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Earbud comparison

Shokz OpenRun Air vs JBL Live Beam 3

Compare sound, battery life, fit, controls and connections.

Compared products
01Selected
Shokz OpenRun Air

Shokz OpenRun Air

  • Open-ear design without sealing ear tips.
  • 26 g.
  • Bluetooth 5.1 connection.
  • IP67 rating.
  • Up to 8 hours.
KSh 18,800In Stock
02
JBL Live Beam 3

JBL Live Beam 3

  • In-ear design uses sealing ear tips.
  • 5 g per earbud.
  • Charging case uses USB-C.
  • Can stay connected to two devices.
  • Noise cancellation for listening.
KSh 18,800Out of Stock

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2 of 4 products

Our quick verdict

The JBL Live Beam 3 has active noise cancellation, lasts longer between charges (up to 12 hours) and has virtual surround sound, while the Shokz OpenRun Air has better water and dust protection (IP67) and faster recharging (1.5 hours).

Fit

Shokz OpenRun Air
Open-ear design without sealing ear tips
JBL Live Beam 3
In-ear design uses sealing ear tips

Weight

Shokz OpenRun Air
26 g
JBL Live Beam 3
5 g per earbud

Battery life

Shokz OpenRun Air
Up to 8 hours
JBL Live Beam 3
Up to 48 hours with the case

Two devices

Shokz OpenRun Air
Connects to two devices at once
JBL Live Beam 3
Stays connected to two devices

Controls

Shokz OpenRun Air
Physical multifunction and volume buttons
JBL Live Beam 3
Earbud touch controls and case touchscreen

Key differences

The main differences to help you choose.

Shokz OpenRun Air

  • Open-ear bone-conduction headset.
  • IP67 water and dust resistance (vs IP55).
  • Recharges faster: 1.5 hours (vs 2 hours).
  • Connects to two devices at once.

JBL Live Beam 3

  • True wireless in-ear earbuds.
  • Active noise cancellation.
  • Longer rated battery life: up to 12 hours (vs 8 hours).
  • Virtual surround sound.
  • Ambient mode to hear your surroundings.
  • Hi-Res Audio certified.

What matters most to you?

Choose any priorities

How each product answers the questions buyers ask most. Tick a topic to add it, untick one to hide it.

More topicsFewer topics
6 priorities selected.
How each product answers the selected priorities
PriorityShokz OpenRun AirJBL Live Beam 3
FitOpen-ear designThree silicone ear-tip sizes
Weight26 g5 g per earbud
Battery lifeUp to 8 hoursUp to 48 hours with the case
ConnectionsBluetooth 5.1Bluetooth wireless
Water resistanceIP67 water and dust resistanceIP55 water and dust resistance
Charging10 minutes of charging provides up to 90 minutes of playback10 minutes for 4 hours

Detailed comparison

Explore the full specifications, section by section.

General

General specifications comparison
SpecificationShokz OpenRun AirJBL Live Beam 3
BrandShokzJBL
ModelOpenRun Air (S803)Live Beam 3
TypeOpen-Ear Bone-Conduction HeadsetTrue Wireless In-Ear Earbuds
ColorGraphite Black; Hyacinth Purple—
Announced—January 2024

Design

Design specifications comparison
SpecificationShokz OpenRun AirJBL Live Beam 3
Weight26 g5 g per earbud
Dimensions—22.51 x 31.04 x 23.74 mm per earbud

Battery & Charging

Battery & Charging specifications comparison
SpecificationShokz OpenRun AirJBL Live Beam 3
Battery LifeUp to 8 hours; up to 10 days standbyUp to 12 hours ANC off; 10 hours ANC on; 9 hours adaptive ANC
Charging Time90 minutes2 hours
Fast Charging10 minutes of charging provides up to 90 minutes of playback10 minutes for 4 hours
Charging PortMagnetic charging, 5 VUSB-C on case
Wireless Charging—Wireless case charging

Connectivity

Connectivity specifications comparison
SpecificationShokz OpenRun AirJBL Live Beam 3
ConnectionBluetoothBluetooth wireless
Bluetooth5.1Earbuds 5.3; case 5.1
Multipoint ConnectionTwo devicesYes
App Support—JBL Headphones

Features

Features specifications comparison
SpecificationShokz OpenRun AirJBL Live Beam 3
Voice AssistantVoice assistant activation by holding the multifunction button for 2 secondsVoice assistant configured through JBL Headphones app
Special FeaturesTitanium frame; soft silicone covering; 160 mAh battery—

Audio

Audio specifications comparison
SpecificationShokz OpenRun AirJBL Live Beam 3
DriversBone-conduction transducers10 mm dynamic
Audio CodecsSBC—
MicrophonesDual silicon microphones with Qualcomm cVc 8.0 call noise reductionSix microphones
Audio FeaturesPremiumPitch 2.0+Hi-Res Audio Wireless
Frequency Response—20 Hz–40 kHz
Impedance—16 ohms
Active Noise Cancellation—True Adaptive ANC
Transparency / Ambient Mode—Smart Ambient and TalkThru
Spatial Audio—JBL Spatial Sound

Charging Case

Charging Case specifications comparison
SpecificationShokz OpenRun AirJBL Live Beam 3
Case TypeNo charging caseSmart Charging Case with 1.45-inch touchscreen
Case Battery Life—36 additional hours ANC off; 48 hours total
Case Charging—USB-C and wireless
Case Charging Port—USB-C
Case Wireless Charging—Yes
Case Dimensions—61 x 51 x 30.25 mm
Case Weight—72 g
Case Water & Dust Resistance——
Case Features—Touchscreen music, volume, calls and EQ controls; lanyard loop

Design & Controls

Design & Controls specifications comparison
SpecificationShokz OpenRun AirJBL Live Beam 3
ControlsPhysical multifunction and volume buttonsEarbud touch controls and case touchscreen
Water & Dust ResistanceIP67IP55 earbuds
Ear Tips / Ear CushionsOpen-ear designThree silicone ear-tip sizes

What's in the Box

What's in the Box specifications comparison
SpecificationShokz OpenRun AirJBL Live Beam 3
Headphones / EarbudsShokz OpenRun Air headphonesJBL Live Beam 3 earbuds
Charging CaseNo charging caseSmart Charging Case
Charging CableUSB-A magnetic charging cableUSB-C cable
Ear Tips / AccessoriesCarry pouchThree ear-tip sizes
DocumentationUser guideQuick-start guide, safety sheet and warranty/warning
Audio Cable—True wireless design

Similarities

  • Both have built-in microphones for calls.
  • Both connect over Bluetooth.

In summary

Get the JBL Live Beam 3 if you want active noise cancellation and longer battery life, or the Shokz OpenRun Air if you would rather have better water and dust protection and faster recharging.

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