JLab Go Air Earbuds Review: A Clutch Connection
Retail price: $25.00
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I’ve been on a never-ending searching to find the perfect pair of earbuds for active use that are comfortable, convenient and easy to use. The Jlab Go Air True Wireless Earbuds sell for only $25 and include features such as Bluetooth 5.0, an IP44 rating, and preinstalled EQ modes. Could these be the best budget earbuds?
Initial Impressions
Out of the box, the Jlab Go Air features a striking blue color that is both aesthetically pleasing and quite eye-catching. It comes with a charging case weighing in at 34.1g and each individual earpiece weighing at 4.5g. Overall, they’re lightweight and comfortable in the hands. Also provided are three different sizes of ear tips. Unlike other headphones, the charging cable is actually integrated into the charging case and is a universal USB-A that’s conveniently tucked into the bottom of the cradle. I’m quite pleased with this feature, as it makes remembering to carry around a charging cable less annoying. The Go Air features Bluetooth 5.0 allowing for about a 30ft range, an 8mm neodymium driver and also touch controls. They claim 5 hours of play time and 15+ hours of extra play time out of the charging case. On top of that, these wireless earbuds have an IP44 rating as well. There’s preinstalled EQ modes, JLab signature, balanced and bass boost, which are all conveniently accessible by tapping the earbuds to switch modes. Just from a features standpoint, I’m quite impressed with these inclusions especially considering the $25 price point.
A Unique Charging Feature
This design is such a clutch move since I’m sure a lot of people, including me, take forever to find these small cables that a lot of these charging cases come with.
The battery life on these JLab Go Air after a few weeks have held up fantastic. I’ve never had a problem with them dying on me even when I’m wearing them for longer periods of time. I mentioned this above, but the best feature is the USB-A cable that comes integrated into the charging case. I causally charge them when I’m at my computer or when I’m driving. This design is such a clutch move since I’m sure a lot of people, including me, take forever to find these small cables that a lot of these charging cases come with. This feature alone removes the hassle out of debating whether you should bring your charger with you when going out. On top of that, I’ve never had to second guess the battery status. I’ve only had one minor hiccup after the initial charge of the case where the indicator light popped up but since then, I’ve had no issues. Regardless, charging is quick, convenient and painless.
Comfort Over Size
These earbuds are neither the smallest or most subtle ones I’ve reviewed. To be frank, they do protrude out of your ears a good amount but don’t mistake that for lack of comfort. They fit pretty standard to a typical pair of wired earbuds. Considering the $25 price point, there’s nothing fancy going on, but since they do come with three sets of ear tips, the everyday consumer should be able to find a decent fit with at least one of them. I was able to wear these earbuds for long periods of time without feeling discomfort. I played basketball with them and they did not even wiggle in my ears. Considering they’re a bit more snug in the ear canal, I am comfortable recommending these for more intensive sports or exercise.
A Slew of Functions
This is where these earbuds fall a tad short in terms of overall performance. The JLab Go Air is a no frills wireless earbud set that have a pretty standard host of functions to them. They offer touch control, which works well, but is not necessarily amazing. I find myself pressing the buttons on accident when I take them out of my ear more often than when I’m actually wearing them. The layout can definitely be improved a bit in this aspect to remove accidental touch. Both the left and right earbuds offer touch control to increase/decrease volume, skip tracks, answer/end calls and play/pause. You can access voice control via your smartphone as well and activate EQ mode, but it will requires three taps. Accessing the EQ mode is probably the most cumbersome control, but once you activate the three taps, an audio voice will let you know the mode has been switched.
Just like many other wireless earbuds on the market, the Jlab Go Air offers Bluetooth 5.0. The initial pairing takes seconds but after that, the earbuds almost instantaneously pair up when you pull the earbuds out of its charging case.
While most earbuds offer IPX4 rating, the Go Air only offers IP44. With this rating, they’re more than sufficient when it comes to sweat but keep in mind these cannot be submerged under water.
The biggest issue I had with controls and features was knowing when I had an incoming call. Unless I had music playing or a podcast running, the audio would simply pause and I would get no sound or notification. I’d have to check my phone to see that I had an incoming phone call. There’s been a few instances where I placed the earbuds in and wouldn’t even get a chance to play music yet, only to realize I just missed a phone call. Interestingly enough though, the dial sound does come through on the earbuds while wearing them, but I hope they fix this feature in future iterations.
Decent Sound
When it comes to sound quality, JLab packed these earbuds with an 8mm neodymium driver which means the sound quality on these affordable headphones are honestly not bad at all. They’re definitely not my favorite, but are very comparable to the original AirPods, if not slightly better. Switching the EQ to JLab signature for more audio focus is probably the best way you’ll get better audio quality since the normal balance setting is muted and the bass boost is lack luster without it. Call quality is just okay in my opinion, but since the earbuds have a more snug fit, it does help slightly with audio and call quality.
Final Thoughts
With these JLab GO Air on the market, I don’t see the point of ever going back to a wired set of earbuds. When considering the price point, I don’t understand why people still wear wired earbuds when you can find this quality for such a bargain. The Jlab Go Air has an awesome charging case design, decent sound quality and a pretty standard fit that most people should be able to wear comfortably. They’re not my favorite pair of earbuds, but they do the job an affordable price.
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Martin
Always in tune with the beat, audiophile doesn’t even begin to describe Martin’s intense passion for music. Whether it be in the front row of an Anderson .Paak show or popping to a Lizzo track in the back of a coffee shop, this Mechanical Engineer is meticulous with what goes through his earlobes simply because he knows exactly what it takes to make a quality headset.