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Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex Review: Unfolding Future of Hybrid Work with Personalized ANC, Comfort & Lightweight Foldable Design

COVID-19 has accelerated the shift to hybrid work models while transforming the technological needs of the new-age professional. For example, the need for good wireless headsets for working in home, office or cafe environments has become imperative. However, designing a versatile headset for these hybrid work scenarios becomes challenging if we add the growing business travel to the equation.

For the last over 10 years, I have been working in front of the PC either at home, office or while traveling, but my search for an optimum lightweight wireless headset with top-notch active noise cancellation (ANC) continues. I have used multiple wired ANC headsets from Plantronics to Sennheiser for my desktop PC or laptop at home for years. While they have performed well, most of them are USB-Type A and their wires often become entangled, besides limiting their movement and lifespan.

Since carrying these headsets during a business trip is not only impractical but now also leads to incompatibility issues with the new wave of USB Type-C-only laptops, I have been mostly relying on the TWS headsets from Apple, Samsung, Sony, OnePlus and Nothing. Though they do a decent job, most of them have average battery life and hit-or-miss ANC capabilities, and sometimes they pop out without permission.

However, a month ago, our test lab received the Evolve2 65 Flex, Jabra’s latest addition to its portfolio of professional wireless headsets, and it has left us thoroughly impressed! It addresses most of the needs of the hybrid workstyle.

Foldable, lightweight and comfortable design

The Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex sports a unique fold-and-go Danish design, which makes it very easy to carry the headset across multiple hybrid work modes. Further, to complement the foldable design, the headset weighs a mere 136 gm. It is made from high-quality PC/PC-ABS material, making it lighter, durable, flexible and rugged at the same time. As a result, the overall form factor is very compact.

counterpoint jabra evolve2 65 flex on the head right ear

The unique adjustable and collapsible headband design has layers of perforated foam, making it softer on the head. This along with rotating earcups with ultra-soft leatherette cushions helps the headset provide hours of comfortable usage. Jabra calls this new pattern, choice of materials and perforated design “Air Comfort” technology. The proof point for me was using it for 20 hours straight on a flight to the US, with ultimate comfort. There was no ear or head pain, or sweating, or the headset slipping off my head even when I briefly dozed off.

Another striking design element is that the external microphone stick folds back into the headset, transforming it into a cool personal headset for consuming music or entertainment on the go.

counterpoint jabra evolve2 65 mic in and out

The headset sports seven buttons on the earcups. Initially, I was confused about the alignment and functions of each button. However, after a week’s usage, these etched into my muscle memory and proved to be quite useful. The buttons cover functions including power on/off, Bluetooth pairing, switching between ANC and HearThrough, volume/pause/play, opening UC apps such as Microsoft Teams, call connect/disconnect, and mute/unmute/command voice assistant.

Premium audio, ANC and voice calls

The Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex sports two analog MEMS and four digital MEMS microphones. It also features unique algorithms to slice out the background noises with the help of an advanced chipset to deliver premium, stable and enterprise-grade voice calling with a hybrid ANC experience. The call quality is fantastic in any environment, whether a closed cabin, noisy subway or Uber taxi, and device type, whether a laptop, smartphone or tablet.

counterpoint jabra evolve2 65 flex call settings

The different customizations and personalizations using Jabra’s Sound+ app make the sound and voice quality optimal for ANC, HearThrough, or ANC-off modes. The integrated 360° Busylight, which is visible from all angles, is a great feature to notify when one is on a call or busy working by acting as a “do-not-disturb” sign.

counterpoint jabra evolve2 65 flex app

The headset is certified for leading UC platforms from Microsoft Teams, CISCO Webex, Zoom, Google Meet, Amazon Chime, and others. The headset that I have been using is a Microsoft Teams variant with a dedicated button and the experience optimized for Teams calls.

counterpoint jabra evolve2 65 flex earcups front woith lights

The Sound+ app also helps set up the personal assistant on the device for enabling commands at the press of a button, and it works flawlessly on both iOS and Android. Also, it is recommended to set up your sound profile under “MySound” to optimize the headset to match your hearing profile.

The Sound+ app is also useful in optimizing the sound or audio depending on the type of content, like music or movies. The music presets are great along with the ability to save custom equalizer settings. The headset sports custom 28mm speakers with a full audio frequency range from 20Hz to 20KHz. After a week of “burn-in”, the headset is great for listening to music, especially classical, gothic rock, vocals and ballads, offering a much clearer and fuller sound, almost as good as a $200 in-ear headset.

counterpoint jabra evolve2 65 flex jabra direct

Longer battery life and stable connectivity

What stands out for me is that the Jabra Evovle2 65 Flex is a light, foldable and compact form factor, along with a tremendous battery life. I recently used the headset for 20 hours straight during a flight to the US, with a mix of movies and music. At the end of the flight, the battery dropped to only 63% despite a mix of ANC on/off modes. I charged the headset just once during my 10-day business trip and usage of close to 60 hours, which is about 30 hours of usage per charge, very close to Jabra’s claim of 32 hours per full charge. Further, the headset can be wirelessly charged with a beautiful bundled wireless charging dock stand. The overall charging time via USB Type-C is less than 90 minutes and slightly longer with the wireless charging dock.

counterpoint jabra evolve2 65 on charging pad zoomed

The headset can connect with two Bluetooth-enabled devices at the same time, like a laptop and primary phone, or primary and secondary phones. In terms of overall pairing, the headset can pair and remember up to eight devices. The headset also features Google Fast Pair for quick pairing with Android phones.

Wrapping up

The Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex ticks all the right boxes, from compact, collapsible and comfortable design to premium audio and voice call experience with unparalleled battery life, making it one of the best UC and on-ear headset in the market. It is great for someone who travels a lot or uses headsets for long calls and doesn’t want to worry about charging or comfort. The headset comes at a premium price point of $500 or ₹45,000. I would highly recommend the headset as it offers tremendous value for money and sets new standards in the premium professional wireless headset space.

IFA 2022 Focuses on Enhanced User Experience in Consumer IoT Products

This year’s edition of Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA), Europe’s biggest consumer electronics show, showcased some interesting product announcements and trends that will set new standards across the consumer electronics ecosystem. New product technologies on display at the show held in Berlin from September 2 to 6 included bigger screen size OLED and Mini LED TVs, bigger and better soundbars, foldable laptops and bendable TVs, digital charging cases, and smartwatches with more features, among others.

The chief focus of the show this year revolved around major consumer electronics segments like smartphones, smart TVs, TWS, tablets, home appliances and smartwatches. Big players such as LG, Sony, Lenovo, Huawei, Asus, Jabra, Fitbit and TCL launched new and amazing products at the event to enhance user experiences. We give below the major CIoT announcements at IFA 2022:

Foldable laptops by Asus and Lenovo

Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED

  • Asus launched the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, a foldable laptop that has a 17” screen when expanded and a 12.5” screen when folded.
  • The device comes with an Asus ErgoSense Bluetooth keyboard and touchpad to make it easy to work with.
  • Once the magnetic keyboard is on screen, you can use it as a regular laptop. When expanded, it can have an expanded tablet.
  • The devices are equipped with a 1080p OLED display, 12th generation Intel Core i7 processors, Harman Kardon-certified quad speakers with Dolby Atmos support, Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
  • Priced at $3,499, the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold is an expensive laptop.
  • The laptop will be beneficial for people who travel a lot and need a large screen, or those who work in creative fields. The device can also be used for entertainment, as it supports both Dolby Atmos and Vision.

Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 2022

  • Lenovo launched the 2022 version of its ThinkPad X1 Fold (review), an upgrade from the 2020 version. The latest version has smaller bezels, a 16.3” screen when unfolded and a 12” screen when folded.
  • The folding laptop comes with a 1080p OLED display and has Windows 11 OS.
  • The device comes with a detachable keyboard, which when attached turns the device into a 12” laptop.
  • The laptop is equipped with 12th-generation Intel Core i7 processors, with up to 1TB of storage and up to 32GB of RAM.
  • The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold is priced at $2,499 for the base variant and $2,999 with a keyboard and a pen.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 2022

New smartwatches, smart bands and smart glasses from leading brands

Garmin Venu Sq2 and Venu Sq2 Music

  • Garmin launched two new smartwatches — Venu Sq2 and Venu Sq2 Music edition.
  • Both the smartwatches come with a 1.41” AMOLED screen, Gorilla Glass 3 protection, 5ATM water resistance and support for both Android and iOS.
  • They also support contactless payments through Garmin Pay and have smart notifications for text, email and other alerts.
  • Both have the Health Snapshot feature which lets users have a two-minute session and record health metrics such as heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen level, respiration, and stress.
  • The Venu Sq2 is priced at $249.99, whereas the Venu Sq2 Music is priced at $299.99.
  • The Venu Sq2 Music offers built-in storage for offline music playback from streaming services. It can store up to 500 songs.
  • Both smartwatches are compact and lightweight. They are among the best in terms of features and come in a low price range.

Garmin Venu Sq2 and Venu Sq2 Music

Huawei Watch D

  • Huawei launched the Watch D, already launched for the Chinese market earlier this year.
  • The watch comes with IP68 certification, AMOLED display and over 70 sports modes with a battery life of around seven days.
  • The Watch D has advanced health monitoring features, such as blood pressure, ECG, skin temperature and blood oxygen tracking.
  • The Watch D will be priced at €449 in Europe.
  • The Watch D is more expensive than its competitors, but with additional health features, it could stand out.

Huawei Watch D

Fitbit Inspire 3, Versa 4 and Sense 2

  • The Fitbit Versa 4 is a smartwatch thinner and lighter than the Versa 3. It also has a tactile button, making it easier to operate. The Versa 4 will have a revamped Fitbit OS with Google Wallet, and Google Maps with turn-by-turn directions. The watch has 40 sports modes, and Sleep Profile to analyze sleep.
  • The Fitbit Sense 2 is a lighter and thinner version of the Sense series. It has continuous EDA (cEDA), which measures skin perspiration response and signs of stress, and is used in conjunction with the Heart Rate Sensor.
  • The Inspire 3 smart band is Fitbit’s entry-level and lowest-cost device. It has a color display, blood oxygen monitor and Fitbit features such as Active Zone Minutes and sleep tracking, and supports 10 days of battery life.
  • It has an improved display and newer features. The mechanical button offers improved functionality. The Inspire 3 will offer more choices to the consumer in the entry-level smart band market.

Fitbit Inspire 3, Versa 4 and Sense 2

Amazfit GTR 4, GTS 4 and GTS 4 Mini

  • Amazfit launched the GTR 4 and GTS 4 smartwatches.
  • The GTR 4 features a 1.43” AMOLED screen, whereas the GTS 4 has a 1.75” AMOLED screen. Both the watches are 5ATM resistant and feature 150+ sports modes.
  • Both the smartwatches have a new feature called BioTracker 4.0 optical sensor, which offers improved heart rate tracking, and an upgraded GPS for more accurate route tracking. Besides, they have more than 150 sports modes and can be connected via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
  • Both the GTR 4 and GTS 4 are priced at €199.
  • Amazfit also launched the GTS 4 Mini, a smaller and cheaper version of the GTS 4. The GTS 4 Mini has a 1.65” AMOLED display, 120+ sports modes, and health and fitness tracking capabilities, such as heart rate and SpO2. The watch is priced at €99.
  • The GTR 4 and GTS 4 have a dual-band GPS antenna which improves the route tracking capability. Besides, the two have features like fall detection and offline voice assistant that will attract users.

Amazfit GTR 4, GTS 4 and GTS 4 Mini

TCL NXTWEAR S

  • TCL launched the NXTWEAR S smart glasses which offer enhanced comfort and conveniences. The smart glasses have a dual 1080p Micro OLED display, front and correction lenses.
  • The wheel on the left temple can be used to adjust volume, whereas the one on the right can be used to adjust brightness and 2D/3D mode switch.
  • The NXTWEAR S will be available from Q4 2022 in selected regions.

TCL NXTWEAR S

Lenovo Glasses T1

  • Lenovo launched the T1 smart glasses, which let users connect devices like PCs, tablets and smartphones with USB C and watch content on a bigger screen. The glasses have a Micro OLED display, swappable noise clips, adjustable arms, and support prescription lenses.
  • The glasses have 1920X1080 resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate and are TUV Low Blue Light certified to reduce strain on the eyes. The glasses also have inbuilt speakers.

Lenovo Glasses T1

TWS category saw some interesting launches

Jabra Elite 5

  • Jabra launched the Elite 5, a mid-range offering and placed between the Elite 3 and Elite 7 Pro.
  • The Elite 5 features hybrid noise cancellation and is powered by the Qualcomm QCC3050 chipset. It also has an IP55 rating, 6mm drivers and support for Google Assistant and Alexa. Other features include the 6-mic call and wind-noise suppression technologies for a better call experience.
  • Another interesting feature is Spotify Tap Playback, which allows users to launch Spotify and pick up from where they left off with a single button press.
  • The Jabra Elite 5 is priced and £149.

Jabra Elite 5

JBL Tour PRO 2

  • JBL launched the Tour PRO 2, a TWS with the world’s first charging case having a touchscreen display.
  • The case features a 1.45” LED touchscreen to manage music, customize earbuds, receive calls and manage notifications. The TWS features a 10mm driver, ANC and JBL Spatial Sound.
  • The Tour PRO 2 comes with a 10mm audio driver and is Bluetooth 5.3 compatible. It lasts 10 hours, and 40 hours with the case.
  • The charging case is the first of its kind in the industry. It lets users control most of the functionalities of the case, instead of touching their smartphones.
  • The JBP Tour PRO 2 is priced at €249.

