The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize comfort and you're using your earbuds in environments where you'll engage in a lot of calls or meetings, the JLab JBuds Work Wireless would be the better choice; they also have a longer battery life and come with a cable for wired use if needed. However, if you need earbuds that are optimized for exercise with a secure fit thanks to ear hooks, the Beats Powerbeats Pro are sweatproof and offer this feature, though they tend to be more expensive. The Beats provide a more immersive music listening experience, but may not be the best for TV due to latency. Neither have active noise cancelling, but if sound isolation is important, the JLab options have a slightly better score in this area. 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 Beats Powerbeats Pro
Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the JLab JBuds Work Wireless
Very good for gaming
Good for TV and video
Very good for air travel
Key differences
Gaming
5.5/10
8.8/10
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is very good for gaming, while the Beats Powerbeats Pro is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.2/10
7.9/10
The Beats Powerbeats Pro is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good.
TV and Video
5.7/10
7.9/10
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good for TV and video, while the Beats Powerbeats Pro is poor.
Noise Reduction
4.6/10
5.3/10
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless and Beats Powerbeats Pro are both poor for noise reduction, though the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is somewhat better.
Battery
10.0 Hours
60.0 Hours
The Beats Powerbeats Pro has 10 hours of battery life. The JLab JBuds Work Wireless has 60 hours of battery life.
Cost
$124
$79
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Beats Powerbeats Pro has a price of $124 and the JLab JBuds Work Wireless costs $79.
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless and Beats Powerbeats Pro are both only fair for music.
Phone Calls
7.0/10
7.3/10
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless and Beats Powerbeats Pro are both good for phone calls.
Build Quality
8.8/10
9.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers JLab JBuds Work Wireless to have excellent build quality, while the Beats Powerbeats Pro has very good build quality.
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How the Beats Powerbeats Pro and the JLab JBuds Work Wireless compare to other earbuds and headphones
"Sweat resistance, actual noise isolation, and a secure fit in your ears make these the true wireless earphones you want in Apple-land. Android users may find other options they like better, as these only support AAC."
"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 Beats Powerbeats Pro or the JLab JBuds Work Wireless
About Beats
Beats is an American, consumer-focused, audio products manufacturer. Founded originally by American rapper and producer Dr Dre, the company is now a subsidiary of Apple. Beats sells a wide range of audio products, including several models of headphones, earbuds and speakers as well as full car audio systems.
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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.