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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If price is a major factor, the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 would be a more budget-friendly choice. The Outlier Air V3 is suitable for exercise with its sweatproof certification and has a longer overall battery life, which can be ideal for extended sessions without recharge. However, if you're looking for better performance for gaming or TV, the JBL Tune Flex offers a low latency mode that could provide a better experience. Both are good for music, but for phone calls, the Creative Labs might have the edge as its calls and meeting score is better. Both offer some form of app support for customization but if you're concerned with size, the JBL Tune Flex has larger buds which could impact fit and comfort. 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 Creative Labs Outlier Air V3
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for exercise
Advantages of the JBL Tune Flex
- Good for music
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
5.7
7.3
The JBL Tune Flex is good for music, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is poor.
Gaming
5.1
8.5
The JBL Tune Flex is very good for gaming, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is poor.
Phone Calls
7.6
6.3
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is good for phone calls, while the JBL Tune Flex is only fair.
TV and Video
5.4
7.8
The JBL Tune Flex is good for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is poor.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 has 10 hours of battery life. The JBL Tune Flex has 6.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$30
$60
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 has a price of $30 and the JBL Tune Flex costs $60.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 has excellent build quality, while the JBL Tune Flex has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.9
9.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers JBL Tune Flex to be excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is very good.
Noise Reduction
6.5
6.5
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 and JBL Tune Flex are both only fair for noise reduction.
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How the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 and the JBL Tune Flex compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 | JBL Tune Flex |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$30 | $60 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Creative Labs | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | September 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.7/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.6/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.2/10 | 8.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8/10 | 7.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 10 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 40 | 18 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.8/10 | 5.1/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5.2 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Creative Labs Outlier Air V3
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Dig into reviews and images
Trusted Reviews
Kob Monney | July 2022
"The V3 present the best version of the Outlier Air series yet. The new features such as Active Noise Reduction and Ambient mode are integrated well; the performance of both is as good as you’ll get below £100. The design is less bulky and more comfortable thanks to being smaller and lighter, and the Outlier Air V3 eke out more clarity, detail and definition from music."
JBL Tune Flex
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Dig into reviews and images
MajorHiFi
Gabby Bloch | May 2023
"JBL is offering a similar design and arguably better resolution than the more expensive AirPods 3rd Generation. Add to that a comfortable and versatile fit, an equalizer and pretty decent ANC, and you’ve got a quality wireless earphone. I would have loved longer battery life and more crystal calls, but for the price, you can’t complain. A solid deal overall."
Get a great deal on the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 or the JBL Tune Flex
About Creative Labs
Creative Labs is a Singaporean technology company specialized in the manufacture of multimedia products. They created the world-famous Soundblaster soundcard back in 1989 which was a staple of the gaming community for a long time. Nowadays, besides still marketing their discrete audio systems, they offer a wide array of headphones, gaming headsets and speakers that still preserve that same heritage.
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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Why trust us
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
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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.
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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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.
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