This is a somewhat unique area for Jabra, as it usually replaces its flagship products rather than iterate on them. And yet here we are with the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2, a pair of headphones that look and feel much like their predecessors, but this time with extra features that would have been nice to have in the first place.
The good thing is that Jabra didn’t break anything in its attempt to create a more expansive take on the Elite 10, making these Gen 2 headphones one of the best in-ears out there. It’s just an odd situation considering the brand is also stepping away from its consumer audio business with this launch.
Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2: Price and availability
Jabra launched the Elite 10 Gen 2 in June 2024 and should be widely available in retail and online stores until the company discontinues them. They start at $280, but keep an eye out for potential price cuts at certain points along the way if retailers want to clear stock. Despite exiting the consumer headphone space, Jabra says it will continue to support and update existing headphones, including this pair, for “years”. They come in glossy black, titanium black, soft white, cocoa and denim.
Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2: What’s good
The Elite 10 Gen 2 look like carbon copies of their predecessors, right down to the build, placement details and even the case. The dimensions are the same, as are the ear tips. The eartips from the original Jabra Elite 10 really fit perfectly on these Gen 2 earbuds, maintaining a tight continuity that shows in many ways when worn.
They were so comfortable to begin with that there was no need to change how they fit. Still comfortable and easy on the ears, the rubberized finish remains an excellent design choice, as does the IP57 rating for dust and water resistance. It’s rare for headphones that aren’t clearly marketed as “sport” or “active” to have this level of protection, so it’s a big plus right out of the box if you’re looking for a pair for running or working out. pack four pairs of ear tips to find the right fit.
Jabra has focused a lot on usability as a way to expand on the existing base, so it’s less focused on redesigning how good the Gen 2 sounds. A prime example is turning the case into a Bluetooth LE smart case, which basically lets you plug it into any USB-C or 3.5 mm jack and wirelessly stream sound (via the LC3 codec) to headphones. Where would this be useful? Think entertainment screens on a plane or even your TV at home when you don’t want to disturb anyone. Some exercise devices also offer a way to connect and listen, making it easy to work out without a cable.
The Elite 10 Gen 2 headphones aren’t the first to offer this kind of setup, as I’ve heard it before from LG and Bowers & Wilkins in particular. Jabra goes the extra mile by including surround sound and head tracking into the mix. Not only can you listen to the sound through the case, but you also get a virtual surround sound effect.
It works very well, and since the Jabra cable includes both USB-C and a 3.5mm extension cable, you can basically plug it into any playback device. I tested it on a number of devices, including those without a headphone jack like the Google Pixel Tablet, and it worked perfectly. Same with laptops and my TV, including using a USB-C-to-USB-A adapter. Take the headphones out of the case, plug the case into the USB or headphone jack, and hold the case button until the white light turns on and you hear a ping when connected.
Jabra does a good job of implementing all of this without much fuss. Even if you’re listening to audio through the case, you can still receive phone calls because the Elite 10 Gen 2 won’t lose connection with your phone. Multipoint connections are already here and allow you to pair with two devices at the same time, so it looks like a nice addition.
In addition, LE Audio brings the added benefit of reducing latency through the LC3 codec, which may be more noticeable when connecting the case to devices using an older version of Bluetooth. Computers definitely come into play, as do TVs, where LE Audio improves audio/video sync. This is great for watching a show or during video calls.
I can say that Jabra hasn’t changed the way they’ve tuned the Elite 10 Gen 2, but it’s evident that the company has decided to improve the sound by other means. A big advantage is active noise cancellation (ANC). Jabra previously claimed that the Elite 10s were 2x better than their predecessors (the Elite 7 Pro) and are now making the same 2x claim with the Elite 10 Gen 2 over their first generation counterparts.
It’s hard to be precise about this sort of thing during testing, but I can say that the ANC is better in the areas where Jabra says it should be, which is in the midrange and low-frequency noise. Humming sounds such as fans or engines will not penetrate as much this time, and the differences in street noise are also reduced. Not to mention, the Wind Reduction mode adds another layer of blocking out background noise, but you have to turn it on separately through the app. The overall ANC results still won’t match what the likes of Sony and Bose can deliver, but they’re definitely a step in the right direction.
