JBL Sense Pro

The JBL Sense Pro is an open-ear true wireless earbud with a killer 38-hour battery and LDAC high-res audio, both rare in this category. Build quality and connectivity are below average, and the fitness score is the weakest area despite the open design. At BRL 834, it's a niche pick for open-ear fans who prioritize battery life and codec support over polish. If you need isolation or premium build, look elsewhere.

Let's start with the headline number: battery. The Sense Pro sits in the 99th percentile for battery life in our database, which is about as good as it gets. JBL claims 38 hours total with the case, and that puts it ahead of nearly everything else we've tested in this category. For open-ear buds that people tend to wear all day, that's a genuine selling point. You're looking at multiple workdays or a full week of commutes before you need to think about the charging case. And when you do, it's USB-C or Qi wireless, so you've got options.

Sound quality lands at the 89th percentile, which is strong for an open-ear design. LDAC support means you're getting up to three times the data throughput of standard Bluetooth, and that matters more here than on sealed buds because open-ear drivers have to work harder to sound full. The dynamic driver paired with JBL Spatial Sound gives the audio a wider, more immersive presentation than you'd expect from something that doesn't seal. But keep expectations realistic: open-ear buds physically cannot deliver the same low-end punch as in-ear models. The bass is present but polite, and if you're a basshead, you'll notice the difference immediately. The mic setup is also a standout at the 92nd percentile, with four mics and beamforming doing solid work for calls, though our call quality score of 44.2 out of 100 suggests real-world performance doesn't fully match the marketing promise.

Stacked against the Technics EAH-AZ100, the Sense Pro wins on battery life but loses on build quality and overall polish. Technics has a reputation for meticulous construction, and our data shows the Sense Pro's build sitting well below average. The Sony WF-1000XM6 is a different beast entirely, it's a sealed design with class-leading ANC, so it's not a direct comparison, but if you're spending this kind of money and don't need open-ear, Sony gives you far more isolation and a more premium feel.

The Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation is the elephant in the room. Again, sealed design with excellent ANC and seamless ecosystem integration. The Sense Pro's open-ear approach is fundamentally different, so it comes down to whether you want to hear your surroundings or block them out. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra also outclasses the JBL on build and ANC, though it can't touch the 38-hour battery. The Soundcore P31i is the budget alternative, likely undercutting the JBL on price while offering decent performance, but without the LDAC support or the battery bragging rights.

Pricing is tricky here because we only have one listing at BRL 834 in Brazil, and no other currency data to compare against. That's a mid-to-premium price point for true wireless earbuds, and it puts the Sense Pro in a weird spot. You're paying for the battery life and the LDAC support, but you're also accepting below-average build quality and connectivity scores. For the same money, you could get sealed earbuds with better sound isolation and more polished construction.

The value equation really depends on how much you value the open-ear format specifically. If that's a must-have, the Sense Pro's battery and audio codec support make it one of the more compelling options in the category. If you're flexible on form factor, there are better-built, better-connected earbuds at this price. The lack of social proof also means you're taking a bit of a gamble, there aren't thousands of reviews out there to validate the experience.

JBL's Sense Pro is an open-ear true wireless earbud that tries to split the difference between hearing your music and hearing the world around you. No silicone tips jammed into your ear canal, no active noise cancellation trying to seal you off from everything. Just a driver resting near your ear, pumping out sound while your surroundings stay audible. It's a design philosophy that's gained traction with runners, cyclists, and anyone who hates that plugged-up feeling. And JBL is coming in hot with some serious spec sheet firepower: LDAC high-res audio, Bluetooth 6.0, and a frankly absurd 38 hours of battery from the buds plus case.

The target audience here is pretty specific. If you want maximum isolation and thumping bass, these aren't your earbuds. But if you're someone who wears earbuds all day at a desk, needs to hear a coworker or a kid calling your name, or wants music during outdoor workouts without losing situational awareness, the open-ear format makes a lot of sense. JBL is positioning this as a premium take on that concept, with spatial audio and beamforming mics to sweeten the deal.

What makes the Sense Pro interesting is how aggressively it pushes the open-ear category forward on the tech side. Most open-ear buds settle for basic SBC or AAC codecs and middling battery life. JBL threw LDAC, wireless charging, and a four-mic AI call setup into the mix. Whether that tech actually translates to a better experience is what we're here to figure out. Our database has some strong opinions on where this thing lands, and not all of them are flattering.

If you want active noise cancellation, skip these. The ANC score sits at the 31st percentile, which means it's barely there. Open-ear designs inherently let sound in, so even the best ANC implementation would struggle, and JBL didn't exactly push the envelope here. Look at the Sony WF-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra if blocking out the world is your priority.

Bass lovers should also steer clear. The open-ear format means no seal, and no seal means weak low-end. If you listen to hip-hop, EDM, or anything bass-forward, you'll be disappointed. Sealed earbuds like the Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation will give you the thump you're after. And if build quality matters to you, the 34th percentile score is a red flag, you can find more solidly constructed earbuds at this price point.

If you're committed to the open-ear format and battery life is your top priority, the JBL Sense Pro is worth a serious look. The 38-hour total runtime is genuinely impressive, and LDAC support means you're not sacrificing audio quality the way you would with most open-ear buds. The mic setup is also solid for calls, which matters if you're wearing these during work hours. Just know that you're accepting below-average build quality and connectivity, and the fitness score is disappointing for a design that seems aimed at active users.

For everyone else, think hard about whether open-ear is really what you want. If you need noise isolation, strong bass, or a premium build, the Sony WF-1000XM6 or Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation will serve you better at a similar price. The Sense Pro is a niche product that nails its niche in some ways and fumbles it in others. It's not a bad earbud, but it's a specific one, and you need to be the right buyer for it to make sense.