JBL’s latest generation of wireless earbuds, the Live 3, seem built to withstand a strenuous outdoor running session — or just handle the wear and tear of daily life. The three new models — the Live Buds 3, Live Beam 3, and Live Flex 3 — are not only dustproof and water-resistant (the Buds and Beam are IP55, the Flex is IP54) but they also include the same touchscreen charging case that we first saw in JBL’s Tour Pro 2.
The 1.45-inch LED touch display on the charging case lets you retrieve calls and view texts, manage your music, and get social media alerts — perfect for when you don’t want to put your sweaty, grimy hands on your phone. While it’s probably overkill if you own a smartwatch or tend to keep your phone handy, a touchscreen smart case is a nice perk for the rest of us.
The three earbuds differ slightly in both style and capabilities. The Live Buds 3 are classic bud-style headphones with an ergonomic fit. They offer a claimed 10 hours of playtime outside of the case with active noise cancellation off, with an additional 30 hours of charge from the case.
The Live Beam 3 are closed-type stick earbuds and offer 12 hours of playtime with ANC off and an extra 36 hours of charge from the case.
Meanwhile, the Live Flex 3, which are open-type stick headphones, offer the highest overall power at 10 hours with ANC off and 40 more hours of charge from the case.
All three will eventually support Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio (which will come later in an over-the-air update) and are compatible with higher-end Android phones like the Google Pixel 7 or 8 or the Samsung Galaxy S23. Also, all Live 3 earbuds are available in your choice of black or silver.
The three models are all priced at $199.95 and will be available for sale later this summer.
