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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the JBL Live Free NC+ and the Soundcore Life P3 depends on your priorities. For a tighter budget, the JBL Live Free NC+ is the more economical choice, with solid overall sound quality, good comfort, durability, and it's well-suited for exercise with sweatproof certification. It also performs well in noisy environments due to active noise cancellation and is quite portable. However, the Soundcore Life P3, while slightly pricier, boasts longer battery life, both in the earbuds and the charging case, superior noise isolation, and also features sweatproofing, active noise cancellation, and a lighter, smaller design. If you prioritize longer listening sessions without charging, and enhanced noise isolation, the Soundcore Life P3 may be worth the extra investment. Both earbuds have mobile apps for customization and lack a wired option, which should also be considered depending on your usage. 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 Soundcore Life P3
- Very good for exercise
Key differences
Phone Calls
7.6
5.1
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for phone calls, while the Soundcore Life P3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4
5.9
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Soundcore Life P3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
9.1
The Soundcore Life P3 is excellent for noise reduction, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is good.
Battery
5.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life. The Soundcore Life P3 has 7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$60
$50
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
The JBL Live Free NC+ has a price of $60 and the Soundcore Life P3 costs $50.
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Key similarities
Music
5.8
5.7
The JBL Live Free NC+ and Soundcore Life P3 are both poor for music.
Gaming
5.0
5.1
The Soundcore Life P3 and JBL Live Free NC+ are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
5.6
5.5
The JBL Live Free NC+ and Soundcore Life P3 are both poor for TV and video.
Build Quality
8.5
8.8
The Soundcore Life P3 and JBL Live Free NC+ both have very good build quality.
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How the JBL Live Free NC+ and the Soundcore Life P3 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Free NC+ | Soundcore Life P3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$60 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Soundcore | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | June 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.9/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.6/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | 7 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.3 Hours | 0.8 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | 35 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7 Grams | 4.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
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."
Soundcore Life P3
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Alex Bracetti | July 2021
"Anker continues its trend of stealth releases, recently dropping the Soundcore Life P3 out of nowhere. This product essentially replaces the disappointing Life A2 NC as the brand’s flagship ANC model under $100. It comes with bassy audio and enough features to give even the best noise-cancelling earbuds pause."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live Free NC+ or the Soundcore Life P3
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 Soundcore
Soundcore is a sub-brand belonging to Anker Innovations. Starting in 2014, initially marketing wireless, Bluetooth, speakers, Anker now offers an array of, budget-friendly, wireless earbuds and headphones that directly compete, especially in the Active Noise Canceling field, with other brands several times as expensive.
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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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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