If you want longer battery life, app-based sound choices, and flexible one-ear listening for commuting, choose JLab Go Air Pop+; if you need IP55 protection and straightforward touch controls, choose Skullcandy Sesh True.
JLab Go Air Pop+ vs Skullcandy Sesh True at a Glance
• JLab Go Air Pop+ strength: 35+ hours of stated total playtime, with more than 9 hours per earbud and additional case power. Trade-off: its rating is IPX4, not IP55.
• Skullcandy Sesh True strength: IP55 protection against sweat, water, and dust. Trade-off: its stated total battery life is 10 hours, including the case.
• JLab Go Air Pop+ is for: commuters who want more listening between charges, three sound signatures, and the option to use either bud alone.
• Skullcandy Sesh True is for: people who prioritize a higher dust-and-water protection rating and simple controls for audio, calls, and voice assistant access.
The clearest reason to choose JLab is battery capacity. JLab lists more than 9 hours from each earbud and more than 26 additional hours from the charging case, for more than 35 hours total. That gives a commuter more room between case charges than Skullcandy’s stated 10 hours for the earbuds and case combined. JLab also says a 10-minute case charge can add an hour of playtime, and the case has an integrated USB-C charging cable.
There is more flexibility here than simply playing audio. EQ3 offers Signature, Bass Boost, and Balanced sound settings, so you can choose a profile that better suits podcasts or music. The JLab app lets you adjust EQ and touch controls. Dual Connect supports using either earbud independently, which can be useful for a call when you prefer to keep one ear free. Each bud has a MEMS microphone, and voice assistant access is built in.
The earbuds are 15% smaller than the previous generation, and three gel tip sizes—small, medium, and large—give you options for fitting them securely. JLab lists an IPX4 rating for sweat and light rain resistance, Bluetooth 5.3, and compatibility with iOS, Android, and PC. For a routine commute with some chance of light rain or a walk to the station, those details are practical. But the rating is not the same as Skullcandy’s IP55 rating, which also addresses dust.
Who should skip this: Skip JLab if IP55 dust protection is a priority, or if you want a product with that specific rating rather than IPX4.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-23 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
Skullcandy’s strongest specification in this matchup is IP55 protection against sweat, water, and dust. That distinction may matter if earbuds accompany you beyond a predictable indoor commute—perhaps in dusty surroundings or during sweaty activity. It does not make the Sesh True a substitute for checking the product’s care guidance, but it gives this model the higher stated protection rating of the two.
Controls are another straightforward part of the package. Skullcandy lists touch control for volume, calls, track control, and activating an assistant. It also lists sound isolation as its noise-control type. That is not a claim of active noise cancellation, so buyers seeking a dedicated active noise-cancelling feature should not infer one from the description. The earbuds use Bluetooth, and the listed frequency range is 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
For someone who values the IP55 rating and wants touch controls for everyday listening and calls, the Sesh True makes sense on paper. Its main compromise is battery: the combined figure is modest next to JLab’s. The available product information also does not list an app or adjustable EQ options for this model, so buyers who want selectable sound profiles have a clearer fit with JLab.
Who should skip this: Skip Skullcandy if you want the longer stated battery life or app-based EQ choices offered by JLab.
• Best for longer stretches between case charges → JLab Go Air Pop+. Its stated total playtime is 35+ hours, compared with 10 hours for Skullcandy Sesh True.
• Best for dust protection → Skullcandy Sesh True. It carries an IP55 rating for sweat, water, and dust; JLab lists IPX4 for sweat and light rain.
• Best for choosing a sound profile → JLab Go Air Pop+. Its EQ3 settings are Signature, Bass Boost, and Balanced, with adjustments available through the JLab app.
• Best for one-ear listening → JLab Go Air Pop+. Dual Connect allows either earbud to be used independently.
• Best for commuters who want more charging flexibility → JLab Go Air Pop+. The case has an integrated USB-C charging cable, and JLab says a 10-minute charge can provide an hour of playtime.
