JLab Go Air Pop+ vs JLab Go Air Sport
Quick take: The JLab Go Air Pop+ costs $5 less; the JLab Go Air Pop+ lasts longer per charge (9 hrs).
Which one to buy
These are two cheap JLabs built for different jobs. The Go Air Pop+ ($25) is a tiny 3.9g in-ear for everything, and the Go Air Sport ($30) is a 6.2g earhook bud for the gym. If you do sprints, burpees or sweat heavily, the Sport's hooks and IP55 rating are the reason to buy it. Owners say it never shifts mid-set and survives about a year of daily gym abuse. For anything else, the Pop+ is the better and newer product. It has Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.1, a full custom EQ app where the Sport only has three tap presets, 9 hours per charge against 8, and a USB-C cable built into the case where the Sport's is USB-A. Both share JLab's touch controls that misfire when you adjust a bud and occasional one-bud dropouts, and each tends to wear out around the one-year mark: the Pop+ battery fades, and the Sport case stops charging one pod.
JLab Go Air Pop+
For one cheap pair for everything, including the gym.
JLab Go Air Sport
If they're strictly for heavy workouts and you want hooks that won't let go, plus better sweat resistance.
| Spec | JLab Go Air Pop+ | JLab Go Air Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$25 | ~$30 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Wireless Earbuds | Wireless Earbuds |
| Noise Cancelling | None | None |
| Battery (single charge) | 9 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | 35 hrs | 32 hrs |
| Quick Charge | 10 min = 1 hr | — |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Multipoint | No | No |
| Driver Size | 8 mm | 6 mm |
| Weight | 3.9 g | 6.2 g |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IP55 |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | No | No |
| Spatial Audio | No | No |
| App EQ | Yes | No |
Pros & cons
JLab Go Air Pop+
- ✓9 hours per charge, 35 total, for $25
- ✓USB-C cable built right into the case
- ✓Full custom app EQ replaces old three-preset cycling
- ✓Tiny 3.9g buds suit small ears
- ✓Bluetooth 5.3 with Google Fast Pair
- ✓16,000-plus ratings averaging 4.4 stars
- ✗Mics rough on calls, nearly unusable in wind
- ✗Touch controls fire accidentally when adjusting a bud
- ✗No ANC or ambient mode whatsoever
- ✗Dual Connect isn't true multipoint — one phone at a time
- ✗Bass-forward tuning muddies acoustic tracks
JLab Go Air Sport
- ✓Eight hours per charge embarrasses $100 rivals
- ✓IP55 and secure earhooks for thirty dollars
- ✓Integrated USB cable means nothing to lose
- ✓6.2g buds stay put through anything
- ✓32 total hours from the case
- ✓Three tap-cycled EQ presets without an app
- ✗Integrated cable is USB-A in a USB-C world
- ✗Audible hiss on quiet tracks
- ✗Oversensitive touch — adjusting a bud skips tracks
- ✗No multipoint and no transparency mode
- ✗Call quality only passable indoors
JLab Go Air Pop+ vs JLab Go Air Sport: common questions
Is the Go Air Sport better for running than the Go Air Pop+?▾
For hard training, yes. Its earhooks and IP55 rating are built for heavy sweat and movement. The Pop+ stays secure on ordinary runs with the right tip size, though.
Can I adjust the EQ on both the Go Air Pop+ and the Go Air Sport?▾
Only the Pop+ has full custom EQ through the JLab app. The Go Air Sport has no app support, so you cycle through three presets by tapping.