Jabra has revealed its latest headphones, the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 and Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2. They feature improved noise cancellation, Dolby Audio spatial sound, and what the company calls “Natural HearThrough,” a transparency mode to preserve knowledge of the situation when your ANC is on.
And that's not even the one grabbing the headlines! The new headphones also feature something no other in-ear headphone specialist currently offers: an LE Audio smart case.
Basically, the case here contains a Bluetooth LE audio chip, and that means your Jabra case is more than just a case. It allows you to connect audio sources to said case via its 3.5mm jack (cleverly integrated into the included USB-C charging cable), and the case will stream audio from it to the headphones in your ears.
So you may want to connect gym equipment, a gaming device, an in-flight entertainment system or a turntable that doesn't have its own Bluetooth chip, or even give it a traditional touch with a cassette player.
Note that this isn't the first time we've seen a case that can stream Bluetooth audio from analog sources – that accolade goes to LG, with its Tone Free T90Q headphones – but it's the first time we've seen LE Audio taken advantage of in this way.
Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 and Jabra Elte 10 Gen 2: Key features and pricing
In addition to that smart case, both sets of headphones have Jabra's enhanced adaptive hybrid noise cancellation. It promises to be up to two times more effective than the current generation, and the same goes for the improved Natural HearThrough feature, Jabra's version of transparency mode.
In particular, this version of Natural HearThrough apparently has better wind noise detection, allowing it to do a better job of silencing sounds like wind gusts on seaside cliff walks, for example. All six microphones have wind protection meshes and, again, a noise cancellation algorithm to eliminate unwanted noise.
Both headphones have enhanced Dolby Audio spatial sound, but the Elite model has more immersive Dolby head tracking and Dolby Atmos. However, the Elites last six hours with ANC on and the 8 Active last eight; Total battery life through the case is 27 hours for Elites and 32 for Actives.
If you're looking for gym-friendly headphones, the Active models look like a great choice: They're IP68 rated for sweat and water resistance, and their case is twist-proof thanks to their fully splash-proof IP54 rating. Meanwhile, the Elite earbuds are IP57, which is still waterproof and relatively resistant to dust ingress.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2, effectively replacing the splendid Jabra Elite 8 Active, will be available from mid-June 2024 with a recommended retail price of £229.99 (which is around $290 or AU$445) . There are three colors: Black, Coral and Olive.
The Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2, which is an upgrade to the inaugural Jabra Elite 10, will cost £259.99 (around $330 or AU$500) and will again go on sale in mid-June. Existing colors Titanium Black, Gloss Black and Cocoa will be joined by two new colors, Coral and Olive for 2024.
Will the Elite 10 Gen 2 join the ranks of our best noise-cancelling headphones? And can the Jabra Elite 8 Active make a brilliant debut as one of the best running headphones we've ever tested? Watch this space.
