i check a lot of true wireless earbuds, so I’m always excited to see what the next trends will be as companies offer their annual refresh for new products. In recent years, smaller sizes, longer battery life, and hands-free calling have become the norm, but there’s not much you can do with a device this small.
In 2021, Jabra helped set the new standard for affordable wireless earbuds the elite 3. At $80, it covers most of the bases quite well. Now the company is improving its mid-range option with the Elite 4 Active. It’s a more training-focused model with active noise cancellation (ANC) and enough moisture protection for the sweatiest sessions. Like last year, Jabra is trying to make its true wireless offering not only compelling in terms of features and performance, but also to make the price more competitive. Tits $120 model offers many options that we usually see in earbuds that cost $150-$180.
benefits
- Inexpensive
- Comfortable fit
- Solid sound quality
- Customizable ANC
disadvantage
- The noise cancellation is just okay
- Awkward controls
- No automatic pause
- No wireless charging
The Elite 4 Active features Jabra’s new design, which debuted on the Elite 3, Elite 7 Active and Elite 7 Pro last year. Instead of a mostly circular earbud with an elbow holding the mics, the company switched to a rounded triangle shape that offers a cleaner look. Most importantly, all of Jabra’s latest earbuds are significantly smaller than their predecessors, and the Elite 4 Active continues that trend. Not only does the smaller size mean these buds don’t stick out of your ears as much, but they’re also lighter and more comfortable.
I wouldn’t blame you for confusing the Elite 4 Active with the Elite 3. Aesthetically, the main difference is that the outer panel of the 3 is a large button, while that area of the 4 Active is seamless. The button is there, but it’s sealed. Jabra has increased the water resistance to IP57 for this model, and the integrated controls are one area where protection needed to be increased. Of course, Jabra has always designed its Active-label earbuds for exercise. Better sweat protection is usually part of this formula.
Billy Steele/Engadget
The lack of a defined panel or button proved to be a problem for me in accessing the controls. I had to train myself to remember to press the center of the earbud as it doesn’t register my actions if I go up or down too far. The Elite 4 Active’s outer surface is completely smooth, without even a raised dot to show you’re in the right spot. I might get used to it over time, but after a few weeks of testing I’m still not getting it.
Like every other Jabra model, you can customize the Elite 4 Active to your needs via the company’s Sound+ app. Because this set is Jabra’s mid-range option, you get more features than the entry-level Elite 3, but not quite as many as the Elite 7 Pro or Elite 7 Active. First, there’s ANC, and it’s customizable. Note that I said non-adjustable. Notably, the app lets you set a level of noise cancellation during initial setup. You can also adjust the balance if you need more on one side than the other. Jabra lets you repeat this process if needed, but there’s no easily accessible slider like there is on the Elite 7 models.
The company’s transparency mode, HearThrough, can be controlled via a slider in the app. In fact, you can even customize what the built-in sound mode control does (single press on the left side). You can switch between HearThrough and ANC, HearThrough and off, or HearThrough, ANC and off. The app also allows you to turn sidetone on and off, which allows you to hear your voice when you’re on a call. Unlike some Jabra models, it’s not adjustable – it’s all or nothing. Still, it’s better for everyone to be able to hear themselves so you yell a little less on Zoom. The proprietary Find My feature also makes a return, helping you locate a misplaced earbud if you’re willing to give it the appropriate permissions. And on Android, you can opt for one-touch access to Spotify if that’s your streaming service of choice.
Billy Steele/Engadget
For a $120 set of earbuds, I wouldn’t blame you for not expecting too much in the sound department. However, Jabra has a track record of solid audio across its true wireless range. With the Elite 4 Active, the company maintains its reputation for buds that sound good but not great. There’s decent clarity and nice detail, but they lack the wider soundstage and depth of more expensive models by the likes Sony and Sennheiser Offer.
The Elite 4 Active has pretty good sonic range, but big bombastic tracks like Run The Jewel’s “Mean Demeanor” and Gojira’s “Another World” sound overly compressed. The bass is solid and not muddy, so keeping up the energy while working out with hip-hop, EDM or more won’t be a problem. It’s just that the songs, by and large, lack the dimensional punch that you can find with a bigger investment. For $120, the Elite 4 Active gets the job done in most cases.
If you’re longing to tweak the EQ, you can do so in the Sound+ app via a series of sliders. If one-tap audio changes are more your style, Jabra also offers a collection of presets for quick customization. It’s not the most robust range of sound dial-in options, but it’s more than you get with the ultra-affordable Elite 3.
One advantage the Elite 4 Active has over the Elite 3 is active noise cancellation. As I mentioned, you can customize the feature to a degree, but they’re not as capable as Jabra’s more expensive earbuds. Still, the ANC will help block out some distractions here, but don’t expect it to do much heavy lifting.
The Elite 4 Active has four microphones for calls. Jabra says they’re covered with a “special mesh” to reduce wind noise when you’re outdoors. Typically, mileage varies greatly from call quality with true wireless earbuds. Most of the time, it just sounds like you’re making a hands-free call. Call quality is slightly better on the Elite 4 Active, but still not as good as if you had a mic placed closer to your mouth – or even more towards your face. Background noise is reduced when you’re speaking, but ambient noise is a distraction when you’re not speaking.
Gallery: Jabra Elite 4 Active review | 7 photos
Gallery: Jabra Elite 4 Active review | 7 photos
Jabra says you can expect up to seven hours of battery life on the Elite 4 Active, with three additional charges in the case for a total of 28 hours. The company doesn’t specify whether that’s with ANC on or not, but in my testing I managed seven and a half hours with active noise cancellation. It’s by no means the best battery life you’ll find in true wireless earbuds, but it’s certainly enough to get you through a work day if you do take a break or two. If you run out of juice before you head out the door, a quick charge feature can get you an hour of use in 10 minutes.
At $120Jabra offers solid mid-range specs at the same price point as some companies’ budget models. Additionally, most of them don’t offer ANC, let alone a transparency mode or customizable sound. Samsung has built noise canceling into its cheapest true wireless model Galaxy Buds 2. These earbuds are tiny and comfy, and wireless charging is included, but ANC performance is decent. Also, the Galaxy Buds 2 are only IPX2 certified, so you should be careful about how wet you get them. Full price is $150 but we’ve seen them as low as $100.
If you’re looking to maximize your bucks, I’d suggest checking out Anker’s Soundcore line. You can find a lot of value and features, for well under $100 there. Plus, the company’s top-of-the-line ANC flagship, the Liberty 3 Pro, is only $170. And if you know about passive noise isolation, Jabra’s own Elite 3 can do the job for $60.
If Jabra’s new mission is to deliver the same overall quality as the previous earbuds at cheaper prices, I’m up for it. With the Elite 4 Active, as with the Elite 3, the company has managed to offer a compelling array of features at an affordable price. It hasn’t cut corners, improving details like design and fit while maintaining its standard for sound quality. There are some omissions, but all the bases are covered and, for the most part, well done. Once again we have more proof that you don’t have to spend more than $150 to get a set of good true wireless earbuds.
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