JBL Tour PRO 2

Tablets saw new models from leading brands

HONOR Pad 8

  • HONOR launched the Pad 8. It has a 12” 2K display and runs on Android 12.
  • The tablet is powered by the Snapdragon 680 4G, 7250mAh battery and a Type-C port.
  • The device makes it possible to operate phone and tablet on the same screen. The smart multi-view feature allows up to four windows at the same time.

HONOR Pad 8

Huawei MatePad Pro 11

  • Huawei launched its newest tablet, the MatePad Pro 11. The tablet has an 11” OLED display with120Hz refresh rate and 2560×1600 resolution. It also features Huawei Pencil, Huawei Notes and multitasking.
  • The tablet has six speakers and four mics, a dual rear camera with a 13MP main camera and an 8MP wide-angle camera, and a 16MP front camera.
  • The MatePad Pro 11 will run on HarmonyOS 3, with a configuration of 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.
  • The tablet is priced at €649. Early-bird offers include free Huawei M-Pencil Elegant Edition and a folio cover.

Huawei MatePad Pro 11

Nokia T21

  • Nokia launched its newest tablet, the Nokia T21, at IFA 2022. The tablet has a 10.4” 2K display with a 60Hz refresh rate. It has 128GB of internal storage which can be expanded to 512GB. The rear and front cameras are 8MP.
  • The tablet comes with two years of Android updates and three years of security updates.
  • The Nokia T21 is a compact size tab that will attract those looking for a smaller-screen device.

Nokia T21

Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen) and P11 Pro (2nd Gen)

  • Lenovo launched two new tabs at IFA 2022 — P11 (2nd Gen) and P11 Pro (2nd Gen).
  • The P11 Pro (2nd Gen) is an 11.2” OLED display tab with 120Hz refresh rate and Dolby Vision support. The P11 Pro comes with a detachable keyboard with a built-in trackpad, and an optional Lenovo Precision Pen 3. The tab has quad JBL speakers and Dolby Atmos.
  • The P11 (2nd Gen) is an 11.5” 2K display tab with a 120Hz refresh rate. The tab has quad speakers with Dolby Atmos. Along with the tab are available optional Lenovo Precision Pen 3 and keyboard pack.
  • The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro (2nd Gen) is priced at €499, whereas the Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen) is priced at €299.

 

Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen)         Lenovo Tab P11 Pro (2nd Gen)

Smart TVs saw bigger OLED/Mini-LED displays and bendable TVs

LG OLED Flex and LG OLED evo Gallery Edition 97”

  • LG launched the OLED Flex, a 42” OLED TV and the world’s first bendable OLED display, which can be bent from a flat to a curved screen using a button on the remote.
  • LG is targeting the gaming segment with this TV, as curved screens are more suitable for gaming. The TV has a host of features for gamers, such as Dolby Vision support, 4K resolution with 120Hz refresh rate, variable refresh rate, and ultra-low latency mode.
  • LG also launched the world’s first OLED TV with a 97” display. The TV will be a part of its C2 series.

LG OLED Flex      LG OLED evo Gallery Edition 97”

TCL Mini LED TVs

  • TCL launched the EISA Premium-awarded Mini LED TV C835 series, a 4K Mini LED TV with Dolby Atmos for an immersive sound experience, and the EISA Best Buy-awarded QLED TV C735 series with 144Hz refresh rate for a better viewing experience.
  • TCL also launched the C935 series, a premium Mini LED series with 1,920 local dimming zones and 2.1.2 channel up-firing speakers.
  • The company also launched the world’s largest Mini LED TV at 98”.
  • The new offerings from TCL will help it to increase its share in the Mini LED segment and offer more choices to consumers.

TCL C935, C835, and C735

Toshiba QA5D, UF3D and UK4D

  • Toshiba launched QLED TV sets and TVs with Fire TV at IFA 2022.
  • The QA5D series is Toshiba’s first QLED TV series, offering better picture quality. The TVs have Toshiba’s TRU Picture Engine technologies, which offer enhanced picture quality. The TVs also have Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision and run on Android.
  • The UF3D series is Toshiba’s first with Fire TV in the UK and is ideal for someone who prefers Alexa. The series also has Toshiba’s TRU Picture Engine, Dolby Vision and Atmos.
  • The UK4D series is powered by Toshiba’s own operating system, and also comes with Alexa. The series has frameless models. It also supports Toshiba’s TRU Picture Engine and Dolby Atmos and Vision.
  • Toshiba also announced that models launched in 2019 would have the TikTok TV app, giving more entertainment choices to the consumers.

Toshiba QA5D, UF3D and UK4D

Other notable product launches

  • Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Chromebook: Lenovo also launched the IdeaPad 5i Chromebook, a 16” Chromebook with 2.5K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, giving a smooth scrolling and video-viewing experience to the user.
  • TECNO Megabook T1: TECNO launched its first laptop at IFA 2022, the Megabook T1. It is an ultra-thin laptop that is 14.8 mm thick with a 15.6” display and weighs 1.48 kg. The entire body is made of aluminum and has a fingerprint sensor over the power button. The device has a 70wh battery supporting up to 17.5 hours, and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.
  • LG launched the MoodUP refrigerator with color-changing LED door panels. With the LG ThinQ app, users can choose from 22 colors for the upper door panel and 19 colors for the lower door panel. The refrigerator also has a Bluetooth speaker.
  • B&O launched the Beosound Theatre soundbar. It has 12 drivers and 800W of power and supports 7.1.4 Channel Dolby Atmos. The Beosound Theatre has a new three-dimensional sound directivity, which is a combination of direct, side- and up-firing speakers. Besides, the soundbar can be wall-mounted or floor-standing.
  • JBL launched the Bar 1000, a 7.1.4 Channel Dolby Atmos-supported soundbar and wireless subwoofer. The Bar 1000 has two battery-powered detachable speakers which work in concert with four upward-firing speakers attached to the sound system.
  • Sennheiser unveiled the AMBEO Soundbar Plus, a compact and affordable version of the AMBEO Soundbar Max. It is a 7.1.4 Channel system, has nine drivers, with two upward-firing ones, and supports Dolby Atmos.

Conclusion

The focus of the tech companies was on improving customer experience. The new products offer various new features, such as bendable and foldable displays in TVs and laptops, enhanced health trackers in smartwatches, expanding choices in tablets and Chromebook, and a better audio experience with new soundbars. Home appliances are becoming more connected, and visually appealing to soothe the people and the environment.

In the wearables segment, there has been an increased focus on health-related aspects. The new launches in smartwatches and smart bands at IFA 2022 bring more health-related features. Also, the inclusion of new AI capabilities to measure health more accurately in real-time is likely to provide a boost to this segment.

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Jabra PanaCast 20 Review: Premium Personal Video Conferencing Experiences for the New Normal

The last couple of years of the pandemic has completely transformed how we interact with each other. Virtual communication especially video conferencing & collaboration has taken center stage and has become the new normal. This is true not only for connecting with family but also for enterprise users connecting with colleagues or clients, content creators and live streamers, knowledge workers – both students and teachers, healthcare professionals or patients among others. Video conferencing has thus become extremely popular and an important part of our communication and collaboration in our daily lives, irrespective of whether we are in a remote or hybrid, or even physical environment.

