JLab JLab Go Air Pop+ True Wireless Earbuds, in Ear Review

The JLab Go Air Pop+ deliver shockingly good sound and epic battery life for just $25. They're tiny, connect easily, and have a useful app. The catch is the fit can be hit-or-miss, and there's no active noise cancellation. For the price, they're an easy recommendation for anyone on a tight budget who wants performance that feels like a steal.

Let's be real, most of us just want earbuds that work, don't fall out, and don't cost a fortune. The JLab Go Air Pop+ are here for exactly that crowd. They're the no-nonsense, toss-in-your-gym-bag option that gets the basics right without any fuss.

These are for the person who wants solid Bluetooth audio without the subscription to audiophile culture. You get a tiny case, a simple connection, and a frankly ridiculous 35-hour battery life. The fact that they're 15% smaller and 40% lighter than the previous model means they actually disappear in your pocket, which is a bigger deal than it sounds.

What makes them interesting is the price-to-performance punch. At around $25, they're competing in the budget bin, but our data shows their sound quality lands in the 90th percentile. That's not 'good for the money' good, that's just good. They're punching way above their weight class.

The numbers tell a clear story here. Battery life is the star, sitting in the 96th percentile. That 35-hour total isn't just a marketing claim, it's a real-world advantage that means you can forget your charging case for a week of commutes. The 9 hours per bud is solid, too. For sound, hitting the 90th percentile at this price is wild. You get a balanced armature driver, which is a fancy way of saying it's tuned for clarity, and the JLab app lets you tweak between Signature, Balanced, and Bass Boost modes if you want more thump.

Connectivity and mic quality are also strong suits, both landing in the 88th percentile. Bluetooth 5.3 means a stable, fast connection, and the mics handle calls decently for the price. The 'Be Aware' transparency mode is a nice safety feature for walks or runs, though it's not active noise cancellation. It lets in ambient sound, which is fine, but don't expect it to silence a busy street.

At $25, the value proposition is almost comical. You're getting performance metrics that rival earbuds two or three times the price. The battery life alone justifies the cost for anyone who hates charging. JLab has essentially built a budget killer that makes you question why you'd spend more if your needs are simple.

When you look across vendors, there's nothing at this exact price point that offers the same combination of battery, sound quality, and features like a customizable app. You either sacrifice battery life, sound, or pay more. It's a very specific sweet spot.

The obvious competitor is the Anker Soundcore P31i, which often hovers around $40-$50. The P31i has real-time adaptive noise cancellation, which the JLab lacks, and might have a slight edge in call quality. But the JLab wins on battery life and price, and their sound quality scores are surprisingly close. If ANC is a must, spend the extra $20 on the Anker.

Then there's the Nothing Ear (a). It's a more stylish, feature-rich option with better ANC, but it's also double or triple the price. You're paying for design and a more polished app experience. For the sheer 'does it work well for cheap' factor, the JLab is hard to beat. The Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort are in a completely different league (and price bracket) for noise cancellation and sound, so they're not really in this fight.

Skip these if you absolutely need best-in-class active noise cancellation for flights or loud offices. The passive isolation here won't cut it. Also, if you have notoriously small or sensitive ear canals and have had fit issues with similar stemless buds in the past, the 40th percentile comfort score is a red flag. You'd be better off with a model that comes with a wider variety of tip shapes or a different design altogether, like some of the bean-shaped options from Soundcore.

Hardcore audiophiles looking for pristine, neutral sound should also look elsewhere. While the sound is excellent for the price, it's tuned for enjoyable listening, not critical analysis. And if you're an iPhone user who deeply values the seamless integration of Apple's H1/H2 chip, you won't get that here, though they'll still work fine as regular Bluetooth earbuds.

If you need a reliable, ultra-portable pair of buds for the gym, commute, or work, and you don't want to spend more than $30, buy these. The battery life is legendary, the sound is great, and they just work. The app is a nice cherry on top.

However, if you have finicky ears and comfort is your top priority, you might want to try before you buy, as the fit doesn't work for everyone. And if you commute on a loud train or plane and need serious noise blocking, the lack of ANC is a deal-breaker. In that case, step up to the Anker Soundcore P31i or look at refurbished higher-end models.