Active noise cancellation, multipoint functionality, and a long battery life
Jabra will unveil the new $149 Elite 5 earbuds at IFA 2022. As the company’s midrange pair of buds — similar to the older Elite 75t — these will provide up to seven hours of continuous playback when active noise cancellation is enabled. They also have two simultaneous Bluetooth connections, IP55 dust and water resistance, and codec support for aptX, AAC, and SBC.
The Elite 5s have 6mm drivers and an adjustable EQ. According to Jabra, the design will provide “a discreet, comfortable, and compact fit.” The earbuds have a teardrop shape like the rest of the Elite series and six mics onboard for improved voice call performance with wind suppression. You also get Android Fast Pair, Windows Swift Pair, and Google Assistant and Alexa integration as bonuses.
“Today’s fast-paced society is decreasing attention spans while increasing distraction, making it increasingly difficult to focus on what’s important,” said Calum MacDougall, senior vice president at Jabra. “These versatile earbuds are ideal for those who want to immerse themselves in music while also remaining socially and virtually connected.”
I’m not sure I’ve ever heard someone pitch their earbuds based on society’s shrinking attention spans, but hey. If you’re confused about Jabra’s current lineup — this company sure makes a lot of earbuds — here’s how it looks with the Elite 5’s addition today.
$199.99 for Elite 7 Pro
$179.99 for the Elite 7 Active
Elite 5 is $149.99, Elite 4 Active is $119.99, and Elite 3 is $79.99.
That’s a lot of products in similar price ranges, especially considering how frequently Jabra’s earbuds are on sale. According to the company’s website, each has its own selling point: in the case of the Elite 7 Pro, that’s “revolutionary” voice call performance, whereas the Active models focus on a secure fit and durability. And the Elite 3 buds are still our top pick for under $100.
It still feels a little crowded to me, but the Elite 5 earbuds provide a good value for money. The only question is whether they can distinguish themselves against tougher competition than ever before. It’s difficult to find a bad pair of earbuds for more than $100 these days, which wasn’t always the case when Jabra was the default AirPods alternative.
