We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-06 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a comfortable open-ear, over-ear design for video calls that can stay on your head all workday, choose JLab JBuds Open; if you need one flexible set that flips between in-ear buds, over-ear hooks, and wired mode, choose JKNKCO NE81. Both are multipoint pairing headphones, but they solve very different problems. This is a spec-based comparison to help you pick the right one for video calls and everything around them.
• JLab JBuds Open — biggest strength: open-back, breathable over-ear comfort with 24+ hours of playtime and Bluetooth Multipoint for two devices at once.
• JLab JBuds Open — biggest trade-off: the open design deliberately does not isolate you, and there is no headphone jack, so wired listening is off the table.
• JKNKCO NE81 — biggest strength: a genuine 3-in-1 system (in-ear, over-ear hook, and wired) with active noise canceling and Bluetooth Multipoint.
• JKNKCO NE81 — biggest trade-off: the 8mm drivers and bud-first design mean a smaller, more intimate sound than a full over-ear set, and the wired mode is the only way to go corded.
• Who JLab JBuds Open is for: anyone who wants an airy, all-day over-ear headset for calls, podcasts, and background listening.
• Who JKNKCO NE81 is for: anyone who wants one kit that adapts from gym to gaming to karaoke, plus noise canceling when they need to shut the world out.
The JBuds Open is built around one idea: keep your ears open and your head comfortable. The earcups and headband use Cloud Foam padding, and the rotating earcups adjust to your head shape. Because the fit is open-back, air moves freely — the kind of thing that matters when you're wearing a headset through an eight-hour workday of back-to-back video calls. If you've ever pulled off a sealed headset just to let your ears cool down, this design is aimed squarely at you.
On the audio side, JLab uses a dual coaxial driver array — a 35mm plus a 12mm driver — and LabBoost technology to deepen bass across EQ settings. The open-back structure creates a wide, room-filling soundstage rather than an isolated one. That's a real strength for awareness and long sessions, but a real trade-off if you want to block out a noisy office. There's also LabFocus sound steering, which is designed to limit sound leakage so your calls stay yours. Noise-canceling mics handle the talking side, and the JLab App gives you EQ presets (JLab Signature, Balance, Bass Boost), touch-control customization, and software updates.
Connectivity is where multipoint earns its keep. Bluetooth Multipoint pairs to two devices at once — laptop and phone, or iPhone and PC — so you can take a call on your phone without unpairing from your computer. Google Fast Pair snaps Android devices in instantly, and Microsoft Swift Pair does the same for Windows. It works with iOS, Android, and PC. You get 24+ hours of playtime, with the battery spec listing an average life of 18 hours, and JLab backs it with a two-year warranty.
Who should buy it: remote workers and students who live on video calls, want an over-ear fit that stays comfortable for hours, and value staying aware of their surroundings. Who should skip it: anyone who needs strong isolation, wants a wired option, or prefers a compact in-ear bud they can pocket. At 252g, this is a desk-and-couch headset, not a gym companion.
The NE81 is a different animal entirely — a modular kit rather than a single fixed design. Out of the box you get the detachable earbuds, a set of over-ear hooks, a detachable wired cable, a charging case, and three pairs of ear tips in S/M/L. That means one purchase covers three listening styles: in-ear buds for sleep or sports, over-ear hooks for a more secure fit, and wired mode for karaoke or live streaming where latency matters.
That last point is worth calling out. The NE81 lists audio latency of just 0.1 milliseconds, which is the kind of figure you'd want for gaming and real-time monitoring. The wired cable is what unlocks that — and it's also the answer if you ever need a corded connection with zero wireless delay. The charging case measures 9cm by 5.8cm by 3.22cm and weighs 88.1g, so the whole system travels easily.
Audio specs are modest but sensible: 8mm dynamic drivers, 32 ohm impedance, and 109dB sensitivity, which together suggest an easy-to-drive, efficient sound that gets loud without much power. The NE81 also offers both active and passive noise cancellation, so you can shut out a commute or a shared room. Bluetooth 6 is the wireless standard here, with a 10-meter range, and multipoint connection is supported for juggling two devices.
Controls are flexible: push-button, touch, and voice assistant, so you're not locked into one interaction style. The enclosure mixes plastic, silicone, and TPE, which points to a sweat-friendly, sport-oriented build, and it's covered by a one-year warranty.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for all-day video calls → JLab JBuds Open. Cloud Foam padding, rotating earcups, and an open-back fit are designed for long, airy wear.
• Best for versatility → JKNKCO NE81. In-ear, over-ear hook, and wired modes in one box cover far more scenarios.
• Best for noise canceling → JKNKCO NE81. It offers active and passive noise cancellation; the JBuds Open is intentionally open and non-isolating.
• Best for battery life → JLab JBuds Open. 24+ hours of playtime (18 hours average battery life) versus a compact charging-case system.
• Best for low-latency gaming and karaoke → JKNKCO NE81. The wired mode and 0.1ms latency figure are built for real-time audio.
• Best for staying aware of your surroundings → JLab JBuds Open. The open-back design lets ambient sound in by design.
• Best for travel and pocketability → JKNKCO NE81. The 88.1g charging case holds the whole detachable system.
• Best for a Windows/Android work setup → JLab JBuds Open. Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair make it a natural desk companion.
For video calls specifically, I'd buy the JLab JBuds Open. In my opinion, an open-back over-ear headset is simply the more comfortable tool for hours of meetings — the breathable Cloud Foam fit, the two-device multipoint pairing for laptop-plus-phone, and the noise-canceling mics all point at exactly that job. I'd steer toward the JKNKCO NE81 only if flexibility matters more to you than all-day comfort — if you want one kit for the gym, gaming, karaoke, and travel, its 3-in-1 design and active noise canceling are hard to argue with. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one thing specs can't tell you.
FAQ
how to pair multiple headphones
how to pair multiple headphones iphone
Both headsets work with iOS, so the iPhone side is straightforward. You pair each headset normally through your iPhone's Bluetooth settings, and because both support multipoint, the iPhone can stay connected alongside a second device like a laptop. Google Fast Pair is Android-only, so on iPhone you'll pair manually — it takes seconds.
how to pair multiple headphones on ipad
An iPad pairs the same way an iPhone does, and the JBuds Open explicitly lists iOS, Android, and PC support. With multipoint on either headset, your iPad can hold one of the two connection slots while a phone or computer takes the other. Just remember two devices at a time is the limit on both.
how to pair multiple bluetooth headphones
You can't run two separate headsets as one output on a single phone the way you can with multipoint on a single headset. Multipoint means one headset connected to two source devices, which is what both the JBuds Open and the NE81 do. If you want two people listening at once, you'd need two headsets each paired to its own device.
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