I didn’t expect these wireless earbuds to give my Bose QuietComfort a run of their money

Most music listeners have simple demands for their earbuds: they want a battery life that lasts for days and audio that sounds clear and strong. JBL has always known about this winning combination, and the audio brand develops its products accordingly. 

Also: These xMEMs earbuds deliver deliciously smooth sound at an affordable price point

So when JBL sent me its $300 Tour Pro 3 earbuds–>, I already knew the sort of product I was working with before I put them in my ears. I’ve also had the chance to test the Tour Pro 2 earbuds and compare certain specs from one generation to the next. Here’s what stands out the most about JBL’s Tour Pro 3 and whether or not you should go for the new generation or stick to the earlier-gen earbuds that are $50 cheaper. 

The JBL Tour Pro 3 are marketed as earbuds you can take everywhere — from a run around the park to a long-haul flight. This broad applicability is enabled by the earbuds’ upgraded Smart-Charging Case, which connects to in-flight entertainment systems or your laptop for instant audio connection and clear-call capability. You really can listen to anything, anywhere, with these earbuds — as long as you don’t mind the case’s chunky build.

Also: These are the only earbuds you should be exercising in this year

Set side by side, the Tour Pro 2 and Tour Pro 3 look nearly identical. JBL says it’s increased the size of the smart display case and made some small improvements, but not much has changed appearance-wise from the second generation to the third. 

<!–>

What has changed, however, is sound. The sound of the Tour Pro 3 earbuds is substantial and clear, in general, and compared to the Tour Pro 2. The earbuds deliver strong and loud sound that captures the full range of music. I listened to the same song at the same volume on both devices and found that the Tour Pro 3 buds stepped up their game with crisp and lucid music delivery. 

The earbuds are a boon for deskside workers who rely on noise cancellation for deep focus and strong microphones for video and audio calls. I didn’t have a problem taking meetings with these earbuds and used the Smart-Charging Case’s clear call functionality to connect the buds to my video calls. 

Also: I’m an audiophile, and these $150 wireless earbuds for gaming had me fooled

At mid volumes, the sound is still immersive and strong, something I look for as a surefire sign of quality earbuds. JBL adds spatial audio to the third-generation buds, which boosts immersion as you listen to music or play a video game. JBL’s spatial audio is not as immersive as what I’ve heard from competing earbuds, like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds–>, which cost nearly the same. So if the feature is high on your priority list, the Bose will serve you better.

<!–>

The Tour Pro 3 earbuds offer three listening environment features: noise cancellation, ambient aware, and Talk Thru. The noise cancellation is strong and eliminates most ambient distractions, while some voices or harsher noises tend to slip through. I’m not a fan of the ambient aware feature on the Tour Pro 2 earbuds because of how inorganic it makes your music feel. This feature on the Tour Pro 3 is improved but it’s still not my favorite. 

Also: My favorite bone conduction headphones just got a waterproof upgrade – and they’re very comfortable

The one area where the Tour Pro 2 earbuds supersede the Tour Pro 3 is in build quality. The Tour Pro 2 earbuds have a substantial weight, which helps anchor them in your ears and makes them feel like a $300 pair of buds. Holding both earbuds in my hand, the weight of the Tour Pro 3 buds is far lighter – and more plasticky – than the Tour Pro 2. This lighter build also makes them prone to falling out of my ears. 

As is the case for a JBL device, these earbuds have substantial battery life, with a maximum playtime of 44 hours with ANC off. I did not have to worry about charging these buds until the end of my testing period – when the case’s battery was fully depleted, but the earbuds still maintained an 80% charge. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

While I was generally impressed with the Tour Pro 3–>’s new features, including clearer, stronger sound, spatial audio, and the Smart-Charging Case’s functionalities, the lighter, plasticky build of the earbuds made me not want to grab and wear them as often as I would other buds. The Tour Pro 3 earbuds would fall out of my ears as I moved because they failed to be anchored by the weight. A $300 pair of earbuds should feel like a weighty purchase in the hand, and that’s not the case with the Tour Pro 3 buds.

If you want earbuds with amazing sound, great noise cancellation, and a long, enduring battery life that will last you the entire work week and then some, these are the buds for you. If the lighter and cheaper build of the Tour Pro 3 earbuds is giving you pause, I’d recommend the Tour Pro 2 buds<!–> instead, which offer just as strong noise cancellation and a sturdier feel in your ears.