JBL Live Free 2
See price on AmazonOverall Score 5.5 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Powerbeats Pro
See price on AmazonOverall Score 4.5 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Category | Features | JBL Live Free 2 | Powerbeats Pro |
---|---|---|---|
DESIGN | ingress protection (ip) rating | IPX5 | IPX4 |
weight | 9.8g | 20.3g | |
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 | 12mm | |
lowest frequency | 20Hz | 10Hz | |
highest frequency | 20,000Hz | ✗ | |
sound pressure level | 102dB/mW | ✗ | |
POWER | battery life | 7hours | 9hours |
battery life of charging case | 28hours | 24hours | |
charge time | ✗ | 0.7hours | |
has a battery level indicator | ✓ | ✓ | |
CONNECTIVITY | has usb type-c | ✓ | ✗ |
bluetooth version | v5.2 | v5 | |
maximum bluetooth range | 10meters | 10meters | |
has aac | ✗ | ✓ | |
MICROPHONE | number of microphones | 6only | 2only |
has a noise-canceling microphone | ✓ | ✗ | |
EXTRAS | has ambient sound mode | ✓ | ✗ |
supports fast charging | ✓ | ✓ | |
multipoint count | 2only | ✗ | |
has a mute function | ✓ | ✗ | |
control panel placed on a device | ✓ | ✓ | |
has voice prompts | ✓ | ✗ | |
travel bag is included | ✓ | ✓ | |
See price on Amazon | See price on Amazon |
Ingress protection ratings refer to the level of protection given by a casing, against dust and liquids. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value of the IP rating represents protection against solids say dust, followed by the one that refers to protection against liquids (sweat).
Scoring IPX4, the Powerbeats Pro's rating is read as, the first value of X denotes 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.
Compared to the Powerbeats Pro, 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 Powerbeats Pro
The Powerbeats Pro have a weight of 20.3g . We take in account a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry.
JBL Live Free 2, at 9.8g
are lighter than the Powerbeats Pro by -10.5g
For a device to be true wireless it should have no wires connecting any part of the device together, Powerbeats Pro are true wireless for this matter since they don't have wires. This is an important distinction since wireless earbuds have wires linking the pair of earbuds .
JBL Live Free 2 also is true wireless because it doesn't have wires linking the 2 earbuds .
Powerbeats Pro have wingtips, these are reserved for workout earbuds and come as an optional add-on to each silicone ear tip for a better fit.
Powerbeats Pro are resistant to sweat
JBL Live Free 2's resistance to sweat makes both devices ideal for use while doing sports such as long-distance running, marathons, training in workout bodysuits, etc
The Powerbeats Pro are both dustproof and water-resistant.
Powerbeats Pro have stereo speakers, what this means is that Powerbeats Pro's speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better listening experience.
Both JBL Live Free 2 and Powerbeats Pro have stereo speakers
Active noise cancellation utilises more advanced technology to actively cancel noise. How it works, it detects and analyzes the sound pattern of incoming noise and after generates a mirror signal to counter it. Simply put, it's like having +1 (noise) then adding -1 (counter sound by the device) giving 0 resulting in a reduced level of noise.
The JBL Live Free 2 have Active Noise Cancellation allowing you to listen at lower volume levels, good for your ears as you don't need to crank up the device volume to overcome background sounds.
Powerbeats Pro stay tightly in place, this creates an acoustic seal that tones down your environment sounds well as preventing the earbuds sound from leaking out .
Both of these devices have passive noise reduction this means that both tone down ambient noise without using technology to cancel it out.
Powerbeats Pro driver unit is 12mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, and can produce better bass.
The driver unit is the component that produces sound in the device, its size determines the loudness of the earbuds.
JBL Live Free 2 driver unit is 11mm in diameter,
which means that they have a smaller driver unit than that of Powerbeats Pro by 1mm
, a common assumption that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.
However, large drivers find it difficult to produce high frequencies so yeah, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not imply that they deliver better quality sound.
Powerbeats Pro's lowest frequency is at 10Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well an audio component produces low frequencies that can be heard, and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it.
JBL Live Free 2's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this means that
Powerbeats Pro can produce a juicier bass than the JBL Live Free 2
The JBL Live Free 2's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response tells how well a particular audio device generates high audible frequencies and if it changes to the signal while at it.
The sound pressure level, is the level of pressure of sound, measured in decibels, dB, JBL Live Free 2's measurement is 102dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.
The Powerbeats Pro's battery life is 9 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 longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings.
JBL Live Free 2's battery life is
less than that of Powerbeats Pro by 2 hours
. Every time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less listening time. The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time.
This is given by the vendor, and Powerbeats Pro's case has a charge of 24 hours. A charging case with more battery hours allows you to recharge your earbuds on the go many times before having to recharge the case itself.
JBL Live Free 2's charging case has a battery life of 28 hours,
more than that of Powerbeats Pro by 4 hours
It takes 0.7 hours to fully charge the Powerbeats Pro's battery. It is recommended to charge fully the battery before using the earbuds when they have been in storage for long periods.
The Powerbeats Pro have a battery level indicator, an indicator shows you when the earbuds has a low battery. Its lights show the charging status of your device and case.
JBL Live Free 2 too have a battery level indicator, these enable you tell the charging state of your device, whether fully charged, or having a low battery.
JBL Live Free 2 have USB TYPE-C, an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power in a single cable.
The Powerbeats Pro 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 Live Free 2 has a Bluetooth version of 5.2,
newer than that of Powerbeats Pro
. Newer versions provide faster data transfers.
The Powerbeats Pro have a 10meters distance to connect via Bluetooth.
JBL Live Free 2 have a maximum range of 10meters,
equal to that of the Powerbeats Pro
Powerbeats Pro support AAC, a codec that is used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Since it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it provides better results than other codecs at the same bit rate.
Being the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Powerbeats Pro will work fine with your MacBook. If you are planning on using these with Android , ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.
Powerbeats Pro have 2 microphones.
While the JBL Live Free 2 microphones are 6,
more than that of Powerbeats Pro by 4
. More microphones record better sound quality and help the device to filter out background sounds.
The JBL Live Free 2 use a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are designed to reduce noise from the earbuds' sound.
JBL Live Free 2 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient sound to still be heard even when wearing the earbuds
The Powerbeats Pro support fast charging. Commonly, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to lower the amount of time it takes to fully charge a device.
The JBL Live Free 2 support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, just that the battery fills up much faster. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in thirty minutes.
JBL Live Free 2 have a multipoint of 2 connections, the multipoint feature allows you connect to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. Say, you can easily switch calls from one device to another without manually disconnect and reconnect.
The JBL Live Free 2 have a mute function, they support the option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the earbuds.
With the Powerbeats Pro, so you can easily access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever features are supported on the device.
JBL Live Free 2 too have a control panel on them.
The JBL Live Free 2 support voice prompts. With voice prompts, you receive information via audio messages, like if there is an issue with the connection.
Powerbeats Pro come with their own special pouch. Carrying earphones without a case, or putting them in your pockets without a casing may easily damage them.
JBL Live Free 2 also have a case included, which is useful for safe transportation.