Why the Jabra Elite 45h Are the Best Compact Wireless Headphones $100 Can Buy
We judge all headphones and earbuds on a scale of 10, analyzing the categories we think are most important: sound, comfort, design, battery performance, and, if applicable, special features.
Here's how the Jabra Elite 45h wireless headphones stack up.
The compact Elite 45h wireless on-ear headphones are a great addition to Jabra’s product lineup — they slot perfectly between the popular Jabra Elite 75t wireless earbuds and the feature-packed Elite 85h noise-canceling cans. They offer the brand’s signature design and sound, as well as outstanding battery life at an amazing $100 price point.
SCORES
• Sound: 9/10
• Comfort: 9/10
• Design: 8/10
• Battery Performance: 10/10
• Overall Score: 9/10
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE JABRA ELITE 45h:
You can tailor their sound to your exact hearing
They have an eye-catching design that provides serious comfort
Their battery life is incredible, and they use a USB-C connector for charging
You can’t use them in wired mode
SOUND: 9/10
Jabra has equipped the Elite 45h headphones with 40-millimeter audio drivers, which have been tuned to deliver a well-balanced and entertaining sound. Even more impressively, the cans can deliver sound that’s tuned to your exact hearing, thanks to a feature dubbed MySound by Jabra. After taking a short audio test via the mobile app, you will get a bespoke sound profile that matches your hearing abilities.
Users can fine-tune the audio experience to their liking via Jabra’s Sound+ mobile app. It has several music presets to pick from (neutral, bass or treble boost, speech, smooth, and energize), as well as the option to manually adjust the equalizer settings.
After customizing the sound of the Elite 45h, I found the neutral profile to be the most enjoyable. “Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan sounded amazing on the cans. The harmonica, the classic guitar tunes, and the music icon’s gruff voice were glorious as always.
Like all Jabra products I've tested, the Elite 45h headphones performed flawlessly during calls, courtesy of two built-in microphones. I used the compact cans to make FaceTime calls on my iPhone, as well as Slack and Zoom calls on my notebook, and they sounded perfectly clear.
Thanks to Bluetooth 5.0, the headphones always maintained a stable connection with the devices I used. I also like that they can simultaneously connect to a laptop and a tablet or a smartphone.
COMFORT: 9/10
Comfort-wise, the Jabra Elite 45h are handily the best on-ear wireless headphones I have experienced to date. On-ear headphones often cause more fatigue than the larger over-ear cans, because they press directly against your ears. Thanks to an impossibly lightweight build (they weigh less than 6 ounces), superbly padded ear cushions with memory foam, and swiveling arms, the cans exceeded my expectations by not causing fatigue even after hours of use.
I also have to give Jabra credit for equipping the headphones with tactile buttons for all their controls. They're not only intuitively placed, but also much more reliable than the touch-sensitive ones used by some pricier big-name offerings.
DESIGN: 8/10
The design of the Jabra Elite 45h is understated, yet plenty characterful. My favorite bit about the cans are their exposed metal arms, which swivel for comfort and fold for easy storage. You can order them in a quartet of cool finishes: titanium black, navy, gold beige, and copper black. The last option is particularly impressive, because the headphones’ metal arms have a contrasting copper finish, which makes them look like a luxury pair of headphones.
The cans have a rain-resistant finish, meaning that you don’t have to worry about wearing them outdoors. They even have a 2-year warranty against damage from water and dust. You should still be mindful that they're not suitable for exercising, because their fit is not as secure as that of a dedicated workout headset.
I only wish that the Elite 45h headphones, like most wireless cans out there, had a standard audio connector and a bundled cable for wired audio playback — you can only enjoy them via a Bluetooth connection. I find the lack of such a feature to be a bit strange, but considering the headset’s impeccable comfort and flawless wireless performance, certainly not a deal-breaker.
BATTERY PERFORMANCE: 10/10
You can expect up to a whopping 50 hours of wireless playback (40 hours of talk time) from the Jabra Elite 45h headphones. That’s an insane achievement for wireless headphones regardless of their price tag and form factor (on- or over-ear). During my testing, the cans performed in line with Jabra’s claims — I didn’t have to recharge them for days.
The headphones have a futureproof USB-C connector for charging, as well as a bundled cable. Rather conveniently, you can get up to 10 hours’ worth of tunes after just 15 minutes. A full charge takes about 90 minutes.
OVERALL: 9/10
The Jabra Elite 45h are the best compact wireless headphones in their price range and beyond. If you are looking for on-ear cans, these are the ones to get, as long as you don’t need features like noise-canceling or wired audio playback.
Jabra’s own Elite 85h wireless headphones deliver the above-mentioned goodies, but they cost more — and deservedly so. The even pricier Bowers & Wilkins PX5 wireless on-ear headphones, on the other hand, have wow-inducing craftsmanship and sound with clever noise-canceling tech, but they're not even close to the Jabra Elite 45h in terms of battery endurance.
The Elite 45h's retail package includes a soft carrying case and a charging cable.
Read More:
Tested: The Best Wireless Earbuds of 2020
These Affordable Headphones Are Surprisingly Good
The Best Headphones and Earbuds for Work
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