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Updated April 11, 2024·
If you place a high value on sound quality and features like active noise cancelling, wireless charging, and a smart charging case with an LED touch display, the JBL Live Buds 3 may justify their higher price. They also have a longer battery life and are optimized for use during exercise and air travel thanks to their sweatproof and dustproof design. However, if you're looking to save money and don't need the extra features, the JBL Tune Buds offer decent sound quality and battery life for casual listening and are also sweatproof and dustproof. Neither pair is ideal for gaming or TV due to low scoring in those areas, but for calls and meetings, the JBL Live Buds 3 have the edge with better mic quality. 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 Buds 3
Good for music
Very good for exercise
Advantages of the JBL Tune Buds
The JBL Tune Buds has no clear advantages over the JBL Live Buds 3.
Key differences
Music
7.8/10
6.2/10
The JBL Live Buds 3 is good for music, while the JBL Tune Buds is only fair.
Noise Reduction
8.3/10
6.7/10
The JBL Live Buds 3 is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL Tune Buds is only fair.
Cost
$216
$50
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The JBL Live Buds 3 has a price of $216 and the JBL Tune Buds costs $50.
"JBL’s Tune Buds stick with the company’s signature bass-heavy sound by default, but a quality in-app EQ lets you sculpt the audio to taste. These noise-cancelling true wireless earphones also mitigate environmental distractions fairly well for the price and offer good battery life. If you're specifically seeking bold, bass-tuned audio out of the box, the Tune Buds are worth a listen."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live Buds 3 or the JBL Tune Buds
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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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.