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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you value modern features and better call quality, the Jabra Elite 4 might be your choice, as it has very good mic quality and effective sweat and dust resistance, ideal for exercise. Despite a higher cost, it's great for traveling and exercising, but its gaming and TV performance is limited. Whereas, the JBL Live Free NC+ is more budget-friendly and offers wireless charging with a higher battery life, AAC codec support for Apple devices, but it may not fit as well during intense activities without secure fit accessories, and it also lacks gaming and TV optimization. Both offer a very good overall sound quality for music and are similarly convenient for portability and noise isolation. 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 Jabra Elite 4
- Very good for phone calls
Advantages of the JBL Live Free NC+
- The JBL Live Free NC+ has no clear advantages over the Jabra Elite 4.
Key differences
Music
6.6
5.8
The Jabra Elite 4 is only fair for music, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Phone Calls
8.8
7.6
The Jabra Elite 4 is very good for phone calls, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is good.
Cost
$100
$60
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
The Jabra Elite 4 has a price of $100 and the JBL Live Free NC+ costs $60.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Jabra Elite 4 has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Free NC+ has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.4
5.0
The Jabra Elite 4 and JBL Live Free NC+ are both poor for gaming.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.6
8.4
The Jabra Elite 4 and JBL Live Free NC+ are both very good for podcasts and audiobooks.
TV and Video
6.0
5.6
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Jabra Elite 4 to be only fair for TV and video, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
7.0
The Jabra Elite 4 and JBL Live Free NC+ are both good for noise reduction.
Battery
5.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Jabra Elite 4 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life.
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How the Jabra Elite 4 and the JBL Live Free NC+ compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Jabra Elite 4 | JBL Live Free NC+ |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$100 | $60 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Jabra | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | March 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.6/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.7/10 | 7.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5.5 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3.5 Hours | 1.3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.1 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 21 | 18 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8.5/10 | 7/10 | |
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) | 4.6 Grams | 7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
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"
JBL Live Free NC+
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Dig into reviews and images
HeadphoneCheck
Maike Paeßens | 2020
"JBL has added great-sounding, rock-solid all-rounders with a pleasant, warm sound character to their range. They are equipped with a high level of functionality that can be customised via the app. Some compromises have to be made with the active noise cancellation, which has a discreet effect, while the ambient mode and the Talkthru function proved to be powerful despite a perceptible background noise."
Get a great deal on the Jabra Elite 4 or the JBL Live Free NC+
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”.
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.
By the numbers
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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.
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.
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