Following the launch of the Jabra Elite 5 ( overview ) in India, Jabra has launched one other contender within the premium TWS earphone section – the Jabra Elite 4. Many reviewers at Digit are followers of the Jabra TWS earphones, which are sometimes a good combine of type and substance. The legendary Danish model claims that the brand new Elite 4 is the successor to the Jabra Elite 3 that got here out in 2021, however the value discrepancy convinces me in any other case. Reasonably, I see the Jabra Elite 4 as a bridge between the mid-range Jabra Elite 3, which lacks options like ANC and multi-connectivity, and the Jabra Elite 5, which incorporates a few further premium options in comparison with the brand new machine.
Evidently, the TWS headphone market in India is extremely aggressive. This yr alone we have had two incredible additions to the Elite 4 value vary – the wildly hyped Nothing Ear (2) ( overview ) and the favored OnePlus Buds Professional 2 ( overview ). In fact, I fastidiously in contrast these headphones to the Elite 4 throughout our overview course of, and this is what I realized.
Jabra Elite 4 overview: construct, design and match
I have been reviewing audio merchandise for nearly 4 years now, and the Jabra TWS headphones have at all times been one of my favorites. The primary cause for that is the design and match. So each time I overview a new product from Jabra, I really feel cautiously optimistic, particularly concerning the design language and dimension of the headphones. Fortuitously, the Jabra Elite 4 hasn’t modified my optimistic stance on this.
The Jabra Elite 4 has a miniature charging case, so portability is not a difficulty – the case suits simply in a pocket or purse with out bulging out an excessive amount of. The duvet can be cumbersome, the quilt will be simply eliminated with one hand. The branding can be fairly refined. I obtained the blue model for overview and the matte texture is premium and non-fingerprint. Nevertheless, the supplies actually really feel cheaper than these used within the Jabra Elite 5.
The hinge of the case appears a little fragile, so watch out with it throughout every day use. The magnets holding the headphones contained in the case aren’t the strongest we have skilled, so there’s room for enchancment. As well as, the charging case contains an LED button on the entrance and a USB-C charging port on the again. The general look is clear and minimalistic, which we’re followers of.
Jabra has retained the confirmed rounded eartip design that we have beforehand seen on the Elite 7 Professional, Elite 5 and lots of different Jabra TWS earphones. The matte texture is aesthetically pleasing, and the bodily buttons keep on for one more yr. No complaints – Jabra’s bodily buttons are normally nicely applied and tactile.
The headphones have an angled nozzle that improves the match within the ear. The corporate supplied customers with three sizes of silicone liners to select from. Whereas I received the perfect match utilizing a dimension M, you might have to strive completely different sizes to see which one works finest for you. That stated, the match was wonderful for me – extraordinarily tight and safe. The insulation was wonderful. Nevertheless, my colleague Satvik nonetheless feels that the AirPods Professional 2 provide him a higher match.
That is largely subjective, so we propose you go and take a look at the buds for your self in shops. That stated, I am positive most individuals will be capable of get a respectable sufficient match utilizing the ear pads supplied, whether or not you are simply sitting in a single place or exercising. Add to that IP55 mud and water resistance and you’ve got a dependable pair of headphones for coaching.
Jabra Elite 4 Evaluate: Options
Jabra hasn’t packed the Elite 4 with the characteristic set seen on the Nothing Ear (2) and OnePlus Buds Professional 2. As a substitute, the corporate has reserved these options for its dearer choices, which calls their worth into query. . Nevertheless, the options it does have are principally nicely applied. Probably the most eye-catching characteristic is lively noise cancellation, which most opponents at this value level have, so I am glad Jabra did not miss it.
The Jabra Sound+ app permits customers to change between noise cancellation modes, together with lively noise cancellation, HearThrough (ambient mode) and Off. Talking of the app, it is decently feature-packed, but it surely lacks a few important parts. Let’s get acquainted with the options of this system.
Customers can examine the battery stage of the earphones, choose equalizer presets or alter the equalizer your self with the 5-band equalizer within the app, replace the firmware and personalize their earphones to some extent. The app has a personalised ANC that adjusts the noise canceling ranges primarily based in your listening to – and the impact is sort of noticeable if you take the take a look at.
There are additionally choices to decide on a voice assistant, activate Spotify Faucet, defend your headphones with Discover My Jabra, and alter the ANC loop. Sadly, you’ll be able to’t customise the headphone controls in any respect. That is virtually unacceptable, as about 80-90 p.c of headphones we have examined at this value level have this characteristic. I’ll say that the default controls are intuitive sufficient, however that is no cause to skip customized controls altogether.
That is about it for what the app can do – it is easy, virtually too easy I would say, however the truth that you could have a customizable equalizer provides the Jabra some factors again within the apps division.
As for different options, the Jabra Elite 4 has IP55 mud and water safety (as talked about earlier), aptX codec help, Bluetooth v5.2, mono mode and Multi-connect. Multipoint is extraordinarily helpful because it permits customers to connect with two units on the similar time and seamlessly change between them, it additionally labored nice in our testing. Lacking are options like Qi wi-fi charging and on-ear recognition, each of that are quite common at this value level, so it is disappointing you aren’t getting them right here.
