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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize portability, exercise use, and sweatproof features, the JBL Live Beam 3 earbuds, with superior noise isolation and a smart charging case, are a strong choice, especially if you need active noise cancelling and wireless charging, despite their higher cost. However, if you're seeking headphones for office work with excellent mic quality, longer battery life, and the option for wired use, the JLab JBuds Work Wireless may better suit your needs. The JLab headphones lack active noise cancelling and aren't suitable for intense physical activity, but they're more affordable and excel in call quality for professional environments. 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 JBL Live Beam 3
- Good for music
- Very good for exercise
Advantages of the JLab JBuds Work Wireless
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.8
6.8
The JBL Live Beam 3 is good for music, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is only fair.
Gaming
5.4
8.8
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.2
7.3
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good for phone calls, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.9
7.9
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
7.9
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3
5.3
The JBL Live Beam 3 is very good for noise reduction, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is poor.
Battery
12.0 Hours
60.0 Hours
The JBL Live Beam 3 has 12 hours of battery life. The JLab JBuds Work Wireless has 60 hours of battery life.
Cost
$216
$79
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The JBL Live Beam 3 has a price of $216 and the JLab JBuds Work Wireless costs $79.
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Beam 3 has very good build quality.
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How the JBL Live Beam 3 and the JLab JBuds Work Wireless compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Beam 3 | JLab JBuds Work Wireless |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$216 | $79 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | JLab | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2024 | October 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.9/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 8.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.7/10 | 8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 6.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 12 Hours | 60 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 36 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 9/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.8 Grams | 158 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Boom | |
Shopping
JLab JBuds Work Wireless
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Magazine
Tim Gideon | February 2022
"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 JBL Live Beam 3 or the JLab JBuds Work Wireless
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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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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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