How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want maximum battery life, waterproofing and active noise cancelling for hard training, choose JBL Endurance Race 2; if you need an open-ear hook design that keeps your ear canal free and your surroundings audible, choose ROEL-PLAY in-Ear Open Fit.
• JBL Endurance Race 2 — biggest strength: IP68 waterproof and dustproof buds with a 48-hour total playback figure (12 hours in the buds plus three charges in the case), Active Noise Cancelling and Smart Ambient.
• JBL Endurance Race 2 — biggest trade-off: The charging case is only IPX2 water-resistant, not waterproof, so wet buds and a wet case are a real risk if you don't dry them first.
• ROEL-PLAY in-Ear Open Fit — biggest strength: True open-ear hook design with Bluetooth 5.4, directional sound transmission with sound-leakage reduction, dual AI noise cancellation and an AI translation feature.
• ROEL-PLAY in-Ear Open Fit — biggest trade-off: Battery life is listed at 4 hours, and the noise control is sound isolation rather than active noise cancellation.
• Choose JBL Endurance Race 2 if you want one pair that survives sweat, rain and even submersion, and you want to disappear into your music between sets.
• Choose ROEL-PLAY in-Ear Open Fit if you hate the plugged-up feeling of in-ear tips, want to hear traffic and training partners, and you care about the newest Bluetooth generation.
The JBL Endurance Race 2 is built around one idea: surviving the workout. The IP68 rating means the earbuds themselves are fully dustproof and waterproof, and the spec sheet goes as far as saying they can handle being submerged deeper than a meter in fresh water or sea water. That is a serious claim for a pair of true wireless buds, and it tells you JBL expects sweat, rain and possibly a dropped earbud in a puddle. The caveat is clearly stated, and it matters: the charging case is only IPX2 water-resistant and is not waterproof, so you are supposed to dry the buds before they go back in. If you are the kind of person who throws soaking earbuds into a case at the gym, this is the one habit you have to change.
The fit is the other half of the sports story. JBL uses an ergonomic wing enhancer with Twistlock technology, and in plain terms that means the bud twists into place for a better seal and more stability. There is also a hook-shaped earpiece design and three sizes of ear tips in the box, plus two enhancers, so you have room to tune the fit. For running, burpees, box jumps and anything where a bud usually pops loose, that combination of wing plus twist is exactly the right approach.
Battery and features round it out. The buds are rated for 12 hours of playback, with another 36 hours in the case for a 48-hour total, and 10 minutes on the included USB-C cable is claimed to give you four more hours. There is Active Noise Cancelling for focusing on the work, Smart Ambient to let outside sound back in without removing the buds, and a touch control system that can be managed from an app. Bluetooth 5.3 handles the connection over a 10-meter range. This is the pair I would point a runner, lifter or swim-adjacent athlete toward — someone who wants to block the world out and not think about their earbuds again until the next charge. Skip it if you specifically want open-ear awareness at all times or if you refuse to babysit a non-waterproof case.
The ROEL-PLAY in-Ear Open Fit goes the opposite direction. Instead of sealing your canal, it uses a lightweight ear-hook structure that sits outside the ear opening. The brand's own framing is that this avoids the squeezing, swelling and stuffiness people get from traditional in-ear tips, which is the whole point of open-ear audio. You hear your music and you also hear the road, the gym, your training partner and the announcement on the platform. The curved hook is designed to follow the contour of your ear and hold steady during hard movement, and the frame is described as ultra-light and breathable, which is what you want for long wear.
On the tech side, this is a surprisingly loaded set of features for an open-ear sport model. Bluetooth 5.4 is the newest generation here, with the claimed benefits being faster pairing, more transmission capacity, a longer stable range and better ability to push through obstacles — and the spec sheet lists a 15-meter Bluetooth range, which is longer than the JBL's 10 meters. Audio comes from a dual-driver setup with composite diaphragms and graphene circuits, tuned for balanced treble and midrange with enhanced bass. There is also directional sound transmission with reverse sound-wave cancellation, claimed to reduce sound leakage and ambient noise, plus dual AI noise reduction for calls and an AI real-time translation function. Touch and voice controls are supported, and it works with iOS, Android and Windows.
