tour pro 2 app

Android Police

Jbl tour pro 2 review: smart earbuds, smart case.

No gimmicks here, the case should be a template for premium buds going forward

It’s refreshing to see a company experimenting with something different in the sea of wireless earbud homogeneity. JBL’s Tour Pro 2 breaks new ground for premium earbuds by pairing them with a touchscreen-equipped charging case. While they’re not cheap and have some bugs and half-baked aspects, JBL did a great job on its first time out.

JBL Tour Pro 2

JBL’s Tour Pro 2 earbuds come with the first case equipped with a built-in touchscreen, which offers access to player controls and settings without reaching for a smartphone. The buds are also excellent, thanks to top-notch ANC, long battery life, great audio, and many useful features. There’s so much packed into these buds that it’s easy to see why they carry one of the higher price tags.

• Highly functional touchscreen case
• Exceptional active noise canceling
• Great audio quality
• Lots of useful features
• Expensive compared to comparable earbuds
• Earbuds are a little hard to seat in the case
• Multipoint connectivity is not fully baked
• Audio codecs are somewhat limiting
• No low-latency mode

Price and availability

There are only two colors, Black and Champagne, and no configuration or packaging variations. You can get the earbuds and case for $249.95, available through JBL’s website and authorized retailers.

Hardware and design

The earbuds are average in size and shape, and the design looks premium with a mix of glossy and matte finishes. The JBL logo is printed on each bud but fairly subtle. I was happy with the fit and comfort. It takes about an hour before fatigue sets in, slightly longer than usual for my ears. The buds do work themselves slightly loose after a while, but haven’t fallen out of my ears, even with heavy activity.

Popping buds from the case with just a thumb is precarious because they tend to fly out, but they can be lifted out with a two-finger pinch. Returning them to the case is a bigger challenge because the stems must slide into narrow slots, but there’s very little groove to guide them in. It takes some focus each time. Oh, and the magnet holding the buds in place is strong enough that it takes a very hard shake to knock them loose.

The highlight of the Tour Pro 2 is a touchscreen covering half of the case, which, combined with an above-average battery, means the case is a bit chunkier than usual. However, it’s still fairly normal in size and shape, and the edges are gently rounded, so it still easily slides into most pockets. And let me allay some fears now; there’s a small lip just above the display that lifts it enough to avoid direct contact with flat surfaces. That should cut down on scuffs and scratches.

The touchscreen experience reminds me of a Fitbit, but with more functionality. There are about a dozen screens to swipe through with different controls or settings, and they all look pretty modern. It’s usually very responsive, though some settings are a little laggy.

Controls range from the obvious playback and volume buttons to more advanced settings for things like switching ANC and EQ profiles. In fact, most of the settings available in the app can be toggled or modified from the case. There’s even a tiny picker for the lockscreen wallpaper. While the app is necessary for setting up the buds, installing firmware, and creating EQ curves, everything you’ll need for day-to-day use can be done through the touchscreen.

There are a few extra functions available, including a Find My feature for sounding a loud tone through either bud or SilentNow for disconnecting Bluetooth while running ANC for a notification-free time period. There’s even a Flashlight mode that turns the screen white. It’s too dim to fill a room, but bright enough to spot nearby obstacles. It has come in handy more times than I expected.

I’m sure many people will see the case as a gimmick, and I can’t blame them. It’s certainly not a necessity, and I’m not sure most people will get enough from it to justify the premium price tag. However, I appreciate that it’s a purpose-built set of controls, and they’re generally a little more convenient than reaching for the phone and opening an app just to change sound profiles.

While my impressions are generally positive, there are plenty of ways to fine-tune the experience. At a minimum, I’d like to remove any screen from the carousel, and the lockscreen should also show some information like the clock and battery levels.

Audio and ANC

Audio quality is technically very good with a wide dynamic range, but it might not deliver the experience most people have become accustomed to. Out of the box, JBL tuned these to produce a fairly flat studio sound, which leans very neutral. If you’ve been listening to bass-heavy cans from companies like Beats, or budget earbuds tuned the same way to cover up weak mids, the Tour Pro 2 buds may leave your ears confused.

This is where JBL’s Personi-Fi feature comes in, and it’s crucial to adding back a lot of the vibrance. The app performs a series of hearing tests to build a custom sound profile for the listener. I’m not convinced the test is more than technological theater, but it unlocks an enriched sound profile that targets the Harman curve.

There is also an impressively flexible equalizer worth spending some time to tune. It includes five presets, most of which are nearly useless. Custom curves can also be created, and trust me, you’ll be happier creating some of your own.

Low-end frequencies come through with excellent clarity, making every beat and drum hit feel tight. There’s no muddiness or distortion, and bass notes stand out nicely, just not with a ton of strength. Even a bass-heavy EQ curve produces barely any tangible rumble or shake, which may be a deal-breaker for bass lovers.

The mids are something of a wild card. Before activating Personi-Fi, they sound a little loose and underpowered. It’s not bad, but vocals and some instruments feel muted and lacking emphasis. With Personi-Fi active, the mids gain more depth and character. Combined with a well-tuned EQ curve, the sound is pretty remarkable. The lower-mids can get muddy and conflict with the bass tones, but a carefully tuned EQ curve can keep this in check and bring out a ton of great flavor.

Likewise, highs have plenty of interesting character and range. They’re a little restrained at the top, which limits the shrill tones from excessive treble. Nevertheless, they stand on their own and still play nicely with the mids. All told, these might be the best earbuds I’ve ever listened to, but they’re finicky and require more work to perfect than I think most people will put into them, and I still feel like I’m not done.

The soundstage is fairly expressive to the sides and angles, but frontal projection is a bit lacking. I also don’t get a sense of spaciousness, and instruments sound like they’re just over my shoulder. Spatial Audio doesn’t add much to the depth, especially for music, though I wasn’t impressed with it on movies either. If anything, it sounds like a basic filter to add echo.

ANC performance is sometimes really good; other times, it’s exceptional. No other earbuds or headphones I’ve listened to have been so effective at eliminating ambient noise. They effectively mute my obnoxiously loud desk fan, including the sound of wind buffeting the buds. It even makes a fairly loud CostCo sound like a library. Nearby voices and other distinctive sounds cut through, just as I would want them to, but the din of casual conversation and machines drop to a faint whisper.

The algorithm can still be inconsistent, sometimes only turning down the noise rather than eliminating it. Even when it’s not as aggressive, the ANC still beats anything I’ve ever tried. I haven’t had the opportunity to use the latest earbuds from Sony or Bose, but JBL may be on track to take on the champions soon.

Codec support is a little disappointing, particularly for the price. There’s no support for any aptX variants or LDAC. As you would expect, SBC and AAC are supported, the latter of which will appease most listeners. LC3 is also purportedly supported and will someday be a great alternative to aptX, but it doesn’t seem to work on my Pixel 7 Pro, which doesn't support it. JBL also plans to add LC3+ in a future firmware update.

Call quality is comparable to most of the Bluetooth earbuds I’ve tried, but noise reduction can be overly aggressive and chop up speech in some instances.

Battery and charging

JBL rates earbud battery life at eight hours with ANC and ten hours without. While I never ran the buds down entirely, this seems to be fairly accurate.

The case is supposed to provide up to three full charges to the buds. That would probably be true if not for the touchscreen, which also sips power while it’s active. In my experience, it’s actually too thirsty, so it would only carry about two and a half chargs, at most. That’s still really good given the lifespanThat'sch bud. Wireless charging is also supported.

App and features

Google Fast Pair is supported for that first connection and works great. However, there’s no way to initiate pairing from the touchscreen or button, which makes it more difficult for devices without Fast Pair, like my laptop. The only way to enter pairing mode is by making sure the currently paired device is out of range or has Bluetooth turned off.

At least this effort reveals that multipoint support is present. JBL doesn’t advertise multipoint as a feature on the Pro 2, probably because it’s not quite fully baked. Core features are fine, like getting notifications from the phone while listening to my laptop or having one source take over for another. However, it can take several seconds for sources to switch, and the playback controls may stick to one source after switching to a different one. It can even switch sources after pausing, so tapping to resume seconds later may activate the other source. Hopefully, a firmware update can sort this out someday; it’s such a valuable feature.

The case takes a lot of control over the earbuds, but there are still things that can only be done from within the JBL Headphones app. For example, it’s necessary for the Personi-Fi setup, creating custom EQ curves, and configuring touch actions for each earbud — mostly setup steps.

Initial setup and Personi-Fi training take about 10-15 minutes. After that, there’s not much reason to open the app unless you install firmware updates and configure the EQ. This is thanks to the case, which can easily switch ANC and Spatial Audio modes, EQ profiles, and more.

It’s a modern-looking app with a clean design, and the few bugs I’ve spotted are mostly innocuous. My only complaint is that it takes a painfully long time, about six seconds after selecting the paired buds, to load their settings screen. That’s too long to watch a frozen screen with no animations to show it’s working.

Competition

At this time, the Poly Voyager 60+ is the only other pair of earbuds with a smart case, but the two products have little in common. The Voyager 60+ is aimed at enterprise customers, focusing on video calling and working at a desk. JBL designed the Tour Pro 2 to be prettier and more portable. Both products still boast great audio quality and ANC, and each has its individual advantages to justify the high asking price of $250 and $330 for the Tour Pro 2 and Voyager 60+, respectively.

If the case doesn’t warrant an extra $100, other upper-tier earbuds are available for around $150 that offer similar features and audio quality, like the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 . Alternatively, if the price isn’t an obstacle, but the case still doesn’t interest you, it may be worth spending a little more to pick up the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds.

Should you buy them?

JBL has done a remarkable job building the first smart case for true wireless earbuds. It’s a clever extension to the listening experience and offers handy features in a way that’s pleasant to use. There is still a lot to work out, but The Tour Pro 2 is an incredible template to build upon.

ANC is among the best in the game, and audio quality can be very good, although it might require more work than casual listeners want to put in. The same goes for multipoint support, which still needs some TLC. I’m mostly impressed with the Tour Pro 2 and would recommend them to anybody comfortable with the price who can deal with the quirks, but a part of me eagerly looks forward to JBL’s next attempt.

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JBL Tour Pro 2 review: Welcome to the smart case era

The company jam-packed these earbuds with features of varied utility..

When it comes to earbud innovation, these days advances typically come in reduced size, longer battery life and improved audio. Rarely does a company offer something truly unique. But JBL seems to think there’s room for improvement in the charging case . With the Tour Pro 2 , JBL has installed a touchscreen display , giving you access to settings and tools without having to dive into its app. On top of that, these are a feature-packed set of true wireless earbuds, with a ton of options for sound customization, hearing assistance and more. But with everything the $250 set offers, JBL might’ve been too ambitious.

JBL’s product range features a mix of “traditional” earbuds, stick buds and sport models with an over-the-ear loop. The Tour Pro 2 fits in that middle category with a design akin to Apple’s AirPods. These certainly have a more refined look, though, with a mix of matte and gloss black plastic. The shape of the inner part of the earbud is ovular which, again, is similar to the AirPods Pro.

JBL Tour Pro 2

JBL threw a ton of features in the Tour Pro 2 earbuds, but some of them work better than others. The most interesting tool is the touchscreen smart case, but it’s not necessarily any quicker than reaching for your phone.

• Smart case works well
• Loads of features
• Smart case utility is debatable
• ANC can struggle
• Some features work better than others
• Sound leakage at high volumes

The curves here combine with lower weight to make for a comfy fit. The Tour Pro 2 are one of the few sets of true wireless earbuds I can wear for hours at a time without it becoming a chore. There’s a touch panel on the outside of both buds that can accept single, double and triple taps, in addition to long presses, for a variety of on-board controls. Plus, you can reconfigure those to your liking inside the JBL Headphones app.

The headline feature, though, is undoubtedly the case. Most earbuds come with a charging case, the feature list basically ends at charging. Some companies have added wireless transmission for use on planes, but nothing too crazy. The Tour Pro 2 comes with a “smart case,” complete with a touchscreen on the outside. As you might expect, it’s larger than what we typically see, but it’s not huge by any means. It’s equipped for wireless charging and there’s a USB-C port on the button for wired top-ups.

Software and features

The Tour Pro 2 offers a ton of features for audio setup, convenience and customization. All of which are accessible inside the JBL Headphones app and some are available via the charging case display. When you pair the earbuds to the app for the first time, the software will prompt you to complete a few steps for initial setup. Those include an ear tip fit and ear canal tests for ANC performance, voice assistant setup and a quick feature tour. The main section of the app displays battery status for both earbuds individually and the case right up top.

Everything else is situated on that main screen, accessible with a simple scroll. Ambient Sound Control is up top, giving you the ability to choose between active noise cancellation, Ambient Aware (transparency mode), TalkThru for IRL conversations and off. There’s the option to further tweak ANC by opting for Adaptive, automatic adjustments or by enabling leakage and/or ear canal compensation. Ambient Aware allows you to adjust the level of environmental sound the earbuds pick up with a slider.

Next on the list is Personi-Fi. This is JBL’s take on personal audio profiles. After completing a hearing test, the app creates a sound profile that also takes into account your listening preferences. Personi-Fi considers gender, age and more to build its custom preset. Before completing the process, the audio on the Tour Pro 2 was… fine. After the five-minute bout with tones at various volumes and frequencies, my sound profile produced improved bass response from the earbuds and what felt like a slightly wider soundstage. However, the tailored setting did lose some detail in things like softer background vocals, guitar distortion and subtle noise.

Sound options follow Personi-Fi. Here, JBL gives you a collection of audio presets as well as the ability to manually adjust the EQ curve. Any tuning you create can be saved for future use. You also have the option of enabling Spatial Sound on the Tour Pro 2, JBL’s take on spatial audio. Once you turn it on, the company offers three options based on what you’re listening to: movie, music and game.

The app gives you the ability to change the gestures for the on-board controls from this menu too. There’s a limit to the fine-tuning here as JBL has grouped all the options under Ambient Sound Control, Volume Control or Playback & Voice Assistant Control. Those are self-explanatory and you can choose to put one on the left and a different one on the right. The only consistent behavior is that a long press will summon your voice assistant on all three gesture options.

Three of the most useful features on the Tour Pro 2 are VoiceAware, SilentNow and Personal Sound Amplification. VoiceAware is an adjustable tool that allows you to tweak how much of your voice you hear during calls. JBL describes SlientNow as a quiet bubble, a feature that disconnects Bluetooth and turns on ANC. The company goes a step further by allowing you to schedule when the mode will turn on, how long it will be active and if you want an alarm when it ends (in case you’re planning to nap). Personal Sound Amplification is designed for hearing assistance, boosting environmental sound by 15 to 20dB and helping with conversations. When it’s enabled, you can adjust left/right balance and gain to fit your needs.

The smart case

While the main purpose of the smart case is to give you easy access to the Tour Pro 2’s features. I’m happy to debate the utility of putting everything on the charging accessory instead of leaving it in an app – software that takes only a couple more taps to open. But, if you find the entire concept convenient, I’m pleased to report that the touchscreen works well. You swipe from side to side to scroll through the myriad options available on the case and that panel is receptive to taps without issue. Plus, JBL decided to put battery levels, a clock and handy icons on the top edge, giving you crucial info at a glance. What’s more, when you’re on a call, those controls pop-up on case too.

The JBL Headphones app includes a section for customizing the smart case. Here, you can adjust the display brightness, select a screensaver, enable message notifications/previews and choose which features will be accessible on the touch screen. By default, the case shows Ambient Sound Control, Spatial Sound, EQ presets, VoiceAware and auto play/pause (when you remove the buds from your ears). That’s in addition to the lock screen wallpaper selector, screen brightness, timer, volume, playback controls, flashlight and Find My Buds that can’t be removed. The only additional feature that isn’t enabled by default that you can add to the case is SilentNow.

Sound quality and noise cancellation

The default tuning on the Tour Pro 2 is pretty average. There’s some decent clarity and detail, but the soundstage feels compressed despite a good amount of bass and a smidge of punch in the treble. Overall, things converge on the midrange, leaving the extra oomph on the table with tracks like Better Lovers’ “30 Under 13” and boygenius’ “$20.” Personi-fi helps open things up a bit, but as I mentioned, it comes at the cost of lost detail. You lose some of the texture of the vocals and guitars in that boygenius song, for example.