Jabra Elite 4 Evaluate: Efficiency
Geared up with 6mm drivers, the Jabra Elite 4 has a daring but balanced sound profile. The headphones help SBC and aptX audio codecs, so whereas that is nice information for Android customers, iPhone customers are lacking out on the high-quality AAC codec. Which means that iPhone customers should use SBC by default, which is much from superb.
As well as, the headphones have a wealthy, dynamic sound with a V-shaped signature. These are high-quality for many fashionable music genres, however they are not the perfect for rock and steel music because of the sharp drop off in excessive frequencies above 5kHz. Nevertheless, this impact will usually solely be observed by audiophiles and professionals, and for many shoppers, the Jabra Elite 4 are among the many best-sounding headphones on this value vary.
We in contrast Jabra Elite 4 with Nothing Ear (2), OnePlus Buds Professional 2 and OPPO Enco X2 (overview). Here is how they did it:
[Click on the pair you want to see the comparison graph of]
Jabra Elite 4 vs Nothing Ear (2)
Jabra Elite 4 vs OnePlus Buds Professional 2
Jabra Elite 4 vs OPPO Enco X2
With aptX help, the headphones reproduce unimaginable sound constancy when listening to FLAC recordsdata with punchy but managed bass, detailed mids and glowing highs. The truth that the excessive frequencies had been noticeably emphasised as much as 5 kHz signifies that feminine vocals and different devices on this area sound clear, even with a slight enhance within the bass frequencies.
The mids are a bit buried in comparison with the bass and highs, to allow them to generally get misplaced within the combine, however we did not expertise constant sound masking points with these headphones. The Elite 4 undoubtedly does a higher job of supporting vocals and lead devices than the Nothing Ear (2), which closely muffles the 500Hz-1kHz vary. It additionally has a extra balanced bass sound, however the Nothing Ear (2) reproduces the excessive frequencies barely higher.
The Elite 4 additionally goes hand-in-hand with the OnePlus Buds Professional 2, which delivers bass in a related trend, with simply a bit extra punch within the increased frequencies. Word that the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 prices Rs 2,000 extra. The Elite 4 impressed us with its vigorous sound, crammed with sufficient nuance and character for most individuals to get pleasure from. The soundstage can be respectable and the imaging is superb. I managed to put the objects on the scene very exactly.
The one headphones that do higher at this value level are the OPPO Enco X2 with a balanced sound profile and coaxial twin driver. All in all, I would undoubtedly say it is simply in regards to the sound high quality.
Transferring on to ANC, the headphones have respectable lively noise cancellation for the worth. Whereas they do not match the powerhouses of the business, for the worth you get the identical or higher efficiency than most of the competitors. These headphones undoubtedly cancel out sound higher than the Nothing Ear (2) and the OPPO Enco X2, and match the ANC efficiency of the OnePlus Buds Professional 2. Low sustained feels like AC sound are simply muffled and even individuals’s voices are blocked out. principally.
As for the microphone, it’s respectable. You get 4 MEMS microphones, and whereas they decide up my voice nicely, the mics cannot cancel out the ambient ringing both. The Nothing Ear (2) is healthier on this regard, however the voice sounds a little skinny.
Jabra Elite 4 overview: Battery life
Jabra TWS headphones have at all times been robust on battery. Nevertheless, I feel Jabra has settled in too comfortably right here. Whereas opponents provide greater than 35 hours of battery life (ANC off), the Jabra Elite 4 solely manages 28 hours of battery life. To not say that is a dangerous quantity, however Jabra has been providing 28 hours on its TWS for years.
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That stated, in my testing, the Jabra Elite 4 managed to outperform the Nothing Ear (2) on battery backup with ANC enabled. We recorded 21 hours and 6 minutes of complete battery life on the Jabra Elite 4, whereas the Nothing Ear (2) lasted simply 18 hours and 48 minutes. Nevertheless, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 handily beat the Elite 4. The Elite 4 alone lasted about 5 hours and quarter-hour with ANC and aptX enabled, which is incredible.
You additionally get quick charging help, a 10-minute cost gives you an hour of music playback. That is fairly respectable, however we have seen quicker. Additionally, the headphones do not help Qi wi-fi charging, which is a normal characteristic at this value level.
Jabra Elite 4 overview: The decision
The Jabra Elite 4 checks a lot of bins – spectacular sound high quality, lengthy battery life, respectable ANC and a compact design. At Rs 9,999, you get your cash’s price, because the issues which can be normally thought of crucial in a TWS earphone, the Jabra Elite 4 will get it proper. Nevertheless, misses can’t be ignored, particularly when there are such a lot of nice choices available on the market to contemplate. Our important gripes are the dearth of Qi charging, the dearth of customizable controls, the flimsy charging case hinge, and worst of all, the dearth of AAC help.
The truth that the Jabra Elite 4 doesn’t help the AAC codec signifies that these headphones can’t be beneficial for iPhone customers, as they’re required for high-quality playback on these telephones. So, in case you are NOT an iPhone consumer and wish a strong pair of TWS earphones beneath ₹10K on your Android machine, you would possibly wish to think about the Jabra Elite 4. It has the appears and the sound, however do not miss out on different opponents like OPPO Enco X2 and OnePlus Buds Professional 2 which can be higher choices for you relying in your machine.
