Skip to content

Earbud comparison

Shokz OpenRun Air vs JBL Live Flex 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 Flex 3

JBL Live Flex 3

  • In-ear design uses sealing ear tips.
  • 4.5 g per earbud.
  • Charging case uses USB-C.
  • Can stay connected to two devices.
  • Noise cancellation for listening.
KSh 17,300In Stock

Add to comparison

2 spaces available

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2KSh 25,000
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 MiniKSh 23,300
Shokz OpenComm 2KSh 22,300
Shokz OpenDots AirKSh 21,800
Soundcore C50i Open-Ear EarbudsKSh 7,120
Soundcore V40i Open-Ear EarbudsKSh 7,700
2 of 4 products

Our quick verdict

The JBL Live Flex 3 has active noise cancellation, lasts longer between charges (up to 10 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 Flex 3
In-ear design uses sealing ear tips

Weight

Shokz OpenRun Air
26 g
JBL Live Flex 3
4.5 g per earbud

Battery life

Shokz OpenRun Air
Up to 8 hours
JBL Live Flex 3
Up to 50 hours with the case

Two devices

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

Controls

Shokz OpenRun Air
Physical multifunction and volume buttons
JBL Live Flex 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 IP54).
  • Recharges faster: 1.5 hours (vs 2 hours).
  • Connects to two devices at once.

JBL Live Flex 3

  • True wireless in-ear earbuds.
  • Active noise cancellation.
  • Longer rated battery life: up to 10 hours (vs 8 hours).
  • Virtual surround sound.
  • Ambient mode to hear your surroundings.
  • Lower price: KSh 17,300 (vs KSh 18,800).

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 Flex 3
FitOpen-ear designOpen-stick earbuds without sealing tips
Weight26 g4.5 g per earbud
Battery lifeUp to 8 hoursUp to 50 hours with the case
ConnectionsBluetooth 5.1Bluetooth wireless
Water resistanceIP67 water and dust resistanceIP54 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 Flex 3
BrandShokzJBL
ModelOpenRun Air (S803)Live Flex 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 Flex 3
Weight26 g4.5 g per earbud

Battery & Charging

Battery & Charging specifications comparison
SpecificationShokz OpenRun AirJBL Live Flex 3
Battery LifeUp to 8 hours; up to 10 days standbyUp to 10 hours ANC off; 7 hours ANC on
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 Flex 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 Flex 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 Flex 3
DriversBone-conduction transducers12 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—13 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 Flex 3
Case TypeNo charging caseSmart Charging Case with 1.45-inch touchscreen
Case Battery Life—40 additional hours ANC off; 50 hours total
Case Charging—USB-C and wireless
Case Charging Port—USB-C
Case Wireless Charging—Yes
Case Dimensions——
Case Weight—63.7 g
Case Water & Dust Resistance——
Case Features—Touchscreen music, volume, calls and EQ controls

Design & Controls

Design & Controls specifications comparison
SpecificationShokz OpenRun AirJBL Live Flex 3
ControlsPhysical multifunction and volume buttonsEarbud touch controls and case touchscreen
Water & Dust ResistanceIP67IP54 earbuds
Ear Tips / Ear CushionsOpen-ear designOpen-stick earbuds without sealing tips

What's in the Box

What's in the Box specifications comparison
SpecificationShokz OpenRun AirJBL Live Flex 3
Headphones / EarbudsShokz OpenRun Air headphonesJBL Live Flex 3 earbuds
Charging CaseNo charging caseSmart Charging Case
Charging CableUSB-A magnetic charging cableUSB-C cable
Ear Tips / AccessoriesCarry pouch—
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 Flex 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.

Back to compared products ↑

Related comparisons

Back to Top

My Cart