Jabra Elite 4 Review: Budget Redefined 2023

With the release of the Jabra Elite 4, the company enters the affordable TWS (True Wireless Stereo) earbuds market for the first time. Given its lengthy association with superior sound quality, this decision by the Danish brand represents a possible bargain for consumers. The new Jabra Elite 4 is priced at Rs 9,999, making it competitive with other earbuds in the same price range.

Design

The new Jabra Elite 4 retains Jabra’s characteristic simplicity and lack of radical departure from its fundamental design. As the case and earphones resemble other Jabra earbuds that were previously released. The polycarbonate case has a company logo on the front and a type-C port for charging on the rear.

As plastic entry-level earbuds, the new Jabra Elite 4 lacks the wingtips and tremor hold coating typically found on premium earbuds. Nevertheless, there are different-sized ear tips for optimal fit, and the earbuds suit well, not falling out while sprinting or working out.

The IP57 certification of the earplugs was something we appreciated. It permits for stress-free use, whether working out in the gym or strolling in the drizzle.

Connectivity

The Jabra Elite 4 is equipped with AptX and SBC codecs and is designed to operate with Bluetooth 5.2. However, the earbuds do not support AAC, which can result in inferior audio quality for iPhone users. Android users, on the other hand, benefit from AptX support, which enables improved audio streaming fidelity but not high-resolution audio. For Android devices with version 6.0 or later, Google Fast Pair facilitates the coupling process without complication.

As we recommend in every review, it is advisable to acquire the brand’s specified app, in this case the Sound+ app, for improved connectivity and options.

The application provides numerous useful features and customization options. It allows for effortless switching between Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and HearThrough (also known as transparency) listening modes, customization of the equalizer, and battery life monitoring.

You can alter the level of noise reduction in the ANC mode and the level of noise amplification in the HearThrough mode via additional parameters. In addition, you can adjust the volume of the sidetone voice during phone conversations and use the Find My Jabra function to determine the last location where your earbuds were connected to your mobile device.

Controls

The Elite 4 earbuds are designed with physical knobs on each earpiece, just like other Jabra earbuds, so that you have complete control over its functionality. You can alternate between the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and HearThrough (ambient) modes or answer calls with a single tap of the left earbud. On the right, a single touch on the earpiece effortlessly controls playback.

Double-pressing the left earpiece activates your voice assistant or the Spotify Tap feature (exclusive to Android devices) to play recommended songs on Spotify. You can also terminate connections using this function.

The double-press function on the right earbud advances to the next recording, while a triple-press returns to the previous one. Simply depress the left or right earbud to decrease or increase the volume.

Sound

With the Jabra Elite 4 Active, you can listen to music with remarkable clarity and precision. The earbuds faithfully reproduce a wide variety of musical genres, delivering a sound experience that readily rivals that of similarly priced earbuds. Even if you’re not a particularly discerning audiophile, you’ll appreciate the price-to-performance ratio of these headphones’ remarkable sound profile.

In addition, the Jabra Sound+ app provides an additional layer of convenience and adaptability. Adjusting the equalizer parameters or customizing the sound for specific genres and environments allows you to fine-tune the sound profile according to your personal preferences and various listening scenarios. Enabling ANC elevates the sound experience for its range, making them the segment’s best option.

ANC

For headphones in this price range, the noise suppression is quite outstanding. The earbuds nestle securely in the ear canal and provide a respectable level of passive noise isolation. Activating ANC reduces external noise across the audio spectrum even further. Simply stated, these earbuds reduce extraneous noise effectively, and even without ANC, they still provide adequate noise isolation.

In addition, they feature the remarkable HearThrough mode, which is designed to heighten your environmental awareness by channeling external sounds into your earphones.

Through the app, the ambient noise level can be readily adjusted. Additionally, you can choose whether activating this mode will automatically halt music playback. This functionality is of great benefit during outdoor activities, while the active noise cancellation (ANC) function excels at providing a peaceful commute.

Microphone

The microphone’s performance is adequate, but not exceptional. In calm environments, it is tolerable, but in noisy environments, it is not optimal for hands-free phone calls. However, in light of the inexpensive price, we would say that the call quality is average.

Battery

During our testing period, the battery lasted approximately 7 hours with active noise cancellation enabled. This exceeds the average performance of the majority of true wireless earbuds, especially at this price point. The included charging case provides three additional charges, bringing the total playback time to 28 hours. The earbuds also feature rapid charging, allowing for 60 minutes of playback time after only 10 minutes of charging in the case.

Verdict

The new Jabra Elite 4 is a worthy investment because it provides excellent value. With efficient noise isolation, respectable noise suppression, and a pleasing frequency response, these earbuds ensure a pleasurable musical experience in any environment.