JBL LIVE 300TWS True Wireless In-ear Review
The JBL LIVE 300TWS sound incredible but ask you to make a big compromise on battery life. Is that trade-off worth it for under $100?
The 30-Second Version
These earbuds sound amazing but have the battery life of a mayfly. Buy them for your ears, not for your endurance.
Overview
The JBL LIVE 300TWS are a classic case of 'pick your battles.' They sound fantastic and are super comfy, but the battery life is a real letdown. If you're looking for a pair of earbuds that prioritize audio quality and fit over marathon listening sessions, these are a solid contender. Just know you'll be charging them a lot.
Performance
The sound quality is the star here, landing in the 90th percentile in our database. That 5.6mm driver delivers JBL's signature sound with a surprising amount of detail and punch for the price. The real shocker is the battery score, though. At the 20th percentile, the 6 hours per bud and 14 from the case feels stuck in 2019. It's a weird mismatch for such a modern-feeling audio product.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Sound quality punches way above its price tag. 94th
- Extremely comfortable fit for long listening. 70th
- Ambient Aware and TalkThru tech works well for situational awareness. 69th
- Mic quality is solid for calls. 66th
Cons
- Battery life is frankly disappointing.
- Build quality feels a bit plasticky for the price.
- No active noise cancellation, just transparency mode.
- Weakest for fitness use, so skip the gym.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | In-Ear |
| Ear Tips | SS, S, M, L s |
| Weight | 0.1 kg / 0.1 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Type | 5.6mm |
| Driver Size | 5.6 |
| Drivers | 5 |
| Freq Min | 20 |
| Freq Max | 20000 |
| Impedance | 16 |
| Sensitivity | 95 |
| Codecs | JBL Signature SoundAmbient Aware and TalkThru technologyBe free with True WirelessHands-free stereo callsInstant access to Voice Assistant20 hours of combined playback: Never stop playingGood looking (also when off)Comfort-secure fitSweat and water resistant |
Noise Control
| Transparency | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 1.3 |
| Wired Connector | Yes |
Earbud Battery
| Battery Life | 6 |
Case Battery
| Case Battery | 14 |
| Capacity | 450 |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
Value & Pricing
At around $100, the value proposition is a bit split. You're paying for top-tier sound and comfort, but you're making a big compromise on battery. If sound is your absolute top priority, it's worth it. If you need all-day buds, it's not.
vs Competition
The Nothing Ear (a) is the direct challenger here. It offers similar sound quality and a more modern feature set, including ANC, often for a similar price. The Anker Soundcore P3i is the budget king, offering ANC and longer battery for less money, though you might sacrifice a bit on audio fidelity. Against these, the JBL's main advantage is its proven, comfortable fit and that specific JBL sound signature some people love.
| Spec | JBL LIVE 300TWS True Wireless In-ear | 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 Best Truly Wireless Noise | 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 | 5.6mm | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | 1.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Battery Life Hours | 6 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 8 |
| Case Battery Hours | 14 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JBL LIVE 300TWS True Wireless In-ear | 70 | 64 | 36.8 | 94 | 40.6 | 69.2 | 65.7 | 36.9 |
| 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 Best Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling 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: Do these have active noise cancellation?
Nope. They only have a transparency mode (Ambient Aware). If you need to block out the world, look at the Nothing Ear (a) or the Anker Soundcore P3i instead.
Q: Is the 6-hour battery real?
In our testing, it's about right, maybe a bit less at higher volumes. The case gives you about two full recharges. It's fine for a workday, but you'll be plugging in every night.
Q: Are they good for working out?
Not really. They're only rated as sweat resistant, and our data shows fitness is their weakest category. For the gym, get something with an IPX7 rating and a more secure wingtip design.
Who Should Skip This
If you need buds that last all day and then some, skip these. The battery just won't cut it. Go get the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC instead. Also, if you're a runner or gym rat, these aren't built for that. Look at a dedicated sports model.
Verdict
We recommend the JBL LIVE 300TWS if you have a charger handy and your main goal is great-sounding, comfortable earbuds. The audio performance is legitimately excellent. But if battery life is a deal-breaker, or you really need active noise cancellation, the competition from Nothing or Anker offers more complete packages for the same cash.