I travel enough to know that finding the perfect pair of earbuds is a bit like finding an empty row on a long-haul flight: theoretically possible, but rarely that simple. Between noisy flights, hikes around California, sweaty gym sessions, and the occasional attempt to catch some sleep at 35,000 feet, I needed a pair of TWS buds that could keep up with my lifestyle without demanding a small fortune. Enter the JLab JBuds Mini ANC, a ridiculously tiny pair of earbuds that seemed almost too good to be true when I first tried them at IFA. Naturally, I had to put them through a couple of months of real-world punishment before passing judgment.
For around $43, the JBuds Mini ANC pack a surprisingly impressive punch. The tiny design makes them ridiculously easy to carry, the fit is comfortable enough for marathon listening sessions, and the sound quality is considerably better than their size and basic Bluetooth codecs might suggest. There’s effective ANC to tackle everything from aircraft engine rumble to noisy surroundings, plenty of EQ and touch-control customization, and battery life that managed to survive a six-hour flight with noise cancellation enabled throughout. Oh, and there’s Apple Find My support for the charging case, which is rather handy when something this small inevitably tries to disappear into the abyss of a backpack.
Of course, these aren’t miniature miracles without a few compromises. The default sound profile needs some tweaking to truly shine, microphone noise cancellation could be better, and the lack of automatic wear detection feels like an unnecessary omission. But here’s the kicker: the JBuds Mini ANC get so much right that these shortcomings barely put a dent in the overall experience. They’re not going to replace a premium pair of Sony or Bose earbuds for everyone, particularly audiophiles or frequent callers, but for travellers, gym-goers, and anyone who wants capable earbuds without spending a fortune, JLab might just have a tiny winner on its hands.
The first thing anyone will notice about the JBuds Mini ANC is their size. Think of them as a less sporty, tinier rebirth of 2022’s JBL Reflect Mini NC. Both the earbuds and the charging case are exceptionally compact, making them easy to slip into practically any pocket. But here’s the clever bit: you don’t even need to put them in your pocket.
JLab includes a small keychain that lets the case hang from a belt loop, backpack zipper, or another convenient hook. As someone who travels frequently, I love this. I could keep the earbuds attached to my backpack without having to rummage through my luggage every time I wanted to listen to music. I was initially concerned that the case might accidentally open while bouncing around on the outside of my backpack. Thankfully, that never happened. The case feels sturdy despite its tiny dimensions, and it survived several falls, including a couple outdoors and another onto a gym mat.
I also received the Vivid Pink variant. I’ll admit, I initially thought it might be a little too loud for my taste. But the compact design makes the colour less conspicuous than expected, and I’ve grown to appreciate how different it looks from the endless sea of black and white earbuds. If pink isn’t your thing, JLab offers several other colours, including Graphite, Blue, Pastel Pink, and Royal Caviar.
The real surprise, however, is the comfort. The earbuds sit snugly in my ears without creating uncomfortable pressure, even when ANC is enabled. I could wear them for hours without needing to readjust them, something I can’t say about every pair of TWS earbuds I’ve tested. They also remained securely in place during hikes, sweaty gym sessions, and heavier exercises.
And yes, I even slept with them during a flight. Their tiny size meant I barely noticed them in my ears. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend sleeping with earbuds every night, particularly if they cause discomfort, but for catching some rest on a flight, these are excellent.
The JBuds Mini ANC use 6mm dynamic drivers and support only the standard SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. There’s no LDAC or aptX magic happening here. Truth be told, given their size and price, I wasn’t expecting much. Thankfully, I was wrong. These earbuds pack a surprising amount of punch, particularly if bass-heavy music is your thing.
The trick, however, is to spend a little time with the EQ.
Straight out of the box, the sound can feel somewhat subdued or bland. I found the Bass Boost preset a better starting point, followed by a few small adjustments to the midrange to suit my preferences. The difference was noticeable.
I tested the earbuds across several genres, from electronic music and hip-hop to acoustic tracks and classic rock. Flume’s Hyperreal demonstrated a surprisingly spacious presentation, while Post Malone’s Sunflower and Swae Lee’s MURAL delivered a satisfying balance of bass and mids.
