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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
For active lifestyles or frequent travelers, JBL Live Free NC+ earbuds offer better portability and exercise performance with features like sweatproof certification and active noise canceling. They're more suitable for use during air travel due to their noise isolation and compact size. However, if call and meeting quality, comfort, and battery life are paramount, especially for work use, the JLab JBuds Work Wireless headphones excel with higher ratings in these areas, alongside their superior performance for gaming and watching TV, thanks to their over-ear form and low latency. Keep in mind, though, the JLab's headphones are a bit pricier. 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 exercise
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the JLab JBuds Work Wireless
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
5.8
6.8
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is only fair for music, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Gaming
5.0
8.8
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4
7.9
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good.
TV and Video
5.6
7.9
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
5.3
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for noise reduction, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is poor.
Battery
5.0 Hours
60.0 Hours
The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life. The JLab JBuds Work Wireless has 60 hours of battery life.
Cost
$60
$79
$50
$60
$70
$80
$90
$100
The JBL Live Free NC+ has a price of $60 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 Free NC+ has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
7.6
7.3
The JBL Live Free NC+ and JLab JBuds Work Wireless are both good for phone calls.
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How the JBL Live Free NC+ and the JLab JBuds Work Wireless compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Free NC+ | JLab JBuds Work Wireless |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$60 | $79 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | JLab | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | October 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.9/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.6/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5/10 | 8.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.7/10 | 6.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | 60 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.3 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | 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 | 7.6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7 Grams | 158 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Boom | |
Shopping
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."
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 Free NC+ 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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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.
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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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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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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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