The Jabra Elite 5 earbuds offer plenty of premium features for under $200. Here's how they compare with the more expensive Pixel Buds Pro.
The Jabra Elite 5 earbuds offer incredible value for under $200, but are the Google Pixel Buds Pro the better option in that price bracket? There are plenty of great earbuds available in the sub-$200 category, leaving buyers with the challenge of which pair to choose. However, factors such as design, battery life, and availability can make the process easier.
Buyers can expect to find premium features such as active noise cancelation, transparency mode, and wireless charging on earbuds in this price range. The majority of these earbuds are also compatible with both Android and iOS devices and will even pair with Windows PCs and Chromebooks.
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Both Jabra and Google's earbuds have a few similarities in design. They don't have a stem and feature an in-ear design with replaceable silicone ear tips. However, their overall shape is different. Jabra says it used the data from thousands of ear scans to design the Elite 5, which have a triangular shape with rounded corners. They are rated IP55 for dust and water resistance and are available in Gold Beige and Titanium Black. On the other hand, the Pixel Buds Pro have a circular shape and appear to stick out more. They have an IPX4 rating and are available in Coral, Charcoal, Fog, and Lemongrass.
The Jabra Elite 5 earbuds are equipped with 6mm drivers which explains why they weigh just 5 grams each, compared to the Pixel Buds Pro which have 11mm drivers and weigh 6.3 grams per earbud. Both earbuds have touch controls, in-ear pressure relief, and customizable EQ. There is active noise cancelation available on both earbuds. Each earbud packs a total of three microphones which helps improve the quality of voice calls. There is also a transparency mode, which Jabra calls 'HearThrough.' Neither support Sony's LDAC, but the Pixel Buds Pro support Dolby Atmos and spatial audio (via a future update).
Jabra's earbuds connect via Bluetooth 5.2, unlike the Pixel Buds Pro which use the older Bluetooth 5.0 standard. The two earbuds support Google Fast Pair and Bluetooth Multipoint, but only the Pixel Buds Pro have Audio Switching. Jabra even adds Swift Pair for easy pairing with PCs running Windows 10 and above. Both earbuds work with Android and iOS devices but only Jabra has an iPhone app. Another common feature is support for hands-free Google Assistant. When it comes to battery life, the Elite 5 offers up to nine hours on a single charge and a total of 36 hours with the case. Those numbers drop to seven hours and 28 hours respectively with ANC turned on.
In contrast, the Pixel Buds Pro have a battery life of 11 hours (seven hours with ANC) and a total of 31 hours with the case (20 hours with ANC). When running low on battery, there is fast charging available on both earbuds. A five-minute charge will provide 60 minutes of playback on Google's earbuds while the Jabra's will require a 10-minute charge for the same run time. Both earbuds have support for USB-C wired charging and Qi wireless charging. The Jabra Elite 5 are priced at $149, which makes them $50 cheaper than the $199 Pixel Buds Pro. With both earbuds offering similar features, the cheaper Jabra Elite 5 are the sensible choice, given that buyers won't be missing out on much.
Habeeb has years of experience covering consumer technology and has written for multiple publications. As a Senior Writer at Screen Rant, he enjoys writing about wearables, smartphones, tablets, and Chromebooks. Several of his articles include guides and comparisons that help users get the best out of their devices or choose the one that bests suits them. When he's not writing, he's catching up on the latest TV shows. He considers The Crown as peak drama and Castlevania as one of the best game-to-screen adaptations. And on days when there is nothing to watch (is that even possible?), he sneaks in a few hours of games on his PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.