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JLab Epic Open Sport: Two minute overview
The most well liked earbuds craze of 2025 is open earbuds. These are normally hook-like headphones (no headband or neckband) that do not invade your ear canals and as such, let in surrounding sound so that you may be secure and conscious open air.
That mentioned, not all makers have discovered to unravel the match and sound high quality issues that include the design territory. Key participant JLab isn’t going to be overlooked of the event, however its most premium providing – the Epic Open Sport and the topic of this overview – within the area doesn’t do sufficient to compete with what I’ve seen within the first half of the yr.
The JLab Epic Open Sport had been launched over six months after JLab’s final providing within the space, the JBuds Open Sport, and our listing of the best open earbuds has been altering near-constantly throughout that point. Again when these older buds had been launched, I hadn’t examined any that I believed offered respectable sound high quality, and was continually dealing with buds which match poorly and with no tip to anchor the buds within the ear.
That’s now not the case although and whereas the Epic Open Sport match a few of their high contemporaries when it comes to value, the buds lack refinement in a number of key areas and so they merely don’t have that one distinctive promoting level or draw that’ll trigger you to think about them over their rivals.
After I say ‘lack of refinement’, I’m primarily taking a look at design. The case is cumbersome and cheap-feeling, with a poking-out-logo that catches mud. The grooves for the buds inside mentioned case don’t maintain them very nicely. The buds too are larger than many rivals (though I by no means had any consolation issues when carrying them).
The earbuds don’t have too many options both, past the relative must-haves in 2025 (an equalizer; the power to customise what contact controls do) with a battery life that’s decidedly common too. And when it comes to sound, the JLabs are nothing to put in writing house about, though the sound profile does really feel custom-picked to attraction to sports activities customers so I’ll give kudos for that.
You’ll be able to in all probability guess, on condition that my foremost problem with the JLab Epic Open Sport is that I don’t assume they provide worth for cash or a aggressive hook in a crowded marked, that there’s not something notably incorrect with them both. They work nicely and barely in my testing did I discover one thing to grouse about. Buy them and you will not be disenchanted – you simply will not be wowed both.
However when you’re available on the market for open-ear buds, you’ve obtained loads of superior choices to think about for the cash (extra on these later), so it’s laborious to make a case for the JLabs over these, on this busy market.
JLab Epic Open Sport overview: Specs
|
Element |
Worth |
|
Water-proof |
IP55 |
|
Battery life |
7 hours (earbuds), 30 hours (complete) |
|
Bluetooth sort |
Bluetooth 5.4 |
|
Weight |
16.8g / Charging case: 49.9g |
|
Driver |
14mm |
JLab Epic Open Sport overview: Value and availability
- Launched in April 2025
- Value $114.99 / £99.99 / AU$199.99
- JLab’s priciest sports activities or open-ear buds
The JLab Epic Open Sport had been introduced in April 2025 and placed on sale close to the top of that month.
The buds price $114.99 / £99.99 / AU$199.99, which makes them JLab’s priciest open-ears, $55 / £40 / AU$50 greater than final yr’s JBuds Open Sport. It additionally makes them JLab’s most premium sports-hook earbuds too.
Within the open-ear market, you may also discover the likes of the superb Huawei FreeArc, Honor Earbuds Open and (much less unbelievable, however nonetheless) Acefast Acefit Pro for roughly the identical asking payment – it’s a extremely aggressive value space.
JLab Epic Open Sport overview: Design
- Case has a number of minor points…
- … however helps wi-fi charging
- Buds really feel cumbersome, however match nicely
Each the case and the buds for the JLab Epic Open Sport really feel a bit of on the massive facet – within the former case at the very least it’s removed from the chunkiest I’ve seen although.
Let’s begin with that case. It weighs 49.6g (discounting, I presume, the buds themselves), measures 26 x 76 x 67mm and comes adorned with a big and slighty-jutting-out JLab brand (you’ll be able to really push it in a tiny bit if you’d like, which looks like an unintentional design resolution). It opens in a clamshell fashion and there’s a USB-C charging port on the again.
The case’s plastic materials feels a bit of low cost within the hand, and the seems of the factor make it appear unrefined. The buds additionally don’t sit within the case correctly when you evenly drop them in, and I needed to push down on them to verify they had been charging correctly. Nonetheless, factors awarded for one premium function: the case helps wi-fi charging.
Onto the buds themselves, these weigh 16.8g every so are a few of the heavier open-ear buds I’ve examined, however it’s a negligible distinction of some grams. They encompass a cumbersome bud, a sport loop and a counterweight, all of which you’ll be able to see within the photos.
What it’s possible you’ll not see is all of the contact controls: the button atop the bud is apparent however you may also faucet the JLab brand for a special operate. I discovered the latter fairly unreliable in choosing up my contact however the usage of a bodily button for the previous made these buds a lot simpler to make use of than some contact capacitive options I’ve examined.
Regardless of being a bit of heavier than the norm, I discovered the JLabs comfy to put on. I may use them for lengthy intervals of time with out feeling them weigh me down or rub my ears, and so they stayed in place solidly with out shifting round an excessive amount of above my ear.
There’s just one shade choice: black, for each the buds and case – so if you’d like snazzier colours you are out of luck right here. The buds do have an IP55 ranking which gives restricted safety towards mud ingress and likewise safety from low-pressure water jets (together with rain), however they can not be immersed in water – so no swimming, OK?
