In the ever-evolving world of wireless earbuds, two recent releases have caught everyone's attention: Apple's AirPods 4 and the JBL Live Beam 3. Let's break down everything you need to know to make the right choice for your needs and budget.
Wireless earbuds have come a long way since their early days. What started as simple Bluetooth headphones has evolved into sophisticated audio devices with features like spatial audio (which creates a 3D sound experience), active noise cancellation (ANC, which reduces background noise), and smart features that adapt to your environment.
The $129.99 AirPods 4 and $199.95 Live Beam 3 represent two different approaches to modern wireless audio. Released in September 2024, the AirPods 4 bring Apple's latest H2 chip technology and an open-ear design. The Live Beam 3, launched in June 2024, offers JBL's traditional sealed-ear approach with some innovative new features.
The biggest difference between these earbuds is their fundamental design approach. The AirPods 4 use an open-ear design, which means they sit in your ear without creating a seal. This design has pros and cons:
Pros:
Cons:
The Live Beam 3 uses a traditional sealed design with silicone tips that create a barrier between your ear canal and the outside world. This results in:
Pros:
Cons:
In my testing, the Live Beam 3's sound quality is notably better for music, especially if you enjoy genres with prominent bass. However, the AirPods 4 excel at voice clarity and offer a more natural sound stage that some users prefer.
Battery life has seen significant improvements in recent years. The Live Beam 3 leads this category with:
The AirPods 4 offer:
Both support USB-C charging, marking Apple's switch from Lightning connectors. The AirPods 4 also support wireless charging, which is surprisingly absent from the Live Beam 3.
Here's where the products really diverge in their approach:
The AirPods 4 are clearly optimized for Apple users, while the Live Beam 3 offers more platform-agnostic features.
Both earbuds offer water and dust resistance:
The Live Beam 3's higher rating makes it slightly more suitable for intense workouts or rain exposure.
For home theater use, the Live Beam 3 has an advantage due to its sealed design and stronger bass response. However, the AirPods 4's spatial audio feature works exceptionally well with Apple TV+ content and supported streaming services, creating a more cinema-like experience.
Latency (the delay between video and audio) is minimal on both, but the AirPods 4 have a slight edge when used with Apple devices due to their specialized H2 chip.
The AirPods 4 at $129.99 represent good value if:
The Live Beam 3 at $199.95 justify their higher price if:
Consider these questions:
For Apple users who make lots of calls and want seamless integration, the AirPods 4 are the better choice despite their higher price. They're also great if you find traditional earbuds uncomfortable.
Choose the Live Beam 3 if you:
Both products represent significant improvements over their predecessors, with better sound quality, longer battery life, and more features. The AirPods 4 improved spatial audio and added head gestures, while the Live Beam 3 introduced the innovative smart case and better water resistance.
Remember, the best choice depends on your specific needs and preferences. Consider trying both if possible, as comfort and sound preferences are highly personal.
| Apple AirPods 4 | JBL Live Beam 3 |
|---|---|
| Price - Base investment required | |
| $129.99 | $199.95 |
| Battery Life - Critical for daily use without recharging | |
| 5 hours per charge, 30 hours total with case | 12 hours per charge, 48 hours total with case |
| Driver Size - Impacts sound quality and bass response | |
| Custom Apple driver (size not disclosed) | 10mm dynamic driver |
| Water/Dust Rating - Important for workout and outdoor use | |
| IP54 (basic splash resistance) | IP55 (better water protection) |
| Noise Cancellation - Affects listening experience in noisy environments | |
| Available on ANC model, moderate effectiveness | Strong ANC with adaptive features |
| Ecosystem Features - Crucial for seamless device integration | |
| Exceptional Apple integration, spatial audio, head tracking | Platform agnostic, multi-point connection |
| Ear Design - Impacts comfort and sound isolation | |
| Open-ear (better awareness, less isolation) | Sealed in-ear (better bass, more isolation) |
| Charging Options - Affects convenience | |
| USB-C and wireless charging | USB-C only |
| Case Features - Additional functionality | |
| Basic case with Find My support | Smart case with touch display controls |
| Voice Assistant - Hands-free control | |
| Siri only, with head gesture support | Multiple assistants (Google, Alexa) |
For home theater use, the JBL Live Beam 3 offers better overall performance due to its sealed design and stronger bass response. However, if you use Apple TV+, the AirPods 4 provides excellent spatial audio for supported content, creating a more immersive experience.
At $129.99, the AirPods 4 offer better value for Apple users, while the $199.95 Live Beam 3 justifies its higher price with superior sound quality and longer battery life.
The JBL Live Beam 3 significantly outperforms with 12 hours per charge and 48 hours total with the case, compared to the AirPods 4 offering 5 hours per charge and 30 hours total.
The JBL Live Beam 3 delivers superior overall sound quality with stronger bass and better isolation, while the AirPods 4 offers a more natural, open sound but with less bass impact.
Both work with Bluetooth-enabled TVs, but the AirPods 4 have lower latency when used with Apple TV. The Live Beam 3 works equally well with any Bluetooth TV but may have slightly higher latency.
The JBL Live Beam 3 provides better noise cancellation due to its sealed design, while the AirPods 4 offers moderate noise cancellation that's less effective due to its open-ear design.
The JBL Live Beam 3 works equally well with both platforms, while the AirPods 4 offers full features only with Apple devices and limited functionality with Android.
The AirPods 4 are generally more comfortable for extended viewing due to their open-ear design, while the Live Beam 3 may cause fatigue during long sessions due to its sealed design.
Both work for gaming, but the AirPods 4 have lower latency with Apple devices. The Live Beam 3 may have noticeable audio delay depending on the device and connection.
The AirPods 4 offer superior call quality with better voice isolation, while the Live Beam 3 provides good but not exceptional call performance.
The AirPods 4 offer advanced spatial audio with head tracking for supported content, while the Live Beam 3 has basic spatial processing without head tracking.
The JBL Live Beam 3 has a higher IP55 rating compared to the AirPods 4's IP54 rating, making it slightly more resistant to water and dust.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: cnet.com - apple.com - youtube.com - tomsguide.com - apple.com - support.apple.com - phonearena.com - apple.com - cdw.com - apple.com - apple.com - connection.com - bhphotovideo.com - audio46.com - target.com - walmart.com - crutchfield.com - whathifi.com - in.jbl.com - rcwilley.com - youtube.com - jbl.com - soundguys.com - jbl.com - store.utah.edu
