How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want marathon battery life, an IPX4 sweat rating and the freedom to use either earbud solo, choose JLab; if you need officially licensed NBA team styling and a simple button-controlled earbud for game day, choose SOAR NBA True.
• JLab biggest strength: 32+ hours of total playtime (8+ hours per earbud plus 24+ from the case) with a charging cable built right into the case.
• JLab biggest trade-off: Bluetooth 5.1 and a plain all-black look — no team branding, and no noise cancellation beyond passive sound isolation.
• SOAR NBA True biggest strength: Officially licensed NBA design in team colors, so your earbuds double as fan gear.
• SOAR NBA True biggest trade-off: 10+ hours of battery and Bluetooth 5.0 — behind JLab on both runtime and wireless version, and there's no listed sweat or water resistance.
• Choose JLab if you want the longer-lasting, workout-friendly pair with EQ modes and dual-earbud flexibility.
• Choose SOAR NBA True if you're a basketball fan who wants team colors and doesn't need maximum runtime.
The JLab Go Air Pop is built around one idea: keep you listening for as long as possible without hunting for a charger. The numbers tell the story — 8+ hours in each earbud, plus 24+ hours stored in the case, giving you 32+ hours total. The case has an integrated USB cable built into it, which means you can top up from a laptop or a wall adapter without carrying a separate cord. That's the kind of detail that matters if you're the person who always forgets the cable.
Sound-wise, you get three EQ modes — JLab Signature, Balanced, and Bass Boost — so you can shift the tuning toward punchier low end for the gym or a flatter response for podcasts. Bluetooth 5.1 with Dual Connect lets you run either the left or right earbud on its own, which is genuinely useful for calls or for keeping one ear open while you're out walking. Touch controls handle volume, track skipping, calls, and your voice assistant, and there's a MEMS mic in each bud. The IPX4 rating covers sweat and light moisture, and the buds are 15% smaller than the previous generation for a more secure in-ear fit. JLab backs it with a two-year warranty.
Buy JLab if you want maximum battery life, workout-friendly sweat resistance, EQ customization, and the option to use one bud at a time. Skip it if you specifically want team branding or a physical button layout — this one is touch-only, all business, and comes in plain colorways.
The SOAR NBA True Wireless Earbuds V.2 are fan gear first and audio gear second, and there's nothing wrong with that. The headline feature is the officially licensed NBA design — these come in team colors, so if you want your earbuds to match your jersey on game day, that's the whole point. It's a niche JLab simply doesn't fill.
On the spec side, you're looking at Bluetooth 5.0, a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range, and 10+ hours of music and talk time from the rechargeable earbuds. The included charging case lets you recharge on the go, and a Micro USB cable is in the box. There's a built-in microphone for hands-free calls, and control buttons on the buds let you answer or end calls and play or pause your playlist without touching your phone. The earbuds are in-ear with a bud shape and a plastic build, and SOAR covers them with a one-year limited warranty.
A few honest trade-offs. There's no listed noise control at all — no sound isolation claim, no active cancellation. The control method is listed as remote rather than on-bud touch, though the feature bullets describe physical buttons on the earbuds themselves. And unlike the JLab pair, there's no IPX rating here, so I wouldn't treat these as gym or rain-running earbuds.
Buy SOAR NBA True if team pride is the deciding factor and you want simple button controls with a solid 10+ hours of listening. Skip it if you need long total runtime, sweat resistance, or EQ tuning.
• Best for battery life → JLab. 32+ hours total versus 10+ hours on SOAR is not close. If you charge once a week, JLab wins.
• Best for workouts and sweat → JLab. The IPX4 rating and 15% smaller fit are built for movement. SOAR lists no water or sweat resistance.
• Best for team pride and game day → SOAR NBA True. Officially licensed NBA styling is the reason to pick this pair, full stop.
• Best for calls → JLab, narrowly. A MEMS mic in each earbud plus dual-bud independence gives you more flexibility. SOAR has a built-in mic but no listed dual-bud detail.
• Best for simple controls → SOAR NBA True. Physical buttons are easier to hit with gloves or cold hands than touch panels.
• Best for sound customization → JLab. Three EQ modes versus a single fixed tuning on SOAR.
• Best for charging convenience → JLab. The built-in USB cable in the case beats remembering a Micro USB cable.
• Best for the newest wireless standard → JLab. Bluetooth 5.1 over Bluetooth 5.0.
I'd buy the JLab Go Air Pop. In my opinion, it's the better all-around true wireless earbud of these two: double the runtime, an IPX4 rating for sweat, EQ modes, dual-bud use, and the charging cable built into the case. The SOAR NBA True is a good pick for exactly one buyer — the fan who wants their team colors in their ears and values button controls over everything else. If that's you, buy the SOAR. If you want the earbuds that will keep up with your week, the JLab is the call. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one variable this comparison can't cover.
Take both earbuds out of the case and they'll power on and enter pairing mode. Open your phone's Bluetooth settings, find the earbud name in the list, and select it. The JLab Go Air Pop uses Bluetooth 5.1 and the SOAR NBA True uses Bluetooth 5.0 — both pair the same way with phones, tablets, and laptops.
Once paired the first time, they reconnect automatically when you remove them from the case and Bluetooth is on. If they don't, open your device's Bluetooth menu and tap the earbud's name to reconnect. On JLab, Dual Connect also lets you pair and use either the left or right earbud on its own.
JLab uses touch controls for volume, track skipping, calls, and your voice assistant. SOAR NBA True uses control buttons for play/pause and answering or ending calls. Both have a built-in microphone for hands-free calls, and both recharge in their included case — JLab's case has a built-in USB cable, while SOAR includes a Micro USB cable.
JLab gives 8+ hours per earbud plus 24+ hours from the case, for 32+ hours total. SOAR NBA True gives 10+ hours of music and talk time, with the case providing extra recharges on the go.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: memory foam over ear headphones, Sony Wi-Xb400 vs BEVCEFCC Open Ear Headphones, Togetface Kids Earbuds vs Voopwink Kids Headphones, Langsdom Zeta True vs xinwld Adaptive Hybrid Active