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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're on a budget and need something for casual listening with solid build quality and decent noise isolation for air travel, the Creative Labs Zen Air might suit you, despite limited features for music fidelity and call quality. On the other hand, if you're willing to invest more for better overall sound, microphone quality, and robust features for calls and listening to music or podcasts, with the bonus of waterproofing and active noise cancelling, the Jabra Elite 4 could be a worthwhile step up, especially beneficial for use during exercise. 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 Zen Air
- The Creative Labs Zen Air has no clear advantages over the Jabra Elite 4.
Advantages of the Jabra Elite 4
- Very good for phone calls
- Good for exercise
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Phone Calls
5.1
8.8
The Jabra Elite 4 is very good for phone calls, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.4
8.6
The Jabra Elite 4 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Cost
$30
$100
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Creative Labs Zen Air has a price of $30 and the Jabra Elite 4 costs $100.
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Key similarities
Music
6.8
6.6
The Creative Labs Zen Air and Jabra Elite 4 are both only fair for music.
Gaming
5.1
5.4
The Jabra Elite 4 and Creative Labs Zen Air are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
5.6
6.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Jabra Elite 4 to be only fair for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
7.0
The Creative Labs Zen Air and Jabra Elite 4 are both good for noise reduction.
Battery
5.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Creative Labs Zen Air has 5 hours of battery life. The Jabra Elite 4 has 5.5 hours of battery life.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Creative Labs Zen Air and Jabra Elite 4 both have excellent build quality.
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How the Creative Labs Zen Air and the Jabra Elite 4 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Creative Labs Zen Air | Jabra Elite 4 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$30 | $100 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Creative Labs | Jabra | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2022 | April 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.9/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.1/10 | 5.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.7/10 | 6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.9/10 | 7.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 3.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 12 | 21 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5 Grams | 4.6 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Creative Labs Zen Air
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Check
Maike Paeßens | February 2023
"The Creative Zen Air’s weak points are its low battery life and rather short Bluetooth range. On the other hand, the strengths of these weatherproof True Wireless in-Ears are the sound and the wide attenuation of the Active Noise Cancellation. Considering the price range, the speech intelligibility during calls is also exceptionally good."
Jabra Elite 4
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Jasper Lastoria | September 2023
"The Jabra Elite 4 is a good midrange option with solid isolation and aptX codec for Android. It sounds consumer friendly from the box and the app has some EQ to adjust to taste. Some included luxuries include multipoint, sidetone, and Spotify Tap"
Get a great deal on the Creative Labs Zen Air or the Jabra Elite 4
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 Jabra
Jabra is a subsidiary of GN Store Nord, a 150-year-old Danish company that specializes in the manufacturing of hearing aids, headsets and earphones. Jabra has a focus on fit and comfort and quality control over everything else. According to Peter Karstromer, Jabras CEO, they “design and engineer technology that frees people to work, live and communicate how and where they want to, equipping them with the tools to live their life to a new rhythm”.
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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.
By the numbers
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Earbuds and headphones evaluated
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Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
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Recommendations made
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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.
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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.
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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.
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