JBL Tune 245NC

The JBL Tune 245NC true wireless earbuds deliver excellent ANC, strong battery life, and clear calls at a budget price. But the sound quality is a major weak point, ranking near the bottom of our database. Buy them for features, not for music.

Let's talk numbers. The ANC on these things is genuinely impressive, landing in the 97th percentile. That's best-in-class territory for this price bracket. You'll notice it on buses, trains, or just drowning out office chatter. The mic setup with 4 mics and noise cancellation ranks in the 92nd percentile, so calls come through clear on both ends. Connectivity is also strong at the 91st percentile, and Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint means you can hop between your laptop and phone without re-pairing. That's a real quality of life win.

Battery life is another bright spot. JBL claims 12 hours on the earbuds with ANC off and 36 more in the case, totaling 48 hours. With ANC on, you're looking at 10 hours plus 30 in the case. A 15 minute quick charge gets you 4 hours of playback. That's well above average, sitting in the 89th percentile. But the sound quality is the elephant in the room. The 6mm dynamic drivers push JBL's Pure Bass tuning, and our data puts the overall sound at the 6th percentile. That's one of the worst we've seen. The bass is there, but it's muddy and bloated, and the mids and highs get lost in the mix. If you're a bass head, you might forgive it. If you want clarity, you won't.

Stacked against the Sony WF-C700N, the JBL Tune 245NC actually holds its own on ANC and battery. Sony's earbuds are more comfortable and sound noticeably better, but they cost more. The Soundcore P31i is a closer price match and offers a more balanced sound profile, though its ANC isn't as strong. The EarFun Air Pro 4+ is another budget contender with better audio tuning and similar battery claims, but the JBL wins on call quality. The Anker Space A40 is probably the biggest threat. It has better sound, similar ANC performance, and a more comfortable fit, often at a similar price. The Nothing Ear (3) is a step up in price but delivers much better audio and a more premium feel. If sound quality matters, any of these alternatives beat the JBL. If you prioritize ANC and battery above all else, the Tune 245NC is competitive.

At $50 to $60, the JBL Tune 245NC is priced aggressively for what it offers on the feature side. You're getting ANC, multipoint, solid battery life, and decent call quality. That's a lot of functionality for the money. But the sound quality is a real compromise. If you care about how your music actually sounds, you might feel shortchanged. The price spread across vendors is small, just $10 between the two US listings, so shop around a bit. Best Buy has it at the lower end of that range, and they offer price matching if you find it cheaper elsewhere. For the feature set alone, it's a decent deal. For audio quality, it's a harder sell.

The JBL Tune 245NC sits in that crowded true wireless earbuds space where everyone's fighting for your pocket money, and honestly, it's a weird mix of hits and misses. You get active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint, and a battery that stretches to 48 hours total with the case. That's a lot of spec sheet for the price, which lands around $50 to $60 depending on where you look. But the sound signature is where things get interesting, and not always in a good way.

People searching for budget noise cancelling earbuds will find these pop up a lot, and the user sentiment is genuinely strong. Owners love the battery, the mic quality for calls, and the fit once they get it dialed in. But our database tells a different story on the audio side. The sound quality ranks in the 6th percentile, which is rough. That means most earbuds we've tested sound better. So you're getting great ANC and battery, but the actual music reproduction is a weak spot.

So is the JBL Tune 245NC good for everyday use? For calls, commutes, and podcasts, yeah, it's solid. For critical music listening, you'll probably want to look elsewhere. The gap between what users say and what our measurements show is the real story here.

Skip the JBL Tune 245NC if sound quality is your top priority. The bass-heavy tuning and muddy mids make these a poor choice for critical listening or genres that rely on clarity like classical, jazz, or acoustic music. If you have smaller ears or struggle with earbud fit, the comfort issues reported by some users might be a problem. Audiophiles on a budget should look at the Anker Space A40 or EarFun Air Pro 4+ instead, both of which offer better audio tuning at a similar price. And if you want a more premium build, the Nothing Ear (3) is worth the extra cash.

Should you buy the JBL Tune 245NC? It depends on what you value. If you want strong ANC, long battery life, and clear calls without spending much, this is a solid pick. The feature set punches above its price. But if you're buying earbuds primarily for music, the sound quality is a dealbreaker. The bass-heavy tuning and muddy mids make it hard to recommend for anyone who cares about audio fidelity.

For commuters and office workers who mostly listen to podcasts or take calls, the Tune 245NC makes a lot of sense. The ANC is genuinely good, and the battery means you won't be reaching for the charger often. Just don't expect these to replace a decent pair of wired IEMs or pricier wireless buds for music listening. The user reviews are positive, and for the average person, that might be enough. But our data says you can do better on sound without spending much more.