If you want longer battery life, app-based sound adjustments, and a smaller earbud design for teens, choose JLab Go Air Pop+; if you need stronger water resistance and a way to locate misplaced earbuds, choose Skullcandy Sesh Evo in-Ear. For most teens, I’d pick JLab for its longer stated listening time and adjustable sound, unless tracking and the higher water-resistance rating are the deciding features.
• JLab Go Air Pop+: Its biggest strength is 35+ hours of stated total playtime, with three EQ choices and an app. The trade-off is IPX4 protection, a lower rating than Skullcandy’s IP55.
• Skullcandy Sesh Evo in-Ear: Tile finding and IP55 water and sweat resistance are its standout advantages. Its trade-off is 24 hours of stated total battery life, with five hours listed for the earbuds.
• Choose JLab if you want more listening time between case charges, sound options, and a smaller earbud design.
• Choose Skullcandy if misplaced earbuds and exposure to sweat or light rain are your main concerns.
• Neither model is an open-ear or ear-clip design; both are in-ear earbuds with tips.
JLab’s case-and-earbud combination is rated for 35+ hours of total playtime: 9+ hours per earbud, plus 26+ hours from the USB-C charging case. That longer stated total gives a teen more room for everyday listening between full charging sessions, whether the earbuds are used on a commute, during study time, or between activities. The case has an integrated USB-C charging cable, and JLab says a 10-minute charge can provide an hour of playtime.
Sound preferences are less fixed here than on a model without adjustable EQ. The EQ3 presets offer Signature, Bass Boost, and Balanced sound profiles, and the JLab app can be used to adjust EQ and touch controls. That’s a practical fit for someone who switches between spoken audio and music, or simply wants to try different sound balances. Bluetooth 5.3 is specified, and the earbuds can connect to iOS, Android, and PC devices. Dual Connect lets either earbud work on its own, so a listener can keep one ear free while taking a call or listening.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-21 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Skip JLab if IP55 protection or a built-in way to track a misplaced earbud is more important to you than longer stated playtime and EQ choices.
Skullcandy’s clearest advantages are its IP55 rating and Tile finding feature. IP55 is the stronger water-and-sweat rating of these two models, making Sesh Evo the more suitable choice for someone who expects earbuds to encounter serious sweat or light rain. It is still an in-ear product, and the rating should not be read as permission to ignore the care instructions or expose the earbuds to any condition.
Tile support addresses a different everyday frustration: losing an earbud. The product is designed to work with the Tile app so a user can try to ring either earbud when it has been misplaced. That may matter for a teen who moves between school, home, and activities and wants a locating option. As with any tracking feature, it is a way to help search, not a guarantee that a missing earbud will be found.
The stated total battery life is 24 hours, divided into five hours in the earbuds and 19 hours in the case. Skullcandy also specifies that a 10-minute rapid charge can add two hours of listening time. Solo mode lets either earbud be used separately for calls or listening, so the pair isn’t limited to being used together. Sesh Evo uses Bluetooth 5, includes a microphone, and comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty.
Skip Sesh Evo if your priority is the longer stated total battery life or app-based EQ presets; those are JLab’s stronger points in this comparison.
• Best for longer stated total battery life → JLab Go Air Pop+. It lists 35+ hours total, compared with 24 hours for Sesh Evo.
• Best for more listening time before returning to the case → JLab Go Air Pop+. Its earbuds are specified for 9+ hours each, while Skullcandy lists five hours.
• Best for locating a misplaced earbud → Skullcandy Sesh Evo in-Ear. It supports finding either earbud through Tile.
• Best for the higher water-and-sweat rating → Skullcandy Sesh Evo in-Ear. Its IP55 rating is higher than JLab’s IPX4 rating.
• Best for choosing a sound profile → JLab Go Air Pop+. EQ3 provides Signature, Bass Boost, and Balanced presets, with further EQ and touch-control adjustments through the app.
• Best for using one earbud at a time → Either. Both products support independent use of either bud, under the names Dual Connect and solo mode.
• Best for fit options listed in the specs → JLab Go Air Pop+. It includes three gel-tip sizes; the supplied information for Sesh Evo doesn’t specify a comparable range of tip sizes.
• Best for a teen who wants a longer warranty → JLab Go Air Pop+. Its listed warranty is two years, compared with Skullcandy’s one-year manufacturer warranty.
In my opinion, I’d choose JLab Go Air Pop+ for most teens because its 35+ hours of stated total playtime, three EQ profiles, and smaller design make it the more flexible everyday pick. I’d switch to Skullcandy Sesh Evo if Tile finding or the IP55 rating mattered more than battery life and sound adjustment. For a teen-focused choice, JLab has the better balance of the features I’d use most often.
Both choices are conventional in-ear earbuds, so neither is the right match if the specific goal is an open ear headphones gift for teens or an ear clip headphones gift for teens. Those styles describe a different kind of fit. These products use ear tips; JLab specifies three gel-tip sizes, while the available Sesh Evo details do not give a tip-size range.
They also aren’t described as sleep headphones. Someone looking for a sleep headphones gift for teens should consider whether an in-ear bud is comfortable for the intended sleeping position before choosing either model. The provided product information does not establish that either design is made for sleeping.
For day-to-day charging, the headline totals are not identical to the time available from one earbud charge. JLab lists 9+ hours per earbud and 26+ additional hours from the case; Skullcandy lists five hours in the earbuds and 19 in the case. Both include a quick-charge claim, but the stated results differ: JLab says 10 minutes provides an hour of playtime, while Skullcandy says 10 minutes adds two hours. Think about whether you care more about the larger overall battery total or the specified boost from a short charge.
Finally, the protection and recovery features solve separate problems. Skullcandy’s IP55 rating is the stronger stated protection, and Tile gives it a locating feature. JLab’s IPX4 rating is specified for sweat and light rain, while its main practical advantages are longer battery life, EQ options, and its app. If the current price matters to your decision, check the current price on Amazon before choosing.
JLab lists 35+ hours of total playtime: 9+ hours per earbud plus 26+ hours from the case. Skullcandy lists 24 hours total, with five hours in the earbuds and 19 hours in the case.
Are Skullcandy Sesh Evo earbuds more water resistant than JLab Go Air Pop+?
The listed rating is IP55 for Skullcandy and IPX4 for JLab, so Sesh Evo has the higher stated rating. JLab’s rating is described for sweat and light rain resistance; neither specification means the earbuds should be treated as waterproof.
Skullcandy Sesh Evo is the more direct fit because it includes Tile finding support for either earbud through the Tile app. JLab’s listed strengths instead include longer total playtime, EQ presets, and app adjustments.
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