Forget AirPods: These Wireless Earbuds Offer Clever Features Apple Doesn’t

I’ll be candid. When JBL launched its Tour Pro 2 earbuds with touchscreen case back in January, my immediate reaction was one of cynicism. “Just what I need, another screen to look at,” I thought to myself.

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While the screen was undoubtedly innovative, and patent suggest that the idea of ​​this is also on Apple’s mind, which I – and most audiophiles – ultimately value is sound quality, especially Tour Pro 2K $250 premium.

However, after a few weeks testing the JBL Tour Pro 2, I’m happy to report that, while not perfect, both the external display and audio performance functionality have swung and canceled my initial reservation Is. And there’s one software feature that may be even more appealing to some people. read on.

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jbl tour pro 2

The standout feature of the JBL Tour Pro 2 is the charging case’s touchscreen, which acts as a remote control.

To start, the headliner of the JBL Tour Pro 2 is the 1.45-inch touchscreen embedded in the charging case. While some touchscreen features are more fun than practical, such as customizable screensavers, little “torchlights,” and timers, interacting with the display is still a lot of fun. (Kudos to JBL’s PR team, by the way, for sending out testers with the ZDNET logo!)

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While the screen has a slight delay between taps and swipes and requires more pressure to navigate than your smartphone or tablet, I was able to customize my personal EQ settings and even use the built-in earbuds locator. Was able to use the facility. It also makes for a quicker toggle from Ambient to ANC mode, both of which impressed when it came to the volume controls.

I found that the Tour Pro 2 wasn’t too far off from the transparency mode of Apple’s second-gen AirPods Pro. Both effectively allow me to stay aware of my surroundings, especially the busy streets of New York City, without sacrificing my morning Taylor Swift listening ritual.

The ANC wasn’t too far off from the noise-canceling of the AirPods. When toggled on, the buds provide a tight seal and can suppress subway screech. But, again, the sound is a bit thin compared to other $200+ earbuds and a far cry from the current ANC champions, Bose QuietComfort II,

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My favorite feature, believe it or not, wasn’t the buds’ touchscreen display or noise cancellation. Instead, I found VoiceAware, which lets you control how much of your voice you can hear while on a call, to be most impressive.

As someone who despises the sound of my own voice and primarily uses wireless earbuds for calls, this feature not only dampened my voice when speaking but also easily made up for the touchscreen display. was accessible Overall microphone quality was also prevalent; I had little or no complaints from callers as I roamed the noisiest of streets.

For the price, the JBL earbuds have the usual list of premiums such as wireless charging, multi-point connectivity with two devices, and 40 hours of battery life in the case. While the touchscreen compromises some of the case’s compactness, it still fits comfortably in front and back pockets.

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After all, I’m impressed by jbl tour pro 2, The touchscreen isn’t life-changing by any means, but it also didn’t give me the impression of excessive screen fatigue. In the future, I’d love to see a screen that requires less pressure to interact with and quicker touch response times. At $250, should you be buying these over similarly priced competitors? Yes, but only if the added functionality of the display and the blessing of fewer mic inputs appeal to you.