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JLab Go Pods ANC: Two-minute evaluation
I’ll admit that it was with reticence that I agreed to check earbuds clearly angling for the title of ‘most cost-effective ANC buds’ however let me dispel any related cynicism you’ll have: the JLab Go Pods ANC are, for his or her value, glorious.
Maybe I shouldn’t be shocked, as a result of these new low cost earbuds come from esteemed inexpensive audio model JLab, which has lots of expertise with inexpensive audio choices. However anybody who’s tried to save lots of a buck by shopping for lower-cost tech is aware of that you could’t take something as a right, even with legacy manufacturers.
Let’s first handle the promoting level within the headline: are these the greatest noise-cancelling earbuds available on the market? No, however when you add ‘low cost’ to that query, fairly probably. They are low cost, they do have noise cancellation, they usually actually are earbuds. Plus, they’re actually good at what they do, and so I may give them a tick there. However are they the most cost effective buds with ANC?
I used to be anticipating to have the ability to discover loads of low cost Amazon rivals with ANC, however I used to be fallacious; one or two ANC-toting choices from unnamed manufacturers sit on the identical value because the JLabs right here, however there’s not a lot on supply for much less that additionally has ANC. So from the fitting angle, the Go Pods ANC tick that field too.
What same-price rivals in all probability don’t supply is respectable audio high quality. For finances earbuds these sound actually good, with (relying on the way you arrange the equalizer) crystal-clear treble, hearty mids or scooping bass, and a broad soundstage that you just don’t typically get in buds twice the worth.
The ANC itself additionally works nicely, plastering over background sounds with little tact however with coronary heart. That mentioned, the transparency mode is a nightmare which is able to trigger you to listen to each little factor occurring round you with scary accuracy.
Like all good earbuds, the JLabs are additionally good and light-weight, so you may put on them for ages with out getting earache. Comparable might be mentioned of the tiny plastic carry case, which fully disappears right into a trouser pocket.
I can’t fake that these earbuds are excellent, they usually do have just a few issues which irritated me throughout testing. For one, JLab has changed a charging port with a charging cable, so that you plug the case into one thing, fairly than plugging one thing into the case, to energy it up. Good in principle, however functionally I discovered it much less helpful than the usual possibility which each and every different firm makes use of, of merely letting you plug a cable into the case.
The in-box ear ideas additionally didn’t supply a lot in the best way of grip, so once I walked or ran within the buds they’d a behavior of falling out fairly shortly. This can be a downside you may clear up with the added expense of third-party eartips (or utilizing ones you might have left over out of your final earbuds).
However at the same time as earbud shortcomings go these aren’t the most important I’ve ever confronted, and even an enormous difficulty in any respect within the case of the primary one. Know this: these are fantastic-value earbuds.
JLab Go Pods ANC evaluation: Value and launch date
- Launched in summer time 2025
- Prices $36.99 / £29.99 (roughly AU$60)
The JLab Go Pods ANC had been introduced in Might 2025 and placed on sale within the months after. It took them barely any time to go on supply, however extra on that in a second.
The default retail value for these buds is $36.99 / £29.99 (roughly AU$60), in order that they’re a few of the most inexpensive noise cancelling earbuds you could find, and the few alternate options I can discover at this price ticket nearly all come from unknown manufacturers on Amazon.
I say ‘default value’ as a result of just a few months after launch, the Go Pods ANC can simply be discovered for a reduction. Within the US I discovered them for $29.99 and within the UK they’re at £24.99, making these super-cheap buds even cheaper. And that’s earlier than Black Friday.
JLab Go Pods ANC evaluation: Specs
|
Drivers |
10mm |
|
Energetic noise cancellation |
Sure |
|
Battery life (ANC off) |
7.5 hours (buds) 26 hours (case) |
|
Weight |
4.2g (buds) 27.6g (case) |
|
Connectivity |
Bluetooth 5.4 |
|
Waterproofing |
IP55 |
JLab Go Pods ANC evaluation: Options
- Battery lifetime of simply 5 hours with ANC on
- Good ANC however iffy transparency
- JLab app brings just a few helpful extras
Throughout my testing time, I didn’t as soon as have any form of connection difficulty with the JLab Go Pods ANC, so that you don’t want to fret about them having an unreliable Bluetooth hyperlink.
