Andrew O'Hara
Apple's AirPods Pro is an unbridled success — but aren't without competition. Some of Apple's fiercest competition is coming from the new Jabra Elite 75t.
AirPods unarguable prowess
There are (technically) three versions of AirPods available at the moment. The second-gen AirPods retail for $159, the second-gen AirPods with the Wireless Charging Case for $199, and AirPods Pro run $249. We will primarily be focusing on AirPods Pro, though we will touch on the others — just to a lesser extent.
Where AirPods win most, is with Apple's user experience. The setup process, deep iOS integration, and the ability to seamlessly move between your devices are simply unmatched. Apple controls both the software as well as the hardware, making those integrations possible. That full-stack control is why people get iPhones, then AirPods — and stick with the pair.
Compared to the Jabra Elite 75t, AirPods Pro also features active noise cancellation, versus passive noise cancellation. Passive cancellation is implemented with a good seal inside the ear, blocking external sound. That gives AirPods Pro the best noise cancellation, Jabra Elite 75t right behind it, but both are better than standard AirPods, which don't have much of a seal at all.
Siri is built-in to AirPods Pro, which can be activated by the well-known keyphrase. The Jabra Elite 75t has support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa alongside Siri, but you have to invoke these manually by using the onboard controls.
Fast charge on AirPods Pro can provide users with one hour of use after only a five-minute charge, which would take 15 minutes on the Jabra Elite 75t. There is also Adaptive EQ that adjusts the sound to each user's ears and more than three times the usable range.
Jabra Elite 75t came to fight
AirPods Pro are outstanding, but Jabra Elite 75t is here to earn their share of the market.
As we mentioned, it supports not only Siri but Alexa and Google Assistant (the latter if you are using an Android phone).
Jabra also excels in battery life — giving users seven and a half hours of use time on a single charge, for a total of 28 total hours including the case. AirPods only get a total of 24 hours of usage, and 4.5 hours contained within the earbuds. That becomes five if you turn ANC off.
While Apple touts the automatic abilities of Adaptive EQ, Jabra offers customizable EQ from within the Jabra Sound+ app. Users can turn up the bass, drop the treble, or whatever their preference may be. There are even presets to make it easy.
Jabra boasts a resistance rating of IP55, which means it can withstand dust and jets of water, while AirPods Pro is only able to withstand sweat and rain. Apple did not test dust ingress into AirPods Pro, resulting in the IPX4 rating.
Importantly, we also found that Jabra Elite 75t is capable of better sound quality than AirPods Pro. The cases individual buds are slightly larger, which could yield a bit more bass and overall fuller sound. If sound quality is the predominant factor in selection, then the Jabra Elite 75t takes the crown.
Possibly most notable, is the Jabra Elite 75t come in far below AirPods Pro. AirPods Pro cost $249 at retail, versus the Jabra's $179. That makes Jabra more affordable than both AirPods Pro and the AirPods second-gen with the wireless charging case.
The closest comparison is the second-gen AirPods with the standard case. In that comparison, the Jabra Elite 75t comes off as far superior with better sound, a battery that lasts longer, USB-C, Siri/Alexa support, HearThrough, passive noise cancellation, more durable, and with a more extended warranty period.
Where to buy
AirPods Pro can be picked up on Amazon for $249 while the Jabra Elite 75t can be picked up for $179.
| Pixel 4 | iPhone 11 | iPhone 11 Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.7" & 6.3" | 6.1" | 5.8" & 6.5" |
| Pixel density | 444 and 537 ppi | 326 ppi | 458 ppi |
| Display type | OLED | LCD | OLED |
| Brightness | 445 nits | 625 nits | 800 nits (1200 max) |
| Refresh rate | 90Hz, normal 60Hz | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Authentication | Passcode or face unlock | Passcode or Face ID | Passcode or Face ID |
| Rear cameras | 12.2MP wide, 16MP telephoto | 12MP wide, 12MP tele, 12MP ultra-wide | 12MP wide, 12MP tele, 12MP ultra-wide |
| Front-facing camera | 8MP — 90 degree FOV | 12M — 85 degree FOV | 12M — 85 degree FOV |
| Processor | Snapdragon 855 | A13 Bionic | A13 Bionic |
| RAM | 8GB | 6GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 64, 128 GB | 64, 128, 256 GB | 64, 128, 256 GB |
AppleInsider Staff
Malcolm Owen
Oliver Haslam
Wesley Hilliard
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
21 Comments
As someone who has purchased both the Jabra Elite 75t and Airpods Pro, I wholeheartedly disagree with the conclusion of this review.
The Elite 75t's microphone was so sensitive during phone calls that people I spoke with from my home office asked me if I was in the bathroom washing my hands. In fact, I was in the office with the windows closed. Outside the office 30 feet away is a gentle water feature. That's what people were hearing. I also could not type on my computer during a call because the tapping was distracting to the person on the other end of the call. Advantage Airpods Pro.
The Airpods Pro sound quality during music playback is so close to the Elite 75t that it's a wash. They both sound very good.
Regarding EQ, if one wants to EQ their Airpods Pro, then simply use the EQ presets feature of iTunes. This is a wash.
Airpods Pro have active noise cancellation, while Elite 75t do not. The active noise cancellation works very well. Advantage Airpods Pro.
Siri Support: Airpods Pro work flawlessly with Siri. Say, "Her Siri", and Siri responds. With the Jabra Elite 75t, a button must be pressed on the earbud, which triggers a beep. Depending on your environment, you may or may not hear the beep. Even after hearing the beep and proceeding with your request, Siri may or may not fulfill the request. Advantage Airpods Pro.
Finally, the Airpods Pro fit extremely well and securely. Experiment with the ear tips, and you'll like find a very comfortable custom fit. They're lighter than the Elite 75t. Comfort is subjective, but the Airpods Pro are clearly lighter in weight.
Set-up with the Airpods Pro is a breeze, and they work every time without fail. The Elite 75t would occasionally drop out. The Airpods Pro have not. Advantage Airpods Pro.
For me, the super sensitive microphone of the Elite 75t was a deal breaker because I use the earbuds for phone calls, and call quality is important.
If the Airpods Pro are beyond one's budget, then the Jabra Elite 75t are a good second choice. If budget is not a restriction, then my suggestion is to buy both and keep the pair you like.
AirPods Pro need a larger ear tip option. Unfortunately due to the proprietary nature of the tips, such a product may never arrive from Apple or 3rd parties.