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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize noise isolation for air travel or using in quiet environments, the JBL Live Free NC+ offers better performance. For those seeking a lighter option with a smaller earbud size, the JBL Live Pro 2 is preferable. The Live Pro 2 also has a slightly better soundstage and longer battery life, making it a better choice for extended use and during exercise. However, if you're on a budget and don't mind larger earbuds with a bit lower battery life, the Live Free NC+ may be the more cost-effective option without significantly compromising on overall quality. Both models support wireless charging and have built-in mics, but neither supports low-latency codecs, which might be a downside if you intend to use them for gaming or watching videos. 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 Free NC+
Good for phone calls
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the JBL Live Pro 2
Very good for exercise
Key differences
Phone Calls
7.6/10
5.2/10
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for phone calls, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4/10
5.8/10
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0/10
9.1/10
The JBL Live Pro 2 is excellent for noise reduction, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is good.
Battery
5.0 Hours
8.3 Hours
The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life. The JBL Live Pro 2 has 8.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$60
$150
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The JBL Live Free NC+ has a price of $60 and the JBL Live Pro 2 costs $150.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.0/10
The JBL Live Free NC+ has very good build quality, while the JBL Live Pro 2 has good build quality.
"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."
"The JBL Live Pro 2 TWS occupy an interesting space in the wireless earbuds market. They’re a step up from cheap wireless earbuds and allow you to access better sound quality without having to make the jump to more premium options from the likes of Bose, Sony and Sennheiser. They’re an entertaining listen, easy to use and manage to pack in a lot of useful features. We think they’re well worth a listen."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live Free NC+ or the JBL Live Pro 2
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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