Another prime example of the lack of space in the sound profile is on Nickel Creek’s Celebrants. That album was recorded in a way that sounds like you’re in the room getting a private performance. Guitar, fiddle, mandolin and bass surround you with vocals sprinkled around to complete the vibe. On the Tour Pro 2, you lose the sense of the virtual room, so the songs just become music in your earbuds instead of capturing the atmosphere and energy of the tracking session. Personi-fi makes no noticeable difference here.

While there are a number of audio customization options in JBL’s app, they don’t do much to improve things. In fact, some make the sound worse. Spatial Sound’s effectiveness can vary depending on the genre. Sometimes there’s a noticeable improvement in the immersive nature of the audio. But with some content, like that Nickel Creek album, it seems like positioning is just moved up slightly, like it's trying to simulate up-firing drivers in a soundbar. In those cases, the sound is just relocated, not improved. I found it best to leave Spatial Sound off.

JBL threw a ton of features in the Tour Pro 2 earbuds, but some of them work better than others. The most interesting tool is the touchscreen smart case, but while it offers quick access to a lot of features, it’s not necessarily any quicker than reaching for your phone. Sure, everything is on the outside, but the company might’ve been better off fine-tuning transparency modes and ANC performance – among other things.

JBL Tour Pro 2 review

In terms of ANC performance, the Tour Pro 2 does a solid job in most circumstances. They’re very good at blocking the constant roar of a dishwasher, clothes dryer or white noise machine – things that conspire for the daily droning at my house. However, the earbuds struggle with human voices, especially if the person is close by. Listen to anything relatively quiet and you’re sure to hear the chatty person behind you.

One note on noise isolation that’s worth pointing out. Despite the ear tip fit test determining that all was well with the Tour Pro 2, there was a lot of sound leakage so the people around me could clearly hear what I was listening to. My wife was the first to notice, and while she says it happens occasionally while I’m testing, it has never been this bad. Sure enough, when she popped in the earbuds, I could clearly hear the tunes at volumes above 60 percent or so. It’s something to consider if you like to blast heavy metal in the office.

For calls, the Tour Pro 2 is a mixed bag. Confusingly, the TalkThru option in the Ambient Sound Control menu can’t be activated here. You can enable ambient sound mode, but that doesn’t pick up a considerable amount of your chatter. Instead, there’s that separate VoiceAware feature and it only works during calls. Again, it’s adjustable, so you can select the amount of your speech you want sent back through the earbuds. It works okay, but it’s nowhere near as natural sounding as what you get on the AirPods Pro . While TalkThru is meant for in-person conversations, it doesn’t pipe in much more of your voice than the transparency mode Ambient Aware. So, even if you could use it for calls, it’s not a great option for them. In the end, it just feels like different features here do variations of the same thing. Overall, call quality is just okay here, despite JBL’s promise of “perfect calls” via six on-board mics.

Battery life

JBL says you can expect up to eight hours on a charge with ANC on, plus another three full charges in the case. Turn noise cancellation off and you could muster two additional hours on both the buds and per charge in the case. During tests consisting of “normal” use – a mix of ANC, transparency mode, calls and leaving the buds to power off automatically – I got seven hours before having to dock the Tour Pro 2 in the case.

Oddly, I started getting low battery notifications when the case was still showing 25 percent left on both earbuds. Power plummeted quickly from there and after less than 30 minutes the pair was dead. I mention this to point out that the battery estimates on the case don’t seem to be entirely accurate, especially when you hit 25 percent. If you unexpectedly encounter a faster-than-expected drain, there is a 15-minute quick-charge tool that will give you up to four hours of use.

The competition

When it comes to premium true wireless earbuds, Sony’s WF-1000XM4 are the best you can buy right now. The company includes just as many features as JBL, if not more. You won’t find a smart case, but you will find handy tools like Speak-to-Chat automatic pausing when you start talking and the ability to automatically change sound settings based on location or activity. Plus, the M4s offer better sound quality and more effective noise cancellation on top of all the conveniences. They’re starting to get some age on them as they debuted in mid-2021, but that means you’re currently privy to a discount: they’re currently going for $200.

JBL threw every feature it could at the Tour Pro 2 . And that’s without even considering the smart case. That touch-screen-enabled accessory is the main draw but I’m not sold on the concept just yet. Sure, there’s something to be said for easy access to settings, but that only works if you leave the case sitting out on your desk. Otherwise, you can probably get your phone out just as quickly. JBL isn’t the only company putting a display on a charging case, so who knows, maybe it will become standard. Tour Pro 2 do offer handy tools like VoiceAware, SilentNow and Personal Sound Amplification. But overall they’re an average set of earbuds with okay sound, decent ANC and so many features you might not use some of them more than once.

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JBL Tour Pro 2 Review – Objective Perfection

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JBL’s Tour Pro 2 boast a pretty graph that masks the sheer lack of dynamism in the sound.

Score Breakdown

Click the label to navigate to the section.

• Battery ⓘ 98% good
• UX ⓘ 100% outstanding
• Design ⓘ 100% outstanding
• Portability ⓘ 50% average
• Battery ⓘ 100% outstanding
• Design ⓘ 80% good
• Mic ⓘ 75% good
• Sound ⓘ 41% substandard
• Connectivity ⓘ 90% good
• Waterproof ⓘ 75% good
• Carrying case allows a lot of customization without opening up the app
• Very good battery life
• Comfortable to wear for longer periods
• Good microphone performance
• Very good ANC performance
• BT multipoint
• Academically “well” tuned with no harshness
• No LDAC/AptX support; L3 support is still scarce
• Display on the case ends up being a party-trick
• Heavy, bulky carrying case
• Compression in the microphone
• Sound lacks dynamics
• Severely falls behind in terms of resolution, imaging, and staging

Unboxing and First Impression

Where to buy.

JBL has a long history attached to its name, with the legendary L-series of speakers being a mainstay of many households and recording studios during the 70s and 80s. Since then, JBL has transitioned into the mainstream and has lately been mostly focused on portable speakers.

The Tour Pro 2 are somewhat of an oddball offering from JBL. These flagship TWS IEMs intend to differentiate themselves through an interactive carrying case display. It’s a novel idea that might border on ridiculous for some, but let’s not be too rash to judge.

However, more than having a novelty is needed in this cut-throat market, as sound quality is the prime parameter – one where the Tour Pro 2 have to prove their worth.

Battery 98% ⓘ

• Battery Life: 30 hours (no ANC), 24 hours (ANC)
• Connector: USB Type-C
• Wireless Charging: Yes
• Battery Capacity: 850 mAh

Battery life is outstanding, with the case holding 24 hours of extra charge. This takes the total battery life to about 32 hours (with ANC on). I have to charge the JBL Tour Pro 2 once a week.

The Tour Pro 2 support Qi wireless charging . So, the type-C port is not the only option for a quick top-up.

• Can be opened easily with one hand: Yes
• Pass the shake test: Yes
• Display: Shows detailed battery levels, customized functions

The case can be easily opened with one hand. The earbuds themselves are held with strong magnets.

The front capacitive touch display is the star of the show here.

The screen indicates detailed charging stats about the case and each earbud. Moreover, you can choose ANC modes, select EQ presets, and enable/disable a litany of other features without ever opening the app. Nifty indeed.

Design 100% ⓘ

• Shape of the case: Rectangular with rounded edges
• Material: Plastic
• Build Quality: Premium

The case is built really well. The lid shows no creak or wobble. The added weight makes the case feel denser, resulting in a sense of robustness rarely found in TWS cases.

Portability 50% ⓘ

• Weight: 73g (case only), 97g (with earbuds)
• Volume: 6 cm x 6 cm x 3 cm = 108 cm cu
• Portability: Average

The carrying case has noticeable weight, and it’s not one to disappear in your pocket. I am not a big fan of such bulk, but given the large battery and the front display, the extra weight is understandable.

Earbuds 74% ⓘ

Battery 100% ⓘ.

• Battery Life: 8 hrs (with ANC), 10 hrs (without ANC)
• Charge Time (15 mins): 240 mins playback time

The earbuds last about 8 hours before they run dry (with ANC on). You can turn off the ANC and get 10 hrs on a single charge.

The JBL Tour Pro 2 need about 2 hours to charge fully (with the case), but you can get up to 240 minutes of playback time with just 15 minutes of charge.

• Control Mechanism: Touch
• Touch Accuracy: Reliable
• Control Symmetry on both earbuds: Yes
• Mono Use: Yes, both sides

The stem has a fairly responsive touch-sensitive panel built-in. Accidental taps and activations are minimal. The various touch controls can be remapped to whatever you prefer via the app.

Design 80% ⓘ

• Profile: Low
• Comfort: Outstanding
• Fit: Outstanding

The JBL Tour Pro 2 have a bland, unremarkable design language.

The build is all plastic, resulting in a look that doesn’t befit the price tag. There is also a wear-detection sensor on the inside, which works well in practice. At the bottom, there are the charging pins.

Fortunately, the fit is great. The earpieces fit snugly and are stable even when working out.

There is one vent near the nozzle. I did not notice any pressure buildup when wearing the Tour Pro 2.

• Noise Cancellation: Good
• Voice Pick-up: Outstanding

Thanks to six dedicated microphones, the mic has exceptional voice pickup in a quiet environment.

In very noisy environments, the very aggressive noise cancellation results in some break-up. However, such extreme cases should not arise in a day-to-day situation.

The VoiceAware feature allows you to reroute your voice back to the earpiece for a more natural sound during calls.

• Jbl tour pro 2 quiet
• Jbl tour pro 2 noisy

Sound 41% ⓘ

• Driver : 10mm single dynamic driver
• Sound Signature: Neutral with sub-bass boost
• Bass: Average
• Mids: Average
• Treble: Substandard
• Sound Detail: Substandard

The JBL Tour Pro 2 utilize a single dynamic driver. Unfortunately, that’s all the details about the internals from the promotional materials.

The JBL Tour Pro 2 follow the Harman target closely, with some deviations in the treble region.

Taken in isolation, the graph is excellent if you are one of those “academically inclined” listeners who prefer their IEMs to hit a specific “target” curve.

Unfortunately, the sound is only “good” on paper. During actual listening, the Tour Pro 2 turn out to be dull, lacking in texture, detail, and dynamics.

The bass is slow and nebulous, with the strong sub-bass rumble being the only saving grace. Fast basslines are not rendered well, as the bass notes bleed into each other.

The mids sound correct for the most part, though there is some haziness in the lower-mids. The upper-mids are not shouty and mostly pushed to the front, resulting in well-articulated female vocals.

The treble is elevated more than the Harman target, but tends to sound very compressed and “low resolution.” Given the otherwise “perfect” frequency response, it’s a strange phenomenon. The upper-treble extension is also lacking, furthering the lack of overall resolution.

Staging is intimate, while imaging is mostly left and right with no sense of frontal projection or ordinal placement of instruments.

The macrodynamic punch is decent in the bass region but sounds compressed overall. Microdynamic shifts are imperceptible, resulting in subtle changes in volume not being picked up at all.

Overall, the sheer lack of resolution and other “technical” parameters make the Tour Pro 2 a severe letdown, especially at the given price point. They do not sound “bad” in terms of tuning, far from it, but there is no engaging factor in the sound. A shame, really.

ANC performance is very good overall as it reduces low-frequency noise drastically, whereas high-frequency sounds are dampened to a degree.

Connectivity 90% ⓘ

• Audio Codec : AAC
• Bluetooth Version: 5.3
• Bluetooth Chip: N/A
• Auto-connect when: Case lid opened
• Average drop-outs in an hour: 0-3 times
• Multi-point connection: Yes

Multipoint support is present, and it is seamless to switch between an Android phone and a Windows PC. The latest Bluetooth 5.3 and class 1 support is here, resulting in a long connection range and exceptional stability.

Waterproof 75% ⓘ

• IP Rating: IPX5

The IPX5 rating means that the JBL Tour Pro 2 are secure from minor splashes and water sprays, but there is no dust protection.

Software 100% ⓘ

• Available on: Android & iOS
• 10-band EQ and Personi-fi 2.0 .
• Spatial sound.
• Customizable gesture and ANC modes.
• Auto-Pause: Yes.

The ANC can be customized with specific levels of “feedback” from the environment that the user can dial in via settings. Many of the app functionalities can be accessed via the display on the case, so you don’t have to pick up your smartphone for a quick EQ preset change, for example.

The EQ is fairly comprehensive, offering 10 bands of adjustment. The Personi-Fi feature is a variation of the “sound personalization” feature that many competing TWS IEMs offer. It tended to boost bass consistently for me, so it’s probably not a good audiophile solution, but your mileage may vary.

The Spatial Sound presets worked well, with a convincing expansion of the stereo image without sacrificing details or imaging. The upper-treble was boosted too much at times, so I found myself turning this feature off for music.

In short: class-leading companion app with a dizzying array of customizability.

The JBL Tour Pro 2 get nearly everything right apart from the sound. The ANC performance is excellent, rivaling the best in class. The microphone array is competent, while the app is the most comprehensive I have come across.

Also, let’s not forget that display on the case, though it was nothing short of a gimmick for me in the long run.

Sadly, the Tour Pro 2 sound unrefined, and the lack of resolution for the asking price is a deal breaker. As such, I cannot recommend them since they fail at the most fundamental aspect – sound quality.

The current predicament might be a combination of poor quality driver, sub-optimal acoustic chamber design, and codec compression. I hope JBL can focus on refining the tuning and finding an engaging signature in the next release instead of relying on cool gimmicks.

• JBL official  store

💬 Conversation: 4 comments

Quality good sound

What spinfit eartip model did you manage to fit in the Tour Pro 2? Do they fit snuggly well? Spinfit does not list this buds model on their website.

The Spinfit CP-1025 worked for me (it’s also added as a note in the review). The tips fit well and there were no issues placing the earbuds in the case.

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• Headphone Reviews

JBL Tour Pro 2 review: these earbuds have a screen

The touchscreen offers quick access to earbud settings along with extras like timers and even a flashlight. it’s not a super compelling addition right now, but this is only the beginning of what’s sure to become a trend..

By Chris Welch , a reviewer specializing in personal audio and home theater. Since 2011, he has published nearly 6,000 articles, from breaking news and reviews to useful how-tos.

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Am I holding the future of wireless earbuds in my hands? Or are JBL’s Tour Pro 2 buds — with a charging case that has its own built-in display — a parlor trick negated by the smartwatch? Do you need these controls directly on the physical product when they’re all easily accessible via an app on your phone? I’ve been testing the new $249.95 noise-canceling earbuds for a couple weeks now, and strangely enough, it’s a difficult question to answer.

The Tour Pro 2 are the first to come to market with an interactive case; HP has announced something similar (albeit focused on enterprise customers), and Apple patent filings suggest that the AirPods maker is at least exploring this concept. But JBL’s earbuds are here now and start shipping today in the US after launching in other markets earlier this year.

Look, I know we’re all in this together for the zany case-with-a-screen experiment. So let’s get the earbuds part of this equation out of the way first. The Tour Pro 2 include an exhaustive, well-rounded list of features. Their adaptive noise-cancellation, which adjusts in real time based on the loudness of your environment, is impressively strong and comparable to the upper tier of competition. Battery life is another highlight and rated at up to eight hours of continuous listening with ANC on or 10 with it off — plus another 24 or 30 hours from the case, respectively. That outlasts the AirPods Pro, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, the Nothing Ear 2, and other premium options. 

According to JBL, the sound signature from these 10-millimeter drivers follows the revered Harman response curve , albeit with some extra bass tacked on. And while the Tour Pro 2 sound perfectly good, I still prefer the audio fidelity from the second-gen AirPods Pro, Samsung’s flagship buds, and Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds. To my ears, those earbuds have more depth, greater dynamic range, and just lend more definition to whatever music is playing. The Tour Pro 2 don’t fully sound like $250 earbuds to me, so yeah, the case is factoring into that price. You get several equalizer settings to pick between, and JBL’s Personi-Fi feature can further tune the audio output frequencies based on your own hearing traits and preferences. 

The company also piles on other tricks like multipoint, proprietary spatial audio profiles (music, movie, games, etc.), an earbuds locator utility, and speech detection for automatically activating ambient sound mode. That transparency / ambient sound mode was where I was least impressed; it just sounds very stuffy, inarticulate, and lags modern competitors quite substantially. Voice call performance is clear and satisfactory, however, and the earbuds are rated IPX5 for water and sweat resistance. 

