Bose shocked everybody earlier this yr with the launch of the clip-on Extremely Open earbuds. The premise is half fashionable, half purposeful, permitting you to hearken to your environment whereas listening to music or podcasts. Nevertheless, the model is priced at $299, which is prohibitive for anybody wanting to do this distinctive model of damage. JLab, a price range audio firm with a stable observe report for sound high quality and options priced beneath $100, has a brand new mannequin: the Flex Open-Again Earbuds. For $50, it is simpler to make the leap on a clip-on design, particularly if you don’t need these to be your all-day headphones.
The Flex open-back earbuds supply the identical fundamental premise because the Bose fashions. They clip behind your ear whereas putting the speaker outdoors your ear canal. This retains your ears open to the surface noise you actually need to hear, whereas conserving your ears unclogged and cozy. JLab guarantees the Flex Open earbuds are nice for calls, and multipoint Bluetooth enables you to change units simply. Google Fast Pair works on Android units, so you’ll be able to join the headphones as quickly as you’re taking them out of the charging case.
The place the Flex Open Earbuds truly surpass the Extremely Open Earbuds is in sturdiness and battery life. The $50 JLab model has an IP55 score, whereas the Bose mannequin has an IPX4 score. In accordance with the corporate, the Flex Open earbuds final for greater than seven hours on a cost, which is a minimum of two hours longer than I bought with the Extremely Open earbuds in testing.
On the audio entrance, JLab makes use of 12mm drivers that it says are tuned to fulfill bass lovers and listeners preferring crisp, clear highs. The JLab app additionally gives a bass increase function that makes use of algorithms to attain “wonderful” efficiency and a “really immersive audio expertise.” I am not anticipating Bose-level sound high quality right here, however JLab’s fame is stable sufficient that these will most likely get the job finished audio-wise. Plus, I imply, you saved $250 within the course of.