If you want compact, workout-friendly earbuds with noise control, choose Beats Studio Buds; if you need long-lasting over-ear headphones for workouts and everyday listening, choose JBL Tune 720BT. For a workout, I’d lean toward the Beats’ in-ear fit and IPX4 sweat resistance; the JBL’s standout is battery life, not a workout-specific design.
• Beats Studio Buds: True wireless earbuds with Active Noise Cancelling, Transparency mode, three ear-tip sizes, and IPX4 sweat resistance. The trade-off: up to 8 hours of listening time, or up to 24 hours with the charging case.
• JBL Tune 720BT: Over-ear wireless headphones with adjustable EQ and up to 76 hours of battery life. The trade-off: their over-ear format is bulkier than earbuds, and the listed features do not specify sweat resistance.
• Choose Beats if you want in-ear buds for workouts, a choice between reducing outside sound and hearing more of it, and a pocket-sized charging case.
• Choose JBL if long stretches between charges, over-ear coverage, and sound customization matter more than a compact earbud form.
The Beats Studio Buds are the more workout-oriented choice of these two. They are true wireless earbuds, so there is no headband to manage, and their IPX4 rating means they are designed to resist sweat and water. That makes them a more sensible fit for a gym session or a walk than the JBL headphones, whose listed features do not include a sweat-resistance rating. IPX4 is a useful qualification, though not a promise that the earbuds are suited to swimming or immersion.
Fit is personal, but Beats includes three sizes of soft ear tips. That gives you options for finding a stable fit and an acoustic seal, both relevant when you are moving around or listening in a noisy setting. The earbuds also offer two listening modes: Active Noise Cancelling to reduce surrounding sound, and Transparency mode to let more of it through. For a workout, that choice can help you adapt to the setting rather than using one fixed listening approach. Neither mode should be treated as a substitute for paying attention to your surroundings.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-20 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip them: Skip the Beats if your main priority is the longest possible listening time between charges; the JBL’s stated battery life is much longer.
The JBL Tune 720BT is an over-ear wireless headphone, not an earbud. Its design suits someone who prefers headphones that sit over the ears and wants a long listening window without frequent charging. JBL lists up to 76 hours of battery life. The headphones can recharge in as little as two hours, and a five-minute recharge is listed as providing three additional hours of music. Those figures make the JBL especially appealing for extended listening days or for someone who often forgets to charge overnight.
JBL describes the sound as Pure Bass and lets you customize it through the JBL Headphones app, including by choosing preset EQ modes or adjusting the EQ curve. That option is useful if you want to tailor the sound to different content or personal taste rather than rely on one fixed tuning. Bluetooth 5.3 handles wireless streaming, while ear-cup buttons provide control over audio and calls. Voice Aware lets you hear your own voice while talking, and voice prompts guide you through the headphones’ features.
The headphones have a foldable design for packing in a backpack, and their over-ear format is a clear alternative to the Beats’ small, in-ear form. But the trade-off matters for exercise: the supplied features do not list a sweat-resistance rating. The JBL may suit a workout where over-ear headphones feel comfortable to you, but based on the available specifications, I would not choose it over the Beats specifically for sweat resistance. It is also not the right match if your priority is an earbud-style fit.
Who should skip them: Skip the JBL if you need compact true wireless earbuds or want a stated sweat-resistance rating for workouts.
• Best fit for workouts involving sweat → Beats Studio Buds. Their IPX4 rating is the relevant distinction. The JBL’s listed features do not provide a sweat-resistance rating.
• Best for workout earbuds without a headband → Beats Studio Buds. They are true wireless earbuds; the JBL is an over-ear headphone.
• Best for the longest listed battery life → JBL Tune 720BT. JBL specifies up to 76 hours, compared with up to 8 hours from the Beats earbuds alone.
• Best if you want a charging case for extra listening time → Beats Studio Buds. Their pocket-sized case brings the stated combined listening time up to 24 hours.
• Best for switching between noise reduction and hearing more of your surroundings → Beats Studio Buds. They include Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency modes.
• Best for adjusting the sound to your taste → JBL Tune 720BT. Its companion app offers preset EQ modes and adjustable EQ.
• Best for quick battery top-ups → JBL Tune 720BT. A five-minute recharge is listed as adding three hours of music.
• Best for people comparing workout headphone styles → choose by fit and setting. The Beats are the more clearly workout-oriented option from the listed sweat-resistance details; the JBL may appeal if you specifically prefer over-ear headphones and value long battery life.
In my opinion, I would buy the Beats Studio Buds for a workout because their true wireless design, three ear-tip sizes, and IPX4 sweat resistance suit that use better than the JBL’s listed features do.
The JBL Tune 720BT is the stronger pick for long listening stretches, customizable EQ, and avoiding frequent charging.
But for workout use specifically, I’d rather have compact earbuds with a stated sweat-resistance rating.
That is also why I would not choose either model based on generic searches for the “best kids headset for workout” or “best open ear earbuds for workout”: these two products do not match those descriptions.
Start with the form factor you actually want to wear. The Beats are in-ear and come with three ear-tip sizes, while the JBL sits over the ears and folds for packing. A preference for over-ear headphones can outweigh the convenience of earbuds, but the two designs will not feel interchangeable during exercise or daily travel.
Next, weigh workout needs against battery needs. The Beats’ IPX4 rating and listening modes make their feature set more relevant to sweat-prone exercise and changing surroundings. The JBL’s listed 76-hour battery life, two-hour recharge time, and quick-charge detail make a stronger case for long stretches of listening. Those are different advantages, not a direct measure of which product sounds better.
Also consider how much control you want over your listening. Beats gives you ANC and Transparency mode; JBL offers app-based EQ adjustment and controls for calls and media on the ear cup. If price matters to your decision, check the current price on Amazon using the page’s price button rather than assuming one model costs less.
For workouts where sweat resistance matters, the Beats have the clearer specification: they are IPX4-rated and are earbuds. The JBL is over-ear, and its listed features do not state a sweat-resistance rating.
JBL lists up to 76 hours of battery life for the Tune 720BT. Beats lists up to 8 hours for the Studio Buds, or up to 24 hours combined with the charging case.
Yes. They offer Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency mode. The JBL feature information describes sound isolation and EQ customization, but does not list ANC or a Transparency mode.
Yes. The JBL Headphones app offers preset EQ modes and the option to adjust the EQ curve. That gives you a way to tailor the sound; it is a different feature from the Beats’ ANC and Transparency listening modes.
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