Jabra just discontinued my favorite workout earbuds. Are they still worth buying?

I’ve been testing headphones for nearly a decade, but I’ve never found a pair I like as much as the Jabra Elite 8 Active. They’re comfortable, sound great, and last all day—for me, they’re the perfect earbuds for writing, walking, or working out.

So it was a surprise to find out that Jabra plans to stop producing the Elite range, as well as all other consumer headphones, effective immediately. We’ve always ranked the Elite Active headphones as the best workout headphones, but their popularity apparently wasn’t enough to balance the books.

According to a press release, the company said the consumer lines “cannot deliver a reasonable return on investment” compared to the medical, business and gaming divisions. Confusingly, Jabra made the announcement on the same day it launched the upgraded Elite 8 Active and Elite 10 earbuds.

So you have to ask yourself: is it still a good idea to buy these second-generation models? Here’s what we know so far.

Is it worth buying the new Jabra Elite 8 Active and Elite 10?

Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 on a table next to a fitness watch and a smartphone

(Image credit: Jabra)

On the same day that Jabra announced it was discontinuing its Elite and Talk consumer series, the company introduced the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 ($229.99) and Elite 10 Gen 2 ($279.99). Both models are available for pre-order now from the Jabra store and are expected to ship in mid-June.

There are some minor but welcome upgrades on the 2023 Elite 8 Active and Elite 10, including improved noise cancellation performance, optimized HearThrough (transparency) mode, and AI noise cancellation for calls, like the feature that’s coming to the AirPods Pro later this year.

The most notable improvement, however, is that you can connect the charging case to any device and stream audio wirelessly to the earbuds. So if you’re at the gym, you can connect the case to the treadmill and stream the monitor’s audio directly to the headphones.

However, with Jabra also planning to discontinue the entire Elite range after the release of these two second-generation devices, you may be wary of buying a new pair and then being locked out of the app’s customization features or frustrated by the lack of ongoing support if something goes wrong.

We asked for confirmation of support timelines and received a response that “support will continue for at least the two-year warranty period of the new products and beyond. (The) Sound+ app – or any new apps in the future – will provide ongoing support for all Jabra products.”

Which Jabra headphones should you buy on sale?

With new models coming out soon, I expect many retailers will start to slash prices on the first-generation Elite 8 Active and Elite 10. Normally, this can be a great way to get premium features and save some money, as long as you don’t need the case streaming feature.

So you might come across a good deal on an older set and consider whether you prefer it over the latest models. Since the app will continue to support all of Jabra’s headphones for the foreseeable future, there’s no reason not to buy earlier models and save money.

It’s worth noting that previous editions like the Elite 7 Active use older Bluetooth standards (5.2 versus the Elite 8 Active’s 5.3). Bluetooth 5.3 introduced improved multi-device connectivity, reduced latency, and longer battery life, so you’ll want to consider this when making your choice.

Is the Jabra Sound+ app still available?

The Jabra Sound+ app lets you customize the audio experience, adjust noise cancellation and HearThrough modes, and tweak the equalizer. You don’t have to use it, as you can connect the headphones to your phone without the app, but it’s a useful tool.

Although the company didn’t mention it directly when announcing the new (and final) headphones, we made it clear that Jabra intends to keep the Sound+ app available, but may release a new tool to manage its consumer headphones in the future.

This isn’t a 100% confirmation that the app will remain available forever, but there’s no indication that Jabra plans to permanently discontinue Sound+ or remove it from Apple’s App Store or Google Play Store, so you should still be able to download it if you buy a new pair of Jabra headphones.

What are the best Jabra alternatives?

Person wearing the Beats Powerbeats Pro

(Image credit: Future)

Beats and Shokz are Jabra’s biggest competitors, but for different reasons. Apple-owned Beats has carved out a niche for sports enthusiasts. Models like the Powerbeats Pro offer effective noise cancellation, a transparency mode and a 9-hour battery life.

Instead of Jabra’s ShakeGrip design that keeps them in place, the Powerbeats Pro have hooks that sit on top of your ears and prevent them from falling out. If you prefer a more discreet design, the Beats Fit Pro are more like Jabra’s Elite models, but have wingtips to lock them in place.

However, if you’re an avid runner and are looking for a set that will help you keep an eye on your surroundings, the Shokz OpenSwim Pro might be ideal. These bone conduction headphones sit on your cheekbone and produce audio through vibrations, leaving your ears completely free.

Since the decision largely depends on how you plan to train, many of the best sports headphones are great Jabra alternatives, but if you’re primarily focused on running, you might be better off with a set of the best running headphones.

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