JLab JBuds Mini earbuds are small and lightweight and can be worn while sleeping. Due to the earbud size limitation, JBuds Mini does not support Active Noise Cancellation, but it provides the transparent mode that can transmit external environmental sound into the ears.
- $39 – Check latest price on Amazon US, Amazon Germany or other Amazon countries
Appearance Design & Comfortable Fit
My first impression of the charging case is that it is “small”. Compared with the Apple AirPods series, it is about 50% smaller and can almost be completely wrapped in the hand. The charging case is made of frosted material and has the “capsule” design. In order to highlight the “small” feature, JLab also comes with a keychain on the charging case.
JLab JBuds Mini earbuds adopt the “bean-shaped” design, with a status indicator light on the outside of the cavity. The JLab logo area is also the touch control area of the earbuds. The inside of the earbud is equipped with a microphone hole, charging metal contacts, and L/R logo.
JLab JBuds Mini does not seem to have much ergonomic curve processing, but due to its very small size and weight of 3.3g, there is no obvious sense of pressure when the earbuds are worn in the ears. Moreover, since the contact area between the earbuds and the auricle is not too large, it feels more breathable than most in-ear earphones.
Due to the design without “earbud-stem”, JBuds Mini earbuds can basically be completely inserted into the auricle without protruding parts, bringing a better side-lying experience. However, due to the capacitive touch solution, there may be accidental touch operations when lying on the side. Therefore, if you want to use JLab JBuds Mini as sleep earbuds, you need to customize the operation in the App.
Connection & App Support
In the factory state, the earbuds need to be taken out of the charging case to enter pairing mode. At this point, select “JLab JBuds Mini” from the mobile phone’s bluetooth list to pair successfully.
Also, JLab JBuds Mini supports multi-point connection and can connect mobile phone and computer at the same time.
After the connection is successful, install and open the JLab App to set up the earbuds. The interface of JLab App is relatively simple, and the main functions are displayed in “My JLab”. Includes transparent mode, equalizer, touch customization, music/movie mode, safe hearing and firmware upgrade. Although there are not many functions, they cover the main needs of ordinary users and audiophiles.
Controls & Battery Life
In terms of control, under the default settings, volume adjustment, play/pause, track switch, mode switch, EQ switch, transparent mode on/off can be achieved. Moreover, the touch control scheme can also be customized in the JLab App.
The battery capacity of the charging case is 250mAh and the earbud is 35mAh. The single battery life is up to 5 hours, and the total battery life is up to 20 hours. The battery life performance of JLab JBuds Mini is not very good.
Also, JLab JBuds Mini also has a unique feature – Be Aware Mode (Transparent Mode). Due to the size limitation of the earbuds, JLab JBuds Mini does not support Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), but it provides the transparent mode that can transmit external ambient sound into the ears.
Sound Description of JLab JBuds Mini
JLab JBuds Mini uses the Bluetooth 5.3 chip and only support SBC codec. The earbuds are equipped with a 6mm dynamic driver – although the driver size is limited by the shape of the earbuds, the overall listening experience is still remarkable.
Under the default EQ scheme, JBuds Mini does have the flavor of being adjusted according to popular music – the low-frequency has been strengthened, making the dynamics stronger and the response more sensitive – to a certain extent, it compensates for the limitation of drive size.
The performance of the mid- and high-frequency parts is quite satisfactory and has a certain expressiveness. However, if you listen carefully, you can also find that some details are lacking – mainly due to the driver size and SBC codec.
Overall, JLab JBuds Mini in default tuning is more in line with the music tastes of popular listeners and can basically satisfy daily commuting. Moreover, you can also customize the EQ to further meet your listening needs in the app.
Conclusion
JLab JBuds Mini earbuds are small and lightweight and can be worn while sleeping. Due to the size limitation of the earbuds, JBuds Mini does not support Active Noise Cancellation – however, if you need the music earbuds, the TOZO Crystal Buds at the same price will be more suitable for you.
JLab JBuds Mini specs and features:
- Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC codec
- 5 hours playback of per charge
- Charging case can charge earbuds fully 3 times
- IP55 water resistance (sweat and dust proof)
- Comes with 3 sets of eartips, USB-C cable, user manual
- $39 – Check latest price on Amazon US, Amazon Germany or other Amazon countries