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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize battery life, exercise use, and want to manage your earbuds directly from a smart case, the JBL Live Flex 3 may be a better fit, as they also tend to be more affordable and have a longer battery life with a handy LED touch display on the case. However, for superior sound in music and better noise isolation, the Sony WF1000XM4, while costing slightly more, offers high-quality audio and active noise cancelling. The Sony WF1000XM4 is also better suited for air travel due to its noise cancellation capability, though it has a shorter battery life compared to the JBL. Keep in mind, the WF1000XM4's app provides additional features like equalizer settings and 360 Reality Audio for immersive experiences, which could be significant if you're looking for an earbud that offers extensive sound customization. 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 Flex 3
- Very good for exercise
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM4
- Excellent for music
- Very good for air travel
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.0
9.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is excellent for music, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is very good.
Phone Calls
5.2
6.7
The Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair for phone calls, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.9
10.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
Battery
10.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The JBL Live Flex 3 has 10 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM4 has 9 hours of battery life.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.5
5.6
The Sony WF1000XM4 and JBL Live Flex 3 are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
5.7
6.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony WF1000XM4 to be only fair for TV and video, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3
8.3
The JBL Live Flex 3 and Sony WF1000XM4 are both very good for noise reduction.
Cost
$216
$220
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The JBL Live Flex 3 has a price of $216 and the Sony WF1000XM4 costs $220.
Build Quality
8.5
8.9
The Sony WF1000XM4 and JBL Live Flex 3 both have very good build quality.
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How the JBL Live Flex 3 and the Sony WF1000XM4 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Flex 3 | Sony WF1000XM4 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$216 | $220 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2024 | July 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.5/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | 6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 6.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 10 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 40 | 24 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 5.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.8 Grams | 6.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Sony WF1000XM4
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | March 2023
"The headphones deliver a satisfying user experience, class-leading battery life, some of the best noise-cancelling we’ve heard in this category, and absolutely stunning sound quality."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live Flex 3 or the Sony WF1000XM4
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.
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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.
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