To sum it all up, the Tour Pro 2 are comfortable, sound good even if not great, and they pack plenty of battery endurance. JBL also notes that the earbuds are ready for LE Audio spec and will be updated to enable it once the spec goes mainstream. That could lead to more efficiency and even better battery performance. For now, Bluetooth codec support is limited to AAC and SBC.

Now for the main attraction: that case. It’s pretty large by today’s standards thanks to the built-in 1.45-inch touchscreen LCD on the front. But there’s support for wireless charging, at least, which isn’t always guaranteed , even for the bulky ones. Do I wish the screen used something cooler like OLED or even E Ink? Sure. As is, you can adjust between three different brightness levels, but even the lowest setting isn’t particularly dim. Unlike the buds inside, the case only offers the slightest amount (IPX2) of water protection, so you’ll want to keep it dry. JBL tells me it might offer standalone replacement cases down the line since “I dropped my earbuds and broke the screen” is a dilemma that now exists, but it will likely replace both earbuds and the case in the event you damage any of them individually.

When you tap on the display, your chosen wallpaper appears. (There are presets, but you can also use custom images. JBL preloaded The Verge’s logo onto our review unit.) Slide your finger to the right, and you’ll start cycling through the different functions. And there are more than you might think:

• Playback controls
• Sound mode (ANC, transparency, etc.)
• Timer: the earbuds will power down after your chosen time elapses
• Spatial audio 
• Screen brightness
• Wallpaper selection
• VoiceAware: this determines how sensitive the voice detection is
• SilentNow: you can enable ANC even without music playing for a preset amount of time
• Automatic play/pause ear detection
• Notifications
• Find My Buds

That’s a lot of widgets to constantly be swiping between. You can (and should) remove the ones you don’t want through JBL’s mobile app for Android or iOS and cut that list down to a more manageable five or six screens.

Track controls and volume adjustments work well enough, although you’re never shown what song is currently playing; it’s just the controls. (You can’t fast forward or rewind by long-pressing the buttons, either.) Other core tasks like switching audio modes or EQ modes also pose no issue. But even here, I’m already questioning whether the display is necessary and how much convenience it adds. You can perform several of these functions through the remappable earbud gesture controls with the case stowed away. And yes, they’re all present in JBL’s app on your phone. 

I’m doing my best to ignore the possibility of ads on an earbuds case someday

But some inherent benefits do come with the screen. For one, there’s never any mistaking whether or not your earbuds are charging or how much battery remains. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve wound up with one fully charged AirPod — insert any earbud brand here, honestly — and the other fully depleted just because the contacts needed cleaning or didn’t align perfectly. But with the Tour Pro 2, that information is always visible in a small font at the top of the display. And since it’s the most pressing data for earbuds, it remains there as you swipe through the other widgets. 

There are even some rudimentary, super basic smartwatch-like features tossed in: the case lets you see and answer / reject incoming calls, and it can show an alert whenever you receive messages on your phone. When I say an alert, it literally just says “new message on mobile device” most of the time, so don’t expect much context. The message notifications disappear so quickly that they’re rarely helpful, so I left them off.

Does the case make life easier overall? …Perhaps ? Technically it’s faster to grab the case and change some random setting than it would be to pull out your phone, unlock it, find and open the JBL app, and go hunting for the same toggle. And it’s nice to have the Find My Buds tool right there if you open the case and discover one or both buds to be missing. 

But all of these “benefits” come with a big assumption: do you really carry your earbuds case on your person at all times? More often than not, I leave mine in my backpack or my coat’s chest pocket. If that’s you, the advantages of this interactive case go out the window unless you change your habits and keep it within reach. 

The earbuds case needs to be within reach often for the display to be useful

I can’t imagine anyone who routinely wears a smartwatch will see much to get excited about with the Tour Pro 2, either. Apple, Samsung, and Google all provide deep controls over their respective earbuds right from their wearables; hell, the Apple Watch can now tell you how much noise the AirPods Pro (or Max) are canceling in real time. There’s only more synergy growing in these walled-off gardens. But JBL doesn’t have a horse in that race. Many companies don’t. So if you think about it that way — a platform-agnostic audio brand trying to stand out — the Tour Pro 2 make a bit more sense. 

Agree to Continue: JBL Tour Pro 2

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate.

By using JBL’s Tour Pro 2 earbuds, you’re agreeing to:

• JBL / Harman terms of use
• Harman privacy policy statement

The final tally is two mandatory agreements.

And they’ve definitely got me pondering what’s to come. How long will it be before earbuds are a fully independent source of entertainment? It’s not hard to imagine some company building flash storage into an earbuds case and letting you sync music to it from your phone. You can already do so with a smartwatch; why not just extend that to the actual listening device? Maybe several years from now, we’ll be using AirPods with an iPod nano crammed into the case. 

I haven’t uncovered any singular compelling reason that will keep me using the JBL Tour Pro 2 in place of my favorite wireless earbuds. The surefire battery status is handy, but I’m too set in my ways to give earbuds valuable pocket space. That’s true for this first try, at least.

This concept isn’t going to begin and end with JBL — or HP, for that matter. I predict we’ll see others try their hand at “smart” earbud cases. Truthfully, no idea has ever struck me as more Samsung, but I suppose the Galaxy Watch lineup covers similar bases. Maybe someone will figure out a brilliant reason for earbuds to have a screen. For now, this feels like one screen too many.

But I can’t knock creativity and an attempt at something new. The Tour Pro 2 don’t measure up to the best earbud contenders when it comes to sound, but they definitely have a unique gimmick. They’re offbeat and weird. Let’s keep getting weird. Something good has to come out of that.

Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge

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JBL Tour Pro 2 brings a whole new way to control your wireless earbuds

We all spend too much time on our phones, but JBL’s new touchscreen-enabled charging case does things differently and even lets you take phone calls

JBL Tour Pro 2 Champagne. Image: JBL

Review Overview

Our verdict.

Wireless earbuds have evolved to a point where they can seem more like tiny computers. JBL’s latest offering, the flagship Tour Pro 2, takes this even further with the introduction of a touchscreen on the case, one of only a handful of models incorporating this feature – HP’s Voyager Free 60 being another example..

• READ MORE: BOSS Gigcaster 8 is a powerful audio hub for recording, streaming and live mixing

Such a feature divides opinion somewhat, with PCMag and WhatHiFi deeming it something of a gimmick, while simultaneously praising the product’s build. We think it’s a more useful feature than they conclude, but still needs improvements. And after all – do you really need a touch screen for your earbuds when you already have a phone?

The case and buds certainly are well-built with a premium feel, as they should be for £250. With a waterproof rating of IPX5, the buds shake off splashes and the case comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable for charging. It also charges wirelessly and you’ll get a solid 10 hours of playback with active noise cancelling (ANC) turned off, eight with it on; charging from empty takes two hours.

With the buds and case fully charged you can expect 40 hours of use – up there with the best on the market. A 15-minute quick charge will supply four hours of battery life, which will be welcome when you’re about to head out of the door.

Bluetooth pairing is simple, and multipoint connection with Bluetooth 5.3 is supported so you can switch between devices seamlessly. There are only three sizes of ear tips provided – competing buds come with up to five sizes – but we had no issues with fitting and the buds proved comfortable and secure to wear.

JBL’s app for iOS and Android is able to detect your earbuds model, provide access to the settings and advise of any available firmware updates.

There’s a lot to see here, starting with Person-Fi 2, a multi-step process you can invoke that plays sounds and runs various analyses to tailor the buds’ sound to your own ears. This is optional and you can turn it off if you decide it’s not materially improving the listening experience. Personally we preferred it off, but with EQ adjustments – there’s an EQ section in the app with user-storable presets and 10 bands of adjustment.

You’re also able to turn on JBL’s Spatial Sound feature to create a virtual 360-degree effect. It’s decent with compatible material, though as with any system like this, can sometimes mangle a simple stereo signal in a way that doesn’t quite work. There’s the ability to configure the tap-to-control features on either earbud to your liking too.

Let’s turn to what, at present, makes these buds unique. Many of the features from the app are also available via the touchscreen on the case, which is responsive and intuitive to use. There’s a header that displays the current battery level in both buds and the case, as well as the time. Battery display is something many buds and cases are very bad at, often reporting an ‘averaged’ value (rather than the value for each bud) to your phone. Here, you get the full information.

The screen can mirror message notifications from your device together with a message preview and also notify you of incoming calls and let you answer them. There’s a Find My Buds feature that will play a loud sound to help you locate them, and a useful mode called SilentNow that activates ANC while disconnecting Bluetooth and setting a wake-up alarm – the idea being to turn the buds into earplugs. You can switch between EQ presets from the screen, which is genuinely useful, and also use your pictures as screensavers, which is perhaps less so, but is certainly a fun inclusion.

Speaking of noise cancellation, its implementation here is respectable, with Adaptive mode being effective when out and about, plus a special ‘TalkThru’ mode that prioritises human voices during ambient listening. There are six microphones that also help when making and taking calls; voice clarity is excellent.

Sonically, the buds are relatively impressive performers, if not quite up to the level of some others in this price range like Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 or Grell’s TWS1s. The soundstage is coherent and the overall sound is fairly punchy but they lack the detail and finesse of, say, Master and Dynamic’s MW08s. On the other hand, they do offer an awful lot more features so that may be a consideration for you. We found that making some very minor EQ tweaks helped to fine-tune playback to our liking.

So do you really need touch screen control from your earbuds case? Maybe. Some people – including this reviewer – aren’t big fans of multi-tapping earbuds to invoke features and tend to go to their phone or smartwatch instead. Indeed, if you have an Apple Watch and an iPhone, some of this functionality around playback is already on your wrist. Of course, JBL’s buds are platform-agnostic, so they use their own system rather than Apple or Android’s.

Then there are our listening habits. When you’re listening, your phone is probably in your pocket or your hand, and your earbuds case is safely tucked away in a pocket or bag. So there’s a question of whether having the buds’ case to hand is much different to having your phone out. On balance, it’s definitely quicker to get at these tools from the case than by unlocking the phone and opening and navigating the app.

You can also remove pages from the swipe screen, streamlining it to just the things you regularly need like EQ, playback and ANC mode. Plus, some of these remain available by tapping the buds, so you may find you end up using a combination of methods to interact with them; it might just require a minor readjustment of your muscle memory. PCMag takes the view that “(some) features do feel wholly unnecessary, like the toggle for the auto play/pause function and a flashlight mode” but we’d counter that you can hide these, or simply not use them so it’s not a huge issue.

The Verge noted that one missing feature that would be a handy inclusion is track name display on the screen and that is certainly true – seeing the current track without pulling out your phone, assuming it’s technically possible.

These are feature-heavy earbuds with excellent battery life, solid if perhaps not category-leading sonic performance, and a touchscreen that is definitely not a gimmick. Don’t be surprised to see other companies try their own version of it in future.

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JBL Tour Pro 2 True Wireless Earbuds Review

Jbl’s intriguing new tour pro 2 earbuds face tough competition.

May 5, 2023

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

About the JBL Tour Pro 2

What we like, what we don’t like, should you buy the jbl tour pro 2, related content.

Comfortable

Unique charging case with LED screen

Packed with utility

Sound doesn’t stack up to competition

Good, not great ANC

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The JBL Tour Pro 2 are available in both champagne (pictured) and black.

Here’s a look at the earbuds we tested:

• Price: $250
• Battery life: Up to 10 hours, up to 40 hours total with case
• Drivers: two 10mm drivers
• Wireless charging: Yes, Qi-compatible case
• Colors: Black, Champagne
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
• Water-resistance: IPX5
• Ear tips: Small, medium, large
• Weight: Earbuds, 12.2 grams (0.42 ounces), case, 73 grams (2.6 ounces)

They are surprisingly comfortable

Contrary to their bulky look, the Tour Pro 2 are incredibly comfortable and secure, even during workouts.

The reality is quite the opposite. The Tour Pro 2 fit nicely in my ears, bolstered by a feature in the JBL Headphones app that tests the seal of each earbud to help determine optimal positioning and placement. Beyond the pleasantly snug fit (they held up well in both the gym and during jogs around my neighborhood), the Tour Pro 2 stayed comfy for as long as I wore them. Ear fatigue was not a factor whatsoever, which is an expected, but vital perk of this price range of true wireless earbuds.

They feature a unique charging case

The LED display allows for control of a multitude of features.

There isn’t a lot of variation in charging cases these days, but JBL aims to lead the charge in changing that trend. The case is adorned with a 1.45-inch LED display on the front that offers all kinds of control features. You can accept or decline incoming calls, adjust active noise cancellation or spatial sound, enable a Find my Buds feature, access messages, and more. The goal, JBL suggests, is to be able to control earbud settings without having to reach for your phone.

Inherently, I had concerns about how useful this case would actually be. After all, I don’t often carry charging cases with me once I pop in earbuds. Plus, I figured I would instinctively grab my phone to swap a track or tinker with a setting before even pondering the idea of pulling out the charging case. All that said, it was apparent that this case isn’t meant to be a complete replacement for your phone and the JBL Headphones app. Rather, it shines as a nifty second option for accessing the earbuds’ settings, especially when you’re first pulling the buds out of there case and need to quickly toggle something on or off.

They offer solid utility overall

For being high-end earbuds, the Tour Pro 2 are remarkably versatile for everyday use. To start, they have the coveted true wireless trifecta: comfort, good battery life (up to 10 hours per charge, though it’s closer to 7 or 8 with ANC turned on), and great water resistance (IPX5). Earbuds that can nail all three of those features tend to be incredibly functional in tons of different settings, and the Tour Pro 2 are no different.

The JBL Headphones app adds an additional layer to the versatility of it all. On top of the usual headphones features such as Ambient Sound Control options and an adjustable 10-band equalizer, the app has plenty of options for optimizing the Tour Pro 2 to your lifestyle. For instance, the app’s Person-fi feature analyzes information about you and data from sound tests to create a sound profile meant precisely for your ears. There’s also tabs for Spatial Sound settings, choosing which gestures correlate to which controls on the earbuds, separate audio and video modes for further optimizing sound, and even a SilentNow feature that JBL says is meant to help create the ideal setting for catching some sleep on a plane or during travel.

In all, it’s a wonderfully handy app that, when packaged with a pair of earbuds that feel great, last for long periods of time and are water-resistant, you’re met with a final product that excels in a wide variety of situations. The JBL Tour Pro 2 are those earbuds, a stark contrast from expensive earbuds of the past that were predominantly one-trick ponies and relied on their sound quality alone.

Their sound is good, but the competition sounds better

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds sound great, but don't measure up to similarly priced options.

Let me be as clear as I can: the Tour Pro 2 sound good, and oftentimes lean towards exceptional. They feature healthy amounts of bass when needed (“White Walls” by Macklemore comes to mind), and are undoubtedly detailed. I spent a lot of time listening to instrumental music while reviewing these buds (wedding stuff), and I was impressed with the clarity that the Tour Pro 2 displayed. They’re even solid on the call quality side of things, thanks to a 6-microphone setup that sets the stage for solid audio on both ends of the call.

Noise cancellation is effective, but not outstanding

The Tour Pro 2 find themselves in a similar boat when it comes to active noise cancellation. They are effective in what they do, blocking out a reasonable amount of noise in loud settings like the gym or the grocery store. Plus, in the JBL Headphones app, you can customize your ANC experience by toggling on things like Leakage Compensation, which monitors the seal the buds have in your ears and adjusts ANC in real time to make up for any noise that is getting through.

The moral of the story is, the Tour Pro 2 don’t do a bad job when it comes to noise cancellation. They just bear the unfortunate burden of living in the same price range as the best noise-canceling earbuds in the game. For $50 more, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II deliver unrivaled levels of ANC. Even at a more even cost, earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM4 and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 simply block out more noise.

Yes, if you value well-rounded buds over sound and ANC

If you're looking for a versatile, flexible earbuds, the JBL Tour Pro 2 are worth the look.

The glaring hiccup is that, compared to those three adversaries, the Tour Pro 2 don’t match up when it comes to audio quality and ANC. The Momentum True Wireless 3 are some of the best sounding earbuds you can buy. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are the best noise-canceling earbuds you can buy. It's a harsh competition. But if you’re spending a lot on true wireless earbuds and are after the best in either sound or ANC, the Tour Pro 2 aren’t the move.

The good news is, if the total package is more of a factor to you than world-class sound or ANC, then you’re in luck. The JBL Tour Pro 2 (and their quirky, smart charging case) have a plethora of perks waiting for you to explore.

