JBL’s latest Live Beam 4 earbuds introduce a redesigned charging case with a larger OLED display and an expanded software suite, maintaining the brand’s signature sound and adding new intelligent features that set it apart from competitors.
JBL’s Live Beam 4 refine a formula the company effectively owns on its own. The earbuds keep the brand’s characteristically forceful tuning, but the sharper change is the charging case, which still carries a touchscreen and now uses a larger OLED panel with a revised interface. As Frandroid notes, no major rival has yet matched the idea, leaving JBL alone in a niche it created.
The hardware follows the familiar stemmed in-ear design, with a more restrained finish in black and brighter colour options elsewhere in the range. Frandroid says the fit is secure and comfortable over long sessions, while the IP55 rating covers dust and splashes well enough for commuting and moderate exercise. The case remains compact, with rounded edges for easier handling, and supports both USB-C charging and wireless charging. StereoLife adds that the wider Live 4 family also includes the Live Buds 4 and Live Flex 4, with each model differing in fit, driver size and battery life.
The software side is unusually rich. JBL Headphones offers equaliser controls, preset sound profiles, low-volume compensation, a volume cap, balance adjustment, spatial audio and the Personi-Fi hearing test, alongside adaptive and manual noise-cancellation settings, ambient modes and Smart Talk. Digital Trends says the updated Smart OS 3.0 case now gives swipe access to notifications, track control, EQ settings and other often-used functions, which means many routine tasks can be done without opening the phone. StereoNET likewise highlights the larger display and redesigned case interface.
Sound is where the Live Beam 4 make the strongest case for themselves. Frandroid describes the tuning as recognisably JBL, with weighty bass, a more open treble than the previous generation and a presentation that feels more balanced and less aggressive than before. 01net also characterises the result as energetic, while noting that the application is among the richer ones in this category. The same review says the earbuds deliver better-than-expected spatial effects for their class, though they stop short of true audiophile neutrality.
Noise cancellation is solid rather than class-leading. Frandroid says True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0 handles low-frequency rumble well, especially on trains, roads and in other constant background noise, while quieter higher-frequency sounds are reduced less completely. CHIP.cz similarly points to the real-time adaptive behaviour of the system and the Smart Ambient and Smart Talk features. JBL also uses six microphones for calls, with Frandroid reporting clear speech outdoors and useful voice monitoring through VoiceAware.
Battery life is another strong point. JBL claims up to 48 hours in total with ANC switched off, including 12 hours from the earbuds and 36 hours from the case, and Frandroid says that figure broadly holds up in testing, with around 10 hours achieved at mid-volume with noise cancellation enabled. The company also quotes four hours of listening from a ten-minute charge, and about two hours for a full recharge. At €199, the Live Beam 4 sit between the older Live Beam 3 and the pricier Tour Pro 3, and the main attraction remains the same: a distinctive case, a distinctive sound and a feature set that is broader than most rivals can match.
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