JLab Epic Open Sport overview: Options
- 7-hour battery life (30 for case)
- Helpful 10-band EQ
- Small ambient sounds library inside the app
JLab has put the Epic Open Sport battery life at 7 hours, a determine I’d roughly again from my testing time, with the charging case bumping that as much as 30 hours.
These figures are each mainly commonplace for earbuds, though some open-ears beat that determine by a substantial margin. Like most (although not all) same-form rivals, there’s no noise cancellation at play right here – it’s possible you’ll snicker, however the aforementioned Honor Earbuds Open do have ANC, and excellent it’s too.
To get probably the most of your Epic Open Sports activities, you’ll be able to obtain the smartphone app, merely known as ‘JLab’.
This allows you to alter each the contact and button controls of the buds, set a quantity restrict and toggle between Music Mode and Film Mode (nowhere on JLab’s web site or app can I discover info on what this does however, judging by rival gadgets’ equivalents, the latter seemingly reduces latency on the expense of detailed audio high quality). The app additionally has a restricted library of ambient sounds you’ll be able to take heed to, which is a reasonably uncommon – although hardly unheard-of – inclusion.
Its equalizer is maybe the primary cause you’d obtain the JLab app. There are two presets, merely known as EQ1 and EQ2, however a 10-band {custom} mode lets audiophiles design their bespoke combine.
All issues thought of, that’s a reasonably gentle function set, with no distinctive promoting level or vary of extras to win over patrons. Not less than the Bluetooth connection was dependable, not dropping in any respect throughout testing, and pairing was fast and straightforward.
JLab Epic Open Sport overview: Sound efficiency
- 14mm driver
- V-shaped audio profile helps sports activities customers
- Max quantity may very well be greater
The JLab Epic Open Sport aren’t going to high my listing of the best-sounding open ear buds I’ve ever examined, however they’re undoubtedly nearer the highest of the listing than the underside.
JLab has given the buds 14mm drivers and so they join by way of Bluetooth 5.4. They assist the SBC, AAC, MPEC-2 and LDAC codecs which may appease some audiophiles however, as you’ll be able to inform from the identify, these are primarily for sports activities customers.
The buds have a V-shaped sound, emphasising bass and treble and leaving mids by the wayside. As somebody who likes balanced sound, preliminary impressions weren’t within the JLab’s favor, however after I began utilizing them for sports activities (particularly, for Epic Open Sport, the one sort I do know), all of it fell into place.
This type of profile advantages exercisers: heavy scooping bass to maintain the rhythm, piercing treble to chop via the noise on the health club. A bit little bit of peaking, some tinny sibilance, a restricted sound stage may be neglected. It’s not for audiophiles, however I feel individuals who need tunes as they work out or run will recognize how these sound extra than some better-sounding rivals.
What isn’t as helpful is the max quantity, which isn’t fairly as excessive as I’d’ve appreciated. After I was working previous busy intersections my tunes would combat towards the sound of site visitors — and lose, a number of the time.
- Sound efficiency rating: 3.5/5
JLab Epic Open Sport overview: Worth
The JLab Epic Open Sport aren’t low cost, and their value roughly matches some aggressive rivals (learn extra within the subsequent part of this overview).
Nonetheless the specs don’t fairly match up — the JLabs are good, however you may get greatness for a similar value and in gentle of those rivals, it’s laborious to view the Epic Open Sport as providing that good worth for cash.
For those who discover this stuff decreased beneath the $100 / £100 / AU$200 mark, that’ll undoubtedly change. However for now, their lack of refinement or a novel promoting level makes them laborious to suggest from a price perspective.
JLab Epic Open Sport overview: scorecard
|
Class |
Remark |
Rating |
|
Worth |
At advisable retail value, the Epic Open Sport do not provide a lot to attract your consideration away from different choices that price the identical. |
3/5 |
|
Design |
The earbuds match nicely and sit on the ear reliably, with a helpful button for controls. However they seem to be a bit large and the case is not one of many higher ones I’ve seen. |
3.5/5 |
|
Options |
The function set is sort of restricted, though what the JLab does have works nicely. |
3.5/5 |
|
Sound |
Sports activities customers will benefit from the V-shaped sound which gives ample bass and treble, although audiophiles will discover the sound missing. |
3.5/5 |
JLab Epic Open Sport overview: Must you purchase them?
Purchase them if…
Do not buy them if…
Additionally take into account
|
Element |
JLab Epic Open Sport |
Huawei FreeArc |
Honor Earbuds Open |
AceFast AceFit Professional |
|
Water-proof |
IP55 |
IP57 |
IP54 |
IP54 |
|
Battery life |
7 hours (earbuds) 30 hours (complete) |
7 hours (earbuds), 28 hours (complete) |
6 hours (earbuds), 40 hours (complete) |
6 hours (earbuds) 25 hours (complete) |
|
Bluetooth sort |
Bluetooth 5.4 |
Bluetooth 5.2 |
Bluetooth 5.2 |
Bluetooth 5.4 |
|
Weight |
16.8g / Charging case: 49.6g |
8.9g / Charging case: 67g |
7.9g / Charging case: 52.5g |
7.8g / Charging case: 80g |
|
Driver |
14mm |
17x12mm |
16mm |
20x8mm |
How I examined
I used the JLab Epic Open Sport for over three weeks earlier than I began scripting this overview, and I continued to check them through the writing course of.
I wore them to the health club and on runs, but in addition in non-sports conditions like strolling to the outlets or working at house. They had been paired the entire time with my Android smartphone.
I have been reviewing devices for TechRadar for over six years and that is included loads of open-ear buds, particularly via the primary half of 2025.
- First reviewed: June 2025