Beats and Jabra are two names synonymous with active lifestyles. Both companies have released some of the best workout headphones ever created, two of which are currently at the top of the sub-category: the Beats Fit Pro and Jabra Elite 8 Active.
On one side, you have the Apple subsidiary’s most sporty model to date, highlighted by installed wingtips, sleek and sturdy aesthetics and an energetic soundstage engineered for high-intensity training. On the other side is a grade-A workout companion boasting the most durable true wireless design ever created with innovative materials that provide optimal fit, as well as satisfying audio that caters to both casual listening and fitness types.
There’s plenty to like and very little to dislike about each performer. Unfortunately, only one can be acknowledged as the best workout headphones overall. Does the latest entry in Jabra’s fitness-centric lineup have what it takes to knock the king off its throne? Let’s dive in.
Jabra Elite 8 Active vs. Beats Fit Pro at a glance
If you want a durable, long-lasting pair of workout buds that work equally well on iOS and Android, the Elite 8 Active are a great choice.
The Beats Fit Pro are the most stylish and secure of these two sets, and are a great choice for Apple users as they borrow most of the AirPods Pro's key features.
Quick comparison
|
Jabra Elite 8 Active
|
Beats Fit Pro
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancellation |
Yes |
Yes |
| Ambient noise |
Yes |
Yes (transparency mode) |
| Battery life (rated) |
Up to 14 hours (earbuds only); up to 56 hours (with case) |
Up to 7 hours (earbuds only); up to 30 hours (with case) |
| Wireless charging |
Yes |
No |
| Sweat and water resistance |
IP68 (earbuds); IP54 (case) |
IPX4 (earbuds) |
| Ear tip sizes |
S, M, L |
S, M, L |
| Software support |
iOS, Android |
iOS, Android |
Jabra’s ANC and sound are better, but don’t sleep on Beats’ audio performance
Sports earbuds should sound impactful and vibrant. If they can offer solid noise cancellation, even better. That’s exactly what you get from these two pairs of buds, though Jabra’s offering does outperform its colorful rival.
The Elite 8 Active have a bass-forward sound profile that also delivers crisp mids and clear highs, making them suitable for critical listening, should you want more nuance from your music selections. This is impressive for buds that not only have less-powerful drivers (6mm), but also run on standard codecs (AAC, SBC) that can’t achieve the same hi-res sound as dynamic alternatives like aptX and LDAC. You can tweak sound to your liking by adjusting frequencies in the Music Equalizer setting via Sound+ app or picking from six well-engineered presets. Spatial Sound is the company’s new 3D audio format. It’s adequate for widening acoustics, so you feel like you’re listening to music live. Having noise cancellation increases the low end, though the feature excels most at eliminating external sounds across the frequency spectrum. Mostly everything from bird chirps to construction tools to household appliances are muted, with the occasional high-frequency sound (e.g., crying babies, whistles) creeping onto the soundstage. HearThrough is also stellar for hearing every peep around you without compromising sound quality.
Even if the Fit Pro don’t match the Elite 8 Active’s audio or ANC prowess, they’re still terrific-sounding buds with solid noise neutralization. Beats’ bass-heavy profile dominates the soundstage, but it’s nicely tuned to give mids and highs more prominence. You’ll hear vocals and select instruments like cymbals and violins loud and clear. Sound is customizable by going to the Headphone Accommodations setting in iOS and adjusting balance, range or brightness. Another option is swapping out the EQ in iOS settings. Personalized Spatial Audio gives music and movies the most immersive feel of any spatial audio alternative out there. Apple practically gave the Fit Pro the same ANC technology as the original AirPods Pro, which eliminates up to 85% of unwanted noise and performs best against low- and mid-frequencies. The ambient listening mode works for when you want to keep tabs on passing cars and other runners during nightly jogs. Live Listen can be useful as well, transforming your iPhone into a live mic that captures noises you can hear on the buds.
TL;DR: ANC and sound favor Jabra; however, Beats’ full audio presentation is noteworthy.
