The Jabra Elite 8 Active are one of the best, if not the best, pair of workout earbuds you can get your hands on today. That cannot be doubted – it is impossibly durable, has an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, and a solid fit. But it is also so much more. The Jabra Elite 8 Active’s well-rounded sound signature, its impressive feature set and path-breaking battery life make it an easy recommendation for just about anyone.
Earlier this year, Jabra debuted its 2023 flagship truly wireless earphones – the Jabra Elite 10 and the Jabra Elite 8 Active. The former snagged the runner-up position in our annual Digit Zero1 Awards‘ Premium Truly Wireless Earphones category – showcasing its dominance in the space. We have also tested the Jabra Elite 4 (review) and Jabra Elite 5 (review) this year. Both got favourable reviews from us here at Digit. Now, we’ve got the Jabra Elite 8 Active in our Test Labs.
Jabra’s ‘Active’ range of earphones is all the rage among fitness enthusiasts across the globe; and with the Elite 8 Active, Jabra hopes to continue that legacy. Priced at a whopping ₹17,999, these earphones compete with the industry’s bigwigs such as the Sony WF-1000XM5 (review) and AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) (review). Let’s see how they stack up.
Jabra Elite 8 Active Review: Design and Fit
The Jabra Elite 8 Active is not just another pair of true wireless earbuds; it’s a masterclass in combining style, durability, and comfort. The standout feature in terms of fit is the Shake Grip rubber coating. This innovation ensures an excellent fit, providing a secure and comfortable experience for users, even during intense physical activities.
However, while the earbuds themselves impress with their build quality, the same can’t be said for the charging case. The case material feels somewhat plasticky and might leave users with a slight sense of disappointment. In a market where premium aesthetics contribute significantly to product perception, the choice of materials for the case is a departure from the otherwise high-quality build of the earbuds. Also, three silicone ear tips seem a bit lacklustre in terms of choices, in this price range, for users with differently-shaped ears.
The pocketable case adds a layer of convenience to the overall design though. Slim and lightweight, it effortlessly slips into pockets without causing any discomfort.
On the durability front, the Elite 8 Active takes the crown with an impressive combination of an IP68 dust and water resistance rating and MIL-STD-810h certification. These earbuds are designed to withstand the harshest elements, making them the most robust buds on the market.
The physical controls on the Elite 8 Active are a breath of fresh air for users who prefer tangible inputs over touch controls. These physical controls not only work seamlessly but also outshine the touch controls found on some competing earbuds. The responsive nature of these controls ensures that users can effortlessly manage playback, adjust volume, and handle calls.
How feature-rich are they?
The Jabra Elite 8 Active stands as a formidable contender in the realm of true wireless earbuds, offering an extensive array of features befitting its premium price point. Boasting Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and HearThrough technology, these earbuds effectively minimize ambient disruptions, albeit falling slightly short in silencing human voices when compared to competitors like the Sony WF-1000XM5.
The Jabra Sound+ app serves as a comprehensive command centre, providing users with a myriad of customisation options, including ANC settings, customisable EQ, Spotify Tap integration, custom controls, Dolby Spatial Sound toggle, and more. The app has been improving consistently over the years, which is commendable. Dolby Spatial Sound works as expected when turned on, but there are instances where it seems to remain turned on even when you turn the toggle off. We hope Jabra can fix this issue via an OTA update.
The Elite 8 Active further distinguishes itself with Bluetooth v5.3, Bluetooth LE, and Multipoint connectivity, ensuring a seamless and robust connection and future-proofing for upcoming technologies.
How do they sound?
The Jabra Elite 8 Active is equipped with 6 mm dynamic drivers which output a bold and dynamic sound signature. The sound is well-rounded but it isn’t as sophisticated as the Sony WF-1000XM5 or the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation), partly due to the sound signature and partly because there’s no provision of high-quality audio codec support. The earphones merely support the AAC and SBC codecs, which is disappointing for something with an asking price of ₹18K.
The sound signature is somewhat V-shaped, making it warm and quite pleasant to listen to. The bass region from 125 Hz to 250 Hz does lack punch though, which makes it fall short in genres that require a certain level of oomph in the bass region. The mids are reproduced beautifully; vocals sound crystal clear no matter the song. The highs have a sharp roll off but the timbre and clarity are good.
Overall, while these are not the best-sounding pair of earphones in the premium TWS segment – they don’t give you too much to complain about, especially if your primary use case is usage during exercise. However, if sound quality is what you’re going for; something more tuned to audiophile ears in the commercial space would be the Sony WF-1000XM5 or even the cheaper OPPO Enco X2.
As for microphone performance, you get an array of six MEMS microphones that relay the speaker’s voice with impressive clarity. Be it indoors or outdoors, I had no qualms with the microphone performance of the Jabra Elite 8 Active.
Jabra Elite 8 Active Review: Battery Life
The battery life of the Jabra Elite 8 Active is one of the best in the industry. The numbers are ridiculous, and these are the charge-them-and-forget-them kind of earphones we are hoping to see more of in the coming months. Without ANC turned on, the earphones last 14 hours on a single charge! With the charging case, you get a whopping 56 hours of battery life which equates to three extra charges.
With ANC turned on, you get about 8 hours of playtime on the earphones, as per Jabra. In our tests, the earphones lasted 7 hours and 42 minutes with ANC turned on and the volume set to 70 per cent. There’s also Qi wireless charging and fast charging support. So, Jabra has hit the ball out of the park when it comes to battery life.
Should you buy the Jabra Elite 8 Active?
The Jabra Elite 8 Active are one of the best, if not the best, pair of workout earbuds you can get your hands on today. That cannot be doubted – it is impossibly durable, has an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, and a solid fit. But it is also so much more.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active’s well-rounded sound signature, its impressive feature set and path-breaking battery life make it an easy recommendation for just about anyone. The lack of high-quality codecs such as aptX or LDAC does hurt it a bit – which is why we probably won’t recommend these to audiophiles. For the rest, this is right there with the heavyweights of the premium TWS industry.
Jabra Elite 8 Active Key Specs, Price and Launch Date
| Release Date: | |
| Market Status: | Launched |
Key Specifications
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Dhriti Datta
Perpetually sporting a death stare, this one can be seen tinkering around with her smartphone which she holds more dear than life itself and stuffing her face with copious amounts of bacon. View Full Profile