• Best for basic touch control of everyday functions → Skullcandy Sesh True. Its listed controls cover calls, tracks, volume, and voice assistant activation.
• Best for different ear-tip choices → JLab Go Air Pop+. It includes three gel tip sizes, which can help you choose the fit that feels more secure.
• Best when the stated protection rating is the deciding factor → Skullcandy Sesh True. Its IP55 rating addresses dust in addition to sweat and water, while JLab’s IPX4 rating is for sweat and light rain.
For commuting, I would put battery and listening style near the top of the decision. JLab’s long total playtime and independent-earbud option are useful when a trip includes a call or you want to leave one ear open. Skullcandy’s protection rating is the stronger reason to choose it, particularly when dust resistance matters more than long time between charges.
Neither product’s listed features make it a bone conduction headphone: both are in-ear earbuds. A shopper looking specifically for bone conduction headphones for commuting should look at a different type of product. Likewise, the provided details do not identify spatial audio as a feature of either set, so I would not buy either one on the assumption that it provides spatial audio headphones for commuting.
Think about your charging routine. JLab’s figures leave more room for multiple commutes and other listening before you need to recharge the case. That can be useful if you do not want charging to become part of every evening routine. Skullcandy’s case adds battery, but its listed combined total is much lower. If your trips are short and you recharge regularly, the difference may matter less; if you often spend long days away from a charger, JLab’s figures have the practical edge.
Separate protection from listening time. IP55 is Skullcandy’s clearest advantage. The rating specifically includes dust, sweat, and water resistance. JLab’s IPX4 rating covers sweat and light rain, but it does not make the same dust-protection claim. Consider the conditions you actually expect rather than treating either rating as a blanket promise for every environment.
Consider how much control you want over sound. JLab offers three named EQ signatures and app-based adjustments. That provides a way to change the sound profile without choosing a different pair of earbuds. The available Skullcandy details list sound isolation and touch controls, but do not specify an EQ app or selectable sound profiles. If you prefer to set a profile and leave it alone, the extra adjustment may not be important; if you like options, JLab is the more flexible pick.
Be clear about noise features. Skullcandy lists sound isolation, and both products are in-ear designs. The supplied details do not establish active noise cancellation for either model. If blocking commute noise is a deciding need, do not interpret “sound isolation” as proof of active cancellation. A secure fit and the way an in-ear design sits may affect what you hear, but I would not promise a particular noise-reduction result from these specifications alone.
Treat call and one-ear use as separate needs. JLab lists a microphone in each earbud and Dual Connect for using one bud independently. Skullcandy lists a microphone and touch controls for calls, but its provided details do not state the same independent-earbud feature. If you want the option to take a call while keeping one ear free, JLab has the more explicit feature match.
Check the current price on Amazon before deciding. I do not use price as the deciding point here, and the better fit depends on your priorities: JLab’s longer stated battery and EQ choices, or Skullcandy’s IP55 rating. The page’s Amazon button can show the current listing details.
I would choose JLab Go Air Pop+ for commuting because its 35+ hours of stated total playtime, three EQ options, and one-ear listening support make it the more flexible everyday set for my priorities. Skullcandy Sesh True is the better fit if IP55 dust, sweat, and water protection matters more than battery life. For me, the extra listening time and adjustment options make JLab the stronger choice for the routine commute.
JLab lists more than 9 hours per earbud and more than 26 additional hours from its case, for more than 35 hours total. Skullcandy lists 10 hours total, including 11 additional hours from the case in its product information.
Skullcandy lists an IP55 rating for sweat, water, and dust resistance. JLab lists IPX4 for sweat and light rain, so Skullcandy has the higher stated protection rating and specifically includes dust protection.
The provided details do not specify active noise cancellation for either product. Skullcandy lists sound isolation; that should not be treated as confirmation of active noise cancelling.
Value depends on what matters in your commute. JLab provides more stated battery life, three EQ signatures, and independent-earbud use; Skullcandy’s notable advantage is IP55 protection. Check the current Amazon listing for price, then weigh it against the features you will use.
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