JLab Jbuds Pods EBJBPODSRBLK124
Sony PULSE Explore 1000044170
What Buyers Say
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
Sony PULSE Explore 1000044170
The Sony Pulse Explore earbuds receive mixed feedback. Users praise the stylish design, comfortable fit, and long battery life, with some calling them a game-changer for gaming. However, complaints about frequent disconnections, mediocre sound quality compared to the Pulse Elite, and discomfort for some users are common. The proprietary PS Link dongle and inability to use generic earbuds are also criticized.
Pros
- Stylish design
- Comfortable fit
- Long battery life
- Great for gaming
- Easy pairing with PS5
Cons
- Frequent disconnections
- Mediocre sound quality vs Pulse Elite
- Uncomfortable for some users
- Proprietary PS Link dongle
- Cannot use generic earbuds
Scores
Specifications
| JLab Jbuds Pods EBJBPODSRBLK124 | Sony PULSE Explore 1000044170 | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | stem | true wireless |
| Ear Tips | 3 sets of gel tips | three extra pairs |
| Weight | 0.12 kg★ | — |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | planar magnetic |
| 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★ | 5.0 |
| Multipoint | ✓ | ✓ |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 10 hrs★ | 5 hrs |
| Charge Time | 0.16699999570846558 hrs★ | — |
| Fast Charging | 10 min for 2 hours playback | — |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Case Battery | ||
| Case Battery | 56 hrs★ | 10 hrs |
| Case Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Wireless Charging | ✓ | ✓ |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mic Count | 6★ | 2 |
| NC Mic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | Google Assistant | — |
| Touch Controls | ✓★ | ✗ |
| App | Jlab App | — |
| Gaming Mode | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bone Conduction | ✗ | ✗ |
| Water Resistance | IP55 | — |
Pros & Cons
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
Sony PULSE Explore 1000044170
- Strong mic (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Strong connectivity (74th percentile)
- Strong social proof (73rd percentile)
- Below average battery (10th percentile)10th %ile
- Below average comfort (29th percentile)
- Below average anc (31st percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (33rd percentile)
Pricing
JLab Jbuds Pods EBJBPODSRBLK124 offers 5.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 87 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 13 of 33 specs.
