Just when I was beginning to think that TWS buds can’t get more feature-rich than the JBL Tune Beam 2 I reviewed recently, the brand has outed another pair, which makes its older cousin look basic in comparison. Don’t get me wrong — I stick by what I said about the JBL Tune Beam 2. They sound great and boast tons of handy features. The new JBL Tour Pro 3 TWS buds, however, are a whole new beast. Of course, they carry a heftier price tag too. The Tour Pro 3’s long repertoire of features is headlined by a smart charging case that sports a touchscreen of its own, audio transmitting capabilities, and support for Auracast. Read on for more.
Table of Contents
Big case, big features
The first thing that hits you when you lay your eyes on the Tour Pro 3 is how large the case is. Of course, that 1.57-inch screen on the side might have to do something with that, and said screen is the next thing you’d notice. The screen itself captures most of the attention, as the rest of the case looks a bit plain Jane. It’s well put together in terms of the build quality, though, and feels a bit weighty at over 70 grams. A rubberised portion at the back carries regulatory info and also ensures the case doesn’t slip out of your hands. A Type-C port is at the bottom, along with a small pairing button. A chrome strip running along the edge of the lid accentuates the otherwise subtle exterior. The case is IPX55 rated and is immune to splashes.
Opening the lid reveals the buds inside. The buds look a tad larger than usual and feature flat, short stems. The fit, however, is secure, and at 5.6 grams each, the buds aren’t heavy either. While the buds are plain black, the stems feature dual-toned elements with chrome accents, and JBL branding up front.
A special mention to the box. Thanks to its partnership with the new Superman movie, JBL sent me a special Superman-themed box that contained a carry case for the Tour Pro 3. While the retail box won’t have that, it’s still quite loaded. You get no less than six different pairs of ear tips, along with three cables: a type-A to type-C (for charging), a type-C to type-C, and a 3.5mm to type-C. The C to C and 5.5mm to Type-C cables can be used to connect the TWS case to audio sources like laptops and aeroplane infotainment systems, which activates the Bluetooth transmitter function and allows you to stream audio wirelessly to the buds. Quite handy.
A never-ending list of features
This is where things get interesting. First up, the screen. The 1.57-inch touchscreen allows you to view notifications, control volume, switch audio modes, set EQ, access various options, control music, mute or unmute your mic during a call, etc. Of course, these options can be accessed via your paired smartphone too, so in that sense, the touchscreen does come across as a bit gimmicky. Plus, the screen is tiny and fiddly to use. It is, however, quite cool to have all these options available right on the case, and they come in handy when you don’t want to reach for your phone.
Here’s a bird’s-eye view of the goodies offered by the Tour Pro 3:
- Adaptive noise cancellation
- Spatial Sound with head tracking
- Ambient Aware
- Multi-point connection
- Swift Pair
- Google Fast Pair
- Voice Aware
- TalkThru
- Hi-Res audio
- Bluetooth transmitter
- Auracast
- Bluetooth 5.3
- Support for AAC, LDAC and SBC codecs
The app that does it all
The companion app is called JBL Headphones, and it’s available on both Android and iOS. It comes packed with a slew of options and settings. Of course, thanks to the screen on the case, many of these options can be accessed directly on the device itself, but the app presents a more comprehensive way for you to get the most out of your earbuds. Companion apps usually provide an interface to update firmware and control various options and settings for TWS buds, and the JBL Headphones app does exactly that. However, it goes above and beyond, coming across a full-fledged control centre that allows you to tweak not just the audio quality, customise the tap controls and set EQ, but also create a personalised sound profile, optimise sound for calls, access settings for features like VoiceAware, Spatial Sound, and more. VoiceAware allows you to set how much of your own voice you can hear during calls, and there’s even a private call mode that lets you remove one earbud and use it as a microphone to enhance your voice level during a call. You can toggle various features like high-res audio, max volume limiter, adaptive EQ, etc. There’s even a relax mode that can play various calming sounds (waves, forest, etc) for a preset period of time. Suffice it to say that the app is as loaded and as comprehensive as it gets, and helps elevate the overall usage experience once you have all the various options and settings set as per your preferences.
Great sound, good ANC, long battery life
In one word – great. That’s how I’d describe the sound quality offered by the Tour Pro 3. The sound is rich and full of life, with a slight emphasis on bass that adds punch without being overwhelming. Instrument separation is very good, with notes coming across as bright and clear. Of course, you have a plethora of options and modes at your disposal to customise it, but I’d say that the audio on offer does justice to most genres. ANC is very good too, and while they might not be able to match segment leaders like Bose or Sony, the JBL Tour Pro 3 do a solid job of drowning out ambient noise. Spatial Audio isn’t just a gimmick, and it really works. Head tracking is reasonably accurate as well.
Very good is also how I’d describe the call quality, and the battery life on offer. The battery life is rated for a runtime of 11 hours without ANC and 8 hours with ANC, and the 850mAh battery in the case promises 44 hours and 32 hours, respectively. In real life, with intermittent usage, different sound modes and varied cases like music and calls, I’d say the buds can deliver about 9 hours or so, standalone. Charging is via Type-C, and there’s support for both quick charge as well as wireless charging.
Verdict
Retailing for Rs 22,990, the JBL Tour Pro 3 aren’t really an impulse purchase, not at that price. Moreover, in that premium space, they have to contend with the likes of Apple, Bose and Sony, and that’s an uphill task. That said, the Tour Pro 3 make a strong case for themselves, coming across as TWS earphones that not only nail the basics in terms of sound quality, ANC performance, comfort and battery life, but go above and beyond to deliver a package that’s packed to the top with many, many features. The touchscreen on the case, the Bluetooth transmitter function, sound customisation option and the comprehensive app are the noteworthy ones. If the price isn’t a barrier, these buds can take you on an audio tour that should prove to be a wholesome experience.
Editor’s rating: 8.5 / 10
Pros:
- Loaded with features
- Very good audio quality & ANC
- Long battery life
- Touchscreen, Auracast & transmit features
Cons:
- Pricey
- Bulky case
- ANC not best-in-class
- Touchscreen can feel gimmicky
