Before I had access to all the premium brand headphones and earbuds my heart desired for testing at Esquire, I was a mark for JBL. The brand’s cheapest headphones are some of the best $30 over-ear pairs you can find (and as a freelance writer that’s what I needed) and the Clip mini speaker is a go-to, beloved by friends and other Esquire editors alike.
The latest innovation from JBL takes earbud charging cases to the next level, and the Tour Pro 3 earbuds are a leap ahead from previous attempts. Did anyone ask for another screen in their life? Fuck no, but a touchscreen on your charging case is hella cyberpunk and that’s a better dystopia than the one we’re currently living in.
JBL Tour Pro 3
Cons
- Call quality is subpar
- Checking messages feature is buggy
- Case is heavier and bulkier than most
The JBL Tour 3 are a great, if expensive, pair of noise-cancelling earbuds. The Smart Charging Case is more than just a fancy package—it’s loaded with features that are often buried in an app or a complicated series of touch inputs. No matter how you slice it, this is a high tech pair of buds. In return, they come at a high price.
The Smartest Buds on the Block
The Tour 3 earbuds are debuting at $300 and come in either Black or Latte color. The package includes two form-fitting buds with a basic play/pause touch control on the right bud and ANC control on the left. The controls are basic, and everything more complex is left to the charging case display.
Those familiar with the Tour Pro 2 earbuds already know how the Smart Charging Case works. But this isn’t just a charging case, it is a control center for your listening experience, with a fully functional touch display at your fingertips. The Tour Pro 2 introduced this idea, but the Tour Pro 3 has given it the juice it needs to separate from other devices.
The screen on the new model is bigger, better, and brighter (if you need it). It’s consistently responsive and quick-to-wake. The home screen shows the local time and case’s battery life atop a custom wallpaper you can load on the JBL app and switch at will between using the smart case.
The features of the smart case I used the most were the EQ and ANC control. I often find it’s not worth the time to go into an app to adjust the EQ on my music if I’m going from punk to hip-hop, or from music to a podcast. Even when I’m using very good headphones that could make a difference, it’s easy to forget the option is there. Not so with the Tour Pro 3 earbuds. I loved having the ability to switch from bass to vocal boosting right there on the case.
In addition to music essentials like play/pause, volume, and Bluetooth settings on the case can perform a lot of tasks you’d normally do on your smartphone. There’s a timer, alarm, and a flashlight that illuminates the screen. Did I find myself using these instead of my phone? Rarely, but it was still cool to have. The winner of “feature I could see myself using most but luckily didn’t have to” is Find My Buds. When activated from the app, the buds give off a loud chirp. I could imagine a dozen scenarios where it could be a lifesaver. Or at very least a time saver.
My favorite feature of the case is something I’m starting to see pop up in higher-end earbuds and I’m absolutely here for it. JBL calls it wireless transmission mode. Essentially, you can connect the case with a USB-C to 3.5mm cable and wirelessly transmit audio from the connected device to the buds, while using the case as the middle-man. This is an awesome feature for anyone who flies frequently. Even when I bring headphones on a long journey, they are all Bluetooth and connecting to the in-flight TV requires a wired connection. Wireless transmission is the solve people like me have been waiting for. I am also told this can be greatly useful at the gym.
The “smart case” also claims it will give notifications and let you check your messages. In my experience, this never quite synched up to work as advertised… or really at all.
Endless Sound Options At Your Fingertips
In terms of sound, the JBL Tour Pro 3 earbuds are just as high-tech as the case. With various noise-cancelling modes (including full ANC and transparency mode) and adjustable EQ on the fly, the optimal word is options. Impressively, the buds even have a spatial audio mode with head-tracking. If you want to feel extra immersed in your plane movie, turn this on and discover wonders most can only find in over-ear headphones.
I will say that when it comes to noise-cancelling, the Tour Pro 3 are great for earbuds. There are plenty of (more expensive) over-ear sets that do a better job fully blocking out the outside world.
The other area where the sound quality falters compared to bigger headphones is when making calls. I took a couple calls during my time testing out the earbuds and both times I was told that I was coming across garbled and, in both instances, had to switch to my phone’s regular speaker. This was the most disappointing aspect of the whole review, especially given how proud JBL is of its new “Crystal AI algorithm” for call quality.
Final Verdict
JBL Tour Pro 3
Cons
- Call quality is subpar
- Checking messages feature is buggy
- Case is heavier and bulkier than most
The JBL Tour Pro 3 earbuds are an impressive technically feat. They sound great and the smart case makes them one of the most advanced and feature-rich buds on the market. They can be a bit heavier and larger than most wireless earbud cases, but with all the features packed in you can’t argue you aren’t getting something more high-tech for that extra bulk.
I ran into consistent issues with messaging and taking calls, but those quibbles haven’t stopped me from using the earbuds nearly every day since I began the reviewing process. It’s easy to see how the touchscreen case could quickly become the new norm for earbuds in only a matter of years. If staying ahead of the technology curve is your priority, these are the most forward-looking earbuds you’ll find today.
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At Esquire, we’ve been testing and reviewing the latest and greatest products for decades now. When it comes to tech, hands-on testing with every gadget and piece of gear we review is our number-one priority. From headphones to smartwatches, we know which brands are the best of the best … as well as which to avoid.
I spent weeks using the JBL Tour Pro 3 earbuds before reviewing them. I tested the noise-cancelling and spatial audio features at home, on the subway, walking around NYC, and at the office.
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