Over the last year, Jabra has launched devices within the mid to entry levels in the form of the Elite 5 and the Elite 4. Now, they are back in the premium and active space with the introduction of their two newest wireless earbuds — the Jabra Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active.
The pair offer up new features over their predecessors, and we got to have a look ahead of their upcoming release later this month. Here’s what’s new with the Jabra Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active.
Jabra Elite 8 Active
Jabra’s Elite 8 Active is focused on durability as its main selling point and even touts itself as the “world’s toughest earbuds”, with the benchmarks to prove it.
Having passed the US Military Standard for Ruggedized Electronics (810H) required tests, it handles humidity, high temperature, and altitude challenges well. Jabra also had it undergo Highly Accelerated Corrosion Testing (HACT), with tests including enduring 2 hours in 40°C temperatures with 93% humidity, going through a 15-minute splash test in salt water, and surviving a 15-minute 40°C heat drying.
But the key feature that most would be interested in is its resistance to water and dust.
The earbuds are IP68 rated, meaning that it is dustproof and can survive being submerged in water at up to 1.5 metres. It was put to the test when the presenter left them dunked in water throughout our 15-minute briefing; the earbuds were retrieved unscathed and working right at the end. Additionally, the case is also IP54 rated dust and splashproof.
While those features showcase the durable quality of the Jabra Elite 8 Active, the company is also keen to emphasise its ability as a wireless earbud for active users.
The earbuds come with Jabra ShakeGrip technology, ensuring that they stay secure in the ear during workouts without the use of wings in the design. It also comes equipped with Dolby Audio to provide users with clear sound when they listen to music.
In terms of the listening experience, the Jabra Elite 8 Active utilises an Adaptive Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature that optimises the ANC performance according to the environment you are in automatically. And there’s Wind Neutralizing HearThrough technology to muffle wind interference without blocking out traffic. Additionally, the buds support smartwatch connectivity for those who want to carry light during exercises.
Users can expect 8 hours of battery life on the buds using ANC, with up to 32 hours if you factor in the case — A pretty strong battery life compared to other earbuds on the market. It also has a fast charge feature, with a 5-minute charge providing 1 hour of use.
Jabra Elite 10
Meanwhile, the Jabra Elite 10 is the successor to the Elite 7 Pro as the top-of-the-line option. Rather than going all-in on audio performance, the earbuds are framed as the perfect balance between audio performance and comfort.
That aspect is seen for the speakers within the buds, where Jabra has equipped it with 10mm drivers. They aren’t the biggest available — in fact, the older Elite 85t has 12mm drivers — but a company representative explained that it helps with getting the size of the earbuds down.
It certainly shows. The Elite 10’s earbuds are markedly smaller than the 85ts, and more crucially, they weigh less at 5.7 grams each. The same goes for the charging case; it feels lighter in the hand than my current.
Jabra also says that these are the first earbuds in their product line-up to have Jabra ComfortFit technology and have a semi-open design that relieves ear pressure to aid with wear comfortability.
But while the speaker drivers may be smaller, there’s one audio feature that users can look forward to. The earbuds are optimised to take advantage of Dolby Atmos content, including support for Dolby Head Tracking on streaming apps like TIDAL and more. So users can ostensibly listen to their favourite music in a more immersive way through spatial technology.
Enhancing the audio performance is Jabra’s Advanced Active Noise Cancellation feature, which will also automatically adjust the ANC based on how noisy the environment is.
Rounding up the feature list is the 6-mic call technology for clearer call quality and an IP57 rating, which means it is dust resistant and can be submerged up to 1 meter in water for 30 minutes.
Jabra says that the Elite 10 will get 6 hours of use with ANC on, totalling 27 hours alongside the case. It will also include a pocket-friendly cradle optimised for wireless charging.
Availability
Both the Jabra Elite 8 Active and Elite 10 will be available from 22 September 2023 in all authorised retailers, including Jabra’s official e-commerce stores on Lazada and Shopee.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active will retail at S$308 and come in Caramel, Navy, Black, and Dark Grey. Meanwhile, the Jabra Elite 10 will cost S$378, with colour options in Cream, Cocoa, Titanium black, Gloss Black, and Matte Black.
Consumers who buy between 22 September to 15 October 2023 will get a S$50 Puma e-voucher that can be used at SUPERCHARGED SAVINGS | PUMA Singapore when they purchase the Elite 8 Active. If not, there is also the option for 4 complimentary Golden Village Movie Tickets worth S$62 for buying the Elite 10.
Visuals courtesy of Jabra Singapore.
