We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want true wireless freedom with all-day battery and app-tunable sound, choose JLab Go Air Pop; if you need a wired, foldable on-ear pair that never needs charging and can take a beating, choose JVC HAS160R. These two products live in completely different worlds, and that's exactly why the comparison matters. One is a modern Bluetooth earbud built for commutes and workouts. The other is an old-school wired on-ear headphone built for plug-in-and-go simplicity.
• JLab Go Air Pop — biggest strength: True wireless freedom with 9+ hours per bud and a USB-C case that pushes you well past a full workweek of listening, plus EQ3 sound tuning you can adjust on the fly.
• JLab Go Air Pop — biggest trade-off: It's an in-ear design with IPX4 sweat resistance, not full water protection, and it depends on charging — no cable, no sound.
• JVC HAS160R — biggest strength: A rugged stainless-steel headband and soft on-ear pads that fold flat, giving you durable, battery-free listening you can toss in any bag.
• JVC HAS160R — biggest trade-off: It's wired only, with a 3.5 mm jack and no microphone, so it won't work with phones that dropped the headphone port and it's not built for calls.
• Who JLab Go Air Pop is for: Anyone who wants wireless convenience, calls, and portable sound for the gym, the train, or the office.
• Who JVC HAS160R is for: Anyone who wants a no-fuss, durable, wired pair for home listening, travel, or a device that still has a headphone jack.
The Go Air Pop is built around convenience. Each earbud gives you 9+ hours of playtime, and the USB-C charging case adds another 26+ hours, so you're looking at 35+ hours total before you need to plug anything in. That's a genuine full workweek of commutes on a single charge cycle. For anyone who hates babysitting battery life, that math matters.
Sound is where JLab leans into flexibility. EQ3 lets you flip between Signature, Bass Boost, and Balanced signatures, and you can fine-tune further through the JLab App, which also handles touch control remapping. Each bud packs a MEMS microphone for calls, voice assistant access is built in, and Bluetooth 5.3 keeps the connection stable across iOS, Android, and PC. Dual Connect means you can run either earbud solo — useful when you want one ear open for traffic or a coworker.
The fit story is practical too: the buds are 15% smaller than the previous generation, IPX4 rated for sweat and light rain, and they ship with three gel tip sizes (S/M/L). That combination makes them a reasonable pick for workouts and humid commutes. Who should skip them? If you want a wired connection, a headband-style fit, or you simply don't want another device to charge, this isn't your product. The 2-year JLab warranty is a nice bit of reassurance for a budget-minded buyer.
The HAS160R is the opposite philosophy. It's a wired on-ear headphone with a 3.5 mm jack, a flat foldable design, and a stainless-steel adjustable headband built to survive daily abuse. There's no battery, no pairing, no app — you plug in and you're done. For anyone who's tired of charging yet another gadget, that's a real feature, not a limitation.
Audio-wise, JVC uses 30 mm Neodymium dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz frequency range and 32 ohm impedance. That impedance figure makes them easy to drive from a phone, laptop, or portable player without a headphone amp. The soft earpads are designed to sit against your ears and block ambient sound, which helps in busy offices or on noisy commutes. The flat rounded earpieces and foldable frame mean they collapse small enough to drop into a bag.
Who should buy them? Anyone with a device that still has a headphone jack — a laptop, a desktop, a gaming handheld, an older phone, or an in-flight entertainment system. They're also a solid choice for prolonged listening sessions at home, since there's no battery to run down and the on-ear pads are built for comfort over time. Who should skip them? If you need wireless freedom, a microphone for calls, or water resistance for workouts, the HAS160R simply isn't designed for those jobs. The 1-year parts-and-labor warranty is shorter than JLab's, which is worth noting.
• Best for battery life → JLab Go Air Pop. 9+ hours per bud and 35+ hours total with the case versus no battery at all.
• Best for workouts and sweat → JLab Go Air Pop. IPX4 rating and three gel tip sizes beat a wired on-ear set with no water resistance claim.
• Best for calls → JLab Go Air Pop. Dual MEMS microphones and built-in voice assistant access; the JVC is explicitly a no-mic model.
• Best for wireless freedom → JLab Go Air Pop. Bluetooth 5.3 with Dual Connect lets you use either bud independently.
• Best for durability and travel → JVC HAS160R. Stainless-steel headband and flat foldable design are built to be thrown in a bag.
• Best for plug-and-play simplicity → JVC HAS160R. No charging, no pairing, no app — just a 3.5 mm jack.
• Best for long home listening sessions → JVC HAS160R. On-ear pads and a wired connection mean nothing to recharge mid-session.
• Best for sound customization → JLab Go Air Pop. EQ3 plus the JLab App gives you three signatures and adjustable touch controls.
In my opinion, the JLab Go Air Pop is the better buy for most people in 2026. True wireless convenience, 35+ hours of total playtime, IPX4 sweat resistance, call-ready mics, and app-based EQ tuning cover far more everyday situations than a wired on-ear pair can. That said, I'd recommend the JVC HAS160R without hesitation if you want a durable, foldable, battery-free headphone for a device with a headphone jack and you never take calls on the go. The JLab wins on versatility; the JVC wins on simplicity and longevity. If you're still on the fence, check the current price on Amazon for both and let your actual use case — wireless or wired — make the call.
For most buyers, yes — it's wireless, has a microphone, offers 35+ hours of total battery, and is IPX4 rated. The JVC HAS160R only wins if you specifically want a wired, foldable on-ear headphone with no charging involved.
No. The HAS160R is listed as a no-mic model with a 3.5 mm wired connection only. If you need to take calls, the JLab Go Air Pop with its dual MEMS microphones is the right choice.
Yes, within reason. They carry an IPX4 rating for sweat and light rain, come with three gel tip sizes, and are 15% smaller than the previous generation. They're not fully waterproof, so don't submerge them.
The JLab Go Air Pop has the clear edge — 9+ hours per earbud plus 26+ hours from the USB-C case, for 35+ hours total. The JVC HAS160R is wired and has no battery at all, so it never needs charging.
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: jvc vs jbl earbuds, jlab vs skullcandy earbuds, jlab vs jbl earbuds