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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for superior comfort during extended use and better microphone quality for calls and meetings, the JLab JBuds Work Wireless are a strong choice, and they also provide good battery life. On the other hand, the Apple AirPods Pro offer better portability, active noise cancellation for quieter listening experiences, and are optimized for Apple devices, which can be a deciding factor if you're already in the Apple ecosystem. The AirPods Pro are pricier, so if cost is a concern and you don't need the active noise cancellation, JLab's option may better suit your wallet and needs. 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 Pro
Excellent for air travel
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the JLab JBuds Work Wireless
Very good for gaming
Good for TV and video
Key differences
Gaming
5.1/10
8.8/10
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is very good for gaming, while the Apple Airpods Pro is poor.
TV and Video
5.7/10
7.9/10
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods Pro is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1/10
5.3/10
The Apple Airpods Pro is excellent for noise reduction, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is poor.
Battery
5.0 Hours
60.0 Hours
The Apple Airpods Pro has 5 hours of battery life. The JLab JBuds Work Wireless has 60 hours of battery life.
Cost
$260
$79
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Apple Airpods Pro has a price of $260 and the JLab JBuds Work Wireless costs $79.
The Apple Airpods Pro and JLab JBuds Work Wireless are both only fair for music.
Phone Calls
7.4/10
7.3/10
The Apple Airpods Pro and JLab JBuds Work Wireless are both good for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.3/10
7.9/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple Airpods Pro to be very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good.
Build Quality
9.0/10
9.0/10
The Apple Airpods Pro and JLab JBuds Work Wireless both have excellent build quality.
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How the Apple Airpods Pro and the JLab JBuds Work Wireless compare to other earbuds and headphones
"For just $50 USD more than the original model with the wireless charging case, this is definitely the pair of buds to get. The AirPods Pro (1st generation) sounds better than the originals and has a way better fit and active noise canceling to boot. If you have an iOS device, just get this."
"The JLab JBuds Work is an affordable headset-headphone hybrid that you can use to listen to music in stereo and communicate on video calls thanks to a retractable boom mic, and we particularly like its convenient mono and passive wired modes. You won't find any frills here like you will with the costlier Jabra Evolve2 65 or Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC, but for less than half the price, the JBuds Work is an effective lower-cost alternative."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Pro or the JLab JBuds Work Wireless
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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We're constantly perfecting our model
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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.