For the first time in a while, a pair of workout earbuds impressed me

I’ve reviewed countless pairs of headphones, specifically workout headphones, over the past few years. In fact, I’ve tested so many that I don’t expect to be surprised or impressed by new pairs all that often. After all, wireless earbuds for workouts tend to be similar in design and function. Yet, when I got the JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 Earbuds, I was pleasantly surprised. These headphones solved many of my complaints with past earbuds and left me quite impressed. After a few weeks of wearing them during easy walks, heavy lifting sessions, and sweat-drenched Peloton rides, I can confidently say I’ve found my new favorite workout earbuds.

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Editor’s Choice

JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 Earbuds

The JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 Earbuds are advanced sport earbuds that provide hi-res sound and a solid fit for even the most intense workouts. A durable build, 52 hours of battery life with the case, and customizable sound provide a well-rounded and excellent earbud experience.

Pros

• Snug yet comfortable fit
• Great battery life
• Integrated USB-C cable and wireless charging compatible
• Customizable sound
• Easy touch controls
• Effective noise cancellation

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Price, availability, and specs

These workout earbuds feature hybrid dual drivers, comprising a 10mm dynamic driver for lower frequencies and a Knowles balanced armature driver for higher frequencies. They also support the LDAC Bluetooth codec for hi-res audio, provided you use them with an Android phone. Plus, they feature Lab Spatial Audio, hybrid active noise-canceling (ANC) with three different modes, and customizable EQ settings. The IP66 rating protects them from sweat, and the case offers an integrated USB-C cable with support for wireless charging.

The JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 Earbuds are available from most major retailers for $100, including Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Amazon, and the JLab website.

What I liked about the JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 Earbuds

A long list of things to love

One of the main problems I have with earbuds for workouts is fit. Every pair I’ve tried has at least some movement during workouts, meaning I’m adjusting them frequently to keep them in my ears or to keep the sound quality and noise cancelation at their best. That fiddling takes me out of the zone during my workout, which isn’t ideal. The JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 Earbuds, though, firmly stay put. They don’t even wiggle out during super sweaty Peloton rides, which has proved challenging for buds that typically offer a snug fit.

Despite the stable fit, I’ve had no issues with discomfort. I generally don’t enjoy wearing earbuds for more than an hour or two, and that remains true. But for being so tight in my ears, the Epic Sport ANC 3 earbuds don’t add any extra discomfort or pain points. I can easily wear them for my hour-and-a-half lifting sessions without any issues and without feeling desperate to take them off when I’m done.

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Of course, sound quality is the most important thing for any pair of earbuds, and I’ve been thoroughly impressed by the Epic Sport ANC 3 earbuds. The sound is nice out of the box, but the JLab app allows you to customize the EQ setting. With some tweaking, I dialed in a rich and well-detailed sound. There’s also a good amount of bass without distortion, producing a full and layered audio experience. It has been perfect for staying in the zone in the gym.

I was also impressed with the ANC in these earbuds. It very successfully cuts out the loud music my gym blasts, more so than other earbuds I’ve used. As a result, I can hear my music clearly instead of dealing with battling audio sources. For times when I need to be aware of my surroundings, the Be Aware mode balances audio quality with ambient sounds so that I can hear if a car is coming behind me or someone is talking to me.

Although simple, one of my favorite features the JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 earbuds offer are their touch controls, specifically the intuitive volume slider. Instead of customizing tap controls to adjust volume and needing to remember how many or how long to tap, a simple slide of my finger up or down adjusts the volume. It functions essentially like a touchscreen volume bar. Of course, there are still tap controls for things like pausing music or skipping a track, and you can customize all of those in the app as well.

Finally, the battery life and charging options are additional wins. JLab promises more than 10 hours of battery life with ANC on or up to 12 hours with ANC off. The case provides an additional 42 hours of battery life, resulting in 52 hours of total listening time without needing a charge.

I haven’t tested individual earbud battery life without the case since I put them away when I’m done. However, just over two weeks after I last charged the case (the only time I’ve needed to charge it), I’m still at 70% battery life with nearly daily use and ANC on. I have no doubts that I would get that promised battery life. Despite the long battery life, the case is smaller than other sport earbuds I have, so they fit a lot better in my small sling that I bring to the gym.

When you do need to charge these up, there are plenty of options. They offer wireless charging support, so you can simply toss the case on a wireless charger. My favorite tool, though, is the integrated USB-C cable. It’s a lot more convenient to travel with and tucks neatly away to keep the case sleek and minimal. If you want to plug in a separate (and longer) USB-C cable, there’s also a USB-C port.

What I didn’t like about the JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 Earbuds

A slightly steep price tag

Quite frankly, the JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 Earbuds are fantastically well-rounded and there’s not really anything I dislike about them. Even when trying to find negatives, which I’m usually quite good at, nothing comes to mind. The only real downside is the price. At $100, they are somewhat pricey for workout headphones. There are plenty that are more expensive, though, so the price isn’t by any means absurd or unreasonable. But if you are looking for a pair of budget workout buds, these won’t be that.

Should you buy the JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 Earbuds?

The JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 Earbuds offer a long list of truly excellent features that make them a great option for most people. The sound quality is great, and the snug fit keeps them in place even when you’re drenched in sweat. The JLab app provides lots of customization options, and the intuitive touch controls make them easy to use. Plus, the long battery life with multiple convenient charging options makes them ideal for travel and long workouts. If you are in the market for a quality pair of workout earbuds, then yes, you definitely should buy the JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 Earbuds.

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Editor’s Choice

JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 Earbuds

There’s a lot to love about the JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 Earbuds, including the good sound quality, long battery life, snug fit, and intuitive touch controls.