Jaybird X4

Solid, comfortable fit ; Decent sound for a sports set ; Great build quality

Prone to dropouts in busy areas

The Jaybird X4s are solidly built sports headphones that won't break the bank.

Powerful audio performance that is completely customizable using the app's EQ. Excellent in-ear fit. Waterproof.

Short, proprietary charging cable.

From an excellent in-ear fit and waterproof design to a user-friendly app that allows for a bass bonanza or a fairly accurate, flat sound signature, the Jaybird X4 earphones are a notable step forward in the series. We test a lot of exercise-focused...

The Jaybird Tarah wireless sports headphones fit comfortably and securely, are fully waterproof and sound good. The inline remote is slim and lightweight and the companion app is well designed and allows you to tweak the sound.

It has a proprietary charging cable, so if you lose it, you can't charge the headphones. There's no carrying pouch included. Battery life is only average.

If you can pick up the nicely designed and good sounding Jaybird Tarah at a little bit of a discount, it'll make up for some of its small shortcomings.

Minimal leakage. ; Stable and portable design. ; Above average and customizable sound.

The in-ear fit is uncomfortable for some. ; Cumbersome charging cradle.

IPX7: can be submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes ; Sound great under most circumstances ; MySound companion app allows for EQ adjustment ; Ship with Comply foam ear tips ; 10-minute quick charge provides an hour of listening

Proprietary charging cable required ; Audio becomes muddy at maximum volume ; Audio call quality could be better

If I'm honest, I expect to go back to my Powerbeats3 partly because I do prefer the extra bass, but mostly because I find hooks to be more reliable for keeping things in place. Fins can help stop buds from falling out — hooks guarantee it.

Adaptive soundstage ; Flexible and lightweight design ; Companion app with multiple EQ presets ; Secure, tight fit ; Waterproof protection

Buggy performance ; Weak battery life ; Uncomfortable to wear during long stretches

The Jaybird X4 is a modest upgrade with enhanced aesthetics and great sound, but it also has poor battery life and lots of bugs.