Ingress protection ratings refer to the rating of protection offered by an enclosure, against dust and water. The letters 'IP' are followed by two values The first value of the IP rating means protection against solids say dust, followed by the one that refers to protection against liquids (sweat).
Having a value of IPX4, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s rating for solids indicates that no data available to specify a protection rating, and the second number of 4 means that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes. In comparison to the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), JBL Live Free 2 have a rating of IPX5 meaning that
we are not yet certain of their rating with solids (dust)
and that of liquids is that,
JBL Live Free 2 has a higher liquid rating than Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a weight of 8.56g . We consider a lower weight best for the reason that lighter devices are more comfortable to transport.
JBL Live Free 2, at 9.8g
are heavier than the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by of 1.24g
For a device to be true wireless it must have no cables connecting any part of the device together, Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) are true wireless for this case since they don't have wires. This is an important distinction as some wireless earbuds have cables connecting the two earbuds .
JBL Live Free 2 also is true wireless since it doesn't have cables connecting the 2 earbuds together. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have sweat resistance
JBL Live Free 2's resistance to sweat makes both devices ideal for use while doing sports such as long-distance running, marathons, cardio sweat workouts , etc
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have stereo speakers, what this means is that Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.
Both JBL Live Free 2 and Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have stereo speakers
ANC utilises advanced technology to actively cancel noise. How it works, it listens to the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and inverts the soundwaves to cancel it out. Simply put, it's like taking +1 (sound from your surrounding) then producing -1 (counter sound by the device) to make 0 which results in a reduced level of noise.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have ANC enabling you to listen at lower volume levels, good for your ears as you don't have to crank up the device volume to overcome background sounds. The JBL Live Free 2 too have ANC making both earbuds ideal for plane rides and rush hour travels. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) and JBL Live Free 2 work with different noise cancellation modes, pick the mode that you prefer for travel or that suites your chill time.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) sit well in place, this creates an acoustic seal that tones down background noise and also prevents the device music from leaking out at the same. Both JBL Live Free 2, and Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have passive noise reduction which means that they tone down ambient noise instead of actively using technology to cancel it out. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) driver unit is 11mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, therefor producing better bass.
A driver unit is the component that produces sound in the earbuds, its size determines the sound produced by the earbuds. JBL Live Free 2 driver unit is 11mm in diameter,
making both JBL Live Free 2, and Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) similar in how loud their sound can get
, many people have a misconception that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.
However, large drivers usually have difficulty producing high frequencies so yeah, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not mean that they produce better quality sound.
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s lowest frequency is at 10Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well an audio component produces low audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on its way through. JBL Live Free 2's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this means that
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) can make sound with a juicier bass than the JBL Live Free 2
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response indicates how well a particular audio device generates high human frequencies and if it adjustments to the signal on its way through. JBL Live Free 2's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this means that
both devices can produce equal treble
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s battery life is 6 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average for a single charge.
A device's battery life is given by the manufacturer, and with more battery hours, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings. JBL Live Free 2's battery life is
more than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 1 hours
. Each time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less playing time. The effect is not noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time.
The battery life of the charging case is given by the vendor, and Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s case has a full charge of 30 hours. A charging case with more battery hours enables you to recharge your earbuds on the go multiple times before recharging the case itself. JBL Live Free 2's charging case has a battery life of 28 hours,
less than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 2 hours
It takes 0.3 hours to fully charge the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s battery.
It is recommended to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds for the first time. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), the device supports wireless charging. To charge the device, you just place down on a supported charging pad.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a battery level indicator, an indicator alerts you when the device has a low battery. Its lights show the charging state of your earbuds and case. JBL Live Free 2 too have a battery level indicator, these enable you tell the charging state of your device, if charged fully, or the battery is running low.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have Bluetooth version of 5, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that enables data transfers between devices placed in range, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves. JBL Live Free 2 has a Bluetooth version of 5.2,
newer than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)
. Newer versions provide faster data transfers. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a 10meters distance to connect via Bluetooth.
JBL Live Free 2 have a maximum range of 10meters,
equal to that of the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support AAC, a codec used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Because it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it can provide better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.
Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) will work fine with your iPad. If you are planning on using these with Android you need to pay even closer attention to codec support for if they only have AAC they won't provide the best audio quality possible, ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have 6 microphones.
While the JBL Live Free 2 microphones are 6,
equal to that of the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)
. More microphones record better sound quality and enable the earbuds to filter out noise. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are made to reduce background sounds from the desired sound. The JBL Live Free 2 too use a noise-canceling type of microphone.
Especially useful in noisy areas. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when they are removed from your ears so that the music is paused. If misplaced in a room, or can't easily find them in your bag, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a find earbuds feature.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support fast charging. Commonly, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to reduce the time it takes to fully charge the earbuds. Also the JBL Live Free 2 too support fast charging.
It's very similar to regular charging, just that the battery is filling up much faster. Say, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in just thirty minutes. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a multipoint of 2 connections, this feature allows you connect to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them.
For example, you can seemlessly switch calls from one device to another without manually disconnect and reconnect. The JBL Live Free 2 have a multipoint count of 2,
equal to that of the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)
. Bluetooth multipoint comes in handy when you can be on one call without missing notifications coming from another device. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a mute function, they have the feature to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device.
The JBL Live Free 2 too support this function. It means that you can turn off the device's microphone, but you can still hear the other party's voice. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), so you can easily access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever functions are supported on the earbuds.
JBL Live Free 2 too have a control panel on them. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a warranty period of 1 Years, the period of time that warrant free repair and adjustment services in case of a malfunction occurring under normal use following instruction manuals. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have voice prompts.
With voice prompts, you receive information through audio messages, say if there is an issue with the connection. JBL Live Free 2 also have voice prompts .i.e the earbuds notifies you if the battery is running low, and you need to recharge the earbuds. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) come with their own special case.
Carrying earphones without a case, or placing them in your pockets without a casing may easily damage them. JBL Live Free 2 too have a travel bag included, which offers safe transportation.