The buds have some additional options through the JLab app, although it’s largely just a few customization and tweaks fairly than something really novel.
It took my whereas to get my head across the Noise Management Modes software, which lists ANC on, off and Be Conscious mode, however with toggles by all of them, so it’s simple to show two or all three of them on on the identical time… proper? That’s what I assumed, till I spotted that toggling these selects whether or not you may change to them through the buds through contact controls. The actual strategy to change ANC modes is to bodily choose the mode you need, not toggle its slider.
An alternative choice through the app is an equalizer, which comes with three unnamed presets and a customized mode. It’s a 10-band equalizer so it’s fairly superior, and audiophiles will be capable of get lots of depth in how they customise their tunes.
Operating down its record, the app additionally permits you to set a max quantity restrict for security, change what contact controls do, change between a Music Mode and Film Mode (which appears to extend the sound unfold however lower high quality) and… arrange a exercise interval timer? That’s not precisely a regular headphone characteristic nevertheless it may show helpful to a couple folks.
The battery lifetime of the Go Pods sits at 7.5 hours, based on JLab – that’s with ANC turned off and, from my testing, you’re about 7.5 hours with it turned off which isn’t precisely a aggressive determine. The corporate places the prolonged play time provided by the charging case at 26 hours.
One ultimate factor we in all probability want to the touch on is the ANC itself – is it any good in these low cost buds? Surprisingly, it truly is. It hushes your environment fairly considerably, and whereas it clearly doesn’t attain the heights of rivals available in the market – a lightweight background hum all the time received by means of, and sharper noises weren’t dimmed as a lot – it’s loads higher than JLab may have gotten away with for the cash.
I wasn’t as impressed, although, with Be Conscious mode (JLab’s tackle Transparency). Whereas utilizing it I used to be too conscious – not solely did it not cancel noise, it appeared to amplify each little factor that occurred round me in a jarring expertise general.
JLab Go Pods ANC evaluation: Design
- Each buds and case are tremendous light-weight
- Case has a built-in charging cable
- Ear ideas do not supply a lot grip
The JLab Go Pods ANC have one small design distinction that units them aside from the overwhelming majority of different samey wi-fi earbuds, and it’s constructed into the case.
The buds’ charging case is a 4.52 x 6 x 2.61cm pebble which opens lengthwise alongside the aspect; it’s product of plastic so it solely weighs 27.6g (for context, most buds I check have circumstances double that weight). That is all to say that it’s fairly small and really gentle.
Whereas most charging circumstances are nondescript save for maybe a emblem and a USB-C charging port, JLab does away with the latter and replaces it with its personal USB-C cable; you may plug this right into a port to simply energy up the buds.
In principle I get why JLab would use this as an alternative of a easy port: it means you may energy it up through your cellphone or laptop computer while not having an additional cable. In follow although I discovered it annoying, because it meant I couldn’t use the usual USB-C charger I convey for my different devices. I couldn’t energy up the case from my cellphone if I used to be additionally charging mentioned cellphone, and I couldn’t plug it into wall shops on public transport or adaptors at my residence (all of which use normal USB).
Onto the buds: these weigh 4.2g every in order that they proceed the Go Pods model of being lighter than the competitors. They’re stem-style buds, consisting of a big physique, ideas angled barely downwards and a flat stem bearing JLab’s emblem.
There are contact controls on every of mentioned logos, which labored moderately nicely though there have been just a few mis-touches once I was readjusting the buds or instances when one press could be picked up as two. Additionally the default controls are a bit of odd so I’d suggest leaping into the app to customise them your self.
I actually recognize low-weight buds just like the Go Pods as they had been simple to make use of for lengthy intervals of time with out feeling any ache or put on. That was solely the case if I used to be sitting nonetheless although.
The in-box eartips appear to supply so little friction that they could as nicely be made out of WD40: as quickly as I went for a stroll, or heaven forbid a run, the earbuds started slipping from my ears (sure, I attempted all three choices included within the field). Even placing in or eradicating the buds usually, you may really feel how little they’re inclined to remain within the ear – not nice for energetic folks.
