JBL Tour Pro 3 Review

JBL Tour Pro 3 Review: Are these ANC earbuds worth it?

Compared to the previous generation JBL Tour earbuds, the JBL Tour Pro 3 earbuds are a decent upgrade for those who want premium sound, intelligent features, and a uniquely smart case that goes beyond charging. At the center of the experience is the 1.57-inch touchscreen Smart Charging Case, which lets you control everything from volume and EQ to active noise cancellation and playback—all without pulling out your phone. The case even acts as a dongle for AUX or USB-C audio sources, letting you use the earbuds on planes, gym treadmills, or older TVs. There’s also Auracast support, which allows wireless content sharing with other compatible devices. Inside each earbud is a dual-driver setup: a 10.2mm dynamic driver for low-end depth and vocal richness, and a balanced armature driver that handles treble with more detail. They support LDAC for high-resolution wireless audio and include JBL Spatial 360 Sound with head tracking, which adds another layer of immersion for movies and certain types of music.

Specs Table

Here is a detailed specs table for the JBL Tour Pro 3 earbuds:

SpecificationDetails
Driver ConfigurationHybrid Dual-Driver (10.2mm Dynamic + Balanced Armature)
Sound SignatureJBL Pro Sound with Hi-Res Audio & LDAC support
Spatial AudioJBL Spatial 360 Sound with Head Tracking
Noise CancellationAdaptive Active Noise Cancelling (ANC)
Ambient Sound ModeYes – Ambient Aware & TalkThru
MicrophonesMulti-mic array for calls and environmental sensing
Battery Life (Earbuds)Up to 10 hours (ANC off), lower with ANC/spatial modes
Battery Life (Case)Additional 30 hours (Total 40 hours playback)
Charging OptionsUSB Type-C + Wireless Charging
Smart Charging Case1.57-inch Touchscreen with controls for EQ, volume, ANC, playback
Case Extra FunctionsCan be used as AUX/USB-C dongle; supports Auracast wireless sharing
Bluetooth VersionLikely Bluetooth 5.3 (not officially specified)
Audio Codec SupportSBC, AAC, LDAC (Hi-Res Wireless Audio)
Water & Dust ResistanceNot officially specified (likely splash resistant; check for confirmation)
Touch ControlsYes (on earbuds) + Full control via smart case
Voice Assistant SupportYes (Google Assistant, Siri)
Multi-Device SupportYes – Multipoint Bluetooth
Companion AppJBL Headphones App
ConnectivityAuracast audio sharing, Smart Case Dongle Mode (AUX/USB-C sources)

Sound Performance

I tested the Tour Pro 3 with a range of tracks and was curious to hear how that hybrid driver setup would perform across different music genres. I started with Lana Del Rey’s “A&W”, which has a slow build and a shift in tone halfway through. The dynamic driver gave the bass that satisfying weight in the second half of the track, but the balanced armature really impressed me with the way it picked up subtle vocal textures in the quieter moments. On Radiohead’s “Everything in Its Right Place”, the layering was clear and full, and the spatial sound mode made the synths feel like they were floating in a wider field.

For something more aggressive, I tried Run The Jewels’ “Legend Has It”, and the bass had punch without bleeding into the vocals. In acoustic tracks like John Mayer’s “In the Blood”, the detail in the plucked guitar strings and his voice felt lifelike, which told me the tuning is leaning toward clarity rather than just thumping low end. The spatial audio mode isn’t just a gimmick—it worked well during streaming sessions, especially in dialogue-heavy movies, where the head tracking kept the audio centered.

Design & Specs

In terms of comfort, I wore the Tour Pro 3 for a few hours straight while working and didn’t have to take them out once. The earbud design is compact and lightweight, and the ear tips created a good seal without putting pressure on the ear canal. Touch controls on the buds are responsive, but I kept finding myself using the case instead—it’s surprisingly intuitive and quick to navigate once you’ve customized it. The case is bulkier than most earbud cases, but I didn’t mind that tradeoff considering what it can do. I was able to check battery life, skip tracks, and even pair with a secondary device straight from the touchscreen. It felt like a true control hub rather than just a charger. I also tried plugging the case into an old treadmill screen at the gym using the included AUX cable, and it worked nice —streaming wireless audio without needing Bluetooth from the source was a cool bonus. That said, some people would find the casing feature rather unnecessary as the focus should be on listening to the earbuds (rather than fidelling around with the earbud case).

The Verdict?

Personally, I would go with the Tour Pro 3 if I wanted a more immersive and customizable earbud experience with true versatility across devices. Compared to Beats earbuds like the Beats Fit Pro or Beats Studio Buds+, I think the Tour Pro 3 wins on audio fidelity, especially with its hybrid drivers and LDAC support, which you’ll feel most when streaming lossless tracks or watching spatial audio content. Beats do a better job integrating into Apple’s ecosystem and might be a better fit if you’re deep in that world, but for Android users or anyone who values hardware-level audio controls, broader device support, and a more audiophile-tuned sound, the JBL Tour Pro 3 is a good choice.