If you want long battery life and sweat-and-dust protection for jogging, choose JLab; if you need a wireless headset for gaming, calls, and mixed audio, choose SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7. JLab is the more practical of these two for outdoor movement, while SteelSeries is built around over-ear comfort and gaming connections.
• JLab Epic Lab Edition: In-ear design, IP55 protection, and up to 13+ hours per earbud; the trade-off is that it does not offer SteelSeries’ 2.4GHz gaming connection or boom-style headset microphone.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7: Over-ear fit, simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth audio, and a noise-rejecting microphone; the trade-off for jogging is its larger headset form and lack of stated sweat-and-dust protection.
• JLab suits listeners who want compact earbuds, long listening stretches, and an outdoor-friendly design.
• SteelSeries suits gamers who want to hear game and phone audio together, use a dedicated wireless dongle, and speak through a headset mic.
JLab’s Epic Lab Edition is a true wireless earbud set, not a conventional over-ear gaming headset. That distinction matters if you are choosing something to wear while jogging. Its IP55 rating means the earbuds are designed with protection against sweat and dust, and the in-ear format is less cumbersome for movement than a full headset. The specifications do not establish how securely they will fit every person, so fit remains a personal consideration.
Battery life is a standout on paper: JLab lists 13+ hours per earbud and 56+ hours total with the charging case. With active noise cancellation on, those figures become 9+ hours per earbud and 36+ total. The case supports both USB-C and wireless charging. For a person who wants earphones for jogging and also expects to use them through a commute or workday, those numbers offer useful flexibility without requiring the earbuds to be treated as a gaming headset.
There is more here than basic wireless listening. Each earbud pairs a dynamic driver for low frequencies with a Knowles balanced armature for high frequencies. Spatial Audio compatibility adds an immersive listening option, while the app provides EQ choices and control over ANC, transparency-style Be Aware mode, touch controls, and software updates. Multipoint Bluetooth is also useful if you move between a phone, laptop, and tablet.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
I’d choose JLab when the priority is earbuds that can cover outdoor activity, everyday listening, and device switching. I’d skip them if the main job is PC or console gaming over a low-latency 2.4GHz connection, or if you specifically want a headset microphone designed to reduce background noise. JLab lists touch controls, but not the same dedicated gaming audio and microphone setup offered by SteelSeries.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 is an over-ear wireless gaming headset. Its clearest advantage is how it handles multiple audio sources: the headset can connect over 2.4GHz and Bluetooth at the same time, allowing game audio and mobile audio to be mixed. A USB-C wireless dongle provides the 2.4GHz connection, with a USB-A adapter included. That makes it the more purpose-built choice for gaming across supported platforms and for someone who wants phone audio alongside a game.
Its feature set is oriented toward gaming and communication. SteelSeries lists real-time app control and more than 200 game-specific audio presets. The headset’s neodymium drivers are described as supporting high-fidelity audio and 360-degree Spatial Audio. Its ClearCast Gen 2 microphone is designed to reduce background noise, with further Sonar AI enhancement available on PC. That combination makes the Nova 7 easier to recommend for gaming sessions, team chat, and moving between a console or computer and a phone.
SteelSeries gives the headset a rugged steel frame, an elastic headband, and memory foam cushions. Those details point toward an over-ear fit meant for extended gaming rather than a compact, sweat-protected jogging setup. The stated battery life is 50+ hours in its feature description, while the product information lists 54 hours. It also advertises USB-C fast charging, though the supplied specifications do not give a full charging-time figure beyond the 15-minute battery charge-time field.
For jogging, the comparison is less favorable. The Nova 7 is a full over-ear headset, and its specifications do not state an IP sweat-and-dust rating. I would choose it for a desk, console, or indoor listening setup—not as my first pick for a run. If you want touch control wireless headphones for jogging, bear in mind that the JLab earbuds are the only one of these two with touch control specifically listed; SteelSeries uses app and push-button controls.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best fit for jogging → JLab. Its in-ear design and IP55 protection make it the more movement-oriented option in this comparison. SteelSeries is an over-ear gaming headset, with no sweat-and-dust rating stated.
• Best for mixing game and mobile audio → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7. It supports simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections, which is a specific advantage for gaming alongside phone audio.
• Best for gaming chat → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7. Its ClearCast Gen 2 microphone is designed to reduce background noise; PC users can also use Sonar AI enhancement.
• Best for switching among everyday devices → JLab. Multipoint Bluetooth is listed for connecting multiple devices without re-pairing. SteelSeries’ strength is specifically its simultaneous game-and-mobile audio setup.
• Best for adjustable listening modes → JLab. Its app includes EQ tuning and ANC On, ANC Off, and Be Aware options. SteelSeries instead emphasizes game-specific presets and real-time game audio control.
• Best for a compact earbud alternative to a headset → JLab. It is the only in-ear product here. The Nova 7’s over-ear construction may appeal more to someone who wants a padded headset for longer gaming sessions.
• Best for a dedicated wireless gaming dongle → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7. Its included USB-C dongle unlocks 2.4GHz wireless gaming, with a USB-A adapter for compatible setups.
I’d choose the JLab Epic Lab Edition for jogging because its in-ear design, IP55 protection, touch controls, and long listed battery figures align better with moving outdoors. Its app-based listening modes and multipoint Bluetooth also make it useful beyond a run.
I’d choose the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 instead if gaming, simultaneous game-and-phone audio, or a noise-rejecting headset mic were the deciding needs. But for jogging specifically, JLab is my pick.
FAQ
JLab lists 13+ hours per earbud and 56+ total hours with its case; with ANC on, it lists 9+ hours per earbud and 36+ total. SteelSeries lists 50+ hours in its feature description and 54 hours in product information.
Yes. The Nova 7 supports simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections, so you can mix game and mobile audio. JLab offers multipoint Bluetooth for switching between connected devices, but its listed features do not describe that same 2.4GHz gaming connection.
SteelSeries has the more clearly specified headset microphone: its ClearCast Gen 2 mic is designed to reduce background noise, with Sonar AI enhancement on PC. JLab’s listed features emphasize earbud listening, ANC, touch controls, and app settings rather than a dedicated gaming microphone.
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