We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-28 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want an open-ear fit that keeps your ears unblocked while you run, choose Samudgate Headphone; if you need a true-wireless in-ear pair with a charging case, adjustable sound and all-week battery, choose JLab Go Air Pop+.
• Samudgate Headphone — biggest strength: a single open-ear hook design that rests on top of the ear instead of sealing the canal, so you stay aware of traffic and surroundings, with 16 hours of playback and a 15-minute quick charge for roughly 300 minutes of listening.
• Samudgate Headphone — biggest trade-off: it is one earbud, not a pair, and the open design means it cannot physically block outside noise the way an in-ear bud does.
• JLab Go Air Pop+ — biggest strength: true-wireless stereo in a charging case, with 9+ hours per bud, 26+ hours from the case, USB-C charging, and EQ3 with Signature, Bass Boost and Balanced modes.
• JLab Go Air Pop+ — biggest trade-off: it is in-ear, so you lose the open-ear awareness that makes the Samudgate a natural pick for outdoor running and cycling.
• Who each is for: Samudgate Headphone is for the runner, walker or cyclist who wants one ear free and no pressure inside the canal; JLab Go Air Pop+ is for the commuter, podcast listener or caller who wants a full stereo pair with a pocketable case.
The Samudgate Headphone is built around one idea: keep the ear open. It sits on top of the ear with an earhook and an ultra-soft silicone cushion, and it does not push a tip into your canal. That is the whole reason this product exists. If you have ever taken an in-ear bud out at a crosswalk because you could not hear the cars, you already understand the appeal of this design. It is also the lighter, more breathable option on paper — open-ear buds generally sit less heavily on the ear than sealed ones, and Samudgate leans into that with a cushioned ergonomic fit meant for long wear.
On the tech side, it runs Bluetooth 5.2 with a stated range of up to 10 meters and compatibility across Windows, Android and iOS. Pairing is automatic once you open the earbud, and control is touch-based: answer and hang up, play and pause, skip tracks, and adjust volume by tapping. There is a microphone with noise reduction, which matters more than it sounds — video calls and phone conversations are a stated use case here, and the claim is that your voice comes through clearly even in a noisy environment. Battery is quoted at 16 hours of playback with about a 2 hours charge time, plus a quick-charge figure of 15 minutes for roughly 300 minutes of listening. IPX4 covers sweat and light rain.
Who should buy it: runners, walkers, gym-goers and cyclists who want one ear open, people who find in-ear tips uncomfortable after an hour, and anyone who wants a single lightweight bud for calls and workouts rather than a full stereo pair.
JLab Go Air Pop+: Who It's For
The JLab Go Air Pop+ is a conventional true-wireless in-