We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a lighter, smaller earbud with app-level control over your touch functions and the longest total playtime, choose JLab Go Air Pop+; if you need a longer single-charge listening window, a bigger driver, environmental noise cancellation on calls, and a hardier waterproof rating, choose iHoto Samsung Earbuds.
• JLab Go Air Pop+ biggest strength: 9+ hours per bud and 35+ hours total, plus a JLab app that lets you remap touch functions and pick EQ presets.
• JLab Go Air Pop+ biggest trade-off: No noise cancellation at all — the spec sheet lists "None" for noise control, so it relies purely on its Be Aware pass-through mode.
• iHoto Samsung Earbuds biggest strength: 4 hours per charge stretching to 44 hours total, a 13mm dynamic driver, and environmental noise cancellation for calls.
• iHoto Samsung Earbuds biggest trade-off: The buds themselves run dry faster than the JLab pair, and the brand is a third-party maker rather than Samsung itself.
• Pick JLab if you want the smallest case, the lightest buds, and app-tunable touch controls.
• Pick iHoto if you want bigger drivers, call noise cancellation, and a tougher XIP7 water rating for sweaty workouts.
The Go Air Pop+ is built around one idea: stay tiny, stay light, stay out of the way. JLab says the buds are 15% smaller and 40% lighter than the earlier Go Air, and the case is smaller than a credit card. That matters more than it sounds. If you carry earbuds in a jeans pocket or a running short, a case that disappears is the whole point. The Violet colorway is the only finish listed, so this is not a pick for someone who wants a neutral black or white.
Battery is where this model pulls ahead on paper. Each bud is rated for 9+ hours, and the case adds 26+ more, for 35+ hours total. The case charges over an integrated USB-C cable, and JLab claims 10 minutes of charging gets you an hour of playback. For someone who forgets to charge until the last minute, that quick top-up is genuinely useful.
Touch control is the headline feature, and it's the most flexible on this list. The buds use touch control for volume and playback, and the JLab app lets you control touch functions directly — so if a tap keeps triggering something you don't want, you can change it rather than live with it. The app also handles Be Aware mode (lets ambient sound in for safer listening) and EQ presets: JLab Signature, Balanced, or Bass Boost. Bluetooth 5.3, Google Fast Pair for Android, and a 6mm dynamic driver round it out. There's no noise cancellation, so don't buy this expecting silence on a plane — buy it for a small, light, customizable everyday bud.
Who should buy it: commuters and gym-goers who want the smallest possible case, long total battery life, and the ability to reprogram touch controls through an app.
Who should skip it: anyone who needs active noise cancellation, or who wants a hardier water rating than IP55.
The iHoto model takes the opposite approach: bigger numbers, bigger hardware. The 13mm dynamic drivers with triple-layer composite diaphragms are the largest listed here, and iHoto positions the tuning around powerful bass, clear mids, and strong treble. Each bud has a built-in microphone, and the spec sheet lists environmental noise cancellation, which is aimed at making you sound clearer on calls in noisy places. If most of your listening is podcasts and phone calls rather than critical music listening, that combination is the practical one.
Battery is split in an interesting way. You get about 4 hours per charge in the buds — noticeably shorter than the JLab's 9+ — but the case pushes total playtime to 44 hours, which is the higher total of the two. A 10-minute quick charge is claimed to give 2 hours of playback, and a full case charge takes 1.5 hours over USB-C. Bluetooth 5.4 is the newer standard here, with a listed range of 15 meters and fewer dropouts than 5.1.
Durability is the other clear win. The XIP7 waterproof rating is a step above the JLab's IP55, so sweat, rain, and heavy workouts are less of a concern. You also get three eartip sizes (S/M/L) in the box, a white silicone build, and touch control panels on both buds for power, playback, track skipping, calls, volume, and voice assistant. One thing to be clear about: despite the "Samsung Earbuds" wording in the title, this is an iHoto product that lists compatibility with Samsung Galaxy phones — it is not made by Samsung. Buy it for the specs, not the brand name in the listing.
Who should buy it: workout-focused listeners and call-heavy users who want big drivers, call noise cancellation, a long total playtime figure, and XIP7 water resistance.
Who should skip it: anyone who wants the newest Bluetooth standard with app-based touch customization, or who dislikes white earbuds.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for long single sessions → JLab Go Air Pop+. If you wear buds for a full workday without docking them, 9+ hours per bud beats 4 hours by a wide margin.
• Best for sound hardware → iHoto Samsung Earbuds. A 13mm dynamic driver is physically larger than the 6mm unit in the JLab pair.
• Best for calls in noisy places → iHoto Samsung Earbuds, which lists environmental noise cancellation; the JLab pair lists no noise control at all.
• Best for workouts and rain → iHoto Samsung Earbuds. XIP7 is a tougher water rating than IP55.
• Best for touch-control customization → JLab Go Air Pop+. The JLab app lets you change what the touch functions do; the iHoto pair offers a fixed touch-control layout.
• Best for a pocketable case → JLab Go Air Pop+, whose case is smaller than a credit card and lighter than the earlier Go Air.
• Best for Android auto-pairing extras → JLab Go Air Pop+, thanks to Google Fast Pair and a missing-earbud locator.
In my opinion, the JLab Go Air Pop+ is the smarter buy for most people. The 9+ hours per bud is the number you actually feel day to day, the case is genuinely pocket-sized, and the app's ability to remap touch functions is the feature I'd miss most if I switched. I'd only point you to the iHoto Samsung Earbuds if call clarity in noise, a bigger driver, or XIP7 water resistance is your priority — those are real advantages, not marketing noise. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that's the one variable that could flip the call.
Touch control means the outer surface of each earbud responds to taps and swipes instead of a physical button. On the JLab Go Air Pop+ and the iHoto Samsung Earbuds, that surface handles playback, volume, calls, and in the JLab's case, app-assigned functions.
It depends on the model. The JLab Go Air Pop+ is the easier one here — the JLab app lets you control touch functions, so you can turn off or reassign gestures. The iHoto Samsung Earbuds use a fixed touch layout, so there's no listed app to disable them; you'd have to check the user manual for an on-bud lock.
Because touch control is active and the buds are connected over Bluetooth. Both models auto-connect when you remove them from the case, so a stray tap on the touch panel can pause music, skip tracks, or trigger your voice assistant. JLab's app gives you the most direct way to rein that in.
It's split. JLab wins per charge at 9+ hours per bud, while iHoto wins on total case-included playtime at 44 hours versus 35+ hours. If you charge nightly, JLab's per-bud figure matters more; if you go days without a charger, iHoto's total wins.
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