Chelsea Cutler’s Your Shirt and Jeremy Zucker’s comethru helped me evaluate vocals against accompanying beats. Meanwhile, Tame Impala’s Loser offered a useful combination of instrument separation and vocal clarity. I also enjoyed listening to The 1975’s Narcissist, Mellowdrone’s Orange Marmalade, and the familiar guitar riffs of Hotel California.
Across these tracks, the JBuds Mini ANC consistently delivered an enjoyable listening experience. The soundstage is surprisingly good for such tiny earbuds, and the bass has enough weight to make electronic music and hip-hop genuinely fun.
There are limitations, of course. Boosting the bass slightly affects vocal clarity, although the difference was subtle enough that I suspect most listeners wouldn’t notice it. Instrument separation also isn’t quite as refined as what I’d expect from more expensive earbuds.
It’s hard to overlook that these cost less than $50.
Once the EQ is dialled in, the JBuds Mini ANC sound considerably better than their specifications might suggest. They’re not going to satisfy serious audiophiles looking for the finest detail and separation, but for everyday listening, I have very little to complain about.
If there’s one feature that genuinely surprised me, it’s the active noise cancellation. A large part of the experience comes down to the fit. The earbuds are so small that they sit snugly in my ears, and using the right ear tips creates an excellent seal. That passive isolation already does a lot of the heavy lifting before ANC enters the equation.
Switch on ANC, and the results become even more impressive. Aircraft engine noise was reduced considerably, making long flights much more enjoyable. Traffic noise was also suppressed to the point where I could comfortably listen to music while walking outdoors, although some sounds remained audible.
And then came the ultimate test: a crying baby. Not somewhere across the aisle. Not a few rows away. Literally in the seat in front of me. The JBuds Mini ANC handled the situation remarkably well. No, they didn’t make the baby disappear into another dimension, but they reduced the surrounding noise enough that I could enjoy my music without being constantly distracted.
For context, I wouldn’t put their ANC ahead of premium offerings from Sony or Bose. However, I found it more effective than the noise cancellation on my trusty OnePlus Buds 3 in my testing. That’s a pretty impressive result for earbuds that cost less than $50. There was no noticeable hiss or uncomfortable pressure from ANC, and enabling it didn’t meaningfully affect the sound quality.
As for when I needed to hear my surroundings, JLab’s Be Aware mode did the job. It can sound slightly robotic at times, but it works well enough for conversations. I even spent around 15 minutes chatting with a fellow passenger on a flight before realising I still had the earbuds in my ears. I’d simply paused the music. That pretty much sums up the experience: the ambient mode isn’t perfect, but it works.
JLab claims up to seven hours of playback per charge with ANC disabled, dropping to 5.5 hours with ANC enabled. Including the case, the company advertises up to 25 hours without ANC. Those figures sound ambitious for earbuds this small. Fortunately, my experience was encouraging.
I took the JBuds Mini ANC on a four-hour flight with ANC enabled throughout and the volume sitting around 75–80%. They made it through the entire journey without any battery issues. Once I returned them to the charging case, they were ready for the next leg of my trip. That’s exactly what I want from travel earbuds. I don’t want to spend half a flight worrying about battery percentages or carrying a charging cable just for my headphones.
The earbuds also handled my hiking and gym routines without any issues. Their IP55 rating protects against dust and water jets under specified conditions, making them suitable for sweat and everyday outdoor use. They aren’t waterproof, though, so swimming with them is out of the question. Combined with their secure fit, I’d say that the battery life makes them a reliable companion for everything from morning workouts to long travel days.
The JLab App is another reason these earbuds work so well. Beyond EQ customization, the app lets users adjust ANC and Be Aware settings, customize touch controls, and access additional audio options. The touch controls are particularly impressive. There’s an extensive range of functions that can be assigned to different taps, giving users far more flexibility than I typically expect at this price.
The controls were responsive throughout my testing, with no failed touches. I occasionally triggered one accidentally while adjusting my hair during hikes, but it happened infrequently enough that it wasn’t a significant problem.