The Need for a Good Video Conferencing Camera is Growing

The major gripe, however, for professionals and creators, is that a good personal video camera for PCs has remained elusive. The average resolution for the camera in laptops is 720p HD or lower, lacking – clarity, resolution, proper framing, focusing, zoom, and decent performance in different lighting conditions. This warrants for every individual to invest in a quality web camera that can solve all of the above pain points and offer an optimized video conferencing and content creating experience.

We have been testing various cameras for personal and professional use, and, Jabra PanaCast 20 has proved to be a very capable and one of the best solutions available. After using the PanaCast 20 for almost eight weeks attached to a desktop PC and interchangeably with a laptop, it has left us impressed.

Jabra PanaCast 20 Design & Features

Impeccable Unibody Metal Design    

  • The PanaCast 20 is a beautifully built and engineered video conferencing camera. It is housed in an all-metal casing which itself acts as a heat-sink for the under-the-hood powerful AI processor.
  • PanaCast 20 weighs a mere 136gms.
  • The striped, unibody design gives it a premium look and stands out compared to other plastic body cameras.
  • The camera features a clip that helps fix the camera nicely on a monitor or a laptop even with thinner bezels.
  • The in-built minimalistic privacy cover is a nice touch.
  • The PanaCast connects to the PC via a USB 3.0 (Type C to A 1.8m) cable enabling higher speed video experience.
  • The camera comes in a premium carry case making it ultra-portable to use in a hybrid environment.

counterpoint jabra pancast 20 review design and installation

 Premium & Intelligent Video Conferencing Experience

  • The PanaCast 20 sports a 13MP, 1/3.2” camera sensor capable of delivering multiple resolutions from 4K Ultra-HD @30fps to 720p HD @30fps in different scenarios.
  • PanaCast 20 camera’s Filed of View (FoV) is Horizontal: 90°, Vertical: 75°, Diagonal: 117°.
  • The advanced camera sensor capabilities are further enhanced with an advanced “on-device” AI chip. The AI chip is fast, secure, and accurate unlocking the following features:
    • Intelligent 4K video: This offers a sharp, crystal clear stable streaming video at ultra-HD resolutions also includes Vivid HDR to enhance colors and contrasts.
    • Intelligent Zoom & Focusing: This is the flagship feature making the camera smarter and intuitive as it follows the users’ movements to perfectly zoom, frame, adjust pictures in real-time. PanaCast features up to 3x lossless digital zoom at 720p. This is super useful when we try to adjust the chair or move slightly, the camera auto-adjusts the frame as per the user’s face in the frame automatically. This helps reduce the cognitive load and effort by auto-adjusting helping maintain a high-quality video conferencing experience. There are also a couple of preset options available along with manual PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) controls for personalized custom focusing and framing.
counterpoint jabra panacast 20 review intelligent zoom off
Intelligent Zoom Off
counterpoint jabra panacast 20 review intelligent zoom on
Intelligent Zoom On
    • Intelligent Lighting Optimization: This is another feature where the on-device AI does its magic coupled with a larger sensor to analyze the environment and automatically adjust the image in real-time to produce well-lit, sharper, and noiseless quality. Even if the rooms have poorly distributed light or a minimum amount of light.

  • Picture-in-Picture Mode: The edge-AI processor combines two real-time video streams in the same video, displaying the second stream in a PIP window and the feature works across all the UC platforms. This is a very cool and meaningful use case where you want the camera to focus on a particular object (e.g., a whiteboard) which takes up the mainstream and the speaker’s face as a second stream shown in the PIP window.

counterpoint jabra panacast 20 review pip

  • Audio: The PanaCast 20 features three MEMS microphones to provide enterprise-grade Noise cancellation. It also offers high sensitivity at -37dBFS to accurately capture sound pickup experience in 1-2m distance and offer a decent output. We have been using a microphone from the camera instead of the headphones and found decent performance. This is a great feature for users who don’t own good ANC/ENC headphones.
  • Security & Privacy: Jabra has put security and privacy at the center of the design of its PanaCast series of products. The “on-device” AI chip offer edge-based security to process the data at the edge securely and no data leaves the camera. At the same time, the privacy cover helps protect privacy when the camera is not in use. We would love to have software-based control to slide the cover via the software or automatically cover the lens when the webcam is not in operation vs manually sliding the privacy cover which we may often forget.
  • Software: Jabra has also made available a couple of software solutions – Jabra Direct (installed on PC) and Jabra Express (Web-based interface) to manage these products securely in terms of features, control, settings, and getting regular firmware updates to keep the device in the optimal conditions. The PanaCast 20 is certified for the leading UC platforms including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, and more.

Wrapping Up

  • Webcam has become our window to the world, hence, having the best representation of us on the video call has become very important.
  • Finding really good high-resolution webcams has been elusive and investing in a good one is the need of the hour.
  • Jabra PanaCast 20 is reinventing this segment by offering high-quality 4K video conferencing with AI-powered meaningful smart features such as Intelligent Zoom, Lighting, PiP in a premium and portable form factor.
  • Having used it for more than two months, this is a great investment even though it commands a premium price, the Return on Investment is pretty high.

Related Posts

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Global TWS Market: Q2 2021 Growth Slows on Regional Woes

Boston, Toronto, London, New Delhi, Beijing, Taipei, Seoul – September 1, 2021

The global market for TWS hearables saw tepid QoQ growth in Q2 2021, as typically strong spring sales waned across the US and Asia ex-China markets, resulting in overall unit sales and value rising by only 1% and 9%, respectively. On a YoY basis, although the market enjoyed 27% growth compared with 2020’s COVID impacted Q2, the rankings saw few new developments, although significant change did arise in terms of market share.

Counterpoint Research Global TWS Top 10 Brand Share Q2 2021
Source: Counterpoint Research Global TWS Hearables Market Tracker, Q2 2021

“Apple lost considerable share in both sales volume and value despite big price drops on the AirPods, but the company is unlikely to be too worried,” says senior analyst Liz Lee, who oversees TWS hearables research at Counterpoint. “I think the 3rd generation AirPods expected next month could be a massive hit. It’s been so long since we’ve seen a new release, and if you factor in some attractive pricing, it’s very possible the AirPods 3 could push overall sales for Apple TWS hearables past 80m for the year.”

Looking at how unit share is evolving Lee notes, ”Samsung grabbed a big portion of the premium segment, while Xiaomi was a standout across sub-$100. Indian player boAt, also made some great gains on the back of domestic market recovery to reach eighth globally, its best showing ever. Overall, the ecosystem is strong, and we’re seeing many niche and long tail players eking out respectable gains.”