Whereas the case doesn’t have any official safety, the buds have an IP55. This implies they’re largely protected towards mud ingress and may stand up to low-press jets of water (together with rain and sweat) however aren’t appropriate for swimming.
The JLab Go Pods ANC are available three shade variations: black, lilac and inexperienced, and as you may inform I examined the previous.
JLab Go Pods ANC evaluation: Sound high quality
- Single 10mm driver
- Can deal with regimented bass and clear treble
- Excessive max quantity
I’m going to wager that your expectations for the JLab Go Pods ANC’s audio chops in all probability match what mine had been going into the testing: you see the worth and shudder on the considered these low cost buds you got on Amazon as soon as and know what to anticipate. However banish the thought.
The JLab Go Pods ANC really sound fairly good; I’m unsure I’d decide them over one thing just like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional however for the worth, they’re surprisingly succesful.
By default (that’s, with the JLab Signature equalizer mode), music sounds vibrant with outlined treble and mids, and a laudable breadth of soundstage so you may hear completely different passages and harmonies within the music surrounding you.
There’s clearly a bit of distortion crackling away when too many alternative devices are enjoying without delay, or when the hi-hat will get going, however solely in mixes that may bother a lot pricer buds too.
I’ll admit that I largely listened with some heavy equalizer tweaks, however I used to be shocked by how a lot bass the Go Pods had been able to when requested. There’s scope for hearty, scooping bass with the fitting track and proper EQ set-up. However even with out this set-up, lower-register traces felt well-defined.
The buds’ max quantity is admittedly excessive – increased than you’d ever usually want, except you by accident held down the ‘quantity up’ button in your cellphone like me – and doesn’t distort as a lot at louder settings as many different buds do.
JLab Go Pods ANC evaluation: Worth
The JLab Go Pods ANC are principally the most cost effective noise-cancelling earbuds which might be really price shopping for.
Due to their characteristic set and audio high quality, these aren’t simply ‘good for the worth’; they’re good full cease. JLab didn’t want to supply them for such a low value however in doing so, it’s made them a fearsome worth proposition.
Ought to I purchase the JLab Go Pods ANC?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Ranking |
|---|---|---|
|
Options |
The ANC is nice, as is the final characteristic set, although the battery life is poor. |
4/5 |
|
Design |
The buds are beautiful and light-weight, however the eartips do not stick nicely and I would have most popular a charging port. |
3.5/5 |
|
Sound high quality |
For the worth, the JLabs sound actually good: low cost and cheerful. |
4/5 |
|
Worth |
These supply implausible worth for cash given how low cost they’re. |
4.5/5 |
Purchase them if…
Don’t purchase them if…
JLab Go Pods ANC evaluation: Additionally think about
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
JLab Go Pods ANC |
JLab Go Pop ANC |
Earfun Air 2 |
JBL Wave Beam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Drivers |
10mm |
10mm |
10mm |
8mm |
|
Energetic noise cancellation |
Sure |
Sure |
No |
No |
|
Battery life |
7.5 hours (buds); 26 hours (case) |
7 hours (buds); 24 hours (case) |
9 hours (earbuds), 40 hours (complete) |
8 hours (buds) 24 hours (case) |
|
Weight |
4.2g (buds) 27.6g (case) |
4.1g (buds); 22g (case) |
4.5g (buds) 45g (case) |
8.8g (buds) 39.5g (case) |
|
Connectivity |
Bluetooth 5.4 |
Bluetooth 5.4 |
Bluetooth 5.3 |
Bluetooth 5.2 |
|
Waterproofing |
IP55 |
IP55 |
IPX7 |
IP54 |
How I examined the JLab Go Pods ANC
- Examined for 4 weeks
- Examined at residence, within the workplace, understanding and on walks
I examined the JLab Go Pods ANC for about 4 weeks, which is longer than the usual TechRadar testing course of, however is a testomony to their audio chops.
I used the buds whereas they had been linked to my Android cellphone, primarily for Spotify but additionally for streaming films, video games and listening to voice notes. I used them whereas at residence, on the fitness center, on runs and on walks round my neighborhood.
I have been testing devices for TechRadar for over 5 years now and in that point have used different JLab merchandise in addition to a few of their greatest competitions.
- First reviewed in August 2025