Bluetooth connectivity was equally reliable. I tested the earbuds with both an iPhone and an Android phone, and connections remained stable. Multipoint also worked well, letting me keep the earbuds connected to two devices without repeatedly pairing them. In fact, I also had them paired to my MacBook, and the transition from attending a Teams call on my laptop to then listening to music on my iPhone was super seamless, too.
There is one notable omission, however: automatic wear detection.
Take an earbud out, and the music keeps playing instead of pausing automatically. Remember how I mentioned chatting with a fellow passenger for around 15 minutes on a flight before realising I still had the buds in my ears? Well, this is precisely why! I’d love to see wear detection added, simply because my subconscious hasn’t quite adapted to the idea of relying on Be Aware mode whenever I want to interact with someone.
That said, I also juggle and test multiple pairs of earbuds, so perhaps that’s a me problem rather than a JLab problem. If these are going to be someone’s only pair of earbuds, the omission might not be nearly as bothersome, especially since Be Aware mode lets users hear their surroundings without removing the buds. It’s a convenience feature I’d certainly appreciate, but not one I’d consider a deal-breaker.
The charging case is compatible with Apple’s Find My network, and this turned out to be more useful than I initially expected.
Setting it up is straightforward. Open and close the charging case twice, then open it a third time and leave the lid open. A chime indicates that the case has entered pairing mode. On an iPhone or iPad, open the Find My app, select the Items tab, tap the plus icon, and choose Add Other Item.
Once the JBuds Mini ANC appears, select it and follow the prompts to finish pairing. After setup, the case appears in Find My alongside compatible Apple devices and accessories. I deliberately put the earbuds in my luggage for a flight to see how well the feature worked.
The location updates were reliable, making it easy to check where the case was. There is one important distinction, though. The Find My feature tracks the charging case, not each earbud independently. Also, while the experience was comparable to an AirTag for checking the reported location, the case doesn’t offer the same precise, directional finding experience as Apple’s dedicated tracker.
Still, it’s a welcome addition. Given how tiny the case is, having another way to locate it is genuinely useful.
If I had to nitpick on these buds, this would be the one area. You see, the microphones are adequate for regular phone calls, and I had no significant trouble hearing the other person. However, the microphones aren’t particularly effective at suppressing background noise. Traffic can remain distracting for the person on the other end, which makes these less suitable for frequent calls in busy environments.
Wind handling was better than I expected, especially during hikes, where the earbuds managed to keep much of the wind noise under control. At the end of the day, for occasional calls while travelling, they’re perfectly usable. But if frequent work meetings or video calls are a priority, I’d look at alternatives with stronger microphone performance.
The JLab JBuds Mini ANC have become one of those products that are surprisingly difficult to criticise after spending months with them. They’re tiny, comfortable, easy to carry, and capable of delivering genuinely enjoyable audio once the EQ is adjusted. The ANC is far better than I expected, the battery life is excellent, and features such as multipoint connectivity and Apple Find My make them feel considerably more versatile than their price suggests.
The microphones could be better, the default sound profile isn’t ideal, and the lack of wear detection is disappointing. But none of these compromises significantly undermine the experience for my needs. And at just $43, these are an exceptionally easy recommendation for frequent travellers, gym-goers, and anyone who wants capable everyday earbuds without spending a fortune.
Of course they’re not audiophile headphones disguised as tiny earbuds, nor are they a replacement for premium ANC models from Sony or Bose. But instead, they’re something much more practical: a tiny, affordable pair of earbuds that does almost everything I need, goes everywhere I go, and doesn’t leave me worrying about battery life halfway through a flight. And honestly, that’s exactly what I wanted.
If sound quality, call performance, and noise cancellation are priorities, the Soundcore Liberty 5 are worth spending extra on. In our review, we praised their punchy bass, effective ANC, and excellent call quality, while Soundcore’s app offers plenty of EQ customization to fine-tune the listening experience. Battery life is another highlight, with up to eight hours of playback with ANC enabled. The downside? They’re considerably larger than the JBuds Mini ANC, and their sound benefits from some EQ tweaking, too. If portability isn’t your biggest concern, these are a compelling alternative.