JBL’s Tour Pro 2 are versatile earbuds that face strong competition from high-end flagship alternatives.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

Meet the tester

Nick Woodard

Contributor

Nick Woodard is a tech journalist specializing in all things related to home theater and A/V. His background includes a solid foundation as a sports writer for multiple daily newspapers, and he enjoys hiking and mountain biking in his spare time.

Checking our work.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.

JBL Tour Pro 2 review

Jbl’s flagship wireless earbuds have high ambitions tested at £250 / $250 / au$330.

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

JBL’s Tour Pro 2 are a solid pair of wireless earbuds, but you can find far better sound at this price elsewhere

Fun, innovative on-case display

Well-made and smartly designed

Packed with features

Sound is merely OK

Middling ANC

Serious competition at this level

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

It’s shameful to admit that we spent much of the time before composing this review trying to think of puns revolving around the word “case”. After all, there’s no escaping the exciting novelty that JBL’s Tour Pro 2 bring to the party with their cute display that gives full touchscreen functionality from the front of the earbuds’ charging case. Gimmick or not, it’s something unique to JBL .

Time will tell if that sort of thing catches on, and while such an innovation may be the first thing to grab your attention, we’re more concerned about high-quality sound than a touchscreen in a place we’ve never seen before. There’s little use in recommending a pair of wireless earbuds for sporting pretty patterns or fun gimmicks if they make your music sound like it was recorded at the local swimming pool.

This is the standard that the JBL Tour Pro 2 must live up to, and it’s a high one. At this price, there’s serious competition from the likes of Bose's QuietComfort Earbuds II , Sony's WF-100XM4 and of course Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 , so a fancy charging case isn’t going to be enough to stave off such heavyweight rivals if JBL can’t deliver genuinely outstanding audio. Let’s find out if the new Tour Pro 2 are up to the task.

Comfort & build

The JBL Tour Pro 2 are as stylish and comfortable as you’d expect at this price. Some of our team had a little more trouble making a full seal, while others found these new earbuds nestled happily in their ears after a little perseverance. If you don’t manage to get a perfect fit first time, you may find yourself limited by the fact that JBL only offers three choices of ear tips to accompany its latest pair of wireless buds.

General build quality, though, is good, and while the earbuds themselves aren’t particularly remarkable to look at, their ridged edge pattern and neat, short stems are far from offensive to the eye. That case is a lovely item, robust and sturdy while never straying into the realm of bulky or obtrusive. The coveted touchscreen, meanwhile, is relatively responsive and usually pretty precise, even if it can take a few attempts to get a reaction from some of the display’s fiddlier commands.

JBL’s latest pair of earbuds are well-furnished in the features department, boasting a large stable of tricks for an impressive wireless experience. The buds themselves are call-enabled, with a substantial 40 hours of total playback (if you’re a very frugal user) with the case. On a single charge on the buds, you'll get eight hours of play with ANC on (or 10 hours with ANC off), while a 15-minute charging session can bolster battery life by around four hours. For comparison, Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds II offer around 24 hours in total, whereas Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 manage roughly 30.

As you’d expect, JBL has also brought active noise cancelling (ANC) to the Tour Pro 2 party, with the JBL app and smart case both offering access to the standard Noise Cancelling, Ambient Aware or Talkthru modes, and while there’s certainly a difference between these three options, none of these settings is especially remarkable. Standing next to a moderately busy road with Noise Cancelling activated removes the general rumble of traffic, but the louder wooshes and bumps of individual cars, not to mention other intrusions, still filter through.

Bluetooth 5.3

Codec Support AAC, LC3, LC3+, SBC

Noise-cancelling? Yes 

Battery Life Up to 8 hours (single charge in earbuds with ANC on), up to 10 hours (ANC off); total 40 hours (with charging case)

Finishes x2 (Black, Champagne)

Weight 6.1g (each)

Most of these functions, including spatial audio, ANC and JBL’s onboard equaliser, can be set and adjusted via the charging case screen as well as through the app itself. In a further attempt to justify its own existence, JBL’s novelty display also allows for your smartphone’s notifications and alerts to come through, as well as allowing control of VoiceAware settings to let you choose how much of your own voice you hear on calls, autoplay and a very handy Find My Buds feature. There’s even a case flashlight, but it’s so limited in its brightness that you’d struggle to light up a mouse’s cupboard with it.

The question, though, is whether that display on the case is really needed. Sure, it’s nice to be able to make adjustments on the fly from a new interface, but considering that you’ll likely be playing music from your phone as a source (and therefore always have it handy wherever your buds go), there isn’t much of a necessity to also have a case display in addition to your phone and the detailed JBL app. Maybe we’ll be proved wrong, but this feels more like Google Glass than Google Earth.

All of this agonising over novel charging cases shouldn’t distract us from the main event: sound. Considering the superb sense of refinement and balance offered by Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds II, not to mention the effortless dynamic quality of the AirPods Pro 2, there’s some serious competition to be had at this flagship price level. Our expectations, frankly, were high.

Sadly, the Tour Pro 2 don’t quite meet them. There’s nothing actively wrong with JBL’s game effort, but little truly grabs us as we work our way through our favourite tunes. Few tracks are coloured by a predominant or overbearing sonic bias, but whether you’re wanting to groove to Noisette’s Never Forget You or rock out to Wig Wam’s In My Dreams, there’s just a slight lack of dynamism, detail or personality on display throughout.  

Cranking up Kanye West and Jay-Z’s No Church In The Wild should be an invigorating experience, but the Tour Pro 2 always feel as though they’re holding back somewhat. That primal, driving drumbeat just doesn't thump like you feel it should, and there’s a limit to the expression and feeling from the track’s charismatic performers. It’s far from an unpleasant listen, it’s just not quite an essential one, either.

Smoother, more chilled efforts fare a little better. Pick out a softer track from De La Soul’s seminal 3 Feet High And Rising album and you may find the JBL’s more muted presentation better suited to tracks like Eye Know or The Magic Number, even if heavier, punchier offerings just don’t feel as thrilling as you’d like. 

Spatial audio compatibility is one of the Tour Pro 2’s flagship features, adjustable via the JBL app and case to accommodate three different modes: Movie, Music and Game. Setting the Tour Pro 2 to Music before loading up Apple Music and digging out sections of Gorillaz’s Cracker Island sees the technology working respectably, with voices and instruments somewhat separated into their own distinct areas with relative conviction. However, the JBL’s implementation of this spatial audio tech pales in comparison to the AirPods Pro 2’s more assured performance; during the album’s title track, Thundercat’s upper-range vocals envelop you in an echoey fog, while the funky piano on Silent Running has a far more distinct personality all of its own when played on Apple’s wireless buds. The difference is stark.

Ultimately, then, the listening experience offered by the JBL Tour Pro 2 feels a little thin, limited by a lack of excitement and dynamism that rivals are able to offer at this level. The Tour Pro 2 aren’t a bad listen, but they fail to truly thrill on a sonic level. 

JBL had its work cut out if it wanted to muscle in on the action against some seriously impressive rivals. Hovering around this price are some of our favourite earbuds, be they the Award-winning Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or Apple’s superb AirPods Pro 2, both exceptional performers that would have taken something seriously special to be knocked from such lofty perches. 

JBL’s latest don’t quite have the firepower to dethrone such worthy rivals. Yes, that case is a fun novelty and yes, everything’s well-made, well-designed and easy to use, but there’s something missing from the ensemble when it actually comes time to getting stuck into your catalogue of favourite songs. The Tour Pro 2 buds sound fine, but fine just isn’t going to cut it when you’re coming up against the best in the business. 

Read our review of the Apple AirPods Pro 2

Also consider the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

Read our Sony WF-1000XM4 review

Best in-ear headphones: budget to premium

JBL’s smart case is a fun innovation – but I can’t see it catching on

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JBL Tour Pro 2

True wireless Noise Cancelling earbuds

Smart Charging Case™ for seamless experience

Control the earbuds' settings, manage calls and playback, control your audio setting and battery level and set your alarm without taking out your phone, through the screen of the Smart Charging Case™. Enjoy a truly seamless experience thanks to the JBL Tour Pro 2 unique Smart Charging Case™ without using your phone or the JBL Headphones App.

True Adaptive Noise Cancelling with Smart Ambient

Enjoy the soundtrack of your life no matter where you are. True Adaptive Noise Cancelling technology automatically uses 4 noise sensing mics to adjust to your surroundings in real-time, minimizing distractions when you need to focus and optimizing the JBL Tour Pro 2's performance for a superior audio experience—all while you adjust ANC mode control with the JBL Headphones app.

6-mic perfect calls with voice control

The 6-mic crystal call algorithm of the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds allows you to have better conversations even in loud or windy environments or to get help from your preferred voice assistant. And with VoiceAware, you can choose how much of your own voice to hear by controlling the amount of mic input routed back into your earbuds.

Smart Ambient technology

Stay alert to the sounds of the world around you while enjoying your music with Smart Ambient. Control either feature with a simple touch of a button and fine-tune them with the JBL Headphones app.

Legendary Pro Sound

Thanks to extensive global research and testing, the superior JBL sound curve delivers precise, accurate audio and less distortion with all the music you love at any frequency or volume, even in noisy environments. Enjoy deep-dive bass thanks to the 10mm dynamic drivers powered by JBL Pro Sound.

Immersive JBL Spatial Sound

Immerse yourself in JBL Spatial Sound and feel like being in a theatre, at a concert or in the studio with your favorite artist. Thanks to this proprietary technology, sound comes from virtually anywhere around you, no matter the source or the device you are playing from.

Personal Sound Amplification

Turn on JBL Tour Pro 2's Personal Sound Amplification feature to adjust the L/R balance and amplify conversations' volume +15-20dB.

Hands free voice control

Stay connected to your digital world anywhere. Just say "Hey Google" or "Alexa" and speak to your preferred Voice Assistant and control your headphones with voice prompts in multiple languages.

Fast Pair enabled by Google and Microsoft swift pair

Discover Bluetooth accessories in close proximity to your device—then connect with a single tap. With Microsoft sift pair you can seamlessly pair your Bluetooth devices with your Windows 10 PC.

Stay in control with the JBL Headphones app

Personalize the soundtrack of your life. Just download the free JBL Headphones app to customize EQ, switch on Adaptive Noise Cancelling, adjust your ambient sound control settings, check your best fit, or find your earbuds. You can also customize how the earbuds behave through the gesture customization or adapt the sound output to audio or video to get the most out of your content, choose your preferred voice assistant and much more.

Bluetooth 5.3 LE audio*

The JBL Tour Pro 2 feature Bluetooth 5.3, for a more stable and secure connection, so that you can enjoy wireless connection at its best. Featuring the last Bluetooth technology, your JBL Tour Pro 2 become virtually futureproof. (*) Available via OTA update at a later stage.

Specs & Downloads

Item# JBLTOURPRO2BLK

Product Description

Smart true wireless meets seamless sound experience, general specifications, audio specifications, control and connection specifications, what's in the box.

• 1 x JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds
• 1 x Charging case
• 1 x USB Type-C charging cable
• 1 x 3 sizes of eartips
• 1 x Warranty / Warning (W / !)
• 1 x Quick Start Guide / Safety Sheet (S / i)

Documents & Downloads

The latest owner's manuals, quick start guides, and documents.

Quick Start Guide (Multilingual)

Declaration of conformity, jbl headphones app, jbl global warranty card, spec sheet (english).

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JBL Tour Pro 2

True wireless Noise Cancelling earbuds

In stock. Delivery estimate 3 - 5 business days

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JBL Tour Pro 2

A touch-screen charging case isn't quite a must-have.

Bottom Line

• Powerful bass balanced with sculpted highs
• Long battery life
• Screen on charging case seems unnecessary

JBL’s products never seem to skimp on features, and the Tour Pro 2 noise-cancelling true wireless earphones are no exception. For $249.95, they offer reliable active noise cancellation (ANC), an adjustable, bass-forward sound signature, and long battery life. But the innovative touch screen on their charging case would benefit from a more streamlined approach. Overall, we prefer the second-generation Apple AirPods Pro for the same price because they sound just as good, cancel noise more effectively, and work more seamlessly if you have an iPhone.

A Secure Fit and Good Battery Life

The stem-style Tour Pro 2 earbuds, which are available in black or champagne models, fit securely and ship with three pairs of silicone eartips. Their somewhat chunky enclosures house 10mm dynamic drivers that deliver a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz, with an impedance of 16 ohms.

They are compatible with Bluetooth 5.3 and work with just the AAC and SBC codecs . JBL claims that they will eventually support LE Audio via the LC3 or LC3+ codecs, but didn't specify an exact date for that rollout. For the price, we would have liked to see AptX or even LDAC (which the $279.99 Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds use), but neither the $299 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II nor the AirPods Pro do better here. At least you get support for Google Fast Pair.

Each earpiece features a capacitive touch control panel and you can adjust the functions to a degree via the companion app. By default, a single tap on the left earbud switches between the ANC and Ambient Aware modes (you can add an Off option to this cycle), while the same gesture on the right controls playback. A double-tap on the left side toggles the TalkThru ambient mode or takes you to the next track on the right. Triple-taps don't do anything on the left earbud out of the box, but on the right it takes you to the previous track. A tap-and-hold on either earpiece summons your device's voice assistant.

The controls felt mostly responsive in testing, but we occasionally had to tap multiple times for an action to register. The bigger problem, however, is that the default layout doesn't seem intuitive. For instance, it's confusing that the Ambient Aware and Talk Thru modes aren't part of the same gesture cycle. Both are transparency modes after all, with the latter emphasizing conversations. A full set of controls is generally ideal, but the odd groupings of some features here make the standard layout feel a bit chaotic.

Their IPX5 weatherproof rating is fairly standard for noise-cancelling earbuds. Essentially, the earphones can withstand light splashes from any direction, which means that neither light rain nor sweat should pose an issue. I don't recommend rinsing them off under a faucet or getting the case wet, though, because that's pushing the limits. If you need more durable earbuds for exercise , consider another pair from JBL, such as the IP68-rated Reflect Aero earphones ($149.95).

JBL estimates that these earbuds can last roughly 10 hours per charge and that the case holds an additional 30 hours of battery life. If you enable the noise cancellation mode, those numbers drop slightly to eight and 24 hours, respectively. Of course, your results will further vary based on your typical listening volume. The company claims that the earphones can recharge completely in around two hours and that 15 minutes of charging gets you four hours of playback time.

A Smart Case That Tries a Bit Too Hard

The Tour Pro 2's charging case is a bit bulky, but that's necessary to accommodate its unique built-in touch screen. Otherwise, a USB-C port on the back enables charging via the included USB-C-to-USB-A cable. Alternatively, you can also drop the case on a Qi wireless charger to replenish the battery.

The case’s screen defaults to a custom wallpaper and, near the top, shows the battery life for each earphone and the case, as well as the time and Bluetooth status. JBL sent our review unit with the PCMag logo preinstalled, but you can choose between several default wallpapers or upload a custom image.

You can swipe across a total of 13 screens here, which mostly mirror the functions you get in the companion app. Some screens have practical controls for playback, volume, noise cancellation, and screen brightness, but you can also enable the audio-based Find My Buds feature and toggle notification mirroring. Of course, some functions are a bit more limited here than in the app. For instance, although you can switch between EQ presets, you can't create custom curves. That's not a complaint though, because doing so would be impractical. Other features do feel wholly unnecessary, however, like the toggle for the auto play/pause function and a flashlight mode (in which the case's screen simply turns white).

It wouldn't surprise me if other manufacturers jump in on this touch-screen case trend (the enterprise-focused Poly Voyager Free 60+ has one too), but I hope to see improvements to the concept. Using this current iteration feels a bit like trying to operate the tiny touchpad on the 6th-gen iPod nano from 2010—something about the experience just feels a bit dated and it can be more inconvenient to swipe through 13 screens rather than to simply open up the companion app on your phone. True, there's some utility in the case as a remote for the earbuds, but that's not enough to make up for some of the navigation challenges it poses.

JBL Tour Pro 2 App Experience

The ever-evolving JBL Headphones app (available for Android and iOS) is as cluttered as ever, which is disappointing because there are some genuinely handy and well-designed functions within it.

