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When you’re shopping for a pair of wireless earbuds, it’s not uncommon to come across models that promise excellent sound quality, solid noise cancellation, and impressive battery life. But let’s be honest — not all of them actually deliver on those claims. That said, there’s one pair that recently entered the market with exactly that kind of promise, and it comes from one of the most recognizable names in the audio industry: JBL. The model in question is the JBL Tune 245 NC, and it just landed on my review desk.
In this review, I’ll take a closer look at how these earbuds perform in real-world use — how they sound (because, let’s face it, it’s JBL — expectations are naturally high), how user-friendly they are, and whether they’re actually worth the asking price.
JBL Tune 245 NC specifications
- Type: TWS, in-channel
- Bluetooth version: 5.3
- Driver dimensions: 6 mm
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Control: touch
- Headphone playback time: up to 12 hours
- Time with case: up to 36 hours
- Charging: wired USB Type-C
- Charging time: 2 hours
- Water protection: IP54
- Colours: black
- Optional: Active Noise Cancelling, 4 microphones
Market prices
The JBL Tune 245 NC confidently sits in the mid-range price segment. At the time of writing this review, they’re available for around $73 / €67. Considering the features, sound quality, and the reputation of the brand, I’d say the price tag is more than justified.
What’s in the box
Nothing out of the ordinary here. The earbuds arrived in a small, compact, and stylish box. Inside the package (besides the in-ear buds and the charging case), you’ll find a short USB Type-C charging cable, a user manual, a warranty card, and a set of additional silicone ear tips in various sizes—so everyone can find the perfect fit.
For some people (myself included), this is a big deal—because the wrong size ear tips can cause real discomfort and even ear pain over time. So, a thumbs-up to the manufacturer for including multiple sizes.
A few words about the design
The JBL Tune 245 NC earbuds are made of matte black plastic with a minimalist design. The charging case looks sleek and tidy, fits comfortably in the hand, and doesn’t slip out easily. Fingerprints don’t stick to the surface, and the case is scratch-resistant—so you can confidently toss it in your pocket or bag without worry. The magnetic closure for both the lid and earbuds is strong and secure—nothing rattles or falls out, even with vigorous shaking.
On the front of the case, just above the logo, there’s a battery status LED indicator made up of three diagonal lines. As soon as you open the case, the LEDs light up automatically, giving you a quick visual cue of how much charge is left—so you’ll know right away whether it’s time to recharge or you’re good to go.
At the bottom of the case, you’ll find the charging port.
When you open the case, you’ll see the earbuds along with clear “L” and “R” markings underneath—just to make sure you don’t mix them up. The charging pins are neatly tucked away at the bottom of the case.
The earbuds themselves have a standard shape, with the JBL logo placed on the outer side of each “stem.” Just like the charging case, they’re made from the same matte black plastic. Near the LED indicator, there’s a touch-sensitive strip for controlling the device—nothing out of the ordinary, and everything feels quite intuitive and familiar.
Read also: Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro Review: Flagship TWS Headset with Unique Features
Ergonomics
I have to highlight the excellent fit of the earbuds. The ear tips turned out to be soft and pleasant to the touch—no complaints here.
The earbuds sit so securely in the ear that you won’t need to worry about them suddenly falling out. Whether I was walking or riding public transport, everything stayed firmly in place and felt perfectly comfortable. I’m pretty confident they’ll handle bike rides and runs just as well. So from my side—it’s a solid five out of five.
Phone connection and app
The phone quickly recognized the headphones and offered to connect via Bluetooth. However, the real value lies in the app, as it offers a surprisingly wide range of features. Let’s quickly go through them.
Android:
iOS:
The first thing you see on the screen is your headphones, with the battery level for each earbud displayed, along with the separate charge indicator for the charging case.
Below, there’s a noise cancellation panel with three settings:
- ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) – Completely blocks out surrounding noise. It’s just you and your favorite tracks.
- Ambient Aware – This mode lets you stay aware of your surroundings by allowing outside sounds to pass through. It’s especially important for safety when outdoors.
- Talk Thru – A convenient option for quickly having a brief conversation without needing to remove the earbuds.
The equalizer… This is a really cool feature in these headphones. The sound quality noticeably changes with it. The manufacturer offers 7 preset options, which make your tracks sound impressive and deliver a satisfying listening experience. You can also create your own settings or manually adjust the “factory” ones. I couldn’t stop experimenting. The sound of my favorite tracks in “Extreme Bass” mode was absolutely unmatched (yes, I like a strong bass).