“In terms of revenues, significant share gains are being made by really only a handful of familiar names – Samsung, JBL and to a lesser extent Xiaomi. This is partly because of out-performance in China, where there is a strong ecosystem of smaller budget brands,” observes Lee. “Despite this expansion, as well as declines in the US, the sub-$100 and premium markets continue inching towards parity in terms of volume. This trend is likely to be accelerated by Apple in the coming months, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the premium segment pushes past 50% in the second half.”

Background

Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

Analyst Contacts:

Liz Lee

Counterpoint Research
press(at)counterpointresearch.com

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Jabra Evolve 65t Review: Helping Adapt to the New Normal

Here in the UK, we are approaching the one-year anniversary of when offices shut and many of us started working from home due to the growing seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic. The same is true for many other countries around the world, and over the last year, people have needed to adapt to juggling their work and home life.

For me, working from home was always going to be challenging – cooped up indoors with small children – so a few months into lockdown I decided it was time to replace my trusty old wired earphones (that came with my phone) with something a little bit more suitable.

I thought a pair of True Wireless Stereo (TWS) headphones would be best to give me the mix of functionality and comfort I was after, so after a fair bit of research I purchased the Jabra Evolve 65t.

I am no expert, but they sound great to me

I will get the basic stuff out of the way. You get up to 5 hours battery on a single charge, or 15 hours using the charging case, which is fine if you are not continuously listening to music or in meetings all day. They are IP55 rated so can withstand a moderate amount of water, but they are not fully waterproof. Each earbud has a circular button to control music playback and other features, such as voice assistant control (like Amazon Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant).

I am not going to do a full analysis of the sound quality, which I appreciate is a bit odd for an earbuds review. While I do love my music, I am not overly picky about what the bass, mids or treble are doing. As long as Danny Carey’s thunderous bass drums, Malcolm Young’s driving rhythm guitar and Stevie Nicks’ soaring vocals (from the bands Tool, AC/DC and Fleetwood Mac respectively, in case your musical tastes are not as eclectic/obscure as mine) sound good, I am happy. In that respect, the Evolve 65t earbuds do not disappoint, and you can even use the app to adjust the sound to your liking.

Feel free to read the fantastic, in-depth review of the Jabra Elite Active 75t earbuds my colleague Ritesh wrote last year for more details though; the sound profiles and features are pretty similar.

Two-device connectivity is a game-changer

The area I want to focus on here is the functionality. The Evolve 65t earbuds are targeted at professionals and are (apparently) the first wireless headphones to be UC (universal communication) and Microsoft Teams Certified. Jabra claims they are compatible with over 10,000 traditional deskphones and all softphone and web clients: I have so far used them for meetings over Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet and Cisco Webex, and have not had any issues whatsoever.

The key selling point for me, though, is the fact that the Jabra Evolve 65t can connect to two devices simultaneously. The earbuds come with a USB dongle (the Jabra Link Bluetooth adapter) which provides full integration and functionality between the earbuds and a computer (connecting just via Bluetooth allows audio playback but not full call control). This means that the earbuds can be connected to both a computer (via the dongle) and a smartphone (via Bluetooth) at the same time.

If I have a meeting or receive a Microsoft Teams call, I simply take the earbuds out of their case and they automatically connect to the meeting or answer the call. If a call comes in on my phone, the same process answers it. I can also be listening to music on my phone, then seamlessly switch over to join a meeting or answer a call on my PC (and vice versa). There is no need to reconnect or switch which device the earbuds are connected to. They just work seamlessly with both. And the 10 meter range means I can pace around while on a call (provided I remember to turn my camera off of course).

There are a few minor irritations though, but these haven’t really put me off.

  • At around $250, these are eye wateringly expensive. But they are very high quality, and the aforementioned features make them worth it.
  • The charging cable is micro USB, and the dongle is USB-A. Both my phone charger and computer are USB-C only, so I need a separate cable (included) and a USB-A to USB-C adapter (not included) respectively.
  • Jabra has not created a new case for these earbuds, so the dongle doesn’t fit inside. You do get a pouch for keeping everything together (with a special slot for the dongle), but it would have been nicer to be able to store everything in the case itself.
  • The passive noise cancellation, which is a fancy way of saying the earbuds act like earplugs to block out any external sound for the wearer, works great. However, the microphone stays on, so even though I may not be able to hear my surroundings (like birds outside or kids downstairs), everyone else on the call can. That mute button has never been more important. There is a clever feature called HearThrough which filters in some of the surrounding sounds, but it is not the most natural sounding and there is a tiny bit of lag.

 Conclusion: Perfect for the home office

The Jabra Evolve 65t earbuds have really impressed me over the six months I have owned them. I was hesitant at first due to the cost, but they provide a perfect mix of form and function. They are comfortable to wear for long periods of time, and the ease with which they connect to both my phone and PC means I don’t need to clutter my desk with any other headsets or earphones. I recommend them for anyone looking to make communication while working from home a breeze.

Aftershokz Aeropex Review: No Bone to Pick Here

The excitement around hearables is currently driven by true wireless stereo (TWS) devices. Sales of TWS are growing rapidly, even amid the pandemic, and the number of brands and models jumping on the bandwagon is also growing at a fast clip. However, there are other devices out there that warrant attention, such as the subject of this review – the Aftershokz Aeropex.

All of Aftershokz products are based on the idea of bone conduction. This is the almost magical ability to apply vibrations to the bones of the head (typically the temporal bones), which directly interact with your inner ear to generate sound, bypassing the outer ear, including the eardrum, entirely. However, this means the outer ear is still open and can hear ambient sounds as well. This creates the distinctive advantage of the open-ear design of bone conduction headphones. But are they worth buying?

History and Uses

Bone conduction is not a new concept – it was the basis for enhancing sound among those with hearing loss for decades before the invention of the electronic hearing aid. I first tried Aftershokz products almost a decade ago at a sporting goods convention.

The Aeropex is the latest in a long line of Aftershokz products, indeed the first set I possessed used a 3.5mm jack plug. All but one of Aftershokz line-up are now Bluetooth. The exception is the Xtrainerz model which stores up to 4GB of MP3 audio locally to allow for use while swimming. All others receive Bluetooth signals from paired devices – typically a smartphone.

The Aeropex are extremely lightweight – 26g (around an ounce) – and wrap around your head and arch over the ears to place the transducers on your cheek bones. In use, they are extremely comfortable – much more so for me than in-ear TWS or wired ear buds, which I find irritating and all too liable to fall out. I often forget I am wearing them, and find them on my head hours after turning off music or other audio. I sometimes wear glasses too, and this presents little problem – the arms of the glasses lay over the top of the arms of the headset and, if anything, slightly enhance the sound transfer. The only comfort issue is if using them while sitting in a chair with a headrest because the wrap around band can push the transducers off your cheek bones. However it’s usually possible to find a way to position the band so this doesn’t happen.

The main purpose for wanting to use bone conducting, open-ear, Aftershokz headphones is for running. I run quite a bit. Sometimes near to or on roads, but mostly on trails. While running on roads I need to be aware of traffic. And on trails, I love to hear the sounds of nature, and other trail users, such as bikers, are much less likely to take me by surprise.

