Jabra Elite 3 Noise Isolating True Wireless Review
The Jabra Elite 3 earbuds nail comfort but fail everywhere else. We dug into the data and found a deal-breaking weakness that makes them impossible to recommend.
The 30-Second Version
Great fit, great mics, but the battery life is a joke and the sound is just meh. At $155, there are a dozen better options. Don't buy these.
Overview
The Jabra Elite 3 are the comfiest earbuds you'll ever forget to charge. That's the one thing you need to know. They fit like a dream, sitting in the 96th percentile for comfort, and they make phone calls sound shockingly clear thanks to a solid mic setup. But everything else about them feels like a compromise, especially at this price. They're trying to be an all-rounder in a market where specialists win.
Performance
The battery life genuinely surprised us, and not in a good way. Scoring in the 5th percentile means it's bad, but seeing 'up to 7 hours' on paper and then watching them conk out way sooner in real-world use is a bummer. It's the kind of performance that makes you check the case constantly, which defeats the whole 'true wireless' convenience. On the flip side, the call quality is legitimately excellent for the price bracket.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong comfort (93th percentile) 93th
- Strong anc (70th percentile) 70th
Cons
- Below average battery (16th percentile) 16th
- Below average social proof (22th percentile) 22th
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | In-Ear |
| Weight | 0.0 kg / 0.0 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Type | Jabra Elite 3 Noise Isolating True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds, 4-Mic, LightBeige |
| Codecs | Jabra Elite 3 Noise Isolating True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds, 4-Mic, LightBeige |
Noise Control
| Transparency | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Wired Connector | Jabra Elite 3 Noise Isolating True Wireless Blueto |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
Value & Pricing
At $155, these are a tough sell. You're paying a premium for the Jabra name and getting mediocre battery and sound in return. It's not worth it when you can get better performance for less money elsewhere.
vs Competition
Stack these up against the Anker Soundcore P3i, and the choice gets easy. The P3i offers real adaptive noise cancellation, better sound, and similar call quality for significantly less cash. If comfort is your absolute top priority and you're always near an outlet, the Elite 3 have an edge. But for everyone else, the Nothing Ear (a) delivers a more fun, balanced sound profile and much better battery life in a similarly priced package.
| Spec | Jabra Elite 3 Noise Isolating True Wireless | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Bose QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless | Technics EAH-AZ80 Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Sony WF-1000XM6 Sony WF-1000XM6 True Wireless Noise-Canceling | Apple AirPods Apple - AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation - | Soundcore Liberty Soundcore by Anker Liberty 5 True Wireless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | in-ear | In-Ear |
| Driver Type | Jabra Elite 3 Noise Isolating True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds, 4-Mic, LightBeige | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Battery Life Hours | - | 6 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 8 |
| Case Battery Hours | - | 18 | 16 | 12 | 25 | 24 |
| Water Resistance | - | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX4 | Water-Resistant | IP55 |
| Multipoint | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jabra Elite 3 Noise Isolating True Wireless | 70 | 64 | 36.8 | 43 | 16.3 | 93.2 | 62.2 | 21.7 |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless Noise-Canceling Earbuds 2nd Gen Compare | 96.1 | 87.8 | 91.2 | 99.2 | 69.6 | 93.2 | 98.5 | 93 |
| Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless In-Ear Compare | 82.6 | 99.9 | 91.2 | 98.4 | 69.6 | 93.2 | 98.5 | 93 |
| Sony WF-1000XM6 True Wireless Noise-Canceling Compare | 82.6 | 87.8 | 91.2 | 99.1 | 92.1 | 69.2 | 98.5 | 97.1 |
| Apple AirPods Noise-Canceling Compare | 96.1 | 87.8 | 81.4 | 92.1 | 91.5 | 93.2 | 97.7 | 98.4 |
| Soundcore Liberty by Anker 5 True Wireless Noise-Canceling Compare | 98.7 | 98.9 | 95.9 | 95.4 | 93.8 | 93.2 | 98.5 | 99.6 |
Common Questions
Q: Is the noise cancellation any good?
Nope. There isn't any active noise cancellation (ANC). They only have passive noise isolation from the ear tips, which is mediocre at best. Don't buy these for quiet.
Q: How's the real-world battery life?
Bad. The 'up to 7 hours' is a best-case, lab-tested scenario. With normal use and volume, expect 5-6 hours from the buds, and the case doesn't hold many full recharges. You'll be plugging in often.
Q: Are they good for working out?
They're fine. The fit is secure and comfortable, which is great, but the IP rating isn't the highest. For heavy sweating, you're better off with a dedicated sports model from a brand like Jaybird or Beats.
Who Should Skip This
If you need earbuds that last all day or you're a stickler for sound quality, this isn't it. Go get the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC instead. You'll get fantastic ANC, better sound, and battery that won't quit, all for similar money.
Verdict
We can't recommend the Jabra Elite 3. The fantastic comfort and great mics are buried under deal-breaking weaknesses, namely the poor battery life and underwhelming audio. In a crowded field of excellent budget and mid-range earbuds, these feel like a previous-generation product sold at a current-generation price. Skip them.