Will there be a Jabra Elite 95t?

Jabra has remained a force to be reckoned with ever since the first Jabra Elite earbuds emerged in 2018. However, the company’s latest Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 and Elite 8 Active Gen 2 coincide with the unfortunate news that GN (Jabra’s parent company) is winding down the entire Elite lineup. Supposedly, the company aims to clear its existing stock of Elite earbuds by the end of 2024. Citing increased costs and competition, GN appears to be pivoting its focus and resources on more financially attractive parts of the business. While Jabra claims it will continue providing updates to the products for “several years,” it remains a gamble on support lasting beyond 2024 for a retired product. Given this information, it looks unlikely that we will see the Jabra Elite 95t come to market soon (if at all.)

• Jabra Elite 65t — March 28, 2018
• Jabra Elite 75t — November 1, 2019
• Jabra Elite 85t — October 31, 2020

Except for the Elite 65t ($73 at Amazon,) Jabra favors fall releases when launching its t-series earbuds. For example, the Jabra Elite 75t ($185 at Amazon) came to market in the autumn of 2019. The updated Elite 85t were launched in the fall of 2020. This compares to the release of the Elite 65t, which came to shelves in the spring of 2018.

Jabra enjoyed a roughly one-year release window for updating its Elite t-series earbuds. For example, the Jabra Elite 75t were released one year and seven months after the Elite 65t. Furthermore, the Elite 85t came to market only 11 months after the Elite 75t. By that metric, we should have seen the next-gen Jabra Elite 95t launch in the fall of 2021. With Jabra exiting the consumer earbuds market, we may never receive an update to the Jabra Elite earbud lineup.

Should you wait for the Jabra Elite 95t?

In short, you should not wait for the Jabra Elite 95t. Instead, fans should consider the Jabra Elite 85t. At the time of writing, these buds remain on sale from the company’s website and most major retailers. Standing proud as some of the company’s finest, the Jabra Elite 85t offer excellent sound quality and noise canceling. Just ensure you snatch a pair before stocks run dry later this year.

The Jabra Elite 85t ($167 at Amazon) are some of the most comfortable feature-rich buds on the market. In addition to a small form factor, the Elite 85t house oblong ear tips that fit snuggly within the ear canal. Additionally, commuters will enjoy the earbuds’ powerful noise canceling and compact design for easy transport. The Elite 85t also host Jabra’s HearThrough feature, which amplifies outside environmental sounds. Walking outside on a damp day is a breeze thanks to the buds’ IPX4 water-resistant rating. Jabra’s Sound+ app provides a five-band custom EQ, control remapping, and the company’s “Moments” feature to customize the noise canceling level for specific environments. The charging case supports USB-C, Qi wireless, and fast charging, with the buds profiting nearly six hours of ANC-enabled playback time.

Those looking for affordable buds with excellent noise canceling should consider the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 ($99 at Amazon.) These attenuate low frequencies below 100Hz by roughly 20dB, making them sound one-quarter as loud as they would without ANC enabled. The Galaxy Buds 2 also enjoy a small and lightweight build, measuring just 17 x 20.9 mm and weighing 5g per bud. Wireless connectivity is supported via Bluetooth 5.2 with the SBC, AAC, and Samsung Scalable Codec. The last provides up to 512kbps, 24-bit/ 96kHz audio sampling to compatible Samsung smartphones. The Galaxy Buds 2 reproduce a broad list of musical genres well, with a pleasing sub-bass boost between 40Hz and 100Hz. However, battery life falls short of the Jabra Elite 85t, lasting five hours on a single charge and a five-minute top-up yielding 60 minutes of playtime. The buds support Samsung’s Wireless Powershare feature, Qi Wireless charging, and are wired via USB-C.

If a small form factor and excellent noise canceling are your top priority, the Sony WF-1000XM4 ($278 at Amazon) are a great choice. Bundled into a 4 x 6.9 x 3 cm and 41.1g case are a formidable pair of earbuds with over 51dB of noise canceling and 47dB of isolation. The buds also support Bluetooth 5.2 with the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. The last provides up to 990kbps, 24-bit/ 96kHz audio sampling with compatible smartphones. Users can also use Sony’s 360 Reality Audio feature to stream surround sound content from Tidal, Deezer, and Amazon Music HD. The buds’ IPX4 water-resistant rating protects against omnidirectional water splashes. This should be more than suitable for most everyday exercise regimens. The WF-1000XM4 also boast above-average battery life, with nearly eight hours of ANC-enabled playtime. Unfortunately, the built-in microphone struggles to block out intrusive environmental sounds when taking calls.

Finally, the now-discontinued Bose QuietComfort Earbuds ($154.96 at Amazon) offer superb ANC if you can find them. Users gain up to 43dB of noise canceling to make intrusive drones from cars and trains sound 90% quieter. The buds also come equipped with StayHear Max ear tips and an IPX4 water-resistant rating to protect against sweaty workouts. Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds are home to a pleasing frequency curve, albeit with a slightly under-emphasized bass response. Thankfully, this can be amended using the custom EQ within the Bose Music App. The buds stream via Bluetooth 5.1 with the SBC and AAC codecs. Unfortunately, Bluetooth Multipoint does not make an appearance. The QuietComfort Earbuds are also bulky, with the case measuring 31.8 x 88.9 x 50.8 mm and each bud weighing 8.5g. Nevertheless, most users will enjoy the mixture of excellent noise canceling, pleasing sound quality, and over five hours of battery life.