HearThrough also better cancels out more natural ambient noise, making it easier to hear notifications or talk to someone clearly without taking off your headphones. An offshoot of this is that phone calls feel a little more natural because you can now hear your own voice a little more.
Jabra also puts more emphasis on surround sound this time. Any tuning from the company’s engineers clearly focused on this area. The previous Elite 10 already supports Dolby Atmos, so you get finer tuning and clarity here. I’d say you’ll hear it more when watching a show or movie in Dolby Atmos than when listening to music on streaming services like Amazon Music, Apple Music, or Tidal.
Surround sound also applies when using the LE Audio case, which adds another nice benefit to combining the two features. Head tracking is exclusive to the Elite 10 Gen 2, as the sportier Elite 8 Gen 2 only offers standard Dolby Atmos. That’s also a bit smoother here, especially in how the surround effect calibrates for head movement.
The app is still a very useful resource for getting the most out of these headphones.
Jabra is still ahead of many competitors in being able to offer a high level of protection while still retaining physical button control. They’re still very effective because they’re easy to compress and manage, and you can always edit them further in the Sound+ app.
The app is still a very useful resource for getting the most out of these headphones. You can always adjust how you want them to sound via the built-in EQ, which is a must. Google Assistant is available natively, as is Spotify Tap.
Battery life hasn’t really changed, lasting up to six hours with ANC on and eight hours with it off. The case holds three more charges and supports wireless charging – even if you’re using it in LE Audio. For a quick wired charge, plug it in for five minutes and you’ll get up to an hour of playback.
Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2: What’s not good
Going back to what made the previous Elite 10 so good is a smart move, but also a missed opportunity. The Elite 10 Gen 2 still doesn’t offer support for high-resolution Bluetooth audio codecs like aptX Adaptive or LDAC, reducing the chance of listening to higher-quality streams. I tried to see if LE Audio with the case would change that, but no luck. Naturally, you get a surround sound effect, but not in high definition.
This doesn’t really correlate with the increased price for what are largely iterative headphones rather than newly designed and engineered replacements.
And then there’s the huge elephant in the room, which is that Jabra has no plans to make any new consumer headphones after these and the Elite 8 Active Gen 2, killing the Elite brand of headphones. I don’t know all the details yet, given that Jabra has previously indicated that this part of its business is profitable, but I suspect it’s about money. Hearing aids and enterprise audio have much higher margins, so the powers that be at Jabra may think it’s better to invest in further building that portfolio.
Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2: The Competition
Jabra’s move is all the more puzzling because the Elite 10 Gen 2 clearly deserves to be among the best wireless headphones. It builds on a solid and reliable foundation and has improved the feature set and performance to compete with the best. But maybe the hill is getting steeper. The Sony WF-1000XM5 are still the best in combining sound quality and noise cancellation, as well as surround sound and personalized listening.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are in a similar boat, boasting arguably the best ANC you’ll find on headphones in most situations. You don’t get the same level of granular controls that Sony or Jabra offer, but there’s still a lot to like. If you’d rather stay in the storied family and pay less, the previous Elite 10s are a good buy.
Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2: Should you buy them?
You should buy it if…
- You want good sound with ANC support.
- You want a comfortable fit with physical buttons.
- Love the idea of ​​LE Audio.
- You want surround sound.
You shouldn’t buy it if…
- You really want high resolution audio codecs.
- You don’t care about surround sound and head tracking.
- You want longer battery life.
- Hate that Jabra is going out of business.
No matter how you look at it, Jabra has put these headphones in a strange place. I’ve been a journalist for a long time, and I’ve rarely, if ever, seen a company launch a flagship product only to announce that it’s exiting the business at the same time. The silver lining is that the company intends to support its consumer products for years to come with firmware and software updates. We have some proof of this when we look at how good the Elite 75t and Elite 7 Pro are even years later.
Even so, it’s cold comfort for those who have really enjoyed what Jabra has done in this space every year. With that in mind, the Elite 10 Gen 2 are still excellent headphones in every way. They improve on some key features of the previous pair while maintaining the comfort and durability that make them unique in a crowded market. While Jabra may be leaving this market, you have nothing to lose if you decide to use these headphones as your next pair.
Retaining much of what made their predecessors so effective, the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 improves things with improved noise cancellation, surround sound and the ability to plug in an LE Audio playback case.