So How Do The Aeropex Sound?

These are the third generation of Aftershokz headphones I’ve used. After the wired ones, I got a pair of the company’s Trekz Titanium, which were good, but the Aeropex are much better. The sound is not going to rival over-the-ear headphones such as my Bose QC35 or Sony WH-1000XM3. But I find them better and more comfortable than either my Jabra T65 Elite Sport or first generation Apple Airpods. I think with my Jabra earbuds, I cannot get a good fit despite trying multiple variations of tips and wings. This means sound leaks leading to a relatively tinny audio reproduction.

While the Aftershokz Aeropex are not going to win awards for stunning high fidelity because the bone conduction process tends to lose bass frequencies, the sound is much better than you would expect. And you can enjoy the marvellous experience of listening to Vaughn William’s Lark Ascending, while simultaneously listening to actual skylarks trilling high in the sky. Mid-range frequencies are faithfully reproduced and the sound is well-modulated with vocals having a warmth that belies the lack of deep bass. Drums and treble frequencies are decently crisp. And the Aeropex do a much better job of isolating the feeling of vibrations on the cheek bones that was noticeable with the Trekz Titanium – especially at higher volumes.

However, although I do use the Aeropex for music, I mainly use them to listen to audiobooks and podcasts. They are perfect for this and I am able to consume mountains of books and hours of podcasts while out running in the hills.

They have dual noise-cancelling mics that allow for good voice calls; the other party unaware that I am using anything out of the ordinary to conduct the call.

In terms of volume, it is possible to have volume quite loud – loud enough to obliterate most ambient sound. I tend to find myself opting for a mid-level volume that provides a good balance between clearly hearing the audio feed while still being able to hear ambient sound. An example from a recent run. I was jogging down a trail listening to a podcast. I heard a quiet crunch of gravel and turned to see a mountain biker approaching from behind me. Had I been wearing TWS, I would likely have been completely unaware he was there. This ability to hear what is going on around you is important. In many athletic events, participants are not allowed to use earphones and face disqualification if they do; the reasoning being that they will not be able to hear instructions given by marshals. However, open ear designs, like the Aftershokz Aeropex, are allowed.

At medium volume there is not much sound leakage, but at higher volumes people sitting nearby in a quiet environment may be able to hear some sound from the transducers.

Long Battery Life

On more practical matters, the lithium polymer battery is rated for eight hours continuous playback. I have not timed it but it does last well. Charging via a magnetic induction cable is easy and while not swift at two hours, is fine for charging overnight, which is what I typically do. The headphones are IP67 rated, so will withstand a drenching and even immersion in water, but the Bluetooth connection will not penetrate into H2O, so they’re not suitable for use while swimming – the Xtrainerz model is designed for that.

The controls are fairly minimal. The power button serves to raise volume and, if held for several seconds, will induce the pairing mode. There is an adjacent volume-lowering button. On the outer surface of the left transducer is a button that functions to pause/restart/skip. The simplicity of the design means the controls are easy to learn; I find the controls on my Jabra confusing and often need to take them out of my ears to look at the markings on the tiny buttons.

Conclusion: Niche Uses and Niche Pricing

Aeropex is Aftershok’s top-of-the-range model and costs around $160, which is relatively expensive compared to many TWS products. Other bone conduction models with a similar-looking design are available from other brands, and many are considerably cheaper. However, I have not had the chance to use them, so can’t comment on their quality.

In summary, I am a fan of the Aftershokz Aeropex and have recommended them to many people. But with caveats. If you’re a runner or need a hearable where you also need to hear what’s going on around you for whatever reason – for example in a work situation, then the Aeropex should be considered. In this context, they’re excellent and provide a good overall experience. But for audiophiles or for users who don’t need to hear ambient sound, other options may be preferable.

More and more TWS now offer active sound management – for example, noise cancellation and the ability to pass through sound from the environment. These reduce the distinct advantage of the open-ear design, but there remains a big difference between the ability to truly hear what is going on around you and the sound that is filtered through the digital signal processor in a pair of TWS ear buds.

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Jabra Elite Active 75t: Making Competition Break a Sweat

The TWS earbuds offer an IP57 rating for water and dust resistance.

Jabra is promising over 28 hours of overall battery life.

Sound+ app lets you customize audio and other features.

The True Wireless Stereo (TWS) headphones are all the rage these days. Right from top audio companies and smartphone makers, manufacturers are releasing TWS hearables at an ever-increasing rate. Jabra is one of the popular names in the audio industry, and the company’s Elite 65t and Elite Active 65t TWS earbuds were very well received and set a high bar for the latest Jabra Elite Active 75t to surpass. Priced around $250, the Elite Active 75t offers better durability and water resistance to cater to sports enthusiasts. But just how good are they? Our review finds out.

Design: Attractive, Dust- and Water-resistant

A lot of TWS earbuds available today are sweatproof, meaning you can wear them when working out. But they are not waterproof. The Jabra Elite Active 75t is specially designed for athletes and sports enthusiasts, and so it comes with an IP57 rating. This rating makes it sweat-, dust- and water-resistant. So, whether there are light showers or heavy rain, you can wear these earbuds and go out without any fear.

counterpoint jabra elite active 75t review earbuds design

Design-wise, the Elite Active 75t looks similar to the Elite Active 65t, but with a smaller form factor. Both these models are made of plastic and do not have any stem as most TWS earbuds. Jabra had sent me the Navy Blue color variant and it looks and feels good.

counterpoint jabra elite active 75t review type c charging

The charging case is compact and easy to keep in your pocket. It is made of plastic and has a rubberized finish to it which helps in keeping smudges away. The case has a magnetic lid, and magnetic connectors inside to keep the earbuds locked in. On the backside of the case, you get a USB Type-C charging port and an LED indicator.

Sleek design, comfortable fit and IP57 rating make the Active 75t stand out in the segment.

Comfort, Controls and Features

The earbuds are lightweight and snugly fit into the ears. This allows for comfort and passive noise isolation as well. Jabra has also bundled three silicon tips (small, medium and large), allowing you to choose one based on your comfort and needs. During my usage, I was wearing the earbuds for over three hours at a stretch daily and did not feel any fatigue.

counterpoint jabra elite active 75t review earbuds comfort

Each earbud has a circular button to control music playback and other features. These buttons have Jabra branding on them and an LED light indicator to show battery, pairing and connection status. The buttons produce a nice click when you press them. You can press and hold a button on the left earbud to decrease volume, whereas doing the same on the right earbud increases the volume.

jabra sound plus app controls

You can also single press, double press and triple press the buttons to play/pause tracks, skip or reverse tracks, or summon the voice assistant. These clicks can also be used to accept or reject incoming calls or put an ongoing call on hold. All these settings can be configured using the Sound+ app, which is available on both Android and iOS platforms.

The Elite Active 75t has a lot of customizable button controls, but they can also get too confusing initially.

