JBL Vibe Beam 2

Great bass, solid ANC, and a battery that refuses to die. Too bad the touch controls and call quality are stuck in 2018.

Here's what surprised us: the ANC is no joke. In our testing, these little guys blocked out more cafe chatter than some buds costing twice as much. But the moment you need to take a call, the mic picks up every background noise and makes you sound like you're in a wind tunnel. That's the trade-off: great passive listening, lousy active talking.

Put these next to the EarFun Air Pro 4+ and it's a pick-your-poison scenario. The JBL wins on bass punch and battery stamina, while the EarFun delivers clearer calls and a more reliable touch experience. The Nothing Ear (a) costs more but gives you a more refined sound and better ANC. The JBL holds its own as a budget champ, but you have to forgive its social skills. If you're shopping higher up the ladder, the Technics EAH-AZ100, Sony WF-1000XM6, and Apple AirPods Pro 3 are all in a different league, but they cost several times more. The Soundcore P31i is the closest budget rival, trading some bass energy for cleaner call quality.

If you catch these at the lower end of their $40-$100 range, they're a steal. The sound, ANC, and battery are wildly good for the price. But as you creep toward $100, competitors like the EarFun Air Pro 4+ offer better call quality and controls for similar money. At $50, buy with confidence; at $90, think twice.

The JBL Vibe Beam 2 are the kind of earbuds that make you smile at the sound and scowl at the controls. You get rich, punchy bass, surprisingly effective ANC, and a battery that just won't quit — all for well under a hundred bucks. But the touch controls are so twitchy they'll pause your music every time you adjust a bud, and call quality is bad enough that you'll dread answering the phone. Still, for casual listening on a budget, they're a solid pick if you can live with the quirks.

If you take frequent calls or need reliable touch controls, these aren't for you. Pick up the EarFun Air Pro 4+ or Samsung Galaxy Buds FE instead — they handle voice and taps much better.

The JBL Vibe Beam 2 are a budget banger for music lovers who don't take many calls. The sound is lively, the ANC works, and the battery lasts forever. Just be ready to curse the touch controls and warn your callers. If you can handle that, they're a great buy.