Apple Airpods (3Rd Gen) Vs. Jbl Wave Buds Review In Detail

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

JBL Wave Buds IP54

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) IPX4

Ingress protection ratings refer to the level of protection offered by a casing, against dust and liquids. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value refers to protection against solids say dust, followed by the one that refers to resistance against liquids (water).

Having a value of IPX4, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s rating is read as, the first value of X denotes that no data available to specify a protection rating, and of liquids 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 Wave Buds have a rating of IP54 meaning that ingress of dust is not totally prevented but dust does not enter in harmful quantities to interfere with the correct operation or impair safety and that of liquids is that, they both have the same rating against liquids

Weight

JBL Wave Buds 9g

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 8.56g

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a weight of 8.56g . We consider a lower weight best because lighter devices are more comfortable to move with.

The JBL Wave Buds, at 9g are heavier than the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) with a difference of 0.44g

Has No Wires Or Cables

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓

True wireless devices have no wires connecting any part of the device together, Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) are true wireless for this matter since they don't have wires. This is a key difference as some wireless earbuds have cables linking the 2 earbuds together.

JBL Wave Buds also is true wireless since it has no cables connecting the 2 earbuds together.

Sweat Resistance

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have sweat resistance

JBL Wave Buds's resistance to sweat makes both devices ideal for use during long-distance running, marathons, training in workout bodysuits, etc

Has Stereo Speakers

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have stereo speakers, devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better listening experience.

Both JBL Wave Buds and Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have stereo speakers

JBL Wave Buds
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Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓

ANC makes use of advanced technology to actively counter noise. How it works, it studies the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and then inverts the soundwaves to counter it. Simply put, it's like taking +1 (sound from your surrounding) and producing -1 (inverted noise) to make 0 which results in a reduced level of noise.

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have Active Noise Cancellation enabling you to listen at lower levels of volume, causing less ear fatigue as you don't have to crank up the device volume to outcompete background sounds.

JBL Wave Buds too have Active Noise Cancellation which makes both devices ideal for flights and rush hour commutes. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) and JBL Wave Buds operate with different noise cancellation types, pick the mode that suits your commute or that enhances your relaxation time.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) sit well in place, this creates a sound covering that reduces your environment noise and also prevents the device voice audio from leaking out .

Both of these devices have passive noise reduction which implies that they reduce ambient noise without using technology to cancel it out.

Driver Unit Size

JBL Wave Buds 8mm

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 11mm

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a unit size of 11mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, and can produce better bass. The driver unit is basically a mini speaker that produces sound in the earbuds, its size determines the sound produced by the device.

JBL Wave Buds driver unit is 8mm in diameter, which implies that they have a smaller driver unit than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 3mm , 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 yes, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not indicate that they deliver better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

JBL Wave Buds 20Hz

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 10Hz

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s lowest frequency is at 10Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well an audio component generates low frequencies that can be heard, and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it.

JBL Wave Buds's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) make sound with a juicier bass than the JBL Wave Buds

Highest Frequency

JBL Wave Buds 20,000Hz

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 20,000Hz

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio device makes high recognizable frequencies and if it makes any adjustments to the signal while at it.

JBL Wave Buds's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this means that both devices can generate equal treble

Sound Pressure Level

JBL Wave Buds 100dB/mW

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✗

The sound pressure level, is the pressure level of sound, measured in decibels, dB, JBL Wave Buds's measurement is 100dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.

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Battery Life

JBL Wave Buds 8hours

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 6hours

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 usually given by the manufacturer, and with more battery hours, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings.

JBL Wave Buds's battery life is more than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 2 hours . Every time you recharge your device, they get a little less playing time. The effect is not noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will no longer play for long like they used to.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

JBL Wave Buds 24hours

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 30hours

This is given by the vendor, and Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s case has a charge of 30 hours. A charging case with a longer battery life enables you to recharge your earbuds on the go many times before having to recharge the case itself.

JBL Wave Buds's charging case has a battery life of 24 hours, less than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 6 hours

Charge Time

JBL Wave Buds 2hours

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 0.3hours

It requires 0.3 hours to fully charge the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s battery. It is highly adivsable to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds for the first time.

JBL Wave Buds takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery, more than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 1.7 hours

Has Wireless Charging

JBL Wave Buds ✗

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), the device supports wireless charging. To charge the device, you simply place down on a supported charging pad.

Has A Battery Level Indicator

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a battery level indicator, an indicator shows you when the earbuds has a low battery. Its lights display the charging state of your earbuds and case.

JBL Wave Buds too have a battery level indicator, these enable you determine the charging state of your earbuds, if charged fully, or the battery is running low.

JBL Wave Buds
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Has Usb Type-C

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✗

JBL Wave Buds use USB TYPE-C, an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power in a single cable.

Bluetooth Version

JBL Wave Buds v5.2

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) v5

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have Bluetooth version of 5, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that enables data movement between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.