All the features we want to see

The jury is out on whether or not GN will ever bring back the Jabra Elite line of true wireless earbuds. While it seems unlikely now, electronic device manufacturers have made comebacks in the past. If Jabra decides to return to the fore, we expect it to bring a list of improvements to the category. Here are all the features we want to see if and when the Jabra Elite 95t come to fruition.

An affordable price tag

Jabra is home to an eclectic catalog of audio products. For example, its Jabra Elite Active series are among some of the best workout earbuds on the market. Alternatively, work-conscious fans can opt for the company’s Evolve2 computer-friendly headphones. Depending on the product, users can expect the cost to vary substantially.

Unfortunately, Jabra’s Elite t-series has consistently increased in price with each release. For example, the Jabra Elite 65t launched for $170. Its successor, the Jabra Elite 75t, came to market for $180. The company’s latest t-series buds, the Jabra Elite 85t, hit shelves for $229. This marked a roughly 27% price increase upon their predecessor. If this trend continues, the Jabra Elite 95t would launch for approximately $290. While I expect this is the worst-case scenario, I would like Jabra’s next t-series earbuds to cost $229 at most if they launch.

The aptX Bluetooth codec

If you enjoy listening to music wirelessly, Bluetooth codecs are worth paying attention to. While the average muso may find them inconsequential, Bluetooth codecs can influence your listening experience. In particular, they dictate the speed and quality of data transfers between your source device and earbuds. Those who own an iPhone and a pair of AirPods will likely connect via the AAC codec. However, AAC traditionally performs less predictably with Android smartphones.

The SBC codec is the backstop Bluetooth codec between any A2DP-enabled devices. Unfortunately, this connection type is prone to lower audio quality transfers and significant data loss, providing up to 320kbps, 48kHz, and 16-bit audio sampling. This pales compared to the aptX Bluetooth codec, which supports reliable 352kbps, 48kHz/ 16-bit audio sampling. The Jabra Elite 95t would benefit Android smartphone owners by incorporating Qualcomm’s aptX Bluetooth codec.

Improved Bluetooth multipoint connectivity

The Jabra Elite 85t support Bluetooth 5.1, improving power efficiency over Bluetooth 4.0 devices. It also allows for handy wireless features such as Bluetooth multipoint. This lets users stream audio from two separate devices simultaneously. This can be useful for automatically answering phone calls from your smartphone while streaming music from a nearby laptop.

That said, Bluetooth multipoint plays nicer on some devices than others. For example, the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 ($249.99 at Amazon) have excellent multipoint connectivity. While listening to music on a laptop, you only need to pause your music and press play on your smartphone for the headphones to switch over. The cans even know which device you are streaming over, which is a neat trick. On the other hand, Jabra’s Elite 85t suffers audio-visual lag when paired with two separate devices. The Jabra Elite 95t must bring seamless Bluetooth multipoint connectivity if it is released.

Longer battery life

Headphones come in all different shapes and sizes. If you want to avoid the inconvenience of battery degradation altogether, you are better off purchasing a pair of wired earbuds. However, those looking for wireless listening with exceptional battery life should consider over-ear headphones. These typically yield around 20 hours of ANC-enabled playtime. Conversely, true wireless earbuds last an average of four to five hours with ANC-enabled.

The Jabra Elite 85t boast above-average battery life. For example, the buds profit five hours and 41 minutes of listening time with ANC enabled. However, many of Jabra’s competitors, such as the Sony WF-1000XM4, provide nearly eight hours of listening with ANC activated. Likewise, the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC ($89 at Amazon) profit over 15 hours of continuous noise canceling listening time. While the Elite 85t last long enough for most everyday activities, the Jabra Elite 95t would benefit from better battery performance.

Stronger low-frequency noise canceling

Noise canceling is a handy feature for blocking out intrusive environmental sounds. Ensuring the buds are inserted correctly and sealing the ear canal is the best way to receive optimum ANC performance. When passive isolation and ANC work in tandem, noises from car engines, airports, and trains sound substantially quieter. Noise canceling also reduces the need to listen to music at potentially harmful levels to mask unwanted outside sounds. This minimizes the chances of suffering noise-induced hearing loss and ear fatigue over long periods.

The Jabra Elite 85t boast excellent noise canceling. In particular, the earbuds effectively quell sounds from 250Hz to 1kHz. This helps to block out most incidental noise from roadworks, crowded streets, and passing conversations. However, there is a significant drop off below 150Hz. This means super-low rumbles from airplanes and trains may penetrate your music mix. While not the biggest issue, it would be neat if the Jabra Elite 95t played host to more robust noise canceling below 100Hz.

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