Fit and style go to the Fit Pro, while durability lies with the Elite 8 Active
One of Beats’ greatest strengths is knowing how to design stylish, optimally fit buds. The original Powerbeats set the standard for sports earbuds with their iconic wrap-around-the-ear design. While the Fit Pro are a departure from past releases, and build on the Studio Buds appearance, they’re still a handsome pair of buds made for running. The installed tips produce a tight grip. An IPX4 rating makes them sweat- and water-resistant, and the chassis is composed from extremely sturdy plastic. Beats’ charging case is a downscaled version of the monstrous Powerbeats Pro case: lighter, slimmer and smaller. These buds are also sold in a plethora of gorgeous colorways.
The Elite 8 Active are not exactly eye candy, and aren’t meant to be. Jabra put these buds through military testing to make them nearly indestructible. They come IP68-certified for dust and waterproof protection. In other words, they can survive huge dust clouds, along with 1-meter drops and 1.5-meter submersion. Each bud is wrapped in a “liquid silicone sock” that prevents corrosion, while creating a comfy and secure fit. Even the charging case comes heavily safeguarded with IP54 certification for dust and water resistance.
TL;DR: The Fit Pro are an attractive gym partner that won’t slip out of your ears, while the Elite 8 Active can withstand the toughest workout conditions.
The Elite 8 Active offer better charging solutions
Battery life is rated higher on the Elite 8 Active: 8 to 14 hours (per charge), depending how you use the buds. Their charging case holds a maximum of 56 hours and is Qi-enabled for wireless charging. I’m no math whiz, but that’s certainly a lot more playtime and one more charging alternative than the Fit Pro offers.
The Fit Pro can hold between 6 to 7 hours (per charge) and the non-wireless charging case is capped at 30 hours. Thankfully, these buds make the most of Apple’s top-tier battery management to squeeze every bit of juice out of the battery.
Both models come with similar quick-charging technology to generate 1 hour of playtime on a 5-minute charge.
TL;DR: Expect longer usage from the Elite 8 Active, whereas the Fit Pro meet the standard battery life for wireless earbuds and come with smarter battery optimization.
Apple’s feature set is massive, though Jabra’s remains highly serviceable
The beauty about Beats products is they take advantage of Apple’s hardware and software, resulting in seamless integration with iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple TV. Most functionality runs through iOS. New features are introduced with every major software update, plus there’s a dedicated AirPods menu to easily personalize the buds. Another way to find features is by searching for them in your device’s Settings page or accessing shortcuts like Control Center to enable different listening modes. As previously stated, the Fit Pro support multiple Apple sound settings, including ANC, EQ, Live Listen and Personalized Spatial Audio. Other popular features are audio sharing, automatic switching, Find My (AirPods) support and “Hey Siri” for flawless voice activation on Apple devices. Several more are hidden within the operating system.
There was a time when Jabra offered the most features. Then they stopped introducing new ones, while removing popular ones like MySound and Personalized ANC, both of which were excellent for tailoring audio and noise cancellation to your hearing. Nonetheless, the Elite 8 Active carry a nice set of functional perks like the aforementioned ANC/HearThrough mode, Music Equalizer and Spatial Sound. There is a Soundscapes mode with different white noise profiles that help with meditation. You can also set up Google Assistant voice activation, which operates well, or enable Siri for iOS/macOS use. Other notables consist of Find My Jabra, MyControls for control customization and Spotify Tap to jump into the streaming service by double-pressing the left bud.
TL;DR: We’re looking at lots of features between the two, but the Beats Fit Pro have more.
Bottom line
Both of these models check every major box: ANC, battery life, call quality, connectivity sound, and special features. Sure, one outperforms the other in certain categories, but the differences are marginal. These are two of the most well-rounded sport earbuds you can purchase.
If you’re an iOS user that takes their iPhone to the gym daily, then there’s no better option than the Beats Fit Pro. Android users that want something capable of surviving CrossFit classes and outdoor runs will find the Elite 8 Active well worth the purchase.
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January 05, 2024 at 10:22PM
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Jabra Elite 8 Active vs. Beats Fit Pro: Which workout earbuds are best? - CNN Underscored
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