Next, we move on to the gesture control settings. It’s all pretty intuitive: you can see the default setup and, if needed, make your own adjustments for both the right and left earbud.
One interesting feature among the long list of settings is the “Smart Audio & Video” block. The manufacturer claims that in music playback mode, the earbuds deliver the best sound quality. When switching to video mode, it minimizes any potential audio-video sync issues. As for how well this feature works, I can’t say for certain, as I didn’t encounter any issues with video playback or audio during gaming in both modes.
Next, everything follows the standard setup: sound balance, voice assistant, maximum volume limit, earbud locator, and power-saving mode. All typical features you’d expect in any decent pair of headphones.
Red also: SoundPEATS Engine4 Review: TWS Earbuds with Good Sound at Affordable Price
JBL Tune 245 NC control
The touch controls are highly responsive, with an immediate reaction to any touch. Additionally, a sound cue is triggered with every command, confirming interaction with the earbuds. You can also customize the gestures to suit your preferences, assigning specific functions to each earbud:
- ambient sound control
- volume control
- playback and voice assistant control
- you can disable all functions altogether.
Call control remains standard for both headphones:
- double-tap to answer/end a call
- tap and hold to drop an incoming call.
Sound
JBL is not just an abbreviation; it stands for truly quality sound. The bass is powerful, yet it doesn’t overpower the mids and highs. Vocals are clean and clear. However, the sound quality also depends on the track itself. In my playlist, there are some old-school songs that aren’t mixed well and don’t deliver the desired sound quality from the start. So, it’s important not to immediately blame the headphones. They perform well, and the earbuds do their best to “enhance” the sound quality, even in the most challenging situations.
The JBL Tune 245 NC adapts well to any music genre, delivering excellent performance across the board (especially if you tweak the equalizer settings within the headphones).
When it comes to watching movies and videos, there’s also nothing to complain about. Despite their small size, the headphones handle sound range and depth exceptionally well, creating a subtle sense of immersion, almost like being in a cinema. Overall, they’re not only great for enjoying your favorite tracks but also perfect for watching movies or shows in the evening. Seriously, you won’t regret this purchase.
Headset function
And when it comes to talking? The JBL Tune 245 NC handles that well too. With 4 microphones (2 in each earbud), the call quality is more than adequate. You can hear your conversation partner clearly, and they hear you just as well. Your voice comes through cleanly, without the feeling of speaking on speakerphone or in a large, echoey room.
JBL Tune 245 NC battery life
The manufacturer claims impressive battery life: up to 12 hours of music playback with active noise cancellation off, and up to 10 hours with it on. To test this, I started a 1.5-hour movie with the volume set to maximum. The result: the earbuds only drained by 10%, meaning their battery will likely last a bit longer than the manufacturer’s claim.
The conclusion is simple – the headphones live up to their advertised battery life, so you won’t be left without your favorite tracks anytime soon.
Conclusions and competitors
The JBL Tune 245 NC headphones did not disappoint at all; in fact, they impressed me with their clear and high-quality sound. Would I recommend them for purchase? Definitely! Especially for those who can’t imagine their life without music. For a reasonable price, you get excellent everyday headphones that handle all the basics: great sound, comfortable fit, and long-lasting battery life.
If we consider competitors with similar functionality, the following can be highlighted:
The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE (SM-R400NZWASEK) can be considered a budget version of the flagship Buds2 Pro. They have performed well in the market and have found their audience. Like the JBL Tune 245 NC, the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE also promise excellent noise cancellation, noise filtering, and rich bass. However, they fall short in terms of claimed battery life – offering 8.5 hours of audio playback with ANC off, 6 hours with ANC on, and around 30 hours with the case. The price for these Samsung earbuds is slightly higher, at $85.
The Beats Studio Buds (MJ503) also offer good sound quality and solid bass, making them a worthy competitor. In terms of functionality, they are quite similar to the JBL Tune 245 NC, but they come with a higher price tag of $112. Apart from the cost, there are a few areas where they fall short compared to JBL: the lack of multipoint connectivity, a battery life of only 8 hours with the earbuds alone, and up to 16 hours with the case.
Read also:
- SOUNDPEATS Capsule3 Pro+ TWS Earbuds Review: Hi-Res for $90
- Motorola Moto Buds+ TWS Review: High-Quality Hi-Res Audio and “Sound by Bose”
