Overall Score 7.3 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Overall Score 7 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Category | Features | Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) | JBL Reflect Aero TWS |
---|---|---|---|
DESIGN | ingress protection (ip) rating | IPX4 | IP68 |
weight | 8.56g | 13g | |
has no wires or cables | ✓ | ✓ | |
wingtips included | ✗ | ✓ | |
sweat resistance | ✓ | ✓ | |
is dust proof and water-resistant | ✗ | ✓ | |
has stereo speakers | ✓ | ✓ | |
SOUND QUALITY | has active noise cancellation (noise control) | ✓ | ✓ |
has passive noise reduction | ✓ | ✓ | |
driver unit size | 11mm | 6.8mm | |
lowest frequency | 10Hz | 20Hz | |
highest frequency | 20,000Hz | 20,000Hz | |
sound pressure level | ✗ | 99dB/mW | |
POWER | battery life | 6hours | 8hours |
battery life of charging case | 30hours | 16hours | |
charge time | 0.3hours | 1.5hours | |
has wireless charging | ✓ | ✗ | |
has a battery level indicator | ✓ | ✓ | |
CONNECTIVITY | has usb type-c | ✗ | ✓ |
bluetooth version | v5 | v5.2 | |
maximum bluetooth range | 10meters | 10meters | |
has aac | ✓ | ✗ | |
MICROPHONE | number of microphones | 6only | 6only |
has a noise-canceling microphone | ✓ | ✓ | |
EXTRAS | has ambient sound mode | ✗ | ✓ |
has in/on-ear detection | ✓ | ✗ | |
has find earbuds feature | ✓ | ✗ | |
supports fast charging | ✓ | ✓ | |
multipoint count | 2only | ✗ | |
has a mute function | ✓ | ✓ | |
control panel placed on a device | ✓ | ✓ | |
warranty period | 1Years | ✗ | |
has voice prompts | ✓ | ✓ | |
travel bag is included | ✓ | ✓ | |
See price on Amazon | See price on Amazon |
Ingress protection ratings is the rank of protection offered by an enclosure, against solids and water. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value of the IP rating represents protection against solids say dust, while the second refers to protection against liquids (water).
Scoring IPX4, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s rating for solids indicates that no data available to specify a protection rating, and the second value 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 Reflect Aero TWS have a rating of IP68 meaning that
they are completely dust proof
and that of liquids is that,
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) has a lower liquid rating than JBL Reflect Aero TWS
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a weight of 8.56g . We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are easier to carry.
JBL Reflect Aero TWS, at 13g
weigh more than the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) with a difference of 4.44g
True wireless devices have no wires connecting any part of the device together, Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) are true wireless for this case since they don't have cables. This is a key difference since wireless earbuds have wires connecting the pair of earbuds together.
JBL Reflect Aero TWS also is true wireless since it has no wires connecting the 2 earbuds together.
The JBL Reflect Aero TWS come with wingtips, these are commonly used for earbuds for workouts and are usually an optional add-on to the separate silicone ear tip for a more secure fit.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have sweat resistance
JBL Reflect Aero TWS's resistance to sweat makes both devices ideal for use during long-distance running, marathons, training in workout bodysuits, etc
JBL Reflect Aero TWS are both dustproof and water-resistant.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have stereo speakers, devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.
Both JBL Reflect Aero TWS and Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have stereo speakers
Active noise cancellation uses more advanced technology to reduce ambient sounds. ANC works when, it listens to the sound pattern of incoming noise and generates a mirror signal to counter it. Simply put, it's like taking +1 (noise) and adding -1 (counter sound by the device) to make 0 which results in a reduced level of noise.
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have Active Noise Cancellation allowing you to listen at lower levels of volume, good for your ears as you don't need to crank up the earbuds volume to overcome background noise.
JBL Reflect Aero TWS too have Active Noise Cancellation making either of the devices ideal for plane rides and rush hour travels. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) and JBL Reflect Aero TWS work with different noise cancellation modes, pick the setting that you prefer for commute or that enhances your chill time.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) stay tightly in place, creating an acoustic seal that reduces your environment noise while preventing the device sound from leaking out .