The main screen shows an image of the Tour Pro 2 earphones, along with battery life readouts for both them and the case. Below that, there's an ANC section that lets you switch between the ANC On, Ambient Aware, and Talk Thru modes. That last option includes a volume slider for the ambient mics. You can further customize the ANC experience by toggling the Adaptive setting (on by default), as well as by turning on the Leakage Compensation and Ear Canal Compression settings (both are off by default). Additionally, you can initiate an ear canal fit test here.

Further down, a Personi-Fi section lets you take a hearing test. The app claims to use those results to adjust the audio, but you can just as easily use the EQ section to customize the sound. For its part, JBL claims to store the unencrypted hearing test data locally on the device and that it won't share any details with third parties.

Next up is an EQ section with lots of presets. If you prefer more control, you can create a custom curve with 10 bands or simply draw one. Scroll down to reach the Spatial Sound area where you can toggle JBL’s various spatial audio effects for movies, music, or games. I recommend leaving these off because it's a poor approximation of surround sound that ends up just adding a layer between you and the audio.

A Gestures section allows you to switch between a few different preset control layouts—Ambient Sound Control, Volume Control, and Playback & Voice Assistant Control. I would prefer the ability to simply assign functions to various gestures, but some degree of customizability is better than none.

Rounding out the app are Voice Aware (which controls how much of your voice you hear on calls) and Smart Audio (which switches between a low-latency video mode and regular audio mode) tiles, both of which you can turn off completely. And there are several additional tiles that really belong in a traditional settings menu: AutoPlay/Pause, Left/Right Audio balance, Voice Assistant (which you can assign to Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri), Find My Buds (an audio-based feature that helps you locate a lost earpiece), Power Saving, Notifications (which you can set up to sync to the case's screen), and Smart Case (which lets you take a photo, upload an image, or choose between existing wallpapers for the screen's background).

The app is brimming with features and some are necessary (like the Support tile that enables you to install firmware updates) while others (like the Silent Now tile that helps you take timed breaks) are less important and some just seem to be in the wrong place. For example, I'm not quite sure why the Personal Sound Amplification option (which lets you control the volume level and ear-to-ear balance for the ambient listening mode) is not a part of the general noise cancellation section. Apple and Bose are far ahead in terms of their mobile device integrations; Apple's earbuds seamlessly interface with your iPhone's built-in settings, while Bose's companion app is refreshingly simple and effective.

Decent Noise Cancellation

The Tour Pro 2's four noise-cancelling mics served them well in our tests. We found the Adaptive mode most effective for the noises we were trying to reduce, but your results might differ.

The pair substantially cut back the deep, low-frequency rumble you hear from engines and appliances, and reduced the lows and mids from a recording of a crowded restaurant scene. That said, a thin band of highs from the latter audio sample made it past the circuitry. That's not a huge concern, however, because most noise-cancelling models struggle with the same frequencies. The Apple AirPods and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are notable exceptions to that rule and perform better in both scenarios.

But there's good news: Neither the ANC nor the Ambient Aware modes greatly impact the audio performance, a quality that not all competing models can claim. The Ambient Aware mode is useful overall and adds just a bit of hiss to an otherwise transparent signal of your surroundings. You shouldn't have any issue tuning in to your environment without removing the earpieces.

Sculpted Sound With Emphasized Low End

For evaluating the audio performance of the Tour Pro 2 earbuds, we turned off all the EQ customizations and enhanced audio modes. On tracks with heavy sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the drivers push out an impressive low-frequency response. The rumble is palatable at moderate volumes and I didn't detect any distortion at maximum output settings.

They also didn't have any trouble reproducing the sub-bass elements at the 34-second mark of Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty.” The sub-bass line here progressively descends and the final, deepest parts are still audible despite trailing off a bit. The various vocals on the track come across with excellent clarity and never cede ground to the enhanced lows.

Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with less low-end emphasis, better demonstrates the sound signature. The drivers present the drums with a pleasing thump that never seems unnatural. Callahan’s baritone vocals get an ideal blend of low-mid richness and high-mid crispness, while the acoustic strums are bright and clear. Boosting and sculpting are present throughout the frequency range and the mids suffer a bit for it, but you can use the in-app EQ to recover some of that detail.

On orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary , the earbuds push the lower-register instrumentation forward in the mix. Purists might not like this approach, but the boosting isn’t egregious and there's plenty of higher-frequency sculpting to keep everything in balance. Transparency takes a bit of a hit, however.

A six-mic array offers strong intelligibility for phone calls. I had no issue understanding every word from a test recording on an iPhone, but the AirPods Pro captured a slightly clearer signal. Neither pair should be an obstacle to phone conversations over a strong cellular connection.

Features Over Function

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earphones offer an energetic sound signature and reasonably effective noise cancellation, but the features that set them apart from the competition don't do quite enough to warrant the high price. The touch-screen case and companion app both offer useful functionality, but end up feeling overbearing because of the sheer number of features. Overall, the AirPods Pro earn our Editors' Choice award for offering more effective noise cancellation—and their appeal only increases if you use an iPhone thanks to their seamless integration with Apple devices.

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About Tim Gideon

I've been a contributing editor for PCMag since 2011. Before that, I was PCMag's lead audio analyst from 2006 to 2011. Even though I'm a freelancer now, PCMag has been my home for well over a decade, and audio gear reviews are still my primary focus. Prior to my career in reviewing tech, I worked as an audio engineer—my love of recording audio eventually led me to writing about audio gear.

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JBL Tour Pro 2 review: the screen-toting case is fun, but the sound is just fine

With a touchscreen case and lots of settings these buds are fun to use but not fantastic.

TechRadar Verdict

The JBL Tour Pro 2's touchscreen is a winner. We enjoyed using it and so will most of your train carriage. There are lots of settings on offer here and the JBL app is fun to use. We thought ANC was pretty good and enjoyed listening to them, but they don't feel worth the price tag and some genres definitely sound better than others.

Touchscreen case is great

Various fit tests/EQ profiles add value

Good battery life

Sound could be better for the price

ANC is average

Rivals offer more

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

• Two-minute review
• Price and release date
• Sound quality
• Should you buy them?

Also consider

Jbl tour pro 2: two-minute review.

JBL is famed for its rock-solid audio products, the kind of shiny but affordable gems which reveal themselves as diamonds in the rough more often than not and almost always, always sound excellent for the money. So what happens when the company veers off its successfully navigated low-cost path to go all-in on a flagship set of all-guns-blazing, active noise-cancelling, uniquely screen-toting earbuds? Is our best noise-cancelling earbuds guide about to welcome a new arrival? 

The JBL Tour Pro 2 sit above (way above) the brand’s other earbuds – including the splendid JBL Live Pro 2 – which feature possibly the best active noise cancellation at the level I've ever experienced. But the huge upgrades are easy to see from the off; there's a whacking great color touch-screen on the front of the case for starters. 

This, dear reader, is a thing of beauty. It is delightful. It's fun, it lets you accept calls with ease (how many times have we tried our best to touch the correct earpiece in the right way, succeeding only in hanging up on our friendly caller?) and it provides simple, scrollable access to ANC profiles, alarms, spatial audio and other perks. During daily use, we find ourselves playing with EQ profiles and useful extras which might have seemed unworthy of the hassle had they been squirrelled away in an app, requiring our phone. Then again, the screen did lose its sparkle, so to speak, after a few days.

Because of said screen, we worried that the battery-life might be a little on the anaemic side. Not so – the total claim of up to 50 hours of playtime (or 30 hours with ANC activated) and a very good 10 in just the buds themselves before they need charging stood up to scrutiny. Fast charge means 10 minutes plugged in will get you five hours of playtime too, which is a smart trick. 

So off they go to our best true wireless earbuds guide then? We love the design; we love all of the sound tests and special customizations – including Personi-fi, which is one of the most thorough audio tests within a set of earbuds we've taken to date. We also think the JBL Tour Pro 2 sound good and ANC works well. But that's it. We didn't find the sound stellar, and we wouldn't rate the ANC as fantastic. 

Listening to music with the JBL Tour Pro 2 is a pleasant experience for the most part. Instrumental music, jazz, easy listening and soulful tracks sounded smooth. But bassy tracks, rock music and even some vocals didn't sit well with us. Vocals, at times, were a little tinny – especially with the built-in EQ profiles, which we didn't enjoy using – and it was hard to pick out the detail in powerful instrumental tracks, making for a muddy listen at times. 

To us it feels a little like JBL nailed it with the JBL Live Pro 2 and tried to go all out with the Tour Pro 2 – slapping a screen on the case, bumping up the specs, improving the sound – when really they're excellent buds and at times it feels like the Tour Pro 2 are a little overcooked somehow.

Don't get us wrong here, the JBL Tour Pro 2 are good. In fact, if you don't have many top-performing buds to compare them to like we do, you might find them great. But are they premium price tag, top-of-the-range great? We're not sure.  

JBL Tour Pro 2: price and release date

• Launched January 2023
• Coming to the US in Spring 2023
• Cost $249.95 / £220 / AU$350 

The JBL Tour Pro 2 launched in January 2023 in most regions and will be coming to the US in Spring 2023. The buds cost $249.95 / £220 / AU$350 in either champagne or black finishes. 

This price puts them slap bang into competition with the likes of Apple's AirPods Pro 2 ($249 / £249 / AU$399) and the Bose QuietComfort 2 ($299 / £279 / AU$429), some of the best true wireless earbuds you can buy today, a category in which the Sony WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds also feature among the best, at $279.99 / £250 / AU$449.95 – although this particular set of earbuds is now available for quite a bit less than the original MSRP. 

In case it needs to be mentioned, this pricing puts the JBL Tour Pro 2 out of contention for our best budget earbuds buying guide, where the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus , Beats Studio Buds and Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0 rule the roost (although they aren't as fully featured of course). 

For this money – and toting the smart screen no other audio outfit has offered to date – the JBL Tour Pro 2 are on to a winner, provided the sound is up to snuff. 

JBL Tour Pro 2: features

• Excellent app adds scope to tailor the case
• Sound and fit tests add value
• ANC efficacy is easily beaten by AirPods Pro

You can customize the sound by telling the buds which sonic profile sounds best to you, in the Personi-fi 2.0 software. It starts out with an environment noise check (you need to be in a relatively quiet spot), then a wearing status check (you need to have a good seal betwixt ear canal and earbud). It then plays you nine chirpy sounds per ear, and you remove your finger when the sound is imperceptible. We take this test twice, and receive a different pictorial result each time. That said, the second time, the sound augmentation did feel more to our liking. 

However, other members of the team weren't as impressed and there was no discernible difference in the audio sample that plays after the test, no matter how many times they tried.

Still, we're not done. The Ear Canal Test (which must be done in a noisy environment) plays another music clip. After it, you can relax as the hybrid True Adaptive ANC does the rest. We note a slight hiss after completion, but toggling 'Leakage Compensation' and 'Ear Canal Compensation' within the 'Customize ANC' tab largely nixes it. We sit under an office heater at work and find it is quashed by the Tour Pro 2 ANC, but certain low-level sounds (cars passing outside, heeled footsteps on concrete) do creep in. Switch to the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and it's a different story – the bottom drops out of the room. With the Tour Pro 2, low-level sounds are diminished, but still, we can hear some extraneous background noise. 

The six-mic setup does promote crystal-clear audio during our tests – and the advanced built-in voice recognition can react to your voice, pause music and enable Ambient Aware, then resume the tunes once your conversation is over. This is really good, (it can be set to low, mid or high, depending on how loudly you and your colleagues speak) and we also find call-handling a breeze. But those are just two of a slew of perks, including an EQ tab with five different presets (or create your own), Spatial Sound profiles for music, movies or games, 'smart' audio and video modes, SilentNow (which aims to create a no-music silent bubble by turning on ANC but disconnecting Bluetooth – ideal for naps, because it can be set on a timer with an alarm at the end), Personal Sound Amplification (which can amplify situational sound from your surroundings – and between each ear) adding a volume limit and a Find My Buds feature, if one goes missing. All of this, and we've yet to talk about the features afforded by the case… All in good time. 

Before that, the buds: they feature a capacitive touch panel at the very top of the stem. You can switch noise cancelling on and off with a tap on the left stem, double tap for TalkThru and tap and hold to trigger Siri. All of these are customizable – at least to a point. You can’t decide which gestures do what, but you can select which gets priority on each bud. If you want on-ear volume control (which most of us do) you have to sacrifice either ambient sound control or playback options, which is a shame – but a relatively small gripe. 

We need to stress that the case helps in a big way, but we do think this experience could be subjective. The screen built into it never fails to acquiesce to our taps first time, quickly becoming a joy and a pleasure we wonder how we ever lived without. For example, we find ourselves scrolling straight to the volume tile (you swipe across) to alter volume rather than even attempt to use the buds. It's a brilliant addition – and within the JBL Headphones app, you can alter the screen brightness, choose one of five screensavers, toggle on message notifications and select which of seven further feature shortcuts you'd like to have access to on-screen. We toggle off SilentNow, since it's a feature we'll rarely use (we don't get to sleep on the job!) but for some that may be a priority. It's also very handy that notifications appear on this screen too – it really is like a smartwatch on your charging case – like calls and messages. 

Although we were excited by the case – and do think it could be game-changing for some – it's worth mentioning we did use it less and less once the novelty had worn off. If you find yourself forever opening apps that control your earbuds or headphones, it'll make a big difference. If you don't need to tweak settings much, it may be more of a gimmick.

• Features score: 4.5/5

JBL Tour Pro 2: sound quality

• Easy-listening, jazz and instrumental genres sound good
• Not for those who prioritize detail and dynamic breadth
• Doesn't have the punch or power we were expecting

These buds sound good, they really do. But they're not fantastic and that's what we expected with their price tag. Having said that, with lots of settings we did find a sound we enjoyed and think they definitely suit some genres more than others. 

We experimented with the different EQ profiles on offer and settled on leaving these off in favor of Harman's revered curve (the company's own heavily researched target sound signature, said to produce the best sound quality that most listeners prefer). That's because we found the EQ sound profiles to be a bit of a disappointment, especially vocals which were tinny and studio, which sounded far away. We didn't notice much of a difference in the others. 

We most enjoyed the JBL Tour Pro 2 for easy listening and soulful tracks. Proxima Parada's Musta Been a Ghost was smooth and the balance felt perfect here. The same can be said for instrumental and ambient music, like Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury's score for Devs. We like to listen to that while working and it provided an enjoyable soundtrack to our day. Having said that, instrumental music only sounded good to a point. Hildur Guðnadóttir's Joker soundtrack lacked the detail and the power we're used to from other buds. We had just been using the LG Tone Free T90Q buds so compared the two and the LGs felt more expansive, more powerful and enjoyable to listen with.

It's worth mentioning that spoken word sounded great and, strangely enough, the not-totally-perfect-but-fine ANC coupled with this fact made these good buds to wear outside if you like walking and listening to audiobooks and podcasts. We don't like feeling completely isolated from the world when we're listening on-the-move, so these did seem like the best of both worlds.

Tracks with more bass or rock music didn't sound as rich or powerful as we'd have liked. For example the 2023 Remaster of Iggy & The Stooges' Search and Destroy was a little muddied and we couldn't differentiate between instruments and vocals as much as we'd have liked, meaning there was an overall flat effect. Likewise, the Dead Weather's Treat Me Like Your Mother lacked detail, resulting in a muddied listen that wasn't altogether pleasant. 

Wondering if this was just something to do with rock music than the buds themselves, we listened to BANKS' Waiting Game and found the vocals more tinny than we expected – that's usually such a smooth listen – and the bass was powerful, but it had a fuzzy-sounding effect. Look, all of these examples sounded objectively fine, but we're used to trialling a pair of new earbuds at this level and being blown away by the new things we discover from our favorite tracks, that didn't happen here. Instead, we were underwhelmed.  

If you want buds for music while you're working or podcasts, we like these. If you're after audiophile quality or like powerful tracks – whether that's classical or rock – we think you might be disappointed here.

• Sound quality score: 3.5/5

JBL Tour Pro 2: design

• Smart case is really fun to use
• Battery life is surprisingly good 
• Some will struggle to achieve a seal

As with Apple's AirPods range, the Honor Earbuds 3 Pro , Huawei Freebuds Pro 2 and Nothing Ear (1) to name just a few, the JBL Tour Pro 2 sport little stems. Despite thinking that the driver housings look a little on the bulky side at first glance, some of the team with smaller ears downsize once and find the earpieces fit well very little fiddling. That said, those with larger ears may struggle – only three ear tips are provided, and one of the team couldn't achieve a seal good enough to pass any of the fit tests (more on these in a moment) even with the largest set, despite several minutes of adjusting them. At this level, a few more ear tip size options – and in different materials – is desirable. 

