JBL Tour Pro 3 Review: The Best Headphones with a Smart Case You Can Buy

JBL Tour Pro 3: SPECIFICATIONS

Price: $299 / £236 / AU$449
Color: Black, latte
Battery life (rating): 7 hours (True Adaptive ANC on), 8 hours (ANC off); 11 hours (ANC off); 24 hours (charging case with ANC on); 30 hours (charging case with ANC off)
Communication: Bluetooth 5.3 (codec support: SBC, AAC, LDAC)
Durability: IP55 rated earphones
Size: 1.18 x 0.87 x 0.92 inches (each earphone); 2.22 x 2.40 x 1.17 inches (charging case)
Libra: 0.19 ounces (per bud); 2.53 ounces (charging case)

Wireless earbuds with smart cases are becoming increasingly popular, with JBL leading the pack. The traditional audio brand previously launched the Tour Pro 2, which met with moderate success. I say moderate because while the earbuds and touchscreen case were well-received, the product wasn’t seen as a real threat to the true wireless throne.

The all-new Tour Pro 3 is set to change that narrative. These headphones are packed with premium features, including active noise cancellation, high-resolution playback, multi-device pairing, and proprietary sound technologies. They also have a great charging case that doubles as a remote control and wireless headphone adapter.

There are some flaws that keep them below elite status. However, that doesn’t detract from their excellent performance and presentation. Here’s our full review of the JBL Tour Pro 3.

JBL Tour Pro 3 REVIEW: Cheat Sheet

· What is this? JBL’s latest flagship headphones with adaptive ANC, sound personalization and a smart case.

· Who is this for? For those who want something ultra-modern and unique.

· How much is it? $299

· What do we like? The sound quality is excellent and the charging case can be used in multiple ways.

· What don’t we like? Disappointing surround sound and unstable fit.

JBL Tour Pro 3 Review: Price and Availability

JBL Tour Pro 3 screen off

(Photo source: Future)

You can buy the JBL Tour Pro 3 for $299 / £236 / AU$449 from the JBL website or popular retailers like B&H and Crutchfield. They come in two colours: black and latte.

The Tour Pro 3 headphones are priced around the same as more expensive models like the $299 Bose QC Ultra Earbuds and the Sony WF-1000XM5, but they’re more expensive than the $249 AirPods Pro 2, which were on sale for $189 at the time of this writing.

JBL Tour Pro 3 Review: Design

JBL Tour Pro 3 next to phone

(Photo source: Future)

Nice workmanship
Innovative smart case
Loose fit

These headphones are made entirely of hard plastic and feature multiple microphone holes, raised touch panels, silver accents, and a sleek matte finish that exudes elegance. They are IP55-rated against dust, sweat, and low-pressure water. The large cavity occupies the entire ear and affects the fit, not allowing for a tight, secure seal.

The JBL Smart Case is significantly thicker and heavier than your average charging case, but it’s still compact and portable. This block of plastic can survive hard drops to the ground. The magnets are strong and keep the lid tightly closed. Dropping the case at the wrong angle can crack the screen, so be extra careful when removing it from your pocket.

JBL Tour Pro 3 Review: Features

JBL Tour Pro 3 next to phone

(Photo source: Future)

Unlimited functionality
A smart case full of benefits
A picky application

Downloading the JBL Headphones app (iOS/Android) gives you a host of features that improve performance across the board. Customizable sound settings are aplenty: Ambient Sound Control (ANC/Ambient Aware/TalkThru), Ear Tip Sound Settings, EQ, LDAC, Max Volume Limiter, Personi-Fi, Personal Sound Amplification, Relax Sound, Smart Audio & Video, Sound Level Optimizer, Spatial Sound, and VoiceAware. I’ll go into more detail about these in the review. Other notable features include auto power off, battery level indicators, customizable controls, charging case settings, Check My Best Fit, Find My Buds, Smart Talk, wearing detection, and Auracast to join an existing stream on compatible devices.

Let’s move on to the smart case. Users can set brightness levels, shortcuts, lock screen wallpaper, time, and wake-up commands. You can even enable Auracast, message notifications, and Find My Case. The case can also be used as a dongle to wirelessly stream audio to any aux or USB-C source (e.g. TV, gym equipment, airplane console).

Suffice it to say, the Tour Pro 3 packs more firepower than most of its premium rivals. It’s just a shame the app isn’t as buggy. There were times when the app would randomly crash or refuse to connect to the buds.

JBL Tour Pro 3 Review: Controls

JBL Tour Pro 3 in hand

(Photo source: Future)

Responsive touch controls
The smart housing also acts as a controller
Reliable digital assistance

A full set of multimedia controls are at your disposal: call management, digital assistance, activation of listening mode, playback and volume. They can be assigned to single/double/triple tap and long hold gestures. Touch accuracy is at the level, and functions are performed quickly.

The smart case has its own set of controls. There’s a media player for playback and volume control. The case also lets you swap out the equalizer, switch between different listening modes, and turn on the flashlight function without having to go into the app.

A tap-and-hold gesture on either bud will activate the native assistant (Google Assistant, Siri). The JBL microphone provides solid speech recognition to accurately capture voice commands.