Both JBL Reflect Aero TWS, and Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have passive noise reduction this means that both reduce ambient noise without using ANC to cancel it out.
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a unit size of 11mm in diameter, the bigger the unit the more powerful, therefor producing better bass.
The driver unit is the component that produces sound in the device, its size determines the loudness of the device.
JBL Reflect Aero TWS driver unit is 6.8mm in diameter,
which means that they have a smaller driver unit than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 4.2mm
, as many tend to believe 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 can generate louder sound, but this does not imply that they produce better quality sound.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s lowest frequency is at 10Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well a particular audio component generates low frequencies that can be heard, and if it alters the signal on its way through.
JBL Reflect Aero TWS's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) make sound with a juicier bass than the JBL Reflect Aero TWS
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response shows how well a particular audio device produces high audible frequencies and if it makes any adjustments to the signal on its way through.
JBL Reflect Aero TWS's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this implies that
both devices generate equal treble
SPL, is the level of pressure of sound, in decibels, dB, JBL Reflect Aero TWS's measurement is 99dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.
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 Reflect Aero TWS's battery life is
more than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 2 hours
. Each time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less playing time. The effect is not noticeable at first, but over a few years, your wireless earbuds will no longer play for long like they used to.
The battery life of the charging case is given by the manufacturer, and the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s case is said to have a full charge of 30 hours. A charging case with a longer battery life enables you to recharge your earbuds on the go multiple times before having to recharge the case itself.
JBL Reflect Aero TWS's charging case has a battery life of 16 hours,
less than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 14 hours
It requires 0.3 hours to fully charge the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s battery. It is recommended to charge fully the battery before using the earbuds for the first time.
JBL Reflect Aero TWS takes 1.5 hours to fully charge the battery,
more than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 1.2 hours
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 indicate the charging status of your earbuds and case.
JBL Reflect Aero TWS too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators allow you determine the charging state of your device, whether fully charged, or having a low battery.
The JBL Reflect Aero TWS have USB TYPE-C, a standard connector for transmitting both data and power through a single cable.
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have Bluetooth version of 5, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that enables data movement between devices placed in range, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.
JBL Reflect Aero TWS has a Bluetooth version of 5.2,
newer than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)
. Newer versions provide faster data transfers.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a 10meters distance to connect via Bluetooth.
JBL Reflect Aero TWS 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 provides 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 MacBook. 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.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have 6 microphones.
While the JBL Reflect Aero TWS microphones are 6,
equal to that of the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)
. More microphones record better sound quality and help the earbuds to filter out noise.
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a noise-canceling type of microphone, these microphones are designed to reduce noise from the earbuds' sound.
The JBL Reflect Aero TWS too use a noise-canceling microphone. Especially useful in noisy environments.
The JBL Reflect Aero TWS support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to pass through ambient noises so that they can still be heard even while wearing them
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when removed from your ears so that the music is paused.
When misplaced in a room, or can't be found in your bag, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support the find earbuds feature.
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support fast charging. Commonly, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to reduce the time it takes to charge the earbuds.
The JBL Reflect Aero TWS support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, just that the battery is filling up much faster. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in thirty minutes.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support multipoint of 2 connections, the multipoint feature allows you to link to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. Say, you can switch calls from one device to another without manually disconnect and reconnect.
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a mute function, they have the feature to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the earbuds.
The JBL Reflect Aero TWS too support the mute function. It means that you are in position turn off the device's microphone, but still hear the other party's voice.
With the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), so you can access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever functions are supported on the device.
The JBL Reflect Aero TWS also 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 that has followed 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 Reflect Aero TWS too have voice prompts .i.e the earbuds will notify you if the battery is low, and it's time to recharge the earbuds.
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) come with their own special pouch. Carrying earbuds without a case, or placing them in your bag without a cover may easily damage them.
JBL Reflect Aero TWS too have a travel bag included, which is useful for safe transportation.