The OnePlus Buds 4 are another excellent option for buyers who want more ambitious audio performance without venturing into flagship territory. In our review, we found their dual-driver setup delivered punchy bass, improved clarity, and a more refined listening experience than many competitors in their price bracket. Their ANC also impressed us, handling everything from a noisy fan to the hustle and bustle of a busy coffee shop. Support for the LHDC 5 codec is an added bonus for compatible devices. However, they’re a better fit for buyers prioritizing audio performance and noise cancellation over the JBuds Mini ANC’s ridiculously compact design.
Want powerful bass and noise cancellation without paying Bose prices? The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC deserves a look. Developed in collaboration with Bose, these earbuds impressed us with their rich, detailed sound, comfortable fit, customizable controls, and reliable multipoint connectivity. Their ANC is also capable of reducing distracting background noise, while the battery is rated for up to nine hours with ANC enabled. The catch is that their charging case is considerably bulkier than the JLab’s, and the earbuds lack wireless charging. If sound quality and a feature-rich experience matter more than having the smallest possible earbuds, the Method 360 ANC are worth considering.
I tested the JLab JBuds Mini ANC for a couple of months after first getting hands-on with them at IFA 2026. Rather than limiting my evaluation to a few listening sessions at home, I used them as my everyday earbuds across flights, hikes around Big Sur and other parts of California, and regular gym sessions. I tested them with both an iPhone 16 and an Android (OPPO Find X9 Ultra) phone, paying attention to comfort, fit, connectivity, and how well they held up during extended listening sessions and physical activity. I also tested the Apple Find My integration by tracking the charging case while travelling with it inside my luggage.
For audio quality, I listened to a range of tracks spanning electronic music, hip-hop, vocals, and classic rock, experimenting with the JLab app’s EQ presets and custom adjustments. I evaluated ANC against aircraft engine noise and traffic, tested Sound Aware mode during conversations, and used the earbuds for calls in everyday environments. I also tested multipoint connectivity, touch controls, and battery life, including a four-hour flight with ANC enabled throughout at around 75–80% volume. This extended real-world use helped me assess not just what the JBuds Mini ANC promise on paper, but how well they perform when put to work in the situations that matter most.
Yes. For around $43, the JLab JBuds Mini ANC offer surprisingly good sound, effective active noise cancellation (ANC), comfortable fit, and impressive battery life in an exceptionally compact design. They are particularly good for travellers and everyday listeners who want capable earbuds without spending a fortune.
The ANC is surprisingly effective for budget earbuds, reducing aircraft engine noise, traffic, and other common distractions. While it doesn’t match premium models from Sony or Bose, it performs well for the price. The snug fit also provides passive noise isolation, further improving the experience.
The earbuds are rated for up to seven hours of playback with ANC disabled and 5.5 hours with ANC enabled. The charging case extends total battery life to 25 hours and 20 hours, respectively. In my testing, they lasted through a six-hour flight with ANC enabled throughout.
Yes. The charging case supports Apple Find My, allowing users to locate it through the Find My app on an iPhone or iPad. However, the feature tracks the case rather than each earbud individually, and it doesn’t offer the directional Precision Finding available on compatible AirTags.
Instagram is making its way to yet another screen, and this time, Apple TV is getting a taste of the Reels rabbit hole. The company has launched a dedicated Instagram app for Apple TV, bringing Reels, longer videos, and live shows to the big screen. So, if watching one quick clip on a phone somehow turns into an hour of scrolling, there's now a much larger screen for that.
Instagram brings Reels and more to Apple TV
Audio-Technica, a brand well known for making some of the best studio and professional headphones on the market, has just come out with the ATH-AWX7000, which the company itself claims to be its "finest headphones ever." The new flagship closed-back headphone has debuted at an eye-watering price of $3,799. It combines hand-finished Japanese woodwork with a newly developed 58mm driver.
The earcups are made from Kiso cypress, a prized wood historically used for Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Each housing is finished by hand with traditional Echizen lacquer, which brings out the grain and is expected to darken over time. The frame and sliders are finished in a deep navy kachi-iro shade traditionally associated with samurai.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.