JBL Tour Pro 3 Review: Sound Quality

JBL Tour Pro 3 next to phone

(Photo source: Future)

Dynamic sound with deep bass
Useful features to improve your sound
High-resolution audio streaming via smart case
Surround sound still needs work

JBL has equipped these headphones with an 11 mm driver, a balanced armature driver, and a myriad of audio features. The sound profile places a heavy emphasis on bass. You can adjust the frequencies with a customizable equalizer or choose from several well-designed presets: Bass, Club, Extreme Bass, Jazz, Studio, and Vocal.

The Tour Pro 3 reproduces sonic elements exceptionally well with minimal distortion. Common & Pete Rock’s “So Many People” actually showed off the buds’ versatile soundstage. Drums were delicate and punchy, while the mids remained soothing; the haunting chorus sounds more chilling here than the AirPods Pro 2. Thumping tracks like Bootsy Collins’ “Pure Perfection” had a gritty bassline and growling synths that hit hard. That same energy carried over to sultry, bass-heavy tracks like LARA’s “Good Wine,” where the singer’s airy vocals blended beautifully with the crushing 808s.

I recommend using Personi-Fi because it thoroughly analyzes your hearing to create a personalized sound profile. The differences between it and JBL equalizers can be huge, depending on the results. My profile provided slightly better bass and resonant highs.

JBL’s surround sound mode was moderately improved, but still needs a lot of work. Instruments and audience interaction during live performances sounded more natural. However, vocals were tinny.

JBL Tour Pro 3 in ear

(Photo source: Future)

LDAC dynamically scaled the bitrate (up to 990 kbps) to reveal more clarity and detail in recordings. SBC (Android) and AAC (iOS/macOS) also provided satisfactory sound.

JBL offers other cool sound features. Left/Right Sound Balance adjusts the output on both channels. Maximum Volume Limit optimizes the volume limit to protect your hearing. Ear Tip Sound Settings will set the tuning for your silicone or foam ear tips. Relax Sound has 5 different nature profiles that can be combined or played individually to soothe and relieve listeners at a specific time.

Then there’s the smart case, which retransmits audio to the buds when connected to a compatible audio jack. The feature works well. The clarity and resolution were great when using the iPod Classic. It’s worth mentioning that some audio features can be activated on the touchscreen in dongle mode.

JBL Tour Pro 3 Review: Active Noise Cancelling

JBL Tour Pro 3 in ear

(Photo source: Future)

Strong noise neutralization
Robust ambient listening modes
Foam ear tips provide better isolation

JBL’s True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0 technology doesn’t compete with ANC technologies from Bose or Sony. But it’s effective, especially for listening in an environment. Ambient Aware mode lets in a huge amount of external noise that can be heard from blocks away. I could hear everything from chattering pedestrians to fire sirens to breaking glass bottles. TalkThru was perfect for communicating without taking the headphones off. I had a conversation with my wife and could hear her loud and clear from across the room.

There’s an adjustable six-level ANC mode, as well as an Adaptive ANC mode that automatically adjusts noise cancellation based on ambient noise levels. The former worked better outdoors, eliminating nearly 85 percent of distractions, while the latter provided better wind resistance. Low- and mid-frequency sounds were absent, but high-frequency sounds crept into the soundstage.

The foam tips create a tighter seal than silicone tips and enhance sound isolation. I noticed less background noise when listening to music with ANC turned off.

JBL Tour Pro 3 Review: Call Quality and Connectivity

JBL Tour Pro 3 next to iPod

(Photo source: Future)

Decent voice calls with clutch noise reduction
Intuitive wireless performance

The Tour Pro 3 are good for voice and video calls. I received a few complaints about muffled noise, but coworkers and friends were able to make out words and sentences. The ANC has a strong presence, completely blocking out random sounds so conversations don’t get distracting. Everyone I spoke to said they couldn’t hear any background noise.

Bluetooth 5.3 works well and extends the range to 50 feet (15 meters) before stuttering. These buds connect quickly to both iOS and Android devices. Multipoint technology lets you pair the buds with two devices at once, allowing you to seamlessly switch between your iPhone and MacBook Pro, and back again.

JBL Tour Pro 3 Review: Battery Life

JBL Tour Pro 3 next to phone

(Photo source: Future)

Adequate play time
Very powerful fast charging

JBL rates the battery life at up to 11 hours, depending on how you use the headphones. The wireless charging case lasts up to 30 hours. ANC cuts that to 8 hours, and Surround Sound shaves another hour. That’s more than the AirPods Pro 2’s battery life (up to 7 hours), but a bit less than the Sony WF-1000XM5 (up to 12 hours). That’s enough juice for two long days of listening before you need to recharge. A 10-minute charge will give you 4 hours of listening.

JBL Tour Pro 3 Review: The Verdict

The JBL Tour Pro 3 proves two things: JBL is leading the way in this new product category, and the smart headphones in the case are the best value for money in true wireless. Between the deep sound personalization and the wide range of case functions – for both aux-compatible and Bluetooth devices – there is so much to enjoy and have fun with.

There are a few kinks that need to be ironed out. The Buggy companion app tops the list. Fit and surround sound are two other areas that could also use some improvement.

Despite these shortcomings, the Tour Pro 3 headphones are a fantastic addition to the wireless headphone market, highlighting JBL’s compelling feature set and sound quality.