If you want compact earbuds for workout, choose Beats Solo Buds; if you need long battery life and over-ear coverage, choose JBL Tune 720BT. For workouts, the Beats’ small case and earbud format are easier to carry, while the JBL offers far more playback time and adjustable sound.
Beats Solo Buds vs JBL Tune 720BT at a Glance
• Beats Solo Buds — biggest strength: compact earbuds with a small carrying case and up to 18 hours of battery life. Trade-off: much less stated battery life than the JBL, and the charging cable and power adapter are sold separately.
• JBL Tune 720BT — biggest strength: up to 76 hours of battery life, plus EQ customization through the JBL Headphones app. Trade-off: over-ear headphones are bulkier to carry than earbuds.
• Choose Beats if you want an earbud setup that takes little space in a pocket or gym bag.
• Choose JBL if you favor over-ear headphones, long intervals between charges, and app-based sound adjustment.
The Beats Solo Buds are the more portable choice in this matchup. They come with a carrying case described as the smallest Beats has made, and the earbuds include four eartip size options. Those details make them worth considering if you want an earbud format that is easy to take along and want some flexibility when selecting a tip size. Their custom acoustic design and dual-layer drivers are intended to provide full-range sound and clarity while minimizing distortion.
Battery life is rated for up to 18 hours. A five-minute Fast Fuel charge can add up to an hour of playback, which may help when you are short on time before heading out. Keep the charging details in mind: the included box contents list a USB-C-to-USB-C cable, but a power adapter and USB-C charging cable are sold separately in the feature information. If your workout routine involves packing light, these are the smaller-format option; the available information does not specify a workout-specific fit or water resistance.
Who should skip them: Skip the Beats if you want the longest stated battery life or prefer over-ear coverage; the JBL offers up to 76 hours and a headphone design.
The JBL Tune 720BT is an over-ear wireless headphone, not an earbud. Its clearest advantage is battery life: JBL lists up to 76 hours of listening, with a full recharge in as little as two hours using the Type-C USB cable. A five-minute recharge can add three hours of music. If you regularly forget to charge headphones or want to use one pair across several days of listening, those figures give the JBL a substantial advantage over the Beats’ stated 18 hours.
Sound customization is another practical distinction. You can use the JBL Headphones app to adjust the EQ, while voice prompts guide you through the headphone’s features. Bluetooth 5.3 supports wireless streaming, and buttons on the ear cup handle sound and calls. Voice Aware lets you hear your own voice while talking. The design folds flat for packing, though it remains an over-ear pair rather than a compact earbud case. Its 40 mm dynamic drivers and stated frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz offer additional specification detail, but those figures alone do not establish how it will sound to every listener.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
For the workout question, the JBL may suit someone who prefers over-ear headphones for stationary exercise or listening before and after a session. The supplied details do not establish that it is sweat-resistant or designed to stay secure during vigorous movement. People searching for the best on ear headphones for workout should note that this model is described as over-ear, not on-ear.
Who should skip it: Skip the JBL if a small earbud case matters more than long battery life or you need a less bulky workout carry.
• Best for a small carrying setup → Beats Solo Buds. They are earbuds, and the included case is described as especially small. The JBL folds flat, but it is still an over-ear headphone.
• Best for the longest stated battery life → JBL Tune 720BT. Its up-to-76-hour figure is much higher than the Beats’ up-to-18-hour figure.
• Best for a quick top-up before listening → JBL Tune 720BT. Five minutes of charging is listed to provide three hours of music, compared with up to one hour from five minutes on the Beats.
• Best for workout portability → Beats Solo Buds. Their earbud format and compact case are more convenient to pack than over-ear headphones, although the provided specifications do not claim a sport-specific fit.
• Best for changing the sound profile → JBL Tune 720BT. Its companion app offers EQ adjustment; no comparable EQ feature is listed for the Beats.
• Best for eartip size options → Beats Solo Buds. Four eartip sizes are included, a useful detail for shoppers who want options when fitting earbuds.
• Best for hearing your voice during calls → JBL Tune 720BT. Its Voice Aware feature is designed to let you hear yourself while talking, and controls are on the ear cups.
• Best kids headset for workout? Consider the form factor first. These product details describe the JBL as an adult over-ear model, while the Beats are earbuds with four eartip sizes. Neither sheet identifies either product as a children’s headset, so fit and supervision matter more than assuming either is made for kids.
• Best open ear earbuds for workout? Neither is described that way. The Beats are earbuds, but the supplied information does not call them open-ear; the JBL is explicitly over-ear. If an open-ear design is essential, these two do not meet that stated requirement.
In my opinion, I would choose Beats Solo Buds for a workout-focused buyer who wants earbuds that are easier to carry and a case that takes up little space. The short-charge playback boost is useful, though the total stated battery life is modest beside the JBL’s.
I would pick the JBL Tune 720BT instead for long listening stretches, a longer gap between charges, and app-based EQ. For workouts specifically, I favor the Beats’ compact format, while recognizing that neither set of supplied specifications confirms sweat resistance or a secure fit for intense exercise.
Before choosing, decide whether you actually want earbuds or over-ear headphones. The Beats are the clear match if you want a small case and eartips; the JBL is the match if you prefer headphones that sit over the ears and fold flat for a bag. They solve different carrying and wearing preferences, so battery life alone should not make the decision.
Consider the charging setup as well. The Beats include a USB-C-to-USB-C cable in the box, but the power adapter and USB-C charging cable are listed as sold separately in the feature information. The JBL uses a Type-C USB cable for charging, with a stated two-hour recharge time. Both provide a five-minute quick-charge figure, but the JBL claims three hours of additional music versus up to one hour for the Beats.
For workouts, be cautious about reading beyond the listed features. The Beats’ earbud format may be easier to take to a gym, but no sweat-resistance or workout-locking feature is specified. The JBL has more battery life and adjustable EQ, but the details do not say it is built for vigorous movement either. If your priority is a secure exercise fit or protection from sweat, check for those specific claims before deciding.
Sound preferences matter, too. The Beats highlight custom acoustic architecture and dual-layer drivers intended to limit distortion. The JBL emphasizes Pure Bass sound and gives you EQ adjustment through its app. Those are different approaches: Beats describes the driver and acoustic design, while JBL gives you a way to tune the sound profile. Neither description guarantees that one will suit every listener better.
If price affects your decision, check the current price on Amazon using the page’s button. I would still make the first choice based on fit, portability, battery needs, and whether you want app-based EQ; those are the distinctions the available product details make clear.
The Beats are earbuds with a compact carrying case, while the JBL is an over-ear headphone. That makes the Beats easier to pack for exercise, but neither product information sheet specifies sweat resistance or a workout-specific fit.
The JBL Tune 720BT is listed for up to 76 hours, compared with up to 18 hours for the Beats Solo Buds. The JBL also lists up to three hours of playback from a five-minute charge; the Beats list up to one hour from five minutes.
The JBL Headphones app provides EQ adjustment for the Tune 720BT. The Beats information describes its acoustic design and dual-layer drivers, but does not list an EQ app or equivalent sound-customization feature.
Neither is identified as an open-ear design in the supplied details. The Beats are earbuds, while the JBL Tune 720BT is an over-ear headphone.
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