Jabra Evolve2 Buds
The design of the Evolve2 Buds by Jabra is extraordinary. They are lightweight, easy to use, and have a lot of features to ensure the user's best possible listening experience. The only shortcoming on these earbuds is the price. They are a premium earbud option, but they are priced higher than most of its competitors.
- DESIGN
- EASE OF USE
- PRICE
Experience superior hybrid-working conditions with Jabra Evolve2 Buds.
Earbuds are becoming increasingly popular among business professionals who are looking for an easy-to-use and convenient audio device for work. Whether you are working from home or the office, having a pair of earbuds can make it easier to stay focused and productive throughout the day. Not only do they provide superior sound quality, but they also offer a variety of features that can enhance your work experience. Personally, I like using them because over-ear headphones cause me to overheat on longer conference calls. Not just any earbud will work out well though. Fortunately, Jabra released a set of wireless earbuds this past fall called the Evolve2 Buds that are specifically designed for hybrid working.
About
Since 2020, Jabra has been working to provide professional-level products for people who are working from home. The idea behind the ‘hybrid-working’ devices is that people who are dividing their time between multiple locations would still have the same level of technology as they would in the office workspace. To read all about Jabra’s Hybrid-Working Initiatives, check out their website.
The Evolve2 Buds are a set of top-of-the-range earbuds that are designed to boost concentration and improve collaboration for professionals working on the go. The earbuds feature Adjustable Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology that allows users to personalize their listening preferences according to their environment. In addition to the ANC personalization, Jabra also includes a sealing test called MyFit that helps users determine if they are getting the best fit possible and therefore, the best sound quality possible. Jabra also enabled the Evolve2 Buds with SafeTone with PeakStop, which ensures enhanced hearing protection for users.
The Evolve2 Buds also take advantage of Jabra’s MultiSensor Voice technology that uses a unique combination of four microphones, bone conduction sensors, and advanced algorithms to block out as much of the surrounding noise as possible. This provides a greater call quality and the best possible option for crystal-clear conversations.
“The world we live in today has made us crave freedom and flexibility to work from anywhere. At the same time, we also learnt from our Hybrid Ways of Working 2022 research about the role that technology plays in increasing employee inclusion in hybrid work. With all that in mind, we sought to create a product with our new Jabra Evolve2 Buds to empower professionals to look, sound and be professional on the go.”
Holger Reisinger, SVP at Jabra
Main Features
- Certified for Microsoft Teams and leading UC platforms – for enhanced collaboration experience
- MultiSensor Voice technology – ensures professional call performance by using multiple mics and Jabra algorithms to block out noise
- Plug-and-play USB adapter for enhanced connectivity – 20 meter/65 feet range ****allows users the freedom to move around their work environment
- Advanced Multipoint connection – connect to two devices at one time
- Adjustable Active Noise Cancellation – filters out background noise allowing for increased focus
- HearThrough and single earbud use – allows the user to hear surrounding sounds through the earbuds whilst wearing them
- Increased battery life – with 33 hours of battery, including the case and wireless charging
- Ultra-discreet design – for ultimate comfort and a professional look
Specs
Pricing & Availability
The Evolve2 Buds have a list price of $269 from jabra.com. They can be purchased from online retailers such as Amazon for a slight discount ($265.93 at the time of publishing). Jabra also offers a bulk purchasing option through a dedicated Sales Representative for companies who wish to provide these earbuds to their employees.
User Experience
Jabra always does a great job with its packaging. I’ve never experienced an unboxing process with one of their products that ends with the item being damaged. The exterior of the box provides a lot of detailed information on the product as well as a featured image on the front of the box that lets the user know what to expect the product to look like.
When you open the box, you will be greeted with a quick start guide that is a simple cardboard insert. I rather like this option as opposed to the full printed manual that some products come with. The insert shows you how to connect the earbuds as well as the touch commands for each earbud. Under the insert, you will find the earbuds in their charging case as well as the replacement ear gels. A short USB-C charging cable is included as well.
One of the accessories I really liked being included was the USB receiver. While I have found Bluetooth to be reliable for connectivity to computers, the USB received option gives users one more step of confidence that the Evolve2 Buds will connect to the correct device each time. There is nothing more frustrating than joining a video conference only to have your headphones skip over to a different device that it recognized nearby. The USB received is nestled in between the earbuds inside the charging case, which I think is a great place to store it.
Once you get the Evolve2 Buds paired, the guide directs you to connect the earbuds to the Jabra Sound+ app. Will the earbuds work without this step? Yes, but you won’t realize their full potential as a hybrid-working device. All of the special features outlined above, won’t be active and you will just have an above-average quality set of wireless earbuds. So, I highly recommend connecting the earbuds to the Jabra Sound+ app. You will have an entirely different listening experience.
The first step in the app process is to accept Bluetooth permissions. You will then see a welcome screen that shows you a menu of steps you will walk through during the set-up phase. You will need to select your device from the app’s menu. Make sure you select the correct device. The app will take you through the MyFit process to ensure your earbuds fit inside your ears correctly. If the earbuds aren’t the optimum fit, the app will provide suggestions on how to adjust them so that they work better. I will say that even though Jabra provides extra ear gels, you might still have some issues with getting a 100% perfect fit.
The next step is to go through the MySound hearing profile testing. You will be asked to provide your gender and birth year and then the app will play a series of tones to determine how each of your ears detects the different pitches. This creates your hearing profile, which the app will then use to provide the best possible sound when you listen to different media using the Evolve2 Buds.
The app also gives the user the option to customize their earbud button controls and provides an equalizer for music. The Sound+ app also provides access to firmware updates and other settings. Overall, the app was very easy to use and there is a lot of documentation included.
I am always impressed by the high production quality and design of Jabra’s earbuds — and the Evolve2 Buds are no exception. These earbuds have a sleek, minimalist style that are easy to get accustomed to. I’m glad that a charging case is included as it’s great for storage and for keeping the earbuds ready to go with an extra charge. Even though most earbuds will work with video conferencing systems like Teams and Zoom, the Evolve2 Buds are certified to work with those systems. That integration makes it that much easier to work remotely without having to struggle with connection issues.
The Evolve2 Buds are very comfortable to wear. I love the shape of them and since they are super lightweight, you hardly notice they are present. I will note that the MyFit feature of the Sound+ app might encourage you to push the earbuds farther into your ears than is naturally comfortable. This might occur to help provide you with a more secure seal in your ears but I would suggest finding a nice balance between that seal and your personal comfort level.
As far as sound quality goes, I was very impressed and would rate them in the same class as my Apple AirPods Pro Gen 1. They have a lot of advanced features (Adjustable ANC, HearThrough, etc.) that enable the earbuds to provide a better listening experience than most earbuds, but they aren’t quite as good as the Apple AirPods Pro Gen 2. The only thing I wasn’t keen on with these earbuds was that the sound quality can suffer if you don’t have just the right fit.
Conclusion
The Jabra Evolve2 Buds are a solid choice for those in need of wireless earbuds for hybrid-working environments or everyday use. They offer excellent noise cancellation, impressive battery life, and clear and crisp sound quality. Even though the ‘fit’ can be difficult to dial in for each individual person, the earbuds are comfortable to wear for long periods of time and the controls are intuitive and easy to use. Whether you’re on a conference call or jamming out to your favorite tunes, the Jabra Evolve2 Buds are a great option to consider.