JBL has added its own more angular, look-at-me take on the AirPods' ice-white, no-sharp-edges design though. Here, there are lips and notches in various materials and finishes, including the rubberised driver housings, matte top plate and mirror-finish accents on the stems. There's even a little 'TOUR' embellishment written on the circumference of each bud, as well as JBL's branding on the tails. These are every inch JBL's top-tier offering and the design choices reflect that. 

Let's bypass the touchscreen for a second. The underside of the case hasn't been forgotten. This has a rubberized portion which adds traction and means you won't inadvertently swipe it off your desk – a small detail, but the gestural among us will love it. 

The 10mm dynamic drivers represent a significant leap up from the 6.8mm drivers found in the JBL Tour Pro+, and they're listed as Bluetooth 5.3 LE audio-compatible, too. So, it seems a shame that no higher-resolutions codecs are supported – no LDAC, no aptX (standard, HD, Low Latency or otherwise). 

With up to 50 hours of playtime (or 30 hours with ANC activated) and a very good 10 in just the buds themselves before they need charging, they also trounce most of the competition at the level for stamina. For comparison, the Sony XM4s have 8 hours in each bud, but only 16 in the case, and the latest Apple AirPods Pro 2 offer 6 hours in the buds and a further 30 hours in the case. Fast charge means 10 minutes plugged in will get you five hours of playtime too, but the case can also charge wirelessly. 

The JBL Tour Pro 2 have an IPX5 water and dust-proof rating. Interestingly, the case itself has a rating of IPX2 (just make sure you close it). So the whole package is splash-proof, but not waterproof. Many earbuds at the level offer at least an IPX4 certification (which means they'll survive a sweaty gym session) but certain options go much further. The Jabra Elite 7 Active carry an IP57 rating, which means they're dustproof and can be submerged in water at up to one meter in depth, for up to 30 minutes, and survive.

There’s a feature in the JBL Headphones app called 'Check My Best Fit', which plays a short clip of music to ensure you’ve got a good seal in each ear. It's no slouch either, telling us to alter the bud in our troublesomely-shaped right ear until we're good to go. We pass this test, but some of the team fail time and time again. To speak plainly, this is why we removed a star from the design score – if they don't fit, it's impossible to get the best sound from them. And that's not the end of the story when it comes to aural tests! We'll get to grips with further features below. 

• Design score: 4/5

JBL Tour Pro 2: value

• The screen is currently unique – and thus, hard to quantify
• Myriad extra fit and hearing tests 
• Audio and ANC can be beaten at the level

We don't hate these buds, far from it. If you want that case, you can't currently buy anything like it from anyone else. It's almost akin to adding a smartwatch to the front of an earbuds case. And if you're wondering whether it's fun to use, it is. We really enjoy the unique feature but know this is bound to be a matter of personal taste. The novelty did wear off after a few days. 

Despite some of our issues, the JBL Tour Pro 2 also sound good and we're always singing the praises of JBL's plethora of settings within its user-friendly app. But for us it's a question of value. Are they worth the premium price tag? Unless you're completely swayed by the screen, we think you can find a better sound and fit elsewhere.

Even noise cancellation, which we enjoyed, can be bested. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 , Sony WF-1000XM4 and AirPods Pro 2 outshine the JBL Tour Pro with relative ease – and although those first two options are priced close-to and a little more than the JBL proposition, the Sonys are now quite a bit cheaper.

• Value score: 3/5

JBL Tour Pro 2: should you buy them?

Buy them if….

You want that look-at-me smart screen Rarely have we looked at an earbuds case and been so wowed. You'll love pulling it out of your pocket and amazing your friends. 

You care about calls, especially when commuting The fact that you can just tap the touchscreen on the case to accept phone calls saves a lot of effort (and stress), especially when your phone's in your bag and you struggle with on-ear touch controls. 

You like a whole host of customizations If you like to know for certain whether your buds fit correctly and the hearing tests sound interesting (they certainly are) the JBL Tour Pro 2 remain a compelling option.

Don't buy them if…

You want the best sound money can buy JBL's top-tier buds will not satisfy the audiophile. Want the best sound quality possible for this money? You will find better performances from Apple and Sony (see below for this).

You don’t like a "toothbrush head" design Many wireless earbuds have a stem these days, (thanks to Apple's ubiquitous AirPods) but plenty don’t, so shop around if you want a more rounded or teardrop-shaped style.

You want the ultimate ANC experience The ANC here is acceptable, but look to the AirPods Pro 2 or the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 if you want the best noise-nixing earbuds on the market.

If our JBL Tour Pro 2 review has you considering other, non screen-toting true wireless earbuds, then take a look at these three alternatives.

<a href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/airpods-pro-2" data-link-merchant="techradar.com""> Apple AirPods Pro 2 Own an iPhone? Want the best ANC experience from a set of earbuds? Look to the AirPods Pro 2 – their H1 chip allows you to seamlessly pair them with other Apple devices and the difference in terms of 'blank canvas' active noise nixing is quite startling. 

<a href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/sony-wf-1000xm4-wireless-earbuds" data-link-merchant="techradar.com""> Sony WF-1000XM4 The Sony XM4s are at the top of our best earbuds list for a reason. Sound performance and noise cancelling here is excellent, as is call quality. And although their launch price was high, they're now available for far less than the JBL Tour Pro 2. 

<a href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/bose-quietcomfort-earbuds-ii" data-link-merchant="techradar.com""> Bose QuietComfort 2 The master of noise-cancellation tech is back on top here, taking the competition right to Sony – and these second-gen. buds sound even better than before. Battery life is nothing to write home about (at only six hours from the buds) but still, for similar money to the JBL Tour Pro 2, these are arguably the best noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds around right now. 

<a href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-technica-ath-sq1tw" data-link-merchant="techradar.com""> Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW If you don’t have top-tier JBL kind of money, consider the minimal, cubist look of these Audio-Technica buds that deliver great sound. Unfortunately, there’s no ANC (or screen), but the price is fantastic at only $79/£79/AU$129…

• First reviewed: December 2022
• How we test: explore TechRadar's review guarantee

Becky is a senior staff writer at TechRadar (which she has been assured refers to expertise rather than age) focusing on all things audio. Before joining the team, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing and reviewing everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge high-end sound systems. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, Becky freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 22-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance starts with a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. When not writing, she can still be found throwing shapes in a dance studio, these days with varying degrees of success.  

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JBL Tour Pro 2 Review: Cutting-Edge Earbuds

Posted on Last updated: March 25, 2024

Home » Headphones » JBL Tour Pro 2 Review: Cutting-Edge Earbuds

Did you know that the global wireless earbuds market is projected to reach a value of $9.59 billion by 2026? As the demand for wireless audio solutions continues to rise, it’s no surprise that more and more brands are entering the market with cutting-edge earbuds. One such contender is the JBL Tour Pro 2, a pair of top-notch earbuds that offer impressive features and sound quality. In this review, we’ll dive into the details of these earbuds to help you decide if they’re worth the investment.

Key Takeaways:

• The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds provide reliable active noise cancellation (ANC) and a bass-forward sound signature.
• With a secure fit and a long battery life, these earbuds offer convenience and comfort for all-day use.
• They are equipped with advanced features such as touch controls, an innovative touch screen charging case, and compatibility with the JBL Headphones app.
• The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds have an IPX5 weatherproof rating, making them resistant to light splashes and sweat.
• When compared to other earbuds in the same price range, the JBL Tour Pro 2 faces tough competition.

Reliable Active Noise Cancellation and Bass-forward Sound

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds offer a seamless audio experience with their reliable active noise cancellation (ANC) and bass-forward sound signature. Whether you’re in a noisy environment or simply want to immerse yourself in your favorite music, these earbuds have got you covered.

The active noise cancellation feature effectively blocks out external distractions, allowing you to focus on the music without any interference. Say goodbye to noisy commutes or disruptive background noises during work or study sessions.

But it’s not just about noise cancellation; these earbuds also deliver a bass-forward sound signature that is sure to please bass lovers. With powerful 10mm dynamic drivers, the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds produce deep and punchy bass that adds richness to your music.

The frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz ensures that you can enjoy every detail of your favorite tracks, from the lowest bass notes to the highest treble tones. Whether you’re listening to hip-hop, EDM, or classical music, these earbuds deliver a balanced audio experience that caters to a wide range of genres.

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds also come with adjustable sound signature, giving you the freedom to customize your listening experience. Fine-tune the audio to your preferences and enjoy music the way you like it.

Experience reliable active noise cancellation and a bass-forward sound signature with the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds. Immerse yourself in your favorite tunes and enjoy a truly captivating audio experience.

Secure Fit and Long Battery Life

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds are designed to provide a secure and comfortable fit, allowing you to enjoy your music without any distractions. These earbuds come with three pairs of silicone eartips in different sizes, ensuring a customizable fit that suits your preferences. Whether you have small or large ears, you can find the perfect fit for optimal comfort.

With regards to battery life, the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds offer impressive longevity. On a single charge, these earbuds can provide approximately 10 hours of continuous playback, allowing you to enjoy your favorite tunes throughout the day without worrying about running out of power. Furthermore, the charging case provides an additional 30 hours of battery life, ensuring that you have enough power to keep your music playing even on longer journeys.

It is important to note that when you enable the active noise cancellation (ANC) feature, the battery life is slightly reduced. However, even with ANC enabled, the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds still offer an impressive eight hours of playback, accompanied by 24 hours of battery life from the case.

With the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds, you can enjoy uninterrupted music for extended periods, making them ideal for long commutes, travel, or simply immersing yourself in your favorite playlists. The secure fit ensures that the earbuds stay in place, even during vigorous workouts or other activities.

Compatibility and Control Options

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds are equipped with impressive compatibility and control options, enhancing the overall user experience. These features make the earbuds versatile and user-friendly, allowing for seamless connectivity and intuitive control.

Bluetooth 5.3 and Codec Support

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds are compatible with Bluetooth 5.3, the latest version of the wireless technology. This ensures a stable connection and efficient power management, providing a reliable and uninterrupted listening experience.

The earbuds also support AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) and SBC (Sub-band Coding) codecs, enabling high-quality audio streaming without compromising on sound clarity or fidelity.

Google Fast Pair Support

In addition to its Bluetooth capabilities, the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds have native support for Google Fast Pair. This feature simplifies the pairing process with Android devices, allowing for quick and hassle-free connection.

Capacitive Touch Control Panels

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds feature capacitive touch control panels on both earpieces, providing easy access to a wide range of functions. Users can adjust settings such as active noise cancellation (ANC), ambient sound modes, playback control, and voice assistant activation with just a touch.

Companion App Customization

To further enhance control options, JBL offers a companion app that provides additional customization features. Users can fine-tune the touch controls according to their preferences, tailoring the earbuds’ functionality to suit their individual needs.

With these compatibility and control options, the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds offer a seamless and personalized user experience, catering to the preferences of every listener.

IPX5 Weatherproof Rating and Durability

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds are designed to withstand light splashes and sweat, thanks to their IPX5 weatherproof rating. This makes them suitable for outdoor activities and workouts, providing peace of mind in various environments.

However, it’s important to note that the Tour Pro 2 earbuds are not fully waterproof. It is not recommended to rinse them off under a faucet or submerge them in water. The case should also be protected from direct exposure to water.

If you require more durable earbuds for intense workouts or water-related activities, JBL offers other options with higher IP ratings. These options provide increased protection against water and dust, ensuring better durability in challenging conditions.

To make an informed decision, it is recommended to compare the JBL Tour Pro 2 with other earbuds in terms of durability and features. Consider factors such as the IP rating, build quality, and overall durability to select the earbuds that best suit your needs.

Innovative Touch Screen Charging Case

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds come with a unique charging case that features a touch screen. The case has a USB-C port for charging and can also be charged wirelessly on a Qi wireless charger. The touch screen displays battery life for the earbuds and the case, as well as the time and Bluetooth status. The case allows users to control various functions, such as playback, volume, noise cancellation, and screen brightness. It also offers additional features like the audio-based Find My Buds feature and notification mirroring.

With its sleek design and convenient touch screen interface, the JBL Tour Pro 2 charging case takes user experience to the next level. Forget about fumbling with buttons or complicated gestures – simply tap and swipe on the touch screen to effortlessly control your earbuds and enjoy a seamless listening experience.

JBL Tour Pro 2 App Experience

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds offer a seamless and personalized listening experience through the JBL Headphones app. Compatible with both Android and iOS devices, this app unlocks a wide range of features to enhance your audio journey.

Customize Your Sound

With the JBL Headphones app, you can take control of your sound by adjusting the equalizer settings. Whether you prefer a bass-heavy profile or a more balanced sound, the app allows you to fine-tune the audio to your liking. You can also explore different presets to find the perfect sound signature for your favorite music genres.

Active Noise Cancellation Control

The app enables you to have complete control over the JBL Tour Pro 2’s active noise cancellation (ANC) feature. You can effortlessly toggle between different ANC modes, allowing you to immerse yourself in your music without any distractions, or stay aware of your surroundings with ambient sound modes.

Hearing Test and Personalized Sound Profile

The JBL Headphones app offers a unique hearing test feature that helps create a customized sound profile tailored to your individual hearing preferences. By taking the short hearing test, the app intelligently adapts the audio output to compensate for any hearing discrepancies, ensuring a truly personalized listening experience.

Voice Control and Firmware Updates

With built-in voice control functionality, the JBL Headphones app lets you seamlessly interact with your earbuds using voice commands. From adjusting volume to skipping tracks, you can effortlessly control your audio experience hands-free.

The app also provides regular firmware updates, ensuring that your JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds are always up-to-date with the latest features and improvements. Stay at the forefront of audio technology with regular enhancements and optimizations.

Experience the full potential of your JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds with the intuitive and feature-rich JBL Headphones app. Download it now and elevate your audio journey to new heights.

Comfort and Build Quality

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds prioritize both style and comfort. With three swappable ear tips included in the package, these earbuds can easily be adjusted to fit different ear sizes, ensuring a personalized and comfortable fit for every user. The sleek aluminum frame enhances the overall build quality, adding durability to the earbuds. Not only do they sound great, but they also look great. The lightweight design and short stems make these earbuds visually appealing and modern. Additionally, the case, although larger due to the touch screen, is built to last, providing a robust and sturdy storage solution for your earbuds.

Impressive Sound Quality

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds are renowned for their impressive sound quality, delivering a balanced audio experience that caters to audiophiles and casual listeners alike. With a meticulous attention to detail, these earbuds offer clear and crisp highs, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your favorite music. The detailed mids capture the nuances of every instrument, ensuring a rich and vibrant soundstage. And let’s not forget about the punchy bass that adds depth and impact to your favorite tracks, bringing them to life.

What sets the JBL Tour Pro 2 apart is its adjustable sound signature, giving you the freedom to tailor the audio profile to your personal preference. Whether you prefer a more bass-heavy sound or a more balanced overall presentation, these earbuds have got you covered. The companion app further enhances the customization options, allowing you to fine-tune the sound using the built-in equalizer. Additionally, the app offers a range of preset sound profiles, catering to different genres and audio preferences.

Crystal-Clear Highs

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds deliver crystal-clear highs that elevate your music listening experience. Whether you’re listening to soaring vocals or delicate instrumentals, these earbuds capture every subtle detail with precision.

Detailed Mids

The detailed mids of the JBL Tour Pro 2 ensure that every instrument and vocal shines. From the rich and warm tones of guitars to the smoothness of vocals, these earbuds faithfully reproduce the full spectrum of sound.

Punchy Bass

Get ready to feel the groove with the JBL Tour Pro 2’s punchy bass. The earbuds deliver deep and impactful low frequencies that bring out the rhythm and energy in your favorite songs. Experience the thump of the bass drum and the rumble of the basslines like never before.

Image: JBL Tour Pro 2 – Elevate your music experience with impressive sound quality.

Advanced Features and Long Battery Life

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds are packed with advanced features that take your listening experience to the next level. Along with their impressive sound quality, these earbuds offer a range of cutting-edge functionalities that make them stand out from the competition.