JBL Wave Buds has a Bluetooth version of 5.2, newer than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) . Newer versions provide faster data transfers.

Maximum Bluetooth Range

JBL Wave Buds 10meters

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 10meters

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a 10meters distance to connect via Bluetooth.

JBL Wave Buds have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)

Has Aac

JBL Wave Buds ✓

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 the same bit rate.

Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) will work well with your iPad. If you intend on using these with Android , ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.

The JBL Wave Buds support AAC as well. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 encoders at the same bit rate.

Has Aptx Adaptive

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✗

JBL Wave Buds support APTX Adaptive, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps).

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Number Of Microphones

JBL Wave Buds 2only

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 6only

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have 6 microphones.

JBL Wave Buds microphones are 2, less than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 4 . More microphones result in better sound quality and enable the device to filter out background sounds.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are made to reduce background sounds from the earbuds' sound.

The JBL Wave Buds too have a noise-canceling type of microphone. This is useful in noisy environments.

Mic Sensitivity

JBL Wave Buds -38dBV/Pa

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✗

JBL Wave Buds microphone sensitivity is measured at -38dBV/Pa. The magnitude of the analog or digital output signal from the microphone with its input stimulus is a measure of its sensitivity. It's the 'loudness' of the sound that the earbud microphone can pick up.

JBL Wave Buds
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Has Ambient Sound Mode

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✗

JBL Wave Buds support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient noises to still be heard even while wearing them

Has In/On-Ear Detection

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the earbuds can detect when removed from your ears so that the music is paused.

The JBL Wave Buds too support in/on-ear detection, automatically pauses your music, or audiobook when you remove earbuds from your ears improving your listening experience.

Has Find Earbuds Feature

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓

If lost in a room, or can't easily find them in your bag, Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a find earbuds feature.

JBL Wave Buds too have the find earbuds feature. Use the earbuds app on your smartphone to play a sound from your device to find them.

Supports Fast Charging

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support fast charging. Commonly, technologies like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, are used to lower the amount of time it takes to charge a device.

The JBL Wave Buds support fast charging. It's very 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.

Multipoint Count

JBL Wave Buds 2only

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 2only

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a multipoint of 2 connections, the multipoint feature allows you to link to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. Say, you can easily switch calls from one device to another without having to manually disconnect and reconnect.

The JBL Wave Buds support multipoint count of 2, equal to that of the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) . Bluetooth multipoint is useful because you can be on one call without missing notifications from another device.

Has A Mute Function

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a mute function, they have the feature to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the earbuds.

The JBL Wave Buds too support this function. The mute function means that you can turn off the earbuds' microphone, but you can still hear the other party talk.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), so you can easily access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever features are supported on the device.

JBL Wave Buds too have a control panel on them.

Warranty Period

JBL Wave Buds ✗

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 1Years

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.

Has Voice Prompts

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support voice prompts. With voice prompts, you receive information via audio messages, say if there is a problem with the connection.

The JBL Wave Buds too support voice prompts meaning the earbuds will notify you if the battery is running low, and it's time to recharge the earbuds.

Travel Bag Is Included

JBL Wave Buds ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) come with their own special pouch. Carrying earbuds without a case, or putting them inside your bag without a casing may easily put them at risk of getting damaged.

JBL Wave Buds also have a case included, which offers safe transportation.

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Category	Features	JBL Wave Buds	Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)
DESIGN	ingress protection (ip) rating	IP54	IPX4
	weight	9g	8.56g
	has no wires or cables	✓	✓
	sweat resistance	✓	✓
	has stereo speakers	✓	✓
SOUND QUALITY	has active noise cancellation (noise control)	✓	✓
	has passive noise reduction	✓	✓
	driver unit size	8mm	11mm
	lowest frequency	20Hz	10Hz
	highest frequency	20,000Hz	20,000Hz
	sound pressure level	100dB/mW	✗
POWER	battery life	8hours	6hours
	battery life of charging case	24hours	30hours
	charge time	2hours	0.3hours
	has wireless charging	✗	✓
	has a battery level indicator	✓	✓
CONNECTIVITY	has usb type-c	✓	✗
	bluetooth version	v5.2	v5
	maximum bluetooth range	10meters	10meters
	has aac	✓	✓
	has aptx adaptive	✓	✗
MICROPHONE	number of microphones	2only	6only
	has a noise-canceling microphone	✓	✓
	mic sensitivity	-38dBV/Pa	✗
EXTRAS	has ambient sound mode	✓	✗
	has in/on-ear detection	✓	✓
	has find earbuds feature	✓	✓
	supports fast charging	✓	✓
	multipoint count	2only	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

Apple Airpods (3Rd Gen) Vs. Jbl Wave Buds Review

Reasons why you might like the JBL Wave Buds

Reasons why you might like the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)