If you want better Portability/foldability
Choose LG xboom Buds by will.i.am. It scores 4.5 vs 3.1 for Portability/foldability, with a 3.4 overall score.
JBL Endurance Race 2 Earbuds Review
Bottom Line
Choose the JBL Endurance Race 2 if you want affordable workout earbuds with a secure fit, strong battery life, and good-enough sound. Skip them if premium ANC, rich audio detail, higher outdoor volume, or glove-friendly controls matter most.
Best for
Best for runners, gym users, and budget shoppers who prioritize a locked-in fit, long battery life, IP68 earbud durability, and solid sound for the money.
Not for
Not for listeners who need premium noise cancellation, very detailed sound, high outdoor volume, compact buds for smaller ears, or physical controls for winter and sweaty workouts.
Verdict
The JBL Endurance Race 2 come across as budget workout earbuds that get the running fundamentals right. Reviewers repeatedly praised the secure twist-lock fit, long battery life, sweat/rain-ready durability, and strong value. Sound quality was considered good for the price, especially after EQ tweaks, but the tradeoff is clear: these do not match premium earbuds for ANC, detail, depth, or outdoor volume. Controls are another compromise, since touch panels were acceptable casually but less reliable with sweat, gloves, or mid-run adjustments. The app adds useful customization, yet sports modes were often seen as gimmicky or inconvenient to trigger. Overall, the evidence points to a dependable sports-first pair whose strengths are fit, battery, and price rather than high-end audio refinement.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
34 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.012 (35%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.46 (18%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.416 (47%)
Pros
-
Stability was excellent across testing, with reviewers reporting no mid-run adjustment and secure fit during hard movement.
-
Fit was a standout strength across reviews, helped by the twist-lock wing and secure in-ear seal.
-
Battery life was one of the clearest strengths, consistently described as impressive or a strong point.
-
Value for money was a strong consensus, with reviewers repeatedly calling the earbuds compelling for the price.
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Long-wear comfort was a major strength, with reviewers saying the wings did not irritate and the buds stayed comfortable for long sessions.
-
Durability for workouts was praised, with reviewers trusting the IP68 buds for sweat, rain, dust, and even submersion limits.
Cons
-
Outdoor volume was a recurring weakness, with multiple reviewers saying audio could be too quiet or get lost while running.
-
Transparency mode was split, with one reviewer calling it natural while others said it failed to let in enough traffic sound and could be wind-heavy.
-
ANC was useful only to a point: it cut some chatter or treadmill noise, but reviewers agreed it lagged far behind premium buds.
-
The included cable choice disappointed one reviewer, who wanted USB-C to USB-C instead of USB-A to USB-C.
-
Included accessories drew a cable complaint because one reviewer wanted USB-C to USB-C.
-
Preset sports EQ modes drew mixed-to-negative feedback; reviewers liked the idea but found little difference or gimmicky execution.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Earbuds, this product is above average in Water/sweat resistance rating, Battery, Multipoint connectivity reliability, near average in Bass performance, Microphone quality for calls, below average in Volume output, Active noise cancellation, Transparency mode quality.
Comparison summary
34 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher12 (35%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts4 (12%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower18 (53%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume output | 2.5 | 4.0 | -1.5 |
| Active noise cancellation | 2.7 | 4.0 | -1.2 |
| Transparency mode quality | 2.7 | 3.9 | -1.2 |
| Maximum volume clarity | 2.8 | 4.1 | -1.3 |
| Included accessories | 2.5 | 3.6 | -1.1 |
| App | 3.1 | 4.1 | -1.0 |
| Treble clarity | 2.9 | 3.9 | -1.0 |
| Preset EQ profile quality | 2.8 | 3.8 | -0.9 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Maximum volume clarity
Choose Sony WF-C510 Earbuds. It scores 4.7 vs 2.8 for Maximum volume clarity, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better Active noise cancellation
Choose Sony WF-C710N Earbuds. It scores 4.8 vs 2.7 for Active noise cancellation, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better Volume output
Choose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen). It scores 4.7 vs 2.5 for Volume output, with a 3.9 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Bose QC Earbuds
- Better: soundstage depth The reviewer hears less depth on the JBL than on Bose QC Earbuds.
- Better: sound quality The reviewer says pricier Bose buds offer more impressive sound quality than the JBL.
AirPods Pro 2
- Better: active noise cancellation The JBL ANC falls short of the near-silence the reviewer associates with AirPods Pro 2.
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
- Better: sound quality The reviewer says Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 has more impressive sound quality than the JBL.
FAQ
Are the JBL Endurance Race 2 good for running?
Yes. Reviewers repeatedly praised the secure twist-lock fit, with multiple tests reporting no mid-run readjustment and strong stability during runs, HIIT, and head movement.
How is the battery life?
Battery life was one of the clearest strengths. Reviewers described it as impressive, with up to 10 hours using ANC, 12 hours with ANC off, and strong total case runtime.
Is the sound quality good?
The sound was generally judged good for the price, especially for workouts and everyday listening. The tradeoff is less clarity, depth, and upper-range detail than more expensive earbuds.
Is the ANC strong?
No. ANC can reduce some office chatter, treadmill noise, or travel sounds, but reviewers consistently said it falls short of premium noise-cancelling earbuds.
Does the ambient or transparency mode work well for traffic awareness?
Opinions were mixed, but the concern was important: two reviewers found ambient awareness too weak for clearly hearing traffic, while one found it fairly natural.
Are the controls good during workouts?
They are mixed. The large touch areas can be easy to use casually, but reviewers preferred physical buttons for sports because sweat, gloves, and running movement make touch controls less reliable.
Are they good for smaller ears?
Maybe not. One reviewer said the buds are bulky and would not recommend them for runners with smaller ears, despite the included ear tip sizes.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 3.6
Article Reviews
runnersworld.com
- Review score
- 3.8
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