The JBL Tour Pro 2’s innovative touchscreen housing is so user-friendly and ahead of its time that even Apple is (allegedly) taking notes. Pause or play, decrease or increase the volume, switch from noise cancellation to ambient sound awareness to talk mode, accept or reject calls, or even locate the lost left earbud, all through the touchscreen housing.
The first time I put these headphones on during my morning commute, I was surprised while waiting on the subway platform when I looked up from my phone and saw the subway had arrived — I could barely hear it coming. Needless to say: the noise cancellation on the Tour Pro 2s is real, and the headphones sound clear and crisp.
Review: Forget AirPods: These Wireless Headphones Offer Smart Features Apple Doesn’t Have
While working out with the Tour Pro 2, I could easily tap the right earbud to pause or play music and switch between noise-canceling mode (great for deep concentration, but not so great for running outdoors) and ambient awareness mode (great for being aware of your surroundings). The earbud stays in your ear while you’re moving, but it gets a little slippery when you start sweating (which you can do without worrying about water damage, as the earbuds are IPX5 water-resistant). Call quality and microphone aren’t as good as other premium earbuds, like Apple’s, but the Tour Pro 2 are a bit cheaper than the other noise-canceling earbud options on this list, and they offer a bunch of features that some of the more popular tech brands, like Apple, still don’t have.
One reviewer on Reddit said the noise cancellation is great — “probably better than I remember it being.” [first generation] The AirPods Pros used to be.” Although many reviewers, including myself, said the transparency mode could be improved.
JBL Tour Pro 2 Specifications: Connect: Bluetooth 5.3 | Battery life: 8 hours with ANC on and
10 hours ANC off | Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz | Noise cancellation: Yes | Waterproof rating: IPX5
