JBL Under Armour Flash Headphones

If you are on the hunt for affordable earbuds that are comfortable and stay in place on high-intensity training days, the JBL Under Armour headphones is worth checking out.

The addition of AmbientAware helps to keep you in tune with your surrounding to keep you safe, and the Find My Buds feature on the JBL app ensures that your buds are never lost forever!

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Pros & Cons
Pros
AmbientAware keeps you in tune with your surroundings
The charging cradle holds up to 20 hours of juice
Users can adjust sound settings in JBL app
Includes two sets of earbuds and wingtips
Very comfortable design
Water-resistant shell
Not excessively bulky
Stays in place when running or lifting weights
Affordable price point
Cons
Weak Bluetooth connectivity
Limited battery life
Key Features
Key Features
SOUND

Overall, the sound of these headphones is crisp and clear and will help to fuel your workouts (given a good workout playlist!). Your average headphone often places more emphasis on the treble sounds that work great when taking phone calls or listening to audiobooks.

The JBL Under Armour headphones are designed more for listening to music as you work out, so there is a little more emphasis on the bass. Good bass means that the music feels richer and fuller, and provides more heart-pumping sounds that will help you push yourself just a little further.

The sound of these headphones is great for listening to music, but some users have found that the treble sounds are quite as clear. The design of these headphones takes into consideration that they are shoved inside of your ear and works to reduce sound distortion, but the limited treble ranges make them ideal for working out but not much else.

My verdict on the sound of these headphones? Good, but it could be a little better. If you plan on listening to music 100 percent of the time, these headphones are a great choice.

BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY

Surprisingly, Bluetooth connectivity is a little lacking with these headphones. They are built with Bluetooth 4.2, which isn’t quite as powerful as other designs that utilize 5.0 or higher. A weaker Bluetooth connection means that your music may stutter or briefly cut out while you train. It isn’t a dealbreaker, but it is a little frustrating.

When streaming higher levels of data to your headphones when streaming a show on Netflix, some users have noted that the connection drops out more frequently, or there is a slight lag between the video and the sound. If you primarily use headphones to binge Netflix as you workout on a cardio machine, these headphones just won’t cut it.

Another downside of these headphones which may not work for some users is that it doesn’t offer multipoint connectivity. This means that you will only be able to pair these headphones to a single device.

Switching up your connection between your computer, tablet, or cellphone requires users to dig into their settings and manually connect their headphones every time they want to switch to a new device.

BATTERY LIFE

The battery life of the JBL Under Armour headphones is good but not great. Overall, a single charge provides users with up to 5 hours of juice, which isn’t the most impressive battery out there on the market. While it doesn’t win the title of weakest battery, there are certainly other brands that can last much longer.

The good news, however, is that these headphones charge up relatively quickly. Simply pop them on a charger and they will receive a full charge in just 2 hours. If you forgot to charge your device the nice before, simply grab a shower, eat breakfast, answer some emails, and they should be ready to tackle the day.

What also makes these headphones great is that the case allows for portable charging while on the go. When the case is fully charged, it provides users with an extra 20 hours of juice for charging on the go. This means that you can charge up your headphones up to 4 times when you are far from an electrical outlet.

BIONIC HEARING

While most companies are releasing noise-canceling designs even for their sport earbuds, JBL swung in the opposite direction with AmbientAware. Blocking out external noise is great when commuting on a crowded bus or working at your desk, but it’s a little less than ideal when you are working out.

When running down a sidewalk, it’s essential that you are fully aware of your surroundings to stay safe. AmbientAware slightly increases the outside noise that is often blocked by ear tips. This feature doesn’t amplify exterior noise, it just enhances it to the level that feels like you don’t have anything jammed in your ears!

If you prefer to amply outside noise, these headphones also rock something called TalkThru. This feature enhances external noise and makes it easier to talk to a friend in between sets.

This feature only had a very few instances where it would actually prove to be practical, like working out with friends at the gym. Overall, more uses popped on AmbientAware while they trained rather than TalkThru.

When we eventually replace our squishy human bodies with robotic replacement parts, these new bodies will likely borrow from the hearing technology in these headphones!

COMFORT

They may be a little lacking in the sound and Bluetooth connectivity department, but they really shine when it comes to overall comfort! These headphones are designed to stay securely in place no matter how much you move.

Whether you are running, walking, cross-training, or bench presses, these little earbuds will not shift around or fall out of your ears. They include a pair of small and large ear tips to ensure a comfortable fit in your ears, and two sizes of wingtips.

Both the ear tips and the wingtips are made from soft and super-grippy silicone that contours to the shape of your head that are comfortable enough to wear all day long.

What I also appreciate about this model is that it is not bulky in the slightest. It sits compactly against your ear and reduces the risk of getting snagged or knocked out of your ear during a particularly brutal set at the gym.

JBL APP

The JBL app allows users to make quick adjustments to their headphones as well as dive into the settings to tweak and make adjustments to the sound. I assumed that all headphone brands offered these types of settings in their compatible apps, but that isn’t the case.

Bose, for instance, offers a free app that is a little anemic when it comes to advanced features. The JBL app is packed with advanced features that help you get the most out of your headphones.

The simple and streamlined interface makes it a cinch to toggle between TalkThru and AmbientAware with the press of a button. For audiophiles, this app even has an equalizer that allows you to make advanced changes to the sound to accommodate your style of music and listening.

This app helps you find the right size of earbuds and wings for your ear shape, and it’s compatible with virtual assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant.

My absolute favorite feature of this app is that it will help your find your earbuds if they become misplaced. If you are anything like me, you lose these little devices at least once a day!

By pressing the Find My Buds, your phone will start to ring when you are close in proximity. It’s not quite as easy as FindMyPhone, but this little game of hot-and-cold is better than nothing.

PRICE

The JBL Under Armour headphones certainly have a few hiccups, but the price tag is very reasonable. Compared to many of the higher-end designs out there on the market, this option lands in the budget-friendly category.

It’s not the most affordable pair of wireless earbuds out there on the market, but when you consider the superior sound, comfortable and sleek design, and included portable charging case, the price tag makes these headphones a great overall value!
Verdict
At the end of the day, the JBL Under Armour headphones isn’t the most advanced headphones out there on the market when it comes to the overall sound and Bluetooth connectivity.

The sound delivered from this device is good, but there are brands out there that deliver a better overall sound (albeit at a much higher price point). The Bluetooth connectivity is a little spotty, and it’s not exactly ideal for streaming sound from videos.

If you are on the hunt for a pair of headphones with good sound (that’s not great) that clock in at a more reasonable price point, these headphones are a great choice.

Sure, the sound and connectivity may be a little lacking, but these headphones are incredibly comfortable. They come with two sets of earbuds and wingtips that are composed of a super soft silicone the molds to the shape of your ear, and the water-resistant frame will shrug off sweat and moisture.

Whether you are running or weight training at the gym, these headphones will stay put! Plus, the additional of AmbientAware and TalkThru are features that aren’t found in other high-end earbuds out there on the market.
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Best offer on: Mar. 28. 2024