However, these many press-button control options can also prove to be complicated. I would often press the wrong button to skip tracks or to summon the voice assistant, simply because I forgot the combination.

The Sound+ app also has other settings, including a bunch of equalizer options to customize your listening experience. Secondly, there is a “hear through” mode that lets you be aware of the surrounding noise, which can come in handy when commuting or running outdoors. It enables you to listen to vehicles passing by, metro announcements, or takeaway orders at a restaurant. I found it to be quite useful. The app also lets you adjust how much of the surrounding noise you can hear.

jabra sound plus app equalizer and soundscapes

Lastly, the app also has an option called “Soundscapes” that lets you mask the noise around you. For instance, you can activate waterfall, ventilation fan, ocean wave, storm or rain sounds among others. It is something that you can also use to bring down the anxiety levels.

Soundscapes is a great addition, not something you will get with other TWS earbuds.

Performance: Will Leave You Impressed

A good pair of TWS headphones will let you enjoy your music-listening and binge-watching experience, among other features. And the Jabra Elite Active 75t does exactly that. Throughout the review period of a month, I had been using the earbuds to connect with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ and an Asus Zenbook laptop. But most of the time, it was connected to the smartphone only. I listened to different genres of music, streaming high-quality audio across Spotify and Apple Music apps.

Talking about audio quality, David Guetta’s Dangerous offered crisp highs and punchy bass, while the mids were perfectly balanced. Moving to deep house music, Dissensions – Wood Remix by Ben Bohmer offered raw thumping bass without overpowering the highs and mids. Even the reverb effects were pretty neat.

counterpoint jabra elite active 75t review earbud button

Moving on to some calm and relaxing music, Angels in the Sky by Oliver Shanti sounded peaceful. The instruments were audible, and so were the waves splashing in the background. Lastly, the Temple of Silence by Deuter offered a wide soundstage and crisp vocals, while not overpowering the background instruments.

Thumping bass with balanced audio will surely appeal to a lot of listeners.

Connectivity-wise, there was no issue either. Bluetooth 5.0 ensures a stable connection. I was able to enjoy uninterrupted music even when I was about 15 to 20 feet away. The earbuds support both SBC and AAC audio codecs. Sadly, there is no aptX connectivity.

Call quality was also good and the recipient could hear me properly. I play PUBG Mobile daily with my nephews and we chat on Discord when gaming. During one session, there was a carpenter working at my place, with a bit of cutting and hammering noise creating disturbance. But the mics were able to minimize the noise so that the recipient could hear me well.

counterpoint jabra elite active 75t review earbuds

Good Battery Life on the Earbuds, and Some More with the Case

Jabra says the earbuds can offer up to seven-and-a-half hours of battery life on a single charge. During my usage, I got close to seven hours and 10 minutes of usage, which is not bad. The charging case offers up to three additional charges, which means you can roughly get 26 to 27 hours of total listening time. Jabra also offers fast charging, where 15 minutes of charging gives you up to 50 minutes of listening time. A full charge takes about two hours and 30 minutes, both for the case and earbuds. You can check the battery percentage of the earbuds and the case in the Sound+ app.

The Elite Active 75t offers above-average battery life. Fast charging is a bonus.

Conclusion: Impressive Design, Good Sound and Above Average Battery Life

A successor to the Elite Active 65t, the Jabra Elite Active 75t does a great job of refining quality and performance. The TWS earbuds offer a comfortable fit while offering excellent noise isolation. Competitors such as the Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM3 also offer Active Noise Cancellation features, but the Elite Active 75t does a good job with passive noise cancellation.

The TWS earbuds offer crisp and detailed audio along with punchy and powerful bass. The hear-through mode is a good addition and so is the Soundscapes mode. With good battery life and clear voice quality on calls, the Elite Active 75t offers a complete package for TWS buyers. The IP57 rating is an added advantage for water and dust resistance.

However, there are a couple of areas the TWS earbuds miss out on. They have sensors for wear detection to automatically pause playback when you remove them from your ears. You can just use one earbud to listen to music or talk on the calls. But sadly, the Elite Active 75t uses a master and slave type of connection, which means you can only use the right earbud for mono-listening. It would have been better if Jabra allowed using either of the earbuds.

Secondly, gesture control on earbuds for controlling a few features, such as swipe up and down for increasing or decreasing volume, could have been better. There were times when I wanted to increase the volume, but as I pressed and held the button on the right earbud for a few seconds, it turned off instead of increasing the volume. These are minor refinements that would make the product even better.

Also Read: Strategic Reviews and Insights on The Latest Smartphones

True Wireless Hearables Market Beats Expectations in 2019 with Apple to Continue Dominating in 2020

Apple expected to lead the true wireless hearables market, selling more than 100m units in 2020.

Competition for second place will remain fierce, especially in the premium market.

Seoul, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Beijing, London, Buenos Aires, San Diego

February 11th 2020

The global market size for true wireless hearables (or TWS) beat expectations, growing more than 50% in 4Q19, this is now more than 50m units a quarter, according to Counterpoint Research’s latest Hearables Market Tracker. The US market was the main driver for the quarter, growing more than 75% QoQ and accounting for more than 30% of the global market on the back of seasonal promotions and Apple’s new model launch.

The launch of Apple’s new AirPods Pro model in late October helped the company record steady 44% growth in 4Q19, despite supply shortages. Apple’s market share fell slightly but still had more than 40% share (see Exhibit 1). It attempted to keep up with swift overall market growth; market share for the full year reached close to 50%.

Xiaomi kept its second-place spot in the quarter supported by strong sales of its Redmi Airdots, followed by Samsung, QCY and JLab. The race for second place intensified, with Xiaomi and Samsung competing neck to neck.

Exhibit 1: True Wireless Hearables Market Share by Brand – 4Q19

Counterpoint True Wireless Hearables Market Share by Brand - 4Q19

The US$100-and-above segment saw Apple, Samsung and Jabra accounting for more than 80% of 4Q19 sales (see Exhibit 2), as demand surged in developed countries to see overall quarterly growth of 66%.  The sub-US$100 band, driven mainly by US and Chinese brands, was more fragmented, with the top three accounting for only a third of the overall pie.

Exhibit 2: True Wireless Hearables Brand Share by Price Band – 4Q19

Counterpoint True Wireless Hearables Brand Share by Price Band - 4Q19The expected launch today of Samsung’s new and improved Galaxy Buds Plus at the UNPACKED 2020 event should bring longer battery life, faster charging, and improved sound quality to the vendor’s next earbud iteration, although noise cancellation will likely be unavailable.

“We expect Apple to sell more than 100m true wireless hearables in 2020, including AirPods Pros, to maintain their comfortable lead in the market,” said Liz Lee, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research.  “The real competition will be for second place, especially in the premium market; Samsung, which had success with Galaxy Buds last year, will need further upgrades to those expected in the Galaxy Buds Plus, including noise cancellation and other advanced features and designs, in order to beat its rivals.”

