So many writers, myself included, find that it's easier to concentrate when they have music playing. It can be helpful to lessen any distracting noises of your surroundings or further immerse yourself in your story's setting or the scene you're working on.
Music can be such a valuable asset for your writing process, so it's important to set yourself up with the right tech. I've tested out many Bluetooth earbuds over the years, but the most reliable I've owned to date are the JLab GO POP+ True Wireless Earbuds.
With the holiday season peering right around the corner, I figure it's a great time to share a little about why I love these earbuds, just in case you need some gift ideas for the writer in your life.
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with JLab, nor is this post sponsored by them. These are just my opinions after using my JLab earbuds for a year or so.
The Basics
Overall, the earbuds are straightforward, and I like their simplicity. They fit comfortably in my ear, and they come with three different tip sizes to ensure you find the best fit for you. I will say they occasionally slip out of my ear, but that could just be the tip size I chose.
I purchased my JLab earbuds from Amazon, where they cost about $25 USD, making them affordable for writers on a budget; they go on sale every so often, so definitely keep an eye out for an even better deal.
Sound
To be frank, I'm not an expert on the science of sound quality, well, quality sound. But here's what I do know: the JLab GO POP+ True Wireless Earbuds sound great!
I've had plenty of low-priced earbuds that sounded like they were underwater and garbled. I don't have that problem with the JLab ones. The bass is not as strong as my Beats Mixr headphones, but that's not a deal-breaker for me (though you can adjust your sound settings in the JLab app).
In terms of noise cancellation, these earbuds get the job done. One thing I do appreciate is the Be Aware Mode that allows noise from your surroundings past your music; if you've read my posts that mention writing in public places, you know how much I emphasize the importance of staying alert and paying attention to surroundings, so having the ability to tune out the extra noise without completely drowning it out appeals to me greatly.
The JLab earbuds also have a decent range to them. I currently live in a three-story condo, and I'm able to leave my phone in the living room on the second/main floor and run upstairs or downstairs and into the garage without losing the signal. It can get a bit spotty when I take the trash to the dumpster on the other side of the driveway, about thirty feet from my unit's front door, but the earbuds reconnect automatically and fast once I'm back in range.
Battery Life
One aspect I've always looked for when purchasing Bluetooth earbuds or headphones is their battery life. How long do they hold a charge and, for earbuds specifically, how long does the charging case hold its own charge?
I was incredibly pleased with my JLab earbuds. I can get approximately eight hours of use before I get the low battery alert—which, I ought to mention, is triggered a decent amount of time before the earbuds power themselves off, without being repeated frequently; the alert is thankfully not too jarring, either, compared to the piecing beep going off every minute when my last earbuds were running out of juice after only three hours of use.
The JLab earbuds' charging case can last about twenty-four hours (and turns off once the earbuds themselves are fully charged). It takes about two hours for the case to reach 100% battery if it's dead, but you can get roughly an hour of play from the earbuds from fifteen minutes in the case.
As someone who regularly writes on the go and hates disruption when I'm in a steady writing groove, I appreciate the longevity of the JLab earbuds' battery.
That said, I do wish the case had some sort of indicator light built in so I'd know how long I have before needing to charge it again. But the earbuds will say "battery full," "battery medium," or "battery low" when they're taken out of the case so you know roughly where they're at.
Charging Cord
One feature I love about the JLab GO POP+ case is that the charging cable is built right into the case. The USB end (or USB-C depending on your model) folds up but is easily accessible when needed. It's not a feature I've seen on any other Bluetooth earbuds I've owned, and I appreciate the convenience of the design.
Testy Touch Controls
The only real drawback I've experienced with my JLab earbuds is the touch controls. They tend to be inconsistent, so I hardly use them.
At least, intentionally.
I regularly listen to guided meditations at bedtime to help close all of the tabs that are open in my brain and since I sleep on my side, usually with a hand under my cheek or under my pillow, it's pretty common that I'll bump the earbud I've got in, which prompts the volume change or skip track command and breaks the immersion of the meditation I'm listening to.
But then when I want to use the touch controls, they don't always register.
I'm not sure if this is just a me thing or a communication between the earbuds and my device, but I find they're more responsive when I'm listening to Spotify than YouTube, which is fine except I play most of my writing music through the latter.
If I could make any change to my JLab earbuds, I'd focus on the touch controls, making them more consistent and more clearly identified—or, better yet, replace them with a button.
All in all, the JLab GO POP+ True Wireless Earbuds are an excellent choice for writers (or really anybody) looking for high-quality sound at a reasonable price. Not to mention that the array of available colors makes it easy to find one that fits your aesthetic, whether it's a subtle black or a bright and bubbly pink like mine.
Though they're not perfect, they quickly became an essential part of my writing tool kit and my everyday life, so I'd recommend checking them out.
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