JBL JBL Live Beam 3 Noise-Canceling True Wireless Review

The JBL Live Beam 3 true wireless earbuds offer a unique LCD screen on the charging case and JBL's bass-heavy sound. However, their noise cancellation and call quality are just average for the price, and you can get better overall performance from other brands. Buy these mostly for the screen gimmick, not for top-tier audio tech.

If you're shopping for true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation and a flashy case screen, the JBL Live Beam 3 probably caught your eye. They're JBL's mid-tier offering, usually priced between $170 and $230, and they promise immersive JBL Signature Sound with 10mm drivers and adaptive noise canceling. The big party trick is the 1.45-inch LCD touchscreen on the charging case, which lets you check battery life and control playback without your phone. But in a crowded field of ANC earbuds, do these features add up to a good buy, or is it mostly a gimmick?

Our testing puts the Live Beam 3 in the middle of the pack for sound quality, landing in the 47th percentile. That means the audio is decent—you get the JBL house sound with emphasized bass and clear mids—but it's not going to wow audiophiles. The noise cancellation is similarly average, scoring in the 40th percentile. It'll take the edge off a commute or a coffee shop, but don't expect it to completely vanish a noisy airplane cabin. Call quality is a weak spot, with the microphone performance in the 43rd percentile. People will hear you, but background noise might creep in more than with some competitors.

At $170 to $230, the Live Beam 3 sits in a tricky spot. You're paying a premium for that case screen, but the core performance—sound, ANC, calls—is merely average. If the screen isn't a must-have for you, there are better-performing earbuds at this price, like the Sony WF-1000XM5 (when on sale) or the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC, which often cost less and score higher in our ANC and sound tests.

Let's name names. The Sony WF-1000XM5 is the king of noise cancellation and sound in this class, but it costs more. The Anker Soundcore P3i offers similar adaptive ANC for often half the price, though you lose the fancy case. The Nothing Ear (a) is a strong budget alternative with great transparency mode. And if you're deep in the JBL ecosystem, the JBL Tune Flex is a cheaper option with similar sound but no case screen. The Live Beam 3's unique selling point is that screen, but you're trading some core performance for it compared to these rivals.

Skip the JBL Live Beam 3 if you're a frequent flyer needing top-tier noise cancellation, a mobile gamer concerned about audio lag, or someone who takes a lot of calls in noisy places. Also, if you don't care about a screen on the case, your money is better spent elsewhere. In those cases, look at the Sony WF-1000XM5 for ANC, dedicated gaming earbuds for low latency, or the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC for better all-around value.

Should you buy the JBL Live Beam 3? Only if that case screen is a non-negotiable feature you really want. For everyone else, it's a harder sell. The audio and noise cancellation are just fine, not great, especially for the money. We think most people are better off putting their budget toward earbuds that excel in sound or ANC first, and treat extra features like a screen as a bonus. If you find these on a deep discount and love the JBL sound, they're not bad, but at full price, they're outclassed.