Jabra Elite 4 Active True Wireless Review
The Jabra Elite 4 Active are workout buds that excel at comfort but stumble on battery and sound. We break down who should buy them.
The 30-Second Version
Great fit, good ANC, but disappointing battery and average sound. It's a niche pick for active users who value comfort over everything else. At $113, it's hard to recommend over more balanced competitors.
Overview
The Jabra Elite 4 Active is a solid pair of workout buds that nail the basics. They're comfy, they stay put, and they block out a decent amount of noise. That's the good news.
The bad news? The sound is just okay, the battery life is frankly poor, and the mic quality isn't great. For the price, you're paying a premium for the Jabra name and that excellent fit, but you're making some sacrifices elsewhere.
Performance
Let's start with the highs. The fit is fantastic, landing in the 96th percentile for comfort in our database. They're light and secure, perfect for a run. The active noise cancellation is also strong, sitting in the 89th percentile. It's not the absolute best, but it's more than enough for a gym or a noisy commute. Now, the lows. The sound quality is only in the 41st percentile, so don't expect audiophile detail. And the battery life? It's in the 5th percentile. Seven hours per bud is just not competitive anymore.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely comfortable and secure fit for active use. 96th
- Effective active noise cancellation. 93th
- Reliable Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. 78th
- Durable build with an IP57 rating.
Cons
- Battery life is well below average. 16th
- Sound quality is merely average.
- Microphone quality for calls is subpar.
- Build quality feels less premium than some rivals.
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 4 Active True Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Earbuds, Navy |
| Codecs | Jabra Elite 4 Active True Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Earbuds, Navy |
| Surround | Jabra Elite 4 Active True Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Earbuds, Navy | Jabra | 100-99180001-02 | In-Ear | Navy | 0.176 oz. | Yes | Binaural | Universal | Earbuds, EarGels, Charging case, USB-C |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
| Transparency | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Wired Connector | Jabra Elite 4 Active True Wireless Bluetooth Noise |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
Features
| Voice Assistant | Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri |
Value & Pricing
At around $113, the value proposition is a bit shaky. You're paying for a brand with great fit and decent ANC, but you're accepting mediocre sound and bad battery life. If the fit is your absolute top priority and you don't mind charging them often, it might be worth it. For everyone else, there are better all-rounders for the same money or less.
vs Competition
Compared to the Nothing Ear (a), you get better ANC and a more secure fit, but you lose out on sound quality and battery life. The Anker Soundcore P3i offers similar ANC performance and much better battery for about half the price, though its fit might not be as universally secure. The Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are in a different league for sound and ANC, but they also cost significantly more. The Elite 4 Active sits in an awkward middle ground.
| Spec | Jabra Elite 4 Active 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 4 Active True Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Earbuds, Navy | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | 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 4 Active True Wireless | 96.1 | 64 | 36.8 | 43 | 16.3 | 93.2 | 77.7 | 35.8 |
| 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 battery life really that bad?
Yes, our data shows it's in the bottom 5% for battery. You'll get about 7 hours from the buds, which is below average for this price range.
Q: How good is the noise cancellation?
It's actually quite good, scoring in the 89th percentile. It's effective for gym noise and commuting, though not quite at Sony or Bose levels.
Q: Will they stay in during a run?
Absolutely. The secure fit is their best feature, scoring in the 96th percentile. They're designed specifically for active use.
Who Should Skip This
Skip these if battery life is a deal-breaker for you. Also, look elsewhere if you're an audiophile or make a lot of calls on your buds. The sound and mic quality just aren't competitive at this price point.
Verdict
Buy the Jabra Elite 4 Active if you're an active user who constantly struggles with earbuds falling out and you prioritize a secure, comfortable fit above all else. The great ANC is a nice bonus. Just be ready to charge them frequently and don't expect amazing sound.