Jabra has a track record of making great sounding fitness wireless earphones. I have personally owned 2 previous Jabra products, the Jabra Rox and Jabra Sport Pulse. While Jabra is not the first to launch true wireless earbuds, they are very active in product development. The latest Jabra Elite 65t is already the third generation true wireless earbuds released, after the equally successful Jabra Elite Sport which I reviewed earlier this year.
Unbox and Design
Unlike most other earbuds, the Jabra Elite 65t has a little snout which houses the mics. The right ear has a single click button while the left ear has a rocker button for adjusting volume and changing audio track.
The charging case is curved all around and does not stand up. Care must be taken to flip open the case, as the earbuds sit on the dock without magnets holding them in place.
If you are handling them on a moving transport, they might fall out accidentally.
On the outside, the earbuds appear to be sleek, but the back of the earbuds is ergonomically shaped to store all the components as well as to hold the buds against the ear walls. It is a rather clever design to house as much tech without protruding out of the ears.
Compared to Jabra Elite Sport
As the name suggests, Elite Sport is for sports use. The earbuds are chunkier, more rugged, and has heart-rate sensor. The Elite Sport also has a more beefy audio quality, with firmer bigger bass response. Due to its size, the Elite Sport can feel uncomfortable to wear, but it definitely feels more secure as you can feel the earbuds secure around the ear walls.
The Elite 65t is easier to insert into the ear canals, though the smooth exterior might pose a risk of slipping off the fingers when handling them. I like that the buttons on the Elite 65t earbuds are easier to press than Elite Sport. I wore it for a run and they stay in my ears without budging.
Audio Quality
The Elite 65t delivers sparkling treble and firm deep bass, while the mid-bass and mid-range is not as warm. I prefer the audio balance of the Elite Sport as it sounds fuller with a punchier mid-frequency, but at least the Elite 65t treble does not sound too harsh even when it’s towards the bright side. Music sounds more transparent, which compensates the environmental noise.
Through the Jabra Sound+ app, the user can adjust EQ, set voice prompt language, update firmware, register warranty, and set the HearThrough setting, which is the ambient mode. When listening with HearThrough, the ambient sound does not affect the audio quality, but only allowing loud higher frequency sounds to let in, like traffic sounds.
Connectivity
The Elite 65t connects reliably over Bluetooth 5.0 to my audio source, which is the LG V30+. Like all true wireless earbuds, there are occasional dropouts when encountering environmental interference, but most of the time, they work well and maintains constant connection and audio streaming.
Battery
The Elite 65t can last for 5 hours before charging. The case offers another 10 hours of usage power.
Verdict
Many other reviewers seem to have high praise for the Jabra Elite 65t, awarding them as one of the best true wireless earbuds. I would like to agree that on the whole, the Elite 65t is a great product with reliable wireless connection, likable audio quality, IP55 protection, and 2-year warranty against dust and water. The companion app provides personalisation, firmware update, and after-sales support. The retail price of S$268 makes the Elite 65t even more compelling to own. While I prefer the beefier sound on the Jabra Elite Sport, the Elite 65t fits all occasions.
2 comments
Thanks for the review, Chester. Could I ask that you use the standard numbering scale for “perceived response” chart, similar to your previous charts? It will be easier for us to compare. Thanks.
Hi Alex! Thanks for your feedback. I have revised the charts and added the number rating again.