heavier than AirPods Pro
Scores
Specifications
| JBL Live Beam 3 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra 896637-0020 | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless | true wireless |
| Ear Tips | XS, S, M, L | Small, Medium, Large |
| Weight | 0.08 kg | 0.08 kg★ |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 10 mm★ | — |
| Drivers | 1 | 1 |
| Freq Min | 20 Hz★ | — |
| Freq Max | 40 kHz★ | — |
| Impedance | 16 Ω | — |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB★ | — |
| Max SPL | 96 dB★ | — |
| Hi-Res Audio | ✓ | ✓ |
| Codecs | JBL Live Beam 3 - True Wireless Noise-Cancelling Closed-Stick Earbuds, 48Hrs Total Playback, Wireless Charging, 6 Mics for Perfect Calls, Multi-Point Connection, IP55 Waterproof and dustproof | aptX Adaptive |
| Surround | — | Spatial Audio |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓ | ✓ |
| ANC Type | adaptive | adaptive |
| Transparency | ✓ | ✓ |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Profiles | A2DP 1.4, AVRCP, HFP 1.8 | A2DP, HFP |
| Multipoint | ✓ | ✓ |
| Range | 10.100000381469727 m★ | 9.100000381469727 m |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 12 hrs★ | 6 hrs |
| Charge Time | 2 hrs★ | 3 hrs |
| Fast Charging | 10min=4hrs | 20 Minutes for 2 Hours |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Case Battery | ||
| Case Battery | 36 hrs★ | 18 hrs |
| Case Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Wireless Charging | ✓ | ✓ |
| Capacity | 68 mAh★ | — |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mic Count | 6★ | 4 |
| NC Mic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa | Siri, Google Assistant |
| Touch Controls | ✓ | ✓ |
| App | JBL Headphones | Bose app |
| Volume Limiting | — | ✗ |
| Gaming Mode | ✗ | ✗ |
| Bone Conduction | ✗ | ✗ |
| Water Resistance | IP55 | IPX4 |
Pros & Cons
JBL Live Beam 3
- Strong connectivity (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong mic (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong anc (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong build (91st percentile)91st %ile
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 896637-0020
- Strong connectivity (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong anc (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong sound (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong mic (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
Pricing
Verdict
Scores 88 overall, wins 4 of 7 usage categories and 1 of 41 specs.