The honest trade-off is endurance. Battery average life is listed at 4 hours, which is a fraction of the JBL's figure, so this is a pair you charge often rather than a pair you take on a multi-day trip without a cable. The noise control is sound isolation, not active noise cancelling, which is consistent with an open design — you are not buying these to escape the world, you are buying them to stay in it. I would recommend these for cyclists, walkers, casual runners, commuters and office users who want comfort and awareness over isolation. Skip them if battery life is your top priority or if you want real noise cancelling.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for water and dust protection → JBL Endurance Race 2. IP68 on the buds, with the explicit warning that the case is only IPX2 and not waterproof.
• Best for staying aware of traffic and surroundings → ROEL-PLAY in-Ear Open Fit. The open-ear hook design leaves your canal free by definition.
• Best for noise cancelling → JBL Endurance Race 2. It has Active Noise Cancelling plus Smart Ambient; the ROEL-PLAY lists sound isolation instead.
• Best for the newest Bluetooth generation and range → ROEL-PLAY in-Ear Open Fit. Bluetooth 5.4 with a 15-meter listed range versus Bluetooth 5.3 and 10 meters.
• Best for comfort over very long sessions → ROEL-PLAY in-Ear Open Fit. The whole design premise is no canal pressure and no stuffiness after hours of wear.
• Best for gym and pool-adjacent abuse → JBL Endurance Race 2. Twistlock wing enhancers, three tip sizes and a submersion-rated build are made for it.
• Best for calls and travel extras → ROEL-PLAY in-Ear Open Fit. Dual AI call noise reduction and an AI translation feature are unusual extras at this level.
• Best for fast top-ups → JBL Endurance Race 2. Ten minutes on the included cable is claimed to add four hours.
• Best if you hate drying your gear → ROEL-PLAY in-Ear Open Fit. No waterproof case caveat to manage.
In my opinion, the JBL Endurance Race 2 is the one I would buy, and it comes down to the numbers a sports buyer actually lives with: 48 hours of total playback, IP68 on the buds, Active Noise Cancelling with Smart Ambient, and a fit system engineered specifically to stay put during hard movement. If your training is the priority and you want a pair that just keeps going, that is the pick. I would only steer you to the ROEL-PLAY in-Ear Open Fit if open-ear awareness and all-day canal-free comfort matter more to you than battery — and in that case its Bluetooth 5.4 connection, dual-driver tuning and AI call features make it a genuinely interesting alternative rather than a compromise. Whichever way you lean, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that is the one thing that can tip a close call.
how to use sports headphones
Start by choosing the right fit: the JBL Endurance Race 2 ships with three sizes of ear tips plus two enhancers, and you twist the bud into place using the wing enhancer for a stable seal. The ROEL-PLAY in-Ear Open Fit instead hooks over your ear and sits outside the canal, so you simply position the hook and let it rest. After each session, dry the JBL buds and case before charging, since the case is only IPX2 water-resistant.
how to wear running headphones
Open-ear models like the ROEL-PLAY in-Ear Open Fit are worn by hooking the curved arm over your auricle so the speaker sits near, not inside, your ear opening — that keeps you aware of traffic while you run. In-ear sports models like the JBL Endurance Race 2 use a tip plus wing enhancer that twists into the ear for a tighter, more secure hold. Either way, the goal is a fit that does not move when you sweat or change pace.
how to pair jlab sport headphones
For Bluetooth sport earbuds in general, the process is the same: charge the buds, take them out of the case so they enter pairing mode, open your phone's Bluetooth settings, and select the model name from the list. The JBL Endurance Race 2 uses Bluetooth 5.3, and the ROEL-PLAY in-Ear Open Fit uses Bluetooth 5.4, which is described as supporting fast pairing. If pairing stalls, put the buds back in the case, close it, and start again.
how to charge impact sport headphones
Both of these charge through their case with a USB-C connection. The JBL Endurance Race 2 has a 600 mAh case battery, takes about 2 hours to charge the case, and 10 minutes on the included JBL cable is claimed to give four hours of playback — JBL specifically recommends using only the included cable. The ROEL-PLAY in-Ear Open Fit supports rapid flash charging and shows a real-time battery level display, which is helpful given its 4-hour playback figure.
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