We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-20 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a single pair of open-ear earbuds for all-day comfort while you stay aware of your surroundings, choose Avantree E191; if you need maximum noise cancellation plus a second pair of pocket-size earbuds for the gym, choose JLab Graphite Bundle.
• Avantree E191 — biggest strength: Open-ear design that rests outside your ear instead of inside it, so you hear your music and the world around you at the same time.
• Avantree E191 — biggest trade-off: Only one pair of earbuds in the bundle, and the wired open-ear piece plus the ANC earbuds share a single bundle rather than giving you two separate listening tools.
• JLab Graphite Bundle — biggest strength: Two complete products in one box — the Go Lux ANC on-ear headphones with up to 30 dB hybrid noise cancellation, and the tiny Go Air Pop+ earbuds for the gym.
• JLab Graphite Bundle — biggest trade-off: The Go Lux ANC is an on-ear headphone, so it's bulkier than an open-ear earbud and won't let you hear your surroundings unless you switch to Be Aware Mode.
• Who each pick is for: Avantree E191 for commuters, cyclists, and office workers who want awareness plus in-line controls; JLab Graphite Bundle for travelers and gym-goers who want two tools and app-tunable sound.
The Avantree E191 bundle is built around one clear idea: keep your ears open. The Resolve earbuds rest lightly on the outside of your ear rather than plugging the canal, which relieves the pressure and fatigue that build up after a long day of in-ear buds. You get private audio for calls, music, podcasts, and videos, but you never fully shut out traffic, a coworker, or an announcement. That's the whole point, and for a lot of people that's the feature they've been hunting for.
The second half of the bundle is a set of active noise-canceling wireless earbuds with hybrid ANC rated to block up to 24 dB of environmental noise. So you're not locked into one listening style — open-ear when you want awareness, ANC earbuds when you want to shut the world out on a commute. The wireless buds pair automatically the first time you take them out of the case, and the charging case carries things a long way.
Battery is where you should set expectations. The earbuds run about 6 hours per charge, and the case extends that to roughly 24 hours total, with a charge time listed at 24 hours. That's a solid single-day figure but not a multi-day one, so if you wear buds from morning to night without docking the case, you'll notice it.
Who should buy it: the commuter who walks or bikes and refuses to be deaf to their surroundings, the open-office worker who needs to hear a desk-mate call their name, and anyone who has given up on in-ear buds because their ears ache after an hour. Who should skip it: anyone who wants the deepest possible isolation as their default, and anyone who wants two separate wireless products in one purchase. In my opinion, the E191 is the pick when comfort and awareness matter more than maximum quiet.
The JLab Graphite Bundle takes the opposite approach: instead of one clever pair, it hands you two separate products. First, the Go Lux ANC wireless headphones — on-ear, with Form-Fit earcups shaped to the natural outline of the ear, 1-inch Cloud Foam cushions, and adjustable hinges. Second, the Go Air Pop+ true wireless earbuds, which JLab describes as smaller than a credit card and 15% smaller and 40% lighter than the earlier Go Air model.
Noise cancellation is the headline on the Go Lux ANC. Hybrid ANC uses mics on both the outside and inside of the headphone for performance across a broad frequency range, and JLab rates it at up to 30 dB. When you'd rather stay aware, Be Aware mode flips the mics around so you can hear your environment without taking the headphones off. That's a genuinely useful toggle for airport gates and city crossings.
The other differentiator is the JLab App. You can tune ANC and Be Aware behavior, remap touch controls, and pick a sound preset — JLab Signature, Balance, or Bass Boost — or dial in your own. There's also a safe hearing option that caps volume to protect your ears, plus firmware updates delivered through the app. The Go Air Pop+ buds handle the other half of your life: auto on and connect when you lift them from the USB charging case, Bluetooth 5.3 for the fastest handsfree connection in JLab's lineup, and three tip sizes so you can get a proper seal. The app requirement is worth flagging — some of the Go Lux ANC's flexibility lives behind a download, and if you'd rather never open an app, you're leaving features on the table.
Who should buy it: travelers who want over-ear comfort and strong ANC on a flight, gym-goers who want a tiny second pair that disappears into a pocket, and anyone who likes tweaking presets to taste. Who should skip it: people who specifically want an open-ear fit and refuse to block their ears at all, and anyone who wants one simple product instead of two. In my opinion, the Graphite Bundle is the more versatile purchase of the two.
• Best for staying aware of your surroundings → Avantree E191. The open-ear Resolve design lets sound in by default; on the JLab side you'd have to engage Be Aware mode on the headphones.
• Best for maximum noise cancellation → JLab Graphite Bundle. Hybrid ANC rated up to 30 dB beats the E191's 24 dB figure on paper.
• Best for two products in one purchase → JLab Graphite Bundle. You get on-ear headphones and true wireless earbuds; the E191 bundle centers on one open-ear pair plus ANC earbuds.
• Best for all-day ear comfort with nothing inside the canal → Avantree E191. The Resolve rests outside the ear, which is the whole reason it exists.
• Best for pocketability on the go → JLab Graphite Bundle. The Go Air Pop+ case is described as smaller than a credit card.
• Best for sound customization → JLab Graphite Bundle. The JLab App offers presets and custom tuning; the E191 relies on in-line controls for playback, volume, calls, and voice assistant.
• Best for hands-on control without your phone → Avantree E191. Multifunctional in-line controls handle play/pause, volume, track skip, calls, and voice assistant.
• Best for a single wireless pair with a long case total → Avantree E191. 6 hours per charge, 24 hours with the case, in one tidy kit.
I'd buy the JLab Graphite Bundle. Two complete products, up to 30 dB of hybrid ANC, a genuine Be Aware mode, and app-level tuning give you more situations covered from one purchase — flights, gym sessions, and commutes all have an answer. The Avantree E191 is the better choice only if your non-negotiable is an open-ear fit that keeps you aware without toggling a mode, and that's a real, specific need rather than a nice-to-have. In my opinion, most shoppers get more value out of the JLab bundle; the E191 wins on exactly one thing and wins it well.
It depends what you want from the commute. The E191 keeps your ears open so you hear traffic and announcements without touching a setting, which I'd pick for walking and cycling. The JLab Go Lux ANC blocks more noise — up to 30 dB versus 24 dB — which suits trains and planes better.
On the listed figures, the JLab Graphite Bundle. Its Go Lux ANC headphones use hybrid ANC rated up to 30 dB, while the Avantree E191's ANC earbuds are rated up to 24 dB. Both use hybrid designs with mics inside and outside, so the difference comes down to the depth of the rating.
Avantree lists 6 hours per charge for the earbuds and 24 hours with the charging case, with a 24-hour charge time. JLab's sheet doesn't state playtime figures for either product, so I can't compare runtime directly — factor that in if battery life is your deciding spec.
Yes. I don't quote prices here because they move around constantly, and the two bundles are different propositions — one is a single-kit solution, the other is two products. Check the current price on Amazon for both and weigh it against which set of features you actually need.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.