Reviews
Exploring the Smart Case Era: JBL Tour Pro 2 Review
JBL Tour Pro 2 redefines earbud innovation with a touchscreen charging case, offering easy access to settings. , These true wireless earbuds boast sound customization options and advanced features, though some may question the balance between features and cost.
Design
JBL’s Tour Pro 2 earbuds, positioned between traditional and sport models, adopt a design reminiscent of Apple’s AirPods. Featuring a refined look with a blend of matte and gloss black plastic, these earbuds showcase an ovular inner shape, akin to the AirPods Pro. With its ergonomic curves and lightweight build, the Tour Pro 2 ensures a comfortable fit, allowing extended wear without discomfort. The touch panels on both earbuds support various controls, customizable through the JBL Headphones app. However, the standout feature is the’smart case,’ boasting a touchscreen for enhanced functionality. Unlike standard charging cases, this one goes beyond basic charging, offering wireless charging capability and a USB-C port for wired top-ups. The case’s larger size accommodates these additional features without being overly bulky.
Software and Design
The Tour Pro 2 impresses with a plethora of features accessible through the JBL Headphones app and the charging case display. The app guides users through initial setup, including ear tip fit, ANC performance tests, and voice assistant setup. Battery status for each earbud and the case is prominently displayed, with additional features available via scrolling. Ambient Sound Control offers choices like ANC, transparency mode, TalkThru, and off, along with customization options. Personi-Fi, JBL’s personal audio profiles, adjust the sound based on a hearing test and listening preferences. While providing a broader soundstage, some detail may be lost. Sound options include audio presets, manual EQ adjustments, and spatial sound for movies, music, and games. Gesture controls, including VoiceAware, SilentNow, and Personal Sound Amplification, enhance the user experience, allowing customization and scheduling for various modes.
Smart Case
The primary function of the smart case is to provide convenient access to the Tour Pro 2’s features. While the debate about placing controls on the charging accessory instead of the app continues, the touchscreen on the case proves to be effective. Navigating through various options with side-to-side swipes and responsive taps, the case displays battery levels, a clock, and useful icons on the top edge for quick information. During calls, relevant controls also appear on the case. The JBL Headphones app allows customization of the smart case, including adjusting display brightness, selecting screensavers, enabling message notifications, and choosing accessible features on the touchscreen. Default options include ambient sound control, spatial sound, EQ presets, VoiceAware, and auto play/pause. Additional features like SilentNow can be added to the case but are not enabled by default.
Sound Quality and Noise Cancellation
The default sound tuning on the Tour Pro 2 is adequate, offering decent clarity and detail with a focus on the midrange. However, the soundstage may feel compressed despite notable bass and treble elements. Tracks like ’30 Under 13′ and ‘$20’ lose some depth, leaving room for improvement. Although Personi-fi helps open up the sound profile, it comes at the expense of lost detail, affecting the texture of vocals and instruments. The lack of space in the sound profile is evident in recordings like Nickel Creek’s ‘Celebrants,’ where the virtual room’s ambiance is diminished. Despite various audio customization options in the JBL app, improvements are limited, with some settings potentially worsening the sound. Spatial Sound’s effectiveness varies by genre, sometimes offering an immersive experience, but for certain content, it may simply relocate the sound without enhancing it. In many cases, leaving spatial sound off is the preferred option.
Battery
JBL promises up to eight hours of battery life with ANC on and an additional three charges in the case. With ANC off, you could get two extra hours on both the earbuds and per charge in the case. In ‘normal’ use tests, including a mix of ANC, transparency mode, calls, and automatic power-off, seven hours were achieved before docking in the case. However, battery estimates on the case may not be entirely accurate, leading to unexpected drains. The case offers a 15-minute quick-charge tool, providing up to four hours of use. Compared to the Sony WF-1000XM4, considered the best premium true wireless earbuds, the Tour Pro 2 packs numerous features, but the smart case concept is debatable. While offering convenient access to settings, it may not be practical unless left on a desk. Despite features like VoiceAware, SilentNow, and Personal Sound Amplification, the Tour Pro 2 presents as an average set of earbuds with satisfactory sound, decent ANC, and a plethora of features that may not all be regularly used.
