Hands On with JLab's $30 ANC Earbuds
Nov 15, 2024, 3:10 PM by Rich Brome @richbrome
updated Yesterday, 11:58 AM
JLab has long made some of the most affordable Bluetooth accessories, but their new Go Pop ANC earbuds are something of a breakthrough. Never before have you been able to buy wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) for just $30. At that price, though, can they be any good? We took 'em for a spin and have an answer for you with this quick hands- and ears-on report with our first impressions.
This is going to be quick. In short: they work, they sound decent, and they're impressively small.
Hardware
The first thing you'll notice is how small the case is. It's tiny, and that's including the handy built-in USB-C cable. Then you open the case and see how small the earbuds themselves are. They're also quite small.
This level of miniaturization has long been associated with higher price points, for a host of reasons. But it looks like we've reached the point where that's no longer the case.
Trying them out, they sound fine to my ears. I'm no audiophile, (and frankly, if you are, you're probably not even considering these.) But I have tried out a fair number of Bluetooth earbuds over the years, and these sound pretty good to me. You won't be blown away by heavy bass or delight in ultra-crisp highs, but they don't sound bad in any noticeable way.
About that ANC? It's also not bad! It won't block out the world completely, but I'd say it cuts down common background noises by roughly 50%, which is enough to make a big difference. It also supports a pass-through mode, as is now common.
I liked the fit and comfort of the buds in my ears. This is a personal thing, since all ears are slightly different. But these have a relatively common earbud shape that should fit most people well. They didn't try to get clever with the shape, and that's a good thing.
Companion App
Honestly, I'm impressed by the JLab companion app. It has more options than you might expect.
You can adjust the level of ANC and the equalizer is relatively fine-grained.
I appreciate the way you can completely customize the touch controls. You can set any function you want to a single, double, or triple-tap, or to a long touch, for each bud.
You can also set your own Safe Hearing loudness limit. And of course you can see battery levels for each bud as well as the case.
Not all apps like this offer such fine-grained controls. I don't see anything missing that I would want, at least.
In Sum
I am very impressed. In terms of bringing decent ANC earbuds to the masses, this is a slam dunk. There are no shortage of pricier options for the more discerning ear. And today's premium earbuds are using AI for more advanced features. But if you just want workhorse ANC Bluetooth earbuds that work, there is now no reason to spend more than $30.
About the author, Rich Brome:Editor in Chief Rich became fascinated with cell phones in 1999, creating mobile web sites for phones with tiny black-and-white displays and obsessing over new phone models. Realizing a need for better info about phones, he started Phone Scoop in 2001, and has been helming the site ever since. Rich has spent two decades researching and covering every detail of the phone industry, traveling the world to tour factories, interview CEOs, and get every last spec and photo Phone Scoop readers have come to expect. As an industry veteran, Rich is a respected voice on phone technology of the past, present, and future.
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