One of the key features of the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds is their active noise cancellation (ANC) technology. With ANC, you can block out unwanted external noise and immerse yourself in your music or podcasts. Whether you’re in a noisy coffee shop or on a crowded train, the ANC feature ensures that you can enjoy your audio content without any distractions.

Additionally, the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds come with ambient sound modes. These modes allow you to stay aware of your surroundings while still enjoying your music. Whether you want to hear announcements at the airport or have a conversation with a friend without taking off your earbuds, the ambient sound modes have got you covered.

Furthermore, the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds deliver a spatial audio experience. This feature creates a lifelike, three-dimensional soundstage that enhances the immersion and depth of your audio. Get ready to be transported into your favorite songs like never before.

When it comes to battery life, the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds shine. With up to 10 hours of playback per charge, you can enjoy your music throughout the day without worrying about running out of power. And if that’s not enough, the charging case holds an additional 30 hours of battery life, providing you with a total of 40 hours of on-the-go audio.

Charging the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds is quick and convenient. They can be fully charged in approximately two hours, and just a 15-minute charge gives you an impressive four hours of playback time. Whether you’re in a hurry or planning a long journey, you can rely on the fast charging capabilities of these earbuds.

Comparison with Competitors

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds face tough competition from other wireless earbuds in the same price range. It is recommended to compare the Tour Pro 2 with other options, such as the second-generation Apple AirPods Pro, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, and Sony WF-1000XM4, to determine which one best suits your needs and preferences.

Consider factors such as sound quality , features , comfort , and durability . Each of these earbuds offers unique features and specifications that may appeal to different individuals. By comparing them, you can make an informed decision about which earbuds will provide the best listening experience for you.

To help you in your comparison, here is a breakdown of the key features and differences between the JBL Tour Pro 2 and its competitors:

By comparing these key factors, you can determine which earbuds align with your preferences and requirements. Take into account your desired sound profile, battery life, water resistance, and any additional features that are important to you.

When making a decision, remember that the JBL Tour Pro 2 offers exceptional sound quality, reliable active noise cancellation, and a sleek design.

Consider where you plan to use the earbuds most often and whether certain features, such as water resistance, are critical for your use case. By comparing the JBL Tour Pro 2 with competing models from Apple, Bose, and Sony, you can confidently make a choice that will enhance your listening experience.

In conclusion, the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds deliver an exceptional audio experience with their range of innovative features. The active noise cancellation ensures that you can immerse yourself in your music without any distractions, while the customizable sound signatures allow you to personalize your listening experience. Additionally, the long battery life ensures that you can enjoy your favorite tunes for extended periods without interruption.

However, it’s important to note that the JBL Tour Pro 2 faces strong competition in its price range. There are other earbuds available, such as the Apple AirPods Pro and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, which offer similar features and performance. It’s advisable to carefully evaluate your needs and compare the Tour Pro 2 with other options to make an informed decision.

Overall, the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds are a solid choice for those seeking high-quality audio and advanced features. With their comfortable fit and impressive sound quality, they provide a great listening experience. Just remember to consider your preferences and compare them with other available options before making a final decision.

What features does the JBL Tour Pro 2 offer?

How is the sound quality of the jbl tour pro 2, how long is the battery life of the jbl tour pro 2, can i customize the sound profile of the jbl tour pro 2, is the jbl tour pro 2 waterproof, what is unique about the charging case of the jbl tour pro 2, is there a companion app for the jbl tour pro 2, how is the comfort and build quality of the jbl tour pro 2, how does the jbl tour pro 2 compare to its competitors, what is the price of the jbl tour pro 2, is the jbl tour pro 2 recommended for purchase, source links.

• https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/jbl-tour-pro-2
• https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/jbl-tour-pro-2
• https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews/jbl-tour-pro-2

JBL Tour Pro 2

A touch-screen charging case isn't quite a must-have.

Bottom Line

• Powerful bass balanced with sculpted highs
• Long battery life
• Screen on charging case seems unnecessary

JBL’s products never seem to skimp on features, and the Tour Pro 2 noise-cancelling true wireless earphones are no exception. For $249.95, they offer reliable active noise cancellation (ANC), an adjustable, bass-forward sound signature, and long battery life. But the innovative touch screen on their charging case would benefit from a more streamlined approach. Overall, we prefer the second-generation Apple AirPods Pro for the same price because they sound just as good, cancel noise more effectively, and work more seamlessly if you have an iPhone.

A Secure Fit and Good Battery Life

The stem-style Tour Pro 2 earbuds, which are available in black or champagne models, fit securely and ship with three pairs of silicone eartips. Their somewhat chunky enclosures house 10mm dynamic drivers that deliver a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz, with an impedance of 16 ohms.

They are compatible with Bluetooth 5.3 and work with just the AAC and SBC codecs . JBL claims that they will eventually support LE Audio via the LC3 or LC3+ codecs, but didn't specify an exact date for that rollout. For the price, we would have liked to see AptX or even LDAC (which the $279.99 Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds use), but neither the $299 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II nor the AirPods Pro do better here. At least you get support for Google Fast Pair.

Each earpiece features a capacitive touch control panel and you can adjust the functions to a degree via the companion app. By default, a single tap on the left earbud switches between the ANC and Ambient Aware modes (you can add an Off option to this cycle), while the same gesture on the right controls playback. A double-tap on the left side toggles the TalkThru ambient mode or takes you to the next track on the right. Triple-taps don't do anything on the left earbud out of the box, but on the right it takes you to the previous track. A tap-and-hold on either earpiece summons your device's voice assistant.

The controls felt mostly responsive in testing, but we occasionally had to tap multiple times for an action to register. The bigger problem, however, is that the default layout doesn't seem intuitive. For instance, it's confusing that the Ambient Aware and Talk Thru modes aren't part of the same gesture cycle. Both are transparency modes after all, with the latter emphasizing conversations. A full set of controls is generally ideal, but the odd groupings of some features here make the standard layout feel a bit chaotic.

Their IPX5 weatherproof rating is fairly standard for noise-cancelling earbuds. Essentially, the earphones can withstand light splashes from any direction, which means that neither light rain nor sweat should pose an issue. I don't recommend rinsing them off under a faucet or getting the case wet, though, because that's pushing the limits. If you need more durable earbuds for exercise , consider another pair from JBL, such as the IP68-rated Reflect Aero earphones ($149.95).

JBL estimates that these earbuds can last roughly 10 hours per charge and that the case holds an additional 30 hours of battery life. If you enable the noise cancellation mode, those numbers drop slightly to eight and 24 hours, respectively. Of course, your results will further vary based on your typical listening volume. The company claims that the earphones can recharge completely in around two hours and that 15 minutes of charging gets you four hours of playback time.

A Smart Case That Tries a Bit Too Hard

The Tour Pro 2's charging case is a bit bulky, but that's necessary to accommodate its unique built-in touch screen. Otherwise, a USB-C port on the back enables charging via the included USB-C-to-USB-A cable. Alternatively, you can also drop the case on a Qi wireless charger to replenish the battery.

The case’s screen defaults to a custom wallpaper and, near the top, shows the battery life for each earphone and the case, as well as the time and Bluetooth status. JBL sent our review unit with the PCMag logo preinstalled, but you can choose between several default wallpapers or upload a custom image.

You can swipe across a total of 13 screens here, which mostly mirror the functions you get in the companion app. Some screens have practical controls for playback, volume, noise cancellation, and screen brightness, but you can also enable the audio-based Find My Buds feature and toggle notification mirroring. Of course, some functions are a bit more limited here than in the app. For instance, although you can switch between EQ presets, you can't create custom curves. That's not a complaint though, because doing so would be impractical. Other features do feel wholly unnecessary, however, like the toggle for the auto play/pause function and a flashlight mode (in which the case's screen simply turns white).

It wouldn't surprise me if other manufacturers jump in on this touch-screen case trend (the enterprise-focused Poly Voyager Free 60+ has one too), but I hope to see improvements to the concept. Using this current iteration feels a bit like trying to operate the tiny touchpad on the 6th-gen iPod nano from 2010—something about the experience just feels a bit dated and it can be more inconvenient to swipe through 13 screens rather than to simply open up the companion app on your phone. True, there's some utility in the case as a remote for the earbuds, but that's not enough to make up for some of the navigation challenges it poses.

JBL Tour Pro 2 App Experience

The ever-evolving JBL Headphones app (available for Android and iOS) is as cluttered as ever, which is disappointing because there are some genuinely handy and well-designed functions within it.

The main screen shows an image of the Tour Pro 2 earphones, along with battery life readouts for both them and the case. Below that, there's an ANC section that lets you switch between the ANC On, Ambient Aware, and Talk Thru modes. That last option includes a volume slider for the ambient mics. You can further customize the ANC experience by toggling the Adaptive setting (on by default), as well as by turning on the Leakage Compensation and Ear Canal Compression settings (both are off by default). Additionally, you can initiate an ear canal fit test here.

Further down, a Personi-Fi section lets you take a hearing test. The app claims to use those results to adjust the audio, but you can just as easily use the EQ section to customize the sound. For its part, JBL claims to store the unencrypted hearing test data locally on the device and that it won't share any details with third parties.

Next up is an EQ section with lots of presets. If you prefer more control, you can create a custom curve with 10 bands or simply draw one. Scroll down to reach the Spatial Sound area where you can toggle JBL’s various spatial audio effects for movies, music, or games. I recommend leaving these off because it's a poor approximation of surround sound that ends up just adding a layer between you and the audio.

A Gestures section allows you to switch between a few different preset control layouts—Ambient Sound Control, Volume Control, and Playback & Voice Assistant Control. I would prefer the ability to simply assign functions to various gestures, but some degree of customizability is better than none.

Rounding out the app are Voice Aware (which controls how much of your voice you hear on calls) and Smart Audio (which switches between a low-latency video mode and regular audio mode) tiles, both of which you can turn off completely. And there are several additional tiles that really belong in a traditional settings menu: AutoPlay/Pause, Left/Right Audio balance, Voice Assistant (which you can assign to Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri), Find My Buds (an audio-based feature that helps you locate a lost earpiece), Power Saving, Notifications (which you can set up to sync to the case's screen), and Smart Case (which lets you take a photo, upload an image, or choose between existing wallpapers for the screen's background).

The app is brimming with features and some are necessary (like the Support tile that enables you to install firmware updates) while others (like the Silent Now tile that helps you take timed breaks) are less important and some just seem to be in the wrong place. For example, I'm not quite sure why the Personal Sound Amplification option (which lets you control the volume level and ear-to-ear balance for the ambient listening mode) is not a part of the general noise cancellation section. Apple and Bose are far ahead in terms of their mobile device integrations; Apple's earbuds seamlessly interface with your iPhone's built-in settings, while Bose's companion app is refreshingly simple and effective.

Decent Noise Cancellation

The Tour Pro 2's four noise-cancelling mics served them well in our tests. We found the Adaptive mode most effective for the noises we were trying to reduce, but your results might differ.

The pair substantially cut back the deep, low-frequency rumble you hear from engines and appliances, and reduced the lows and mids from a recording of a crowded restaurant scene. That said, a thin band of highs from the latter audio sample made it past the circuitry. That's not a huge concern, however, because most noise-cancelling models struggle with the same frequencies. The Apple AirPods and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are notable exceptions to that rule and perform better in both scenarios.

But there's good news: Neither the ANC nor the Ambient Aware modes greatly impact the audio performance, a quality that not all competing models can claim. The Ambient Aware mode is useful overall and adds just a bit of hiss to an otherwise transparent signal of your surroundings. You shouldn't have any issue tuning in to your environment without removing the earpieces.

Sculpted Sound With Emphasized Low End

For evaluating the audio performance of the Tour Pro 2 earbuds, we turned off all the EQ customizations and enhanced audio modes. On tracks with heavy sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the drivers push out an impressive low-frequency response. The rumble is palatable at moderate volumes and I didn't detect any distortion at maximum output settings.

They also didn't have any trouble reproducing the sub-bass elements at the 34-second mark of Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty.” The sub-bass line here progressively descends and the final, deepest parts are still audible despite trailing off a bit. The various vocals on the track come across with excellent clarity and never cede ground to the enhanced lows.

Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with less low-end emphasis, better demonstrates the sound signature. The drivers present the drums with a pleasing thump that never seems unnatural. Callahan’s baritone vocals get an ideal blend of low-mid richness and high-mid crispness, while the acoustic strums are bright and clear. Boosting and sculpting are present throughout the frequency range and the mids suffer a bit for it, but you can use the in-app EQ to recover some of that detail.

On orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary , the earbuds push the lower-register instrumentation forward in the mix. Purists might not like this approach, but the boosting isn’t egregious and there's plenty of higher-frequency sculpting to keep everything in balance. Transparency takes a bit of a hit, however.

A six-mic array offers strong intelligibility for phone calls. I had no issue understanding every word from a test recording on an iPhone, but the AirPods Pro captured a slightly clearer signal. Neither pair should be an obstacle to phone conversations over a strong cellular connection.

Features Over Function

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earphones offer an energetic sound signature and reasonably effective noise cancellation, but the features that set them apart from the competition don't do quite enough to warrant the high price. The touch-screen case and companion app both offer useful functionality, but end up feeling overbearing because of the sheer number of features. Overall, the AirPods Pro earn our Editors' Choice award for offering more effective noise cancellation—and their appeal only increases if you use an iPhone thanks to their seamless integration with Apple devices.

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About Tim Gideon

I've been a contributing editor for PCMag since 2011. Before that, I was PCMag's lead audio analyst from 2006 to 2011. Even though I'm a freelancer now, PCMag has been my home for well over a decade, and audio gear reviews are still my primary focus. Prior to my career in reviewing tech, I worked as an audio engineer—my love of recording audio eventually led me to writing about audio gear.

More From Tim Gideon

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Serious Insights

Research and reviews from strategist, futurist and analyst Daniel W. Rasmus

JBL Tour Pro 2 Review: Excellent Headphones That Crush With Their NextGen Case

December 20, 2023 by Daniel W. Rasmus Leave a Comment

JBL Tour Pro 2

Very good headphones in an innovative case that moves most control from the app to the case (though the app still works too). Excellent ANC audio and noise reduced quality calls, and a long battery life.

JBL Tour Pro 2 Review

JBL continues to offer one of the widest ranges of earbuds on the market, from $50 stocking stuffers to innovative entries like the JBL Tour Pro 2 . Not only do the chrome-accented black or champagne earbuds look good in the ear, but they also charge in a case that brings full control to the listening experience through a high-resolution display. Some reviews see the display case as a gimmick, others as redundant to the app. Those are valid opinions. All I know for me is that every time I wear the Tour Pro 2s, I tweak my experience using the charging case.

Specifications

Adaptive Noise Cancelling (ANC)

Ambient Aware

Number of Microphones

Touch Control

Active Noise Cancelling

Bluetooth ® Version

Bluetooth ® Profiles

Codecs Supported

Fast Charging

Driver Size (mm)

Weight Case/Earpiece (oz)

Play time (ANC OFF/ON)

A2DP V1.3.2, AVRCP V1.6.2, HFP V1.7.2

SBS and A2DP

What we like

• Charging case with a display and user interface moves control from phone to case
• Great sound
• Solid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
• Clear calling with noise reduction
• Silent Now to mask out the audio of the world
• Smart Ambient feature to amplify nearby voices

I’m going to start with the charging case first. It’s not that the JBL Tour Pro 2s aren’t good earbuds, but they are just earbuds, regardless of how good they are. The case proves the immediate differentiator for the Tour Pro 2 experience.

The 1.45-inch touchscreen LCD offers a number of features. Its eye-catching brightness suggests why JBL went with an LED rather than an alternative such as eInk. While eInk might save battery, it just isn’t an exciting, responsive interface technology.

The case display experience begins with a swipe over a screen saver. The app (not the case) supports uploading custom logos. My now sports a Serious Insights logo. The swipe accesses several control features.

So, what exactly does the display do? A lot!

• Playback controls
• Sound mode (ANC, transparency, etc.)
• Timer: the earbuds will power down after your chosen time elapses
• Spatial audio 
• Screen brightness
• Wallpaper selection
• VoiceAware: determines voice detection sensitivity
• SilentNow: enables ANC for a preset amount of time even without music
• Automatic play/pause ear detection
• Notifications (messages and mail)
• Find My Buds

I don’t think any of these items require additional explanation, but I do have a few notes for JBL. They all fall into the “I like it with qualifications” category.

