Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The new JBL Live Pro 2 and JBL Live Free 2 are now available

JBL Sponsored Logo PBL.This content was produced in partnership with JBL.

The CES 2022 international trade show took place in January, with brands from all over the world showcasing their new technology. Everything from new computer processor advances to straightforward consumer gadgets were on display, and JBL, one of our favorite headphone brands, unveiled a few new devices of its own. If you could use a new pair of buds, then the new JBL Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 are now available, and they’re two excellent AirPods alternatives that are worth considering. Here’s what you need to know about them, including how much each pair will set you back.

JBL Live Pro 2 true wireless earbuds.
JBL

JBL is a big name in the world of audio, making some of the best Bluetooth speakers as well as great headphones. The brand is typically pretty active at CES, too. For the 2022 trade show, JBL rolled up with a few fresh devices including its updated Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 true wireless earbuds, which are second-gen iterations featuring a few noteworthy improvements over previous designs.

JBL Live Free 2 true wireless earbuds.
JBL

The JBL Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 true wireless earbuds feature 11mm dynamic drivers, which are powered by JBL Signature Sound technology to deliver crystal clear audio. Both models also offer adaptive active noise cancellation (with a Smart Ambient mode that lets you remain aware of your surroundings when need be), IPX5 water resistance, Google Fast Pair for Android devices, six directional microphones for improved call quality, touch and voice controls, and Qi wireless charging cases.

Where the JBL Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 differ is mostly in their respective form factors: The Live Pro 2 earbuds feature a stem-based design, whereas the Live Free 2 are a bit smaller. The trade-off is in the battery life. The JBL Live Pro 2 buds offer a combined playback time of 40 hours (10 for the earbuds with another 30 from the wireless charging case); the Live Free 2 earbuds deliver a combined playback time of 35 hours (seven hours from the earbuds plus an additional 28 from the charging case). Aside from that, the two new models are the same under the hood, so it really boils down to which style you prefer and what premium you place on battery life.

There’s no price difference to make your decision any easier, though: Both the JBL Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 true wireless earbuds will set you back $150, and they’re now available for sale directly from JBL. We haven’t seen any discounts yet, but that’s still a pretty good price for premium true wireless earbuds that deliver great sound, all-day battery life, active noise cancellation, and Qi wireless fast-charging — features you typically see only on high-end (and more expensive) earbuds like Apple’s AirPods Pro.

Editors' Recommendations

Lucas Coll
Deals and News Writer
Lucas Coll has been a freelance writer for almost a decade and has penned articles on tech, video games, travel, cars, and…
JBL shows off new true wireless earbuds and speakers at CES 2022
JBL Reflect Aero true wireless earbuds.

JBL usually shows up at CES with a bunch of new gadgets, and CES 2022 is no exception. On offer this year are three new true wireless earbud models, and seven new Bluetooth speakers, including a bicycle-friendly model and a unit that can do double duty as a car speaker and a portable speaker.
JBL Live Pro 2: $150, available in spring 2022

JBL's stem-based true wireless earbuds get better battery life and better protection from water when compared to the previous Live Pro+ model.

Read more
Smart ANC feature tops new OnePlus Buds Pro’s premium feature list
OnePlus Buds Pro in the case.

OnePlus has announced the OnePlus Buds Pro, and if you couldn’t guess from the name, it’s the company’s Apple AirPods Pro challenger. OnePlus has made headphones for a while, starting out with halo models like the OnePlus Bullets range, before shifting to True Wireless models more recently. The OnePlus Buds Pro are billed as the brand's first premium set of earbuds and add “smart adaptive noise cancelation” to the feature list, all in an in-ear, AirPods Pro-style short-stem design.

Previous

Read more
Jaybird’s new Vista 2 wireless earbuds are tough enough for the U.S. military
Jaybird Vista 2 earbuds in palm with water pouring.

Many brands claim that their headphones are catered to consumers who are "on the go," but usually this sort of language refers more to going to the coffee shop for a latte than, say, going on a trek through the Andes. Jaybird, however, is more interested in the latter, and its newest pair of true wireless earbuds is designed to be your companion through even the most extreme of journeys.

When Jaybird says that the Vista 2 True Wireless Sport Earbuds are built for athletes and adventurers, they mean it. To begin with, the company claims to have pioneered a "signature fit" to help the earbuds stay in your ears while climbing, running, biking, etc. They also come with three sizes of interchangeable "eargels" that, Jaybird claims, will make you forget that they're even in your ears. Fit is enormously important with active headphones, and when we reviewed the Vista 2's predecessors -- the Jaybird Vista -- we found they delivered in that department.

Read more