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JBL Wave Beam 2 review

No. 8 of 10 in our wireless earbuds ranking · Updated · How we rank

Our verdict: The JBL Wave Beam 2 ranks 8th of the 10 wireless earbuds we compare, with 8.3 out of 10.

JBL Wave Beam 2

8.3/10

The JBL Wave Beam 2 are budget true wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling, bass-led JBL sound and a long claimed battery life. They suit commuters and everyday listeners who want ANC without paying flagship money.

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Why it's here

  • Noise cancelling at a budget price
  • JBL Pure Bass sound with an app EQ
  • Smart Ambient mode
  • Around 40 hours with the case claimed with ANC off

Keep in mind

  • ANC is mild next to the premium pairs
  • Bass-heavy tuning is not to everyone's taste
  • IP54 earbuds and a case with only IPX2 protection, and no LDAC

What the review sites say

None of the review sites we read has reviewed this model or named it in a best-of list, so it scores below the ones they have.

Why the JBL Wave Beam 2 scores 8.3

Each bar shows where it places among the 10 wireless earbuds in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. What the review sites say counts for most of the score.

  • What review sites say6th of 10
  • How happy owners are5th of 10
  • How new it is7th of 10

Level with the Pixel Buds 2a

The Pixel Buds 2a and the JBL Wave Beam 2 score the same, so either is a safe pick. The Pixel Buds 2a goes first because it leaves owners a little happier.

About the JBL Wave Beam 2

The Wave Beam 2 are in-ear earbuds with 8 mm dynamic drivers tuned for JBL Pure Bass. They connect over Bluetooth 5.3 and have two microphones per earbud, four in total, for calls. Active noise cancelling is paired with Smart Ambient, which lets you choose how much outside sound comes through. A TalkThru mode is there for quick conversations.

JBL claims up to 40 hours of playback with the case when ANC is off: about 10 hours from the earbuds and 30 more from the case. The figure is lower with ANC on. A 10-minute charge is claimed to give about 3 hours of playback. The case charges over USB-C and has a single LED showing the charge level.

The JBL Headphones app handles ambient modes, gesture controls and a fully adjustable equaliser. Presets include Studio, Bass, Club, Extreme Bass, Vocal and Jazz. The app also has Find My Buds and a Relax Mode. The earbuds are rated IP54 against dust and splashes, but the case is only IPX2. Two extra pairs of ear tips come with the earbuds.

What owners report about the JBL Wave Beam 2

Owner feedback we could read for this model is limited, and comes from an Australian retailer's listing rather than UK pages. Owners there like the sound for the money, with the bass-led profile they expect from JBL. Several say the noise cancelling copes well on trains and flights.

Battery life and quick charging get praise, and owners like the sturdy case and its LED indicator. Fit is the mixed area. Some find the earbuds comfortable, including for workouts. Others find them long, say they slip out in the gym even after changing tips, or get sore ears after long sessions. A review from FutureFive agrees the fit is less comfortable than on pricier pairs, and that the spare tips help.

Who the JBL Wave Beam 2 suits

These suit anyone who wants noise cancelling and an adjustable, bass-forward sound at a budget price: commuters, office workers and people who want a spare pair for travel. The app EQ lets you tone the bass down if the default is too much.

Look elsewhere if you want strong noise cancelling, since a review and owners both place it below premium pairs. The Sony WF-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are better fits for that. If you want LDAC and a longer battery with ANC, the Soundcore P31i is the option here. Gym users with small ears should be wary of the fit.

Questions about the JBL Wave Beam 2

Is the JBL Wave Beam 2 good?

Yes, for a budget pair. Reviewers and owners praise the sound for the money, the app EQ and the battery life. The weak points are mild noise cancelling next to premium earbuds and a fit that does not suit everyone.

Does the JBL Wave Beam 2 have noise cancellation?

Yes. It has active noise cancelling plus Smart Ambient, which adjusts how much outside sound you hear. TalkThru is included for quick chats.

Is the JBL Wave Beam 2 noise cancelling good?

It is good for the price but not as strong as on premium models. A FutureFive review says it works well but falls short of dearer pairs, and owners report it copes on trains and flights.

How long does the JBL Wave Beam 2 battery last?

JBL claims up to 40 hours with the case when ANC is off: about 10 hours in the earbuds and 30 from the case. Playback is shorter with ANC on. A 10-minute charge is claimed to give about 3 hours.

Is the JBL Wave Beam 2 waterproof?

Not fully. The earbuds are IP54, which covers dust and splashes, such as sweat or light rain. The case is only IPX2, so keep it dry.

Other wireless earbud picks

The other badge winners in our wireless earbuds ranking.

All 10 wireless earbuds, compared

  1. 1 Sony WF-1000XM6Best Choice 9.8 Check Price
  2. 2 Apple AirPods Pro 3 9.7 Check Price
  3. 3 Samsung Galaxy Buds4 ProValue for Money 9.2 Check Price
  4. 4 Powerbeats Pro 2 9.1 Check Price
  5. 5 Bowers & Wilkins Pi8Best Premium 9.1 Check Price
  6. 6 Soundcore P31iBest Budget 8.4 Check Price
  7. 7 Pixel Buds 2a 8.3 Check Price
  8. 8 JBL Wave Beam 2This review 8.3 Check Price
  9. 9 Technics EAH-AZ100 8.2 Check Price
  10. 10 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) 8.2 Check Price
See the full wireless earbuds ranking

The JBL Wave Beam 2 on Amazon

JBL Wave Beam 2

The JBL Wave Beam 2 are budget true wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling, bass-led JBL sound and a long claimed battery life. 8.3 out of 10.

Check Price on Amazon

How we score it

Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. Most of each score is what the review sites say: the scores their own reviews give each model, and whether their best-of lists name it. For this guide we read SoundGuys and What Hi-Fi?. The rest is how happy owners are, held back where few owners have rated a product, and how new it is. Value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 19 models for this guide before settling on these ten.

Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in October 2026.

How we rank, in full

Where these facts come from