In Summary
The JBL Tour Pro 2 is a feature-packed set of true wireless earbuds with a unique selling point being its “smart case” equipped with a touchscreen display. Despite the ambitious inclusion of numerous features like VoiceAware, SilentNow, and Personal Sound Amplification, the earbuds offer average sound quality with a compressed soundstage. The ANC performance is decent, and the battery life falls slightly short of the advertised estimates, with a 15-minute quick-charge option available. The concept of a touchscreen-enabled case is debatable, as its practicality depends on leaving it on a desk for easy access. In comparison to competitors like the Sony WF-1000XM4, the Tour Pro 2 lacks some advanced features and may be considered an average option in the premium true wireless earbud market.
Design
Dimensions (Unfolded): 161.2 x 144.7 x 6.9 mm
Dimensions (Folded): 161.2 x 72.6 x 13.5 mm
Weight: 299 grams
Build: Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus) when folded and unfolded, aluminum frame
Colors: Black, White
Display
Type: AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2000 nits (peak brightness)
Main Display (Unfolded): 7.85 inches, 2296 x 2000 pixels, ~388 ppi density
Cover Display (Folded): 6.42 inches, 1080 x 2520 pixels, ~431 ppi density
Screen-to-Body Ratio: ~88% (main display), ~90% (cover display)
Touch Sampling Rate: 240Hz
Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Performance
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ (4nm)
CPU: Octa-core (1×3.05 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3×2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
GPU: Mali-G710 MC10
Operating System: Android 13, HiOS Fold
Memory
RAM: 12GB LPDDR5
Internal Storage: 256GB / 512GB UFS 3.1
Expandable Storage: No (no microSD card slot)
Cameras
Rear Camera Setup:
- 50 MP (wide), f/1.8, 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, PDAF, Laser AF, OIS
- 50 MP (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom
- 13 MP (ultrawide), f/2.2
Camera Features: Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Video Recording:
- 4K@30/60fps (main camera)
- 1080p@30/60fps
- Gyro-EIS (electronic image stabilization)
Front Cameras:
- Cover Display: 32 MP, f/2.5
- Main Display (Unfolded): 16 MP, f/2.0
Front Video: 1080p@30fps
Battery
Type: Li-Po, non-removable
Capacity: 5000mAh
Fast Charging: 45W wired fast charging
Reverse Charging: 10W
Network & Connectivity
SIM: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Network:
- 5G: Supported
- 4G LTE: Yes
- 3G: Yes
- 2G: Yes
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band)
Bluetooth: 5.3, A2DP, LE
GPS: GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
NFC: Yes
USB: USB Type-C 2.0, OTG support
Audio: Stereo speakers, no 3.5mm headphone jack
Sensors
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
- Accelerometer
- Gyroscope
- Proximity sensor
- Compass
Audio
Speakers: Stereo speakers
Audio Features: 24-bit/192kHz audio
No 3.5mm Jack: USB Type-C to 3.5mm adapter may be required
Software & Features
Operating System: Android 13 with Tecno HiOS Fold UI
Special Features:
- Multi-tasking with split-screen mode
- Flex Mode support (optimizes apps for the foldable screen)
- AI-enhanced photography and videography features
- HiOS customizations for foldable displays
Battery Life
- Talk Time: Up to 30 hours on 4G
- Standby: Up to 400 hours
- Music Playback: Up to 90 hours
Charging Time
- Wired Charging: 0 to 100% in about 55 minutes
Price Range (Expected)
- 256GB Storage Model: $1,200
- 512GB Storage Model: $1,400
Availability: Expected release in selected markets by Q4 2024
Design and Build
Dimensions:
Luxe Marble: 163.72 x 75.00 x 7.49 mm
Flamboyant Orange: 163.72 x 75.00 x 7.99 mm
Weight:
Luxe Marble: 185 g
Flamboyant Orange: 190 g
Back Material: Vegan Leather (Flamboyant Orange)
Colors Available: Luxe Marble, Flamboyant Orange
Build: Glass front, plastic frame, glass back (Luxe Marble), or vegan leather back (Flamboyant Orange)
SIM Type: Dual Nano-SIM (Dual Standby)
Display
Type: AMOLED, 1B colors, HDR10+
