Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 True Wireless Earbuds

Jabra's Premium Play Gets Serious About Spatial Audio

The Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 represents the Danish brand's most ambitious attempt yet to crack the premium true wireless market. At £199.99, these earbuds are gunning directly for Apple's AirPods Pro territory, armed with Dolby Atmos spatial sound, advanced ANC, and Jabra's signature focus on call quality. The question is whether they justify that price tag when Samsung's Galaxy Buds3 Pro sit £20 cheaper.

Design and Build Quality

Jabra has stuck with their semi-open ComfortFit design philosophy, and frankly, it works brilliantly. The Elite 10 Gen 2 feel almost weightless at 5.7g per bud – lighter than both the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Sennheiser Momentum TW4. The oval-shaped ear tips create a secure seal without that plugged-up sensation you get from fully sealed designs.

The charging case is pleasantly compact, though not quite as pocketable as Samsung's offering. Build quality feels premium throughout, with a matte finish that resists fingerprints better than glossy alternatives. The IP57 rating means you can sweat buckets at the gym or get caught in proper British rain without worry – that's actually better water resistance than many competitors manage.

What I particularly appreciate is the magnetic alignment in the case. The buds snap into place with satisfying precision, and I've never had them fail to charge overnight, which is more than I can say for some premium alternatives.

Performance Where It Matters

The 10mm drivers deliver genuinely engaging sound with proper bass weight and clear mids. But the real star here is the Dolby Atmos implementation with head tracking. Unlike some spatial audio features that feel gimmicky, Jabra's version actually enhances the listening experience. Fire up something mixed in Atmos on Tidal or Apple Music, and the soundstage opens up convincingly. The head tracking works smoothly without feeling laggy or over-processed.

Call quality is where Jabra traditionally excels, and the six-microphone array doesn't disappoint. Colleagues consistently commented on how clear I sounded, even when walking down busy London streets. The smart leak compensation cleverly adjusts for how the buds sit in your ears, maintaining call clarity even if you don't get a perfect seal.

The Advanced ANC performs well, though it's not quite class-leading. It handles constant drone brilliantly – perfect for tube journeys or flights – but struggles slightly with sudden sharp sounds compared to Sony's or Apple's best efforts. Still, combined with the semi-open design, it strikes a nice balance between isolation and awareness.

Features That Actually Add Value

Multipoint Bluetooth connectivity works seamlessly across my iPhone and MacBook Pro, switching intelligently without the usual faff. The LC3 codec support future-proofs these buds for the next generation of Bluetooth audio, though you'll need compatible devices to benefit.

Battery life is genuinely impressive. The claimed 8 hours from the buds themselves holds up in real-world testing with ANC enabled, and the case extends that to a proper 36 hours total. That's significantly better than the Galaxy Buds3 Pro's 30 hours, though the Sennheiser Momentum TW4 edges ahead slightly.

The Jabra Sound+ app is comprehensive without being overwhelming. The customisable EQ actually makes meaningful differences to the sound signature, and the fit test helps optimise the ANC performance for your ears.

Value Versus The Competition

Here's where things get interesting. At £199.99, the Elite 10 Gen 2 sits awkwardly between Samsung's £179 Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Sennheiser's £249.99 Momentum True Wireless 4.

Compared to the Samsung offering, you're paying £20 extra for marginally better call quality, longer battery life, and superior comfort. The Galaxy Buds3 Pro counter with slightly better ANC and tighter integration if you're in Samsung's ecosystem.

Against the Sennheiser Momentum TW4, Jabra offers better value. While Sennheiser edges ahead on pure audio fidelity, you're paying £50 more for the privilege, and you lose the superior call quality and battery life.

The real comparison, though, is against Apple's AirPods Pro 2, which often sell for similar money. Apple wins on ANC performance and ecosystem integration, but Jabra fights back with better battery life, superior call quality, and broader device compatibility.

Verdict

The Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 are genuinely excellent true wireless earbuds that excel in the areas Jabra knows best: comfort, call quality, and battery life. The Dolby Atmos implementation adds genuine value rather than feeling like a marketing tick-box exercise.

They're not perfect – the ANC could be stronger, and that £199.99 price puts them in tough company. But if you spend significant time on calls, want proper all-day comfort, and appreciate well-implemented spatial audio, these earbuds deliver where it counts. They're particularly compelling for Android users who want premium features without being locked into a specific ecosystem.