JBL JBL Tour Pro 3 True Wireless Noise-Canceling Review

The JBL Tour Pro 3 earbuds have a cool touchscreen case, but the actual sound and noise canceling are just okay. For $330, that's not good enough. Skip these unless the case gimmick is worth the premium to you.

The JBL Tour Pro 3 are a set of true wireless earbuds that try to do a lot. You get a fancy case with a color touchscreen, JBL's Spatial 360 sound with head tracking, and adaptive noise canceling. They're pitched as a premium, feature-packed option for movies, music, and gaming on the go.

But in our testing, they feel like a jack of all trades and a master of none. The core performance areas—sound, noise canceling, comfort—all land in the bottom half of our database. For a $330 pair of earbuds, that's a tough starting point.

Performance is where the Tour Pro 3 starts to stumble. The sound quality sits in the 40th percentile, which means it's just okay. Bass is present but can get muddy, and the Spatial 360 feature is more of a gimmick than a game-changer for most music. The noise canceling, at the 39th percentile, is decent for constant hums but struggles with sudden, sharp noises. Battery life is fine, landing in the 61st percentile, but connectivity is a weak spot at the 25th percentile. We saw more occasional dropouts than we'd like at this price.

At $330, the value proposition is shaky. You're spending flagship money, but you're not getting flagship-tier performance in the areas that matter most: sound and noise cancellation. You're essentially buying a very clever case and some software features, while the actual earbud experience is mid-pack. If the screen case is a must-have for you, maybe. But if you just want great-sounding earbuds, this price tag is hard to justify.

Stacked up against the competition, the Tour Pro 3 struggles. The Sony WF-1000XM5 destroys it on sound quality and noise canceling for similar money. The Google Pixel Buds Pro offer a more cohesive, stable experience with better integration for Android users, often for less cash. Even the Nothing Ear (a) provides a more fun, engaging sound signature at almost a third of the price. The JBL's unique case is its only real differentiator, and that's not enough to win on its own.

Skip these if you're an audiophile or a frequent traveler. The sound and ANC aren't competitive with other $300 earbuds. Also, avoid them if you need earbuds for the gym; they're not built for that. Look at Sony, Bose, or Sennheiser instead for better performance in those areas.

Buy the JBL Tour Pro 3 only if you are utterly fascinated by the idea of a touchscreen case and you're willing to accept average sound and ANC as the trade-off. For everyone else—especially music lovers, frequent travelers, or anyone who prioritizes pure audio performance—there are better, more focused options at this price point that will give you more for your money.