JLabs popularity stems from producing ultra-affordable audio peripherals, like$20wireless earbudsand$40 keychain earbuds.
So, I decided to call them in and test that for myself.
Technically, theyre great at what theyre touting the most: great ANC.
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
But they underperform in a bunch of other areas.
Jlab Go Pop ANC Earbuds
Delivers the promised noise-canceling efficiency.
I kept my expectations as low as possible, too.
Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
And on that front, at least, I wasnt very disappointed.
Aside from the company logo on the exterior, theres little else in terms of design.
The Go Pop ANC earbuds make it very clear that theyre $30 buds.
Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
My biggest point of concern with in-ear buds is the fit.
The Go Pop ANC were ideal in this regard.
I didnt have to adjust the buds; they stayed securely in place throughout use.
Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
Functionality-wise, the app is fine, but the flimsy UI makes it bothersome.
You only get single, double, triple, and long tap gestures.
And long-tapping for volume control meant I had little control over the increments.
I like that the earbud controls also include cycling between three EQ presets.
I played around on the presets and tried custom-tuning one, but the earbuds still sounded too flat.
The JLab Go Pop ANC buds are definitely more treble-focused than bass.
Wireless earbuds this size usually sport around 12mm drivers.
A bigger driver size helps with increased bass, though thats not the only factor determining it.
The noise canceling, on the other hand, is very impressive.
Its extremely powerful and successfully canceled my noisy work commute from NYCs Midtown to Downtown.
It dealt with traffic very well, completely muting the loud, constant rumble of car engines.
With ANC off and my music playing, I could hear their voices but couldnt make out the conversation.
But with ANC on, it was as if I was the only person on the sidewalk.
I like that the JLab Go Pop ANC didnt overdo the canceling or the ambient mode.
After a while, your ear canals start demanding you for a break.
With the case included, the scores increase to 24 and 21 hours, respectively.
Both of these figures are pretty standard for wireless earbuds.
Quick charging is supported (10 minutes giving you an hour of playback), but wireless charging isnt.
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