JBL has always produced great-sounding headphones at a reasonable price. Over the years, I had my fair share of JBL headphones; they were a treat during my music-loving college days. But all my previous JBLs were wired headphones, so when I was offered to try JBL’s latest flagship True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds, the JBL Tour Pro 3, I jumped on the chance to see how the brand has fared so far in the wireless era.
Design: 4/5
Opening the box, you’ll be greeted with the latest generation of JBL’s Smart Charging case. Also included in the box are five pairs of replacement silicon ear tips and an extra foam pair. There’s also a USB-C to 3.5mm cable for when you want to use the Smart Charging case as a transmitter, and finally, there’s the USB-C cable for charging.
In terms of earbuds, the JBL Tour Pro 3 has a stemmed design, though its stem is not as pronounced as some other buds. The buds are also pretty light, at just 5.6g each. The Smart Charging Case is also pretty light at just 71.8g despite all the tech it has.
Finally, in terms of colorway, ours came in Black, but there’s also a Latte variant that resembles more of a rose gold color than a latte.
Hardware: 4.5/5
The main force behind the JBL Tour Pro 3 is its hybrid dual-driver system. There are two drivers within each earbud: a balance armature driver that handles the highs and a 10mm dynamic driver that handles the bass and vocals.
The Tour Pro 3 has nifty features such as JBL’s True Adaptive Noise Cancellation 3.0 and JBL Spatial 360 with head tracking. What’s great about these features is that they are easily accessible through the Smart Charging case or the JBL Headphones app.
Regarding battery life, the JBL Tour Pro 3 earbuds each have a 65mAh battery that can provide 11 hours of playback with the ANC off and 8 hours of playback with the ANC on. Meanwhile, the Smart Charger itself has an 850 mAh battery. A single charge of the smart charger can charge the device from 0 to 100 three times.
The JBL Tour Pro 3 is best used with the JBL Headphone app. Within the app, you can adjust the ANC, activate spatial audio, and play around with EQ settings. The Personi-Fi 3.0 feature within the JBL Headphone App also allows you to have a more personalized sound profile.
User Experience: 4/5
The JBL Tour Pro 3 is unique. When I got my hands on our unit, the Smart Charging case immediately caught my attention. While the LCD display is a standout, I was more interested in how they fit the display into a reasonably sized case. Not just any regular fit, but the display was intuitive and surprisingly responsive.
Going to the earbuds themselves, the JBL Tour Pro 3 had a comfortable and secure fit. There’s no sound leakage, so you can enjoy the loudest volumes to your heart’s content.
One of my biggest disappointments with the Tour Pro 3 was the volume limitation. The device is limited to the volume of your connected device, and there is no way to increase or decrease the volume separate from your device.
Because of this limitation, I found myself wanting a bit more volume to fully enjoy the listening experience.
In terms of noise cancellation, the JBL Tour Pro 3 did a fantastic job of completely shutting down noise. The device managed to remove most of the ambient sounds during my train commutes. If you do need to switch modes, the Smart Charging case quickly gets the job done. There’s no more fumbling about your phone to find the right app and settings.
Another unique feature I found myself using is the JBL Spatial 360. I enjoyed a few movies and series with spatial audio turned on. It’s not the greatest out there, but when you’re alone in a quiet room the feature does elevate your viewing experience.
Finally, regarding sound quality, the JBL Tour Pro 3 does a great job. The highs and vocals were amazing. The bass was also good, better than most earbuds, but I did find myself wanting a bit more oomph.
The JBL Tour Pro 3 was easy to set up. Its quick pair feature allows you to set up and use the device immediately. Connecting to the JBL Headphone app was seamless as well. There’s a slight delay from when you connect the earbuds to your phone to when the app recognizes that the device is already connected.
Value: 4/5
Coming in at PHP16,999, the JBL Tour Pro 3 has a steep asking price compared to its competition. While it has a larger driver than most competitors, the volume and sound quality feel lacking in some aspects, although not by much. That said, the JBL Tour Pro 3 remains flagship quality earbuds worth considering.
Bottomline:
If you’re in the market for a feature-packed TWS earbud, the JBL Tour Pro 3 is a strong contender. With exceptional ANC, a unique Smart Charging Case, and high-quality sound, it stands out as a premium option. While the price point is on the higher side, the overall package makes it a worthy consideration for audiophiles and tech enthusiasts alike.
What’s Hot:
- Battery life
- Smart Charging Case
- ANC and Spatial Audio
- Hybrid Dual Driver system
What’s Not:
- Price
Specifications:
- Drivers: 10.2 mm/ 0.402” Dynamic Driver + 5.1 mm x 2.8 mm Balanced Armature
- Number of Microphones: 6
- Dynamic frequency response range: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
- Impedance: 32 ohms
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C
- Water resistance: IP55
- Weight: 5.6g (earbuds), 71.8 (smart charging case), 83g (buds and charger)
- Battery life: 11hrs (earbuds, ANC off), 8 hrs (earbuds, ANC on) 33hrs (Case)
Reviewed by Gabriel Pe
Also published in GADGETS MAGAZINE Volume 25 No. 7 Issue