We recently got our hands on one of Jabra’s latest offerings. So, we’re focusing and writing about it in our Jabra Elite 4 Active Wireless Headphones review.
It’s an affordably-priced pair of headphones said to have a comfy fit and solid sound quality. Jabra even claimed it to have customisable ANC which is quite a good thing to have. It also sports their latest design which debuted on their Elite 3, Elite 7 Pro, and the Elite 7 Active.
But are these elements enough to make the Elite 4 Active worth purchasing? Let’s dive into our Jabra Elite 4 Active Wireless Headphones review and learn more about it.
Jabra Elite 4 Active Wireless Headphones Packaging
Our headphones arrived in a nice-looking cardboard box that sports the usual Jabra design. You’ve got the company’s branding in front, along with an image of the product and its name. Also, it briefly describes what the product is all about.
Inside the box, you’ll find the Jabra Elite 4 Active along with other inclusions. These are the charging case, three sets of EarGels, a USB-C to A cable, plus the warranty and warning leaflets.
Jabra Elite 4 Active Wireless Headphones Review – Design and Functionality
We first checked the different shades of the product for our Jabra Elite 4 Active Wireless Headphones review. It’s available in navy, black, and an attractive mint green colour.
Based on its design, it’s as functional and durable as other Jabra earbuds we’ve tried before. They’re a bit on the chunky side. However, the added surface area keeps them in your ears without extra fit aids like earfins.
Despite the bulkiness, the Elite 4 Active doesn’t feel heavy at all.
The smooth housing doesn’t have any wingtips on them. Nevertheless, the headphones stay snug and secure in the ears even when you’re working out. We also like that the Elite 4 Active comes with differently-sized ear tips for the perfect fit.
You’ll see a physical button on each of the housing which you can press for controls. These include music playback, volume adjustments, reject, accept, and end calls. The buttons can also be used to bring out your voice assistant.
The Elite 4 Active’s charging case is a bit different. It no longer sports a thin, long form like that of the Elite 7m. The case is much taller and has a thin top flap.
Its interior features strong magnets for the headphones to snap perfectly into the charging pins. But what we consider the most important upgrade is its inner material. Yes, it’s something we consider important so we’re discussing it in our Jabra Elite 4 Active Wireless Headphones review too.
Now, Jabra opted for matte plastic instead of the grime-prone and soft-touch material used on the Elite 7 Pro’s case. We think it’s a really huge improvement, so kudos to Jabra for this.
Key Features of the Jabra Elite 4 Active Wireless Headphones
Let’s talk about what makes the Elite 4 Active stand out from the rest. So here in our Jabra Elite 4 Active Wireless Headphones review, we’ll list down everything that makes it click.
Headphones that Go with the Flow
These headphones can match your pace whether you’re working out actively in the gym or jogging down the road. Why? Because the Elite 4 Active is designed to be waterproof, sweatproof, ergonomic, and highly durable.
And no matter how much you move, they’ll surely stay in place.
Since it also has ANC, the HearThrough technology, and a customisable equaliser, you’ll surely get a boost in your workout. Plus, Jabra even provided access to Spotify Tap playback which is pretty cool.
Stay in the Zone
No matter where you are, the headphones’ powerful ANC feature blocks intrusive sounds, letting you immerse and enjoy your music.
It’s a feature that’ll be your best friend if you want to ignore cafe noise, the busy streets, and more.
Fine-tune your Music
No matter how you want to customise your sounds, the headphones will let you personalise the sounds of your tracks. Do this via the Sound+app and work on the equaliser to your tastes.
This will help you boost your exercise sessions with the sounds you truly love.
Want to access Spotify but are too busy to reach for your phone? Worry not since it’ll let you access the Spotify Tap playback feature to access the tunes you love.
Stay Alert with HearThrough
Noise from urban traffic to unexpected screams from children nearby. Sometimes, it’s necessary to hear what’s going on around you, and to do this, HearThrough does the trick.
Just one tap and HearThrough utilises the integrated mics to capture sounds around you. Then, they will play the sounds in your ears so you won’t be cut off from the world.
The good thing about it is you can do it even while listening to music.
Big on Power
The Elite 4 Active may be small, but they store a lot of power. These wireless headphones can deliver up to 7 hours playback time. With the charging case, the headphones are good for up to 28 hours.