Size: 6.77 inches (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution: 2392 x 1080 pixels (~388 ppi density)
Refresh Rate: 120Hz
Brightness: 4500 nits (peak)
Protection: Schott Xensation glass
Touch Screen: Capacitive multi-touch
Performance
Chipset: Qualcomm SM7550-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (4 nm)
CPU: Octa-core (1×2.63 GHz Cortex-A715, 3×2.4 GHz Cortex-A715, 4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A510)
GPU: Adreno 720
Operating System: Android 14 with Funtouch OS 14 (Up to 2 major Android upgrades)
Memory and Storage
RAM Options: 8GB, 12GB LPDDR5
Internal Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB UFS 3.1 (non-expandable)
Battery
Capacity: 5500 mAh (typical) / 5390 mAh (minimum)
Type: Li-Ion, non-removable
Charging: 80W wired fast charging (50% in 21 minutes), 7.5W reverse wired charging
Camera System
Rear Cameras:
Main: 50 MP Sony IMX883, f/1.79, OIS
Ultra Wide: 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ field of view
Features: LED flash, panorama, HDR
Video Recording: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p, gyro-EIS, OIS
Front Camera:
Single: 16 MP, f/2.45
Video Recording: 1080p@30fps
Photography Modes:
Rear: Photo, Portrait, Night, Video, 50 MP, Panorama, Ultra HD Document, Slo-mo, Time-lapse, Supermoon, Pro, Dual-view, Live Photo
Front: Photo, Portrait, Video, Dual-view, Live Photo
Connectivity
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
Bluetooth: 5.4, A2DP, LE
USB: USB Type-C 2.0, OTG supported
GPS: Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Network Support
2G GSM: 850/900/1800 MHz
3G WCDMA: B1/B5/B8
4G LTE (FDD): B1/B3/B5/B8/B28B
4G LTE (TDD): B38/B40/B41
5G: n1/n3/n5/n8/n28B/n40/n77/n78
Sensors
In-Display Fingerprint Sensor: Optical
Accelerometer: Yes
Gyroscope: Yes
Proximity Sensor: Yes
Ambient Light Sensor: Yes
E-Compass: Yes
Audio
Speakers: Stereo speakers
Audio Jack: No 3.5mm jack (USB Type-C audio)
Additional Information
Build Quality: IP54 rating for dust and water resistance
Country of Origin: India
Design and Build
Dimensions: 164.31 x 74.47 x 7.9 mm
Colors: Rock Black, Moving Titanium, Violet Garden
Build: Curved-edge design with Gorilla Glass 5 protection (front and back)
Water and Dust Resistance: IP54 (Splash and Dust resistant)
Display
Type: Curved AMOLED, 1B colors
Size: 6.78 inches
Resolution: 1080 x 2436 pixels, (~388 ppi density)
Refresh Rate: 144Hz
Brightness: 1300 nits (peak)
Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Performance
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultra (6 nm)
CPU: Octa-core (1×3.1 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3×3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU: Mali-G610 MC6
RAM: 12GB LPDDR5 + 12GB virtual RAM
Internal Storage: 256GB / 512GB UFS 3.1
Expandable Storage: No
Operating System: Android 14, XOS 14.5
Camera
Rear Camera:
Primary Sensor: 108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), OIS
Secondary Sensor: 50 MP, f/2.0, 120˚ (ultrawide)
Tertiary Sensor: 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)
Features: Quad-LED flash, HDR, panorama, GoPro mode
Video Recording: 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/120fps
Front Camera:
Sensor: 50 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Features: Dual-LED flash, HDR
Video Recording: 4K@60fps
Battery
Capacity: 5000mAh
Type: Li-Po, non-removable
Charging:
Wired: 45W fast charging
Wireless: 20W wireless charging
Reverse Wireless Charging: 10W
Connectivity
Network: 5G, 4G LTE, 3G, 2G
SIM: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6E, dual-band
Bluetooth: 5.2, A2DP, LE
GPS: Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
NFC: Yes
Infrared Port: Yes
USB: USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
Audio Jack: No
Other Features: JBL-tuned stereo speakers
Sensors
Fingerprint Sensor: In-display, optical
Other Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass
Additional Features
Software Features:
- GoPro Mode with Quik App integration
- XOS features like Smart Panel, Peek Proof, and more
IR Blaster: Yes
