The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize premium build quality, excellent noise isolation, and superior overall sound quality for music and air travel, Apple AirPods Max are the better choice. However, they might not be the best for gaming or watching TV due to latency issues, and they're considerably heavier. On the other hand, JLab Go Air Sport earbuds are much more affordable and are a great choice for exercise with their sweatproof certification and secure fit with ear hooks. They have good mic and build quality but fall short in sound quality across various contents and do not offer noise cancellation. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Airpods Max
Good for music
Excellent for air travel
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Jlab Go Air Sport
Very good for exercise
Key differences
Music
7.3/10
5.6/10
The Apple Airpods Max is good for music, while the Jlab Go Air Sport is poor.
Phone Calls
6.6/10
5.2/10
The Apple Airpods Max is only fair for phone calls, while the Jlab Go Air Sport is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.0/10
5.6/10
The Apple Airpods Max is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Jlab Go Air Sport is poor.
Noise Reduction
10.0/10
6.0/10
The Apple Airpods Max is best in class for noise reduction, while the Jlab Go Air Sport is only fair.
Battery
21.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple Airpods Max has 21 hours of battery life. The Jlab Go Air Sport has 8 hours of battery life.
Cost
$549
$30
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Apple Airpods Max has a price of $549 and the Jlab Go Air Sport costs $30.
Build Quality
9.0/10
8.0/10
The Apple Airpods Max has excellent build quality, while the Jlab Go Air Sport has very good build quality.
"Objectively, the AirPods Max is a spectacular pair of headphones. I appreciate the smart features like auto-pause and the transparency mode are super practical. It also sounds great, is well-built, and has solid battery life."
"If you want seriously bass-forward earphones for the gym, you'll be hard-pressed to find a pair more affordable than the JLab Go Air Sport. We like their long battery life and solid water-resistance rating, though we aren’t fans of their finicky on-ear controls and the case’s hardwired charging cable."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Max or the Jlab Go Air Sport
About Apple
Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.