The handy fast charge technology gives one hour playback time with a 10-minute charge.
Mono Mode
The Elite 4 Active is not like other wireless headphones that require you to use both buds. Mono Mode is a feature that lets you use either bud and even charge the one you’re not using.
Seamless Use without Interruption
Everything is at your fingertips with the Elite 4 Active. Just customise your settings in the Sound+ app and you’re good to go.
With Spotify Tap playback, you can play songs and playlists without using your phone. Alexa Built-in allows for playing music, controlling your smart home, and getting various commands done using your voice. Also, you can instantly pair the wireless headphones with your Android device using Google Fast Pair.
Specifications
ANC and the adjustable HearThrough features are on the Elite 4 Active. And, it has a noise isolating fit and in-ear pressure relief for added comfort too.
We love its compact form and design which leaves its speaker measuring 6mm in size.
Of course, we popped it in our ears to try it for our Jabra Elite 4 Active Wireless Headphones review. That’s when we realised just how comfortable and ideally fit it is on the ears.
On music mode, its speaker bandwidth is 20Hz to 20,000Hz while it’s 100Hz to 8,000Hz on speak mode. To note, it supports Qualcomm aptX and SBC audio codecs.
Calls using the headphones are clear since there are four MEMS microphones with bandwidths of 100Hz to 8,000Hz present. Additionally, it features noise reduction on calls which offers clearer and cleaner sounds.
Software and Apps
Jabra Sound+ is compatible with the Elite 4 Active and it comes with Alexa which is integrated. For Android users, Google Fast Pair and Spotify’s Tap playback are also compatible.
Aside from Alexa, it also works well with Siri and Google Assistant.
Battery and Connectivity of the Jabra Elite 4 Active Wireless Headphones
The earbuds give you up to seven hours of music time. And, it gives up to 28 hours with the earbuds and charging case.
To get a full battery, it’ll take you up to 180 minutes of charge. With a 10-minute charge, you’ll get up to an hour of use. Standby time is up to 275 days which is pretty good in our opinion.
Corded charging is possible via USB-C and the battery used for the headphones is a rechargeable lithium-ion type.
The Elite 4 Active uses Bluetooth 5.2 and works with A2DP v1.3, HFP v1.7, AVRCP v1.6, and HSP v1.2. Its connectivity works up to 10m and can be paired with up to six devices simultaneously. Jabra also designed it to have an auto on/off feature.
General Specifications
The primary unit measures 20.85 x 20.49 x 27.3mm. For the case, it’s 28.4 x 38.9 x 64mm.
The headphones weigh 5g each and the charging case is 37.5g. Speaking of its USB cable, it measures 0.2m long.
Additionally, the Elite 4 Active has an IP57-rating and it comes with a 2-year warranty. This is against failure from water and dust with Jabra’s Sound+ app registration.
Hands-on with the Jabra Elite 4 Active Wireless Headphones
We’ll briefly share our experience with the product in this part of our Jabra Elite 4 Active Wireless Headphones review. And just like every other product from Jabra, the Elite 4 Active gave us an enjoyable and quality listening experience. Though keep in mind that we can’t consider these class-leading when it comes to audio performance.
We also tested the Sound+ app’s equaliser for this review, and we saw how efficient it was for adjusting audio. We were able to fix the sounds based on our tastes and preferences so we were happy about that.
For its ANC feature, we went around town to test it for our Jabra Elite 4 Active Wireless Headphones review. All we can say is that it performed superbly just like what Jabra claimed. Its ambient noise sound mode was also good since we could easily check our surroundings in-between listening to music.
Talking about its fit, it was secure and comfortable, so even wearing it for long hours wasn’t uncomfortable. Pairing was fast on both iOS and Android devices so that was extremely convenient.
Jabra Elite 4 Active Wireless Headphones Review Summary
The Elite 4 Active combines durability, ease of use, comfort, and performance. For its price, it delivers a good range of features and great audio quality. If you’re on a budget, these wireless headphones are an excellent option.
With the Jabra Sound+ app, you can tweak the audio of the Elite 4 Active based on your preferences too. This app has a user-friendly interface so you can conveniently customise your audio.
Overall, we highly recommend the Elite 4 Active especially if you’re looking for headphones for working out. Aside from great sounds, it’s water-resistant and has a secure, comfortable fit.
Check out Jabra’s retailer locator for authorised sellers in your area.
