JBL Free Vs Apple Airpods Best Truly Wireless Earbuds in 2024

Everyone is looking for ways to stay ahead of the curve and keep up with the Jones’.  Whether it’s on a subway train, the jogging trail in the park or the student center at the university, wireless earbuds are everywhere.  It seems no one goes anywhere now without their beat in their ears. And just when we thought they were just wireless headphones for music, it turns out that wireless earbuds are now linked to our mobile devices and can handle cell phone calls, manage other smart home devices, and keep track of our daily schedules!

Realizing just how behind the curve we are, a quick Google search brings us to the truly best wireless earbuds of 2018, but with so many different features and manufacturers, which ones are the best?  The answer is simpler than you might think. After reviewing all of the wireless earbuds on the market here in 2018, we’ve narrowed it down to the JBL Free and the Apple Airpods. It should be no surprise there’s an Apple product at (or near) the top of the list.  Let’s take a quick look at the two best truly wireless earbuds of 2018.

 

JBL Free

JBL brings a new twist to their wireless earbuds here in 2018.  Previously, earbuds had been for listening to music and occasionally serve as a hands-free device while driving.  This year, the JBL Free gives you the ability, through your earbud, to manage your incoming and outgoing calls at the push of a button for a more convenient experience.  Gone are the days of having to fumble around to find your phone to select what you want to do with your call, plug in your headset, and then put your phone away after apologizing to the person on the other end of the line that you had to switch to your handsfree arrangement.  The JBL takes all that extra time and embarrassment out of the picture.

Additionally, the JBL Free gives users the ability to use their earbuds longer than any other product on the market.  With a 24-hour playback capacity (4 hours of continuous playback and an additional 20 hours of juice in the charging case), the JBL Free can keep going almost twice as long as any other wireless earbud.

Lastly, we want to address the comfort – every ear is different and there is no one size fits all.  JBL recognizes this and includes a variety of soft rubber ear tips and funs to allow you to customize how your earbud rests inside your ear, giving you the comfort to wear it through an entire run or workout, and the security of knowing they won’t fall out.

Buy it now: Amazon

 

Apple AirPods

Like most Apple products, the Airpods are always going to be at (or near) the top of any list of electronic devices.  What Apple has done so seamlessly for the last few decades is integrate all of its customers’ needs into all of their products.  Like the iMac, iPhone, and iPad, the Airpods are designed to play well with every other device in your network. Once you set up and turn on your Airpods, they are designed to immediately sync with your iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad.

Because of the connectivity of the Airpods, they allow you to activate Siri without ever taking your phone out of your pocket.  Simply double-tap either of your earbuds and it will activate Siri without ever having to locate your phone. If you are worried about background noise coming through your microphone whenever you activate Siri or handle a call – don’t be.  Apple’s dual beamforming microphones are specially engineered to reduce background noise and provide the cleanest calling experience possible.

Like the JBL Free – Apple Airpods are also designed for a longer usage period – Apple offers over 24 hours of playback time and just over 11 hours of call time between the primary battery and the charger case backup.

Buy it now: Amazon

Verdict

Either earbud will catapult you to the front of the class when comparing your tech with the kid sitting next to you, but ultimately which one is best is going to depend on your usage.  For long term comfort and use, the JBL Free offers the customizable tips while the Airpods are more of a “one size fits all” approach and for non-Apple users, the JBL will allow you to sync your other devices to the earbuds.  For Apple users though, the integration and accessibility of the earbuds to the rest of your smart products can’t be beat.