Volume . Who decided 16 was the maximum value? That’s some interesting audio math I haven’t seen before.

Card inclusion. Users should be able to delete or hide any cards from the case app. I never use the equalizer because I default my Apple iTunes to Dolby and let it worry about the sound profile. I’m never going to use the equalizer, so I hide that card and reduce the number of swipes. Along with the equalizer, ambient sound, spatial sound, VoiceAware, Auto Play & Pause, and SilentNow can be turned off. Others cannot be hidden. I think JBL should allow all cards to be hidden.

Reducing the number of cards focuses on the UI’s more important frequently accessed functions, making it even more useful.

Card order. The first swipe opens to Playback. But maybe I want sound mode first. I would like to see the card order. Along with the card-hiding feature, I would like the ability to reorder the cards on the case.

On a further positive note, the case also supports wireless charging.

This case is a start, as is the one from the Poly Voyager Free 60+ reviewed here . I think Poly primarily aims at conferencing applications, while JBL focuses on consumer use. But both point toward a more integrated listening experience, perhaps even the return of music to something other than a phone. I do not, however, look forward to a future with ads on my earbud case or a full-tilt competition between screens.

With memory size and prices continuously shrinking, however, and display technology also getting cheaper and less power-hungry, we will likely see many more earbud cases with displays moving into the market. At some point, they will stop looking innovative, and then the market will need to decide where exactly they fit into the ecosystem of user experiences.

Now, what about the audio?

The sound is very good, as would be expected from $250 earbuds. Using the volume limiting feature constrains the sound stage. That feature protects hearing. It also protects a full-bodied audio experience.

Turned off, the JBL Tour Pro 2s hold their own against the best earbuds in my collection, which include the Sennheiser Momentum 3 s and the Tozo Golden X1s . Dua Lipa’s vocals seduce above the deep base. SZA does anything but snooze as she undulates through her toons. Miley Cyrus’s raspy tones bloom on “Flowers”. And Taylor Swift scorches on her confessional “Anti-Hero.” Toosii reinvents the concept of the singular song with “Favorite Song” in the tradition of Elton John’s classic “Your Song.”

The JBL Tour Pro 2s produced the sound I expected for the track I was listening to—plenty of bass, clear vocals and never a muddying of the two. From the ethereal, mournful but uplifting detail of Hamilton’s “It’s Quiet Uptown” to the sonic beats of the Beastie Boys on “Brass Monkey,” the Tour Pro 2s performed exceptionally well regardless of genre.

Calls are also clear, as is the owner’s voice, thanks to six microphones and noise reduction, coming in from those microphones.

I have no complaints. Just lay back and chill to Billie Eilish and learn why she thinks and concludes that, “Therefore I am.”

JBL checked most of the boxes when it comes to features, with the case being the icing on the audio cake.

The JBL Tour Pro 2s, of course, support all of the features that can be controlled from the case, like ANC, transparency and hear-through, all of which work effectively. I have not tried the JBL Tour Pro 2s on a plane yet, but if my opinion changes on my trek to CES in January 2024, I will update the review. A unique attribute on the JBL “True Adaptive Cancelling” comes from its four microphones dedicated to sensing the environment and adjusting to exactly the sounds detected rather than a more general algorithm.

JBL offers its own Spatial Sound. In conversations with various headphone manufacturers, they suggest not using on-ear modifications to the audio if the audio service provides its own way to amp up the experience. For those on Apple Music, for instance, with lossless audio and Dolby/Apple’s Spatial Audio set as a default, songs that leverage those mixes will control the listening experience. Turning on another sound-expanding feature may defeat the advantages of both. My ears attest to the cleanness of this choice when listening to the Beatle’s “In My Life” in its 2023 mix. It’s just gorgeous.

Depending on ANC settings, the JBL Tour Pro 2s deliver between 10 and 30 hours of playback. Speed charging converts 15 minutes of waiting into 4 hours of listening.

For those who want to go through the process, JBL offers personalized listening profiles and ear fit tests to maximize the auditory experience.

And BTW, if you’ve heard enough of everything, the JBL Tour Pro 2s offer what I think is a unique feature: SilenceNow, which just cranks up the ANC, placing the owner in an audio bubble. And if you want to hear a nearby conversation better, their Smart Ambient feature identifies nearby voices and amplifies them.

Bluetooth® 5.3 includes Windows and Google rapid pairing.

JBL Tour Pro 2s also support touch controls on the earbuds, with the left earbud mostly concerned with ambient sound and noise cancellation, while the right bud manages playback and voice assistance. Both earbuds respond to a double-tap for accepting a call. Unlike some earbuds, the touch controls are fixed. And like all earbuds, owners will need to master the taps and holds to get the most out of their purchase. The Tour Pro 2s, however, make many of these features available through the case, which makes forgetting which taps do what less of an issue in the moment.

Not only do the JBL Tour Pro 2s, which come in black or champagne, sound great, but they are fun to use. While some may dismiss the case, I think it offers a hint at how to create “sticky” products that are usually passive once people start using them.

What could be improved

• Sketchy Bluetooth® connection to laptop
• No support for Apple’s AAC codec or Qualcomm’s aptX
• Needs to be put into the JBL sustainability program

When attached to my Apple MacBook Pro, I found that, on occasion, I receive garbled audio. I did not experience that with the iPad Pro. I thought there was some relationship between the case receiving updates and the garbled audio, but I turned off notifications and still experienced the issue. It’s very intermittent but annoying when it happens.

Bluetooth note : If you ever have an issue with pairing, make sure to look for the JBL Tour Pro2-LE items listed as a Bluetooth device. I had an instance where the app would not recognize the earbuds. I tried repairing, resetting and reloading the app. No joy. I then remembered the JBL Tour Pro2-LE. I had my iPhone “forget” that item, and the app immediately recognized my earbuds upon repairing.

I would also like to see a wider range of Bluetooth codecs supported to enhance audio quality.

The plastic hang tag doesn’t complement the otherwise paper-based packaging. Unlike some JBL “eco” products, the Tour Pro 2s make no claims toward sustainability so I rate them as average for the general lack of package plastic.

JBL Tour Pro 2: The bottom line

I don’t find the smart charging case a gimmick. I find it useful, but also a 1.0 version. I am interested to see other feedback on the case, and how adaptive JBL’s firmware is in terms of updating features without waiting for the Tour Pro 3s.

JBL provided the Tour Pro 2 for review. Images courtesy of JBL unless otherwise noted.

Serious Insights is an Amazon Affiliate. Clicking on an Amazon link may result in a payment to Serious Insights.

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iOS 17: All the best iPhone features you should know about

Apple released iOS 17 last September after announcing the iPhone 15 , Apple Watch Series 9 , and Apple Watch Ultra 2 . The update includes plenty of new features and capabilities, such as improvements to the Messages app, a new Contact Poster, and StandBy, a feature that turns your iPhone into a smart display while charging.

Since then, Apple has released several updates, adding new features, fixing bugs and improving the overall iPhone experience. Below you'll find details about every major iOS 17 update Apple has released since its launch last fall.

What's new in iOS 17.5 beta so far?

There's nothing obvious so far, but there are plenty of hints of what's to come.

The first developer preview of iOS 17.5 was released April 2, 2024. The update came alongside similar releases for the iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Mac and Apple Vision Pro .

After installing the first beta, we haven't found any obvious new features yet, but code sleuths have been combing through the update and have found several key improvements that, if all goes well, will debut with the official release of iOS 17.5 when it's ready for official release -- likely within the next two months.

I watched Taylor Swift's Eras Tour on Disney+ with my Apple Vision Pro. Here's how it went

Code in iOS 17.5 indicates EU users will have the option to sideload apps directly from a developer's website and not a third-party store, a new Apple Pencil model is coming, and apparently, it has a squeeze gesture control, and, finally, there's also code indicating Apple is poised to release new anti-stalking tools for item trackers. You can read more about each of these new features and more in our full coverage .

What arrived in iOS 17.4?

Eu iphone owners break free from the app store, new emoji and more.

Apple released iOS 17.4 on March 5, 2024, as the latest major update for the iPhone.

The update includes several new features and improvements, with the most notable change being one of the biggest ever for the App Store. Once iOS 17.4 is released, Apple will give iPhone owners who live in the European Union the option to install apps from third-party app stores in addition to Apple's App Store.

We broke down the entire announcement if you want to know the finer details. Also included in iOS 17.4 are new emoji, a transcription feature for the Apple Podcasts app, improvements to Stolen Device Protection, and more. You can read through all the changes and new features here .

I just got Android 14, but Apple's iOS 17 roll-out has filled me with envy

What arrived in ios 17.3, turn on stolen device protection right now.

Apple released iOS 17.3 on Jan. 22, 2024.

The update included the typical bug fixes and performance improvements, along with a totally new feature called Stolen Device Protection . When enabled (which you definitely should have enabled), Stolen Device Protection will prevent would-be thieves from changing your iCloud account password, even if they watch and memorize you entering your phone's passcode. Collaborative playlists for Apple Music, and the long awaited support for AirPlay in hotels was also enabled (although, no hotels officially support the feature quote yet.)

What arrived in iOS 17.2?

Improvements to messages and a journal app.

Apple released iOS 17.2 on Dec. 11, 2023. The iPhone update included the previously announced Journal app , a new way to use emoji to reply to messages in the Messages app, a translation option for the Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, camera improvements and more. Read our full rundown of iOS 17.2 to get caught up .

What arrived in iOS 17.1?

It wasn't a major update, but not all.

iOS 17.1 made its debut on Oct. 25, 2023.

It introduced improvements to AirDrop, including the ability to continue transferring an item over the internet when you leave AirDrop range of the other person. The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 received more notable updates alongside the release of iOS 17.1, as well, which you can read all about here .

What did iOS 17 bring to the iPhone?

Plenty of new features to be found.

iOS 17 was released shortly after Apple announced the iPhone 15 lineup. The update added several new tools, features, and enhancements to the iPhone lineup.

Some of those features include:

• Changes to the Messages app
• A new safety feature called Check In
• A way to turn your iPhone into a smart display using StandBy mode
• Use StandBy as a digital photo frame (and the ability to block alerts while in StandBy )
• Mental well-being tools
• A cool new Live Voicemail feature to monitor incoming calls
• NameDrop for quickly sharing your contact info with other Apple users
• A beefed up version of caller ID called Contact Posters
• Option to auto-delete one time password texts and emails

Oh, I almost forgot -- there are a ton of hidden features , as well.

Updating your iPhone

Compatibility, preparation and how to install.

If you haven't updated to iOS 17 yet, there's no time like the present. If you're unsure if your iPhone is even compatible with the update, we have a complete list .

Once you're ready to upgrade, make sure you backup your phone before taking the plunge . Future you will thank you if something goes wrong during the update.

With a fresh backup, it's finally time to install iOS 17 on your iPhone. Follow our guide here for step-by-step instructions .

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2024 Masters one and done picks, DFS lineups, sleepers, fantasy golf projections, longshots by PGA expert

Mike mcclure locked in his expert pga golf picks, daily fantasy lineups, fantasy golf projections and sleepers for masters 2024 at augusta national.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will try to win his second green jacket in three years when the 2024 Masters gets underway on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club. Scheffler is scheduled to tee off at 10:42 a.m. ET, and has been paired with world No. 2 Rory McIlroy and No. 5 Xander Schauffele for Round 1. All three players are listed among the top 2024 Masters contenders in the latest 2024 Masters odds, with Scheffler coming in as the 13-4 favorite. The field will be competing for a 2024 Masters purse of $18 million, with the winner's share listed as $3.24 million.

With his recent run of dominant play, should Scheffler be your top target when building 2024 Masters DFS picks, 2024 Masters fantasy golf rankings and making 2024 Masters one and done picks? Or should you target a longshot like Cameron Smith (28-1), Justin Thomas (28-1), or Bryson DeChambeau (35-1)? Before locking in your 2024 Masters one and done picks, Masters DFS lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel, and fantasy golf projections, you need to see what SportsLine DFS pro and PGA expert Mike McClure has to say . 

McClure is a DFS legend with over $2 million in career winnings, and he's been red-hot on his PGA picks dating back to the PGA Tour restart in June of 2020. McClure uses his proprietary simulation model to analyze the field and crush his  golf picks . He is up almost $9,500 on his best bets since the restart.  

McClure's model predicted Jon Rahm would finish on top of the leaderboard at the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions and The American Express. At the 2023 Masters, the model was all over Rahm's second career major victory heading into the weekend. It was the second straight Masters win for the model, which also nailed Scottie Scheffler winning in 2022. 

McClure has been on fire with his One and Done picks in 2024. At The American Express, he backed Justin Thomas, who finished in third place and took home $635,600. At the Genesis Invitational, McClure tabbed Patrick Cantlay, who finished in fourth place at the signature event, as his top OAD pick. At the Cognizant Classic, McClure's top one and done pick, Min Woo Lee, finished in a tie for second place. Finally, at the Arnold Palmer Invitation, another signature event, McClure recommended using Scheffler and Will Zalatoris. The result: Scheffler won the event by five strokes, and Zalatoris finished in fourth place. 

This same model has also nailed a whopping 10 majors entering the weekend. Anyone who has followed McClure's picks has seen massive returns.

Now, McClure has dialed in on the 2024 Masters golf tournament and just locked in his one and done picks, DFS projections and Fantasy Golf predictions. They are a must-see for any player looking for an edge. You can only see McClure's Masters 2024 one and done picks, DFS lineups and Fantasy Golf plays at SportsLine .

Top 2024 Masters One and Done picks

One of McClure's top One and Done picks for the Masters is Brooks Koepka. The 33-year-old is widely considered to be the top major championship player of his generation, and his career scoring average at the Masters (71.46) is the fifth-best in the history of the tournament (minimum of 25 rounds played). Koepka has five career major championships on his resume, his latest coming at the 2023 PGA Championship.

Koepka has had plenty of success at Augusta National in his career, despite never winning a green jacket. He entered the final round of the 2023 Masters with the lead before ultimately finishing in a tie for second place behind Jon Rahm. In eight career starts at the Masters, Koepka has three top-10 finishes and twice finished second. With his proven track record in big events, McClure believes Koepka will once again be in contention at the 2024 Masters.  You can see who else to back at SportsLine .

Top 2024 Masters DFS picks, lineup advice

One golfer McClure is targeting in his 2024 Masters DFS lineups is Justin Thomas. The 15-time PGA Tour winner has long been considered one of the top ball-strikers and irons players in the world and has a proven track record of success in big events. Thomas has two career major championships and six top-25 finishes in eight career starts at Augusta National.

Thomas' ability to card birdies and eagles makes him standout among the field when building Masters DFS lineups. He enters Masters week ranked sixth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained on approach (0.795) and 12th in strokes gained tee-to-green (1.124). After a disappointing 2023 season, Thomas has bounced back with four top-12 finishes already in 2024.  You can see the rest of McClure's Masters DFS picks at SportsLine . 

Top 2024 Masters Fantasy Golf picks, projections

One of McClure's top fantasy golf picks is Scottie Scheffler. He's won eight times in the last 26 months and been No. 1 in the world for the last 47 weeks in a row (81 total). You'll pay a premium for Scheffler and he'll be highly rostered in Masters DFS tournaments as well as the first player off the board in any draft format, but that's a price you should be willing to play considering how dominant he's been of late.

Scheffler has two wins and a runner-up finish over his last three starts, which happens to coincide with a putter change that has helped make him nearly a tour-average putter. Considering that he's already the world's best ball-striker (2.798 strokes gained: tee-to-green per round), his game could be elevated. Scheffler has never finished worse than 19th in four starts at Augusta and the 2022 Masters champion is a +325 favorite (bet $100 to win $325) in the 2024 Masters odds.  You can see the rest of McClure's Masters fantasy golf picks at SportsLine . 

How to make Masters 2024 picks, long shot bets

McClure is also targeting targeting six other golfers with odds of 20-1 or longer who will make a strong run at the green jacket. You can find out who they are, and check out all of McClure's Masters picks and best bets at SportsLine .

Who will win the Masters 2024, and which golfers should you target for your PGA one and done picks, DFS lineups, and Fantasy Golf plays this week at Augusta National Golf Club? Visit SportsLine now to get Mike McClure's Masters 2024 one and done picks, DFS lineups and fantasy golf plays  -- and find out.

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