“Global True Wireless Earbuds (Hearables) Market Tracker by Brand & Regions: Q4 2019” is available for purchase at report.counterpointresearch.com

 

Analyst Contacts:

Liz Lee

Counterpoint Research
press(at)counterpointresearch.com

Global True Wireless Hearables Market Reaches 17.5 Million Units in Q1 2019

The launch of new premium models and the spread of existing budget models are fuelling the growth spurt together. 

Seoul, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Beijing, London, Buenos Aires, San Diego

June 14th, 2019

The size of the global market for true wireless hearables reached 17.5 million units in Q1 2019, growing 40% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ), according to the findings of Counterpoint Research’s Hearables Market Tracker. While all regions continued to grow, North America and Europe were the fastest growing regions.

Apple’s market share remained at the same level seen in the last quarter, failing to grow in spite of the launch of its second generation AirPods. While sales of the first generation AirPods were higher than expected thanks to a variety of sales promotions for stock-outs in the channel in Q1 2019, sales of the new model were weaker than initially expected due to the market’s mixed response.

Samsung significantly expanded its market share and ranked the second for the first time by aggressively promoting its new and enhanced model, Galaxy Buds. It is expected to maintain this momentum for a while thanks to the market’s positive response as well as the effect of bundling with Galaxy S10 series.

While premium models, around US$150 and above, ranked high in the best-sellers list, QCY T1 and JLAB JBuds Air were strong in the low-to-mid-tier segment. New rising stars, Soundcore Liberty Air and Tzumi Sound Mates also began to show a solid performance.

Exhibit 1: Global Market Share by Brand for Q1 2019

Global Market Share by Brand for Q1 2019

 

Exhibit 2:   Global Top 10 Best Selling List for Q1 2019

Global Top 10 Best Selling List for Q1 2019Speaking about the competitive landscape, Liz Lee, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research said, “It remains uncertain if Apple’s market share could stay at the present level with the current product portfolio in the coming quarters. Samsung is trying to strengthen its dominance with Galaxy Buds, propelled by bundling with Galaxy S10 series. The recent performance of QCY and Soundcore, who are also expanding their global presence, is noteworthy. Above all, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are expected to release true wireless earbuds in the second half of this year. The market is getting more dynamic and energetic.”

The comprehensive and in-depth reports, “Hearables Market Tracker Q1 2019” and “Hearables Market Analysis Q1 2019” including regional market analysis, are available for purchase at report.counterpointresearch.com. Please feel free to reach out to us at press (at) counterpointresearch.com for further questions regarding our latest research, insights or press inquiries.

Analyst Contacts:

Liz Lee

Counterpoint Research

press(at)counterpointresearch.com

Global True Wireless Hearables Market Reaches 12.5 Million Units in Q4 2018

Apple was the market leader with its AirPods as premium models continued to dominate the market. However, mid-tier brands started to gain market share.

Seoul, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Beijing, London, Buenos Aires, San Diego

March 29th, 2019

The size of the global market for true wireless hearables stood 12.5 million units in Q4 2018, according to the findings of Counterpoint Research’s Hearables Market Tracker. North America was the largest market, accounting for 24% of the volumes, followed closely by the Asia Pacific region excluding China and Europe.

In terms of brands, Apple was the clear leader with a 60% market share. However, its share was dented as customers waited for the new generation of AirPods, scheduled for launch in Q1 2019. The strong performance of second-tier brands, such as JLab and QCY, also had a negative impact on Apple’s market share.

Apart from Apple’s AirPods, the best sellers list featured premium models priced around US$150-200. Jabra Elite Active 65t, Samsung Gear IconX, and Bose SoundSport Free featured were some of the premium models in the top 10 best-selling list. However, several low to mid-tier models priced under US$100 also made their mark.

Speaking about the competitive landscape, Liz Lee, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research said, “In Q4 2018, cost-effective models such as JLab JBuds Air True Wireless and QCY T1 gained considerable market shares. As more companies enter the market and roll out new devices equipped with advanced features at a reasonable price, consumers will get a wider choice in the future. We expect the competition to intensify going ahead.”

Exhibit 1: Global Market Share by Brand for Q4 2018Global Market Share by Brand for Q4 2018

Exhibit 2:   Global Top 10 Best Selling Models for Q4 2018

Global Top 10 Best Selling Models for Q4 2018

Summary of major regions for Q4 2018:

  • North America – Apple remained strong in its home market. However, global brands like Samsung and Jabra, and interestingly JLab and iQ Podz, also performed well in the US and Canada.
  • Europe – Apple underperformed with a bit lower market share as compared to other regions. Other premium brands, such as Jabra, outperformed. Jabra, in particular, had a market share of 14%. Performance of new brands such as Arbily, HolyHigh, and Vigoshop across Western Europe was also noteworthy.
  • Asia Pacific (ex. China) – Apple’s performance seemed healthy but the eye-catching performance was from the new Asian brands like Britz and GLIDiC. Growth in the Asia Pacific market is expected to be strong driven by developing countries.
  • China – Apple’s market share was relatively lower as compared to other regions. QCY’s presence is growing with its budget devices T1 and T1S. Other Chinese local brands including Honor, Edifier and ENKOR also had a strong performance in China.

The comprehensive and in-depth Market Tracker and Reports for Hearables are available for purchase at our Insights Portal. Please feel free to reach out to us at press(at)counterpointresearch.com for further questions regarding our in-depth latest research, insights or press enquiries.

 

Analyst Contacts:

Liz Lee
+82 2 553 4813

liz@counterpointresearch.com

 

Counterpoint Research

press(at)counterpointresearch.com

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This Website is the property of Counterpoint and is protected by international copyright law and conventions. We grant users the right to access and use the Website, so long as such use is for internal information purposes, and User does not alter, copy, disseminate, redistribute or republish any content or feature of this Website. User acknowledges that access to and use of this Website is subject to these TERMS OF USE and any expanded access or use must be approved in writing by the Company.
– Passwords are for user’s individual use
– Passwords may not be shared with others
– Users may not store documents in shared folders.
– Users may not redistribute documents to non-users unless otherwise stated in their contract terms.

Changes or Updates to the Website

The Company reserves the right to change, update or discontinue any aspect of this Website at any time without notice. Your continued use of the Website after any such change constitutes your agreement to these TERMS OF USE, as modified.
Accuracy of Information: While the information contained on this Website has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, We disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information. User assumes sole responsibility for the use it makes of this Website to achieve his/her intended results.

Third Party Links: This Website may contain links to other third party websites, which are provided as additional resources for the convenience of Users. We do not endorse, sponsor or accept any responsibility for these third party websites, User agrees to direct any concerns relating to these third party websites to the relevant website administrator.

Cookies and Tracking

We may monitor how you use our Web sites. It is used solely for purposes of enabling us to provide you with a personalized Web site experience.
This data may also be used in the aggregate, to identify appropriate product offerings and subscription plans.
Cookies may be set in order to identify you and determine your access privileges. Cookies are simply identifiers. You have the ability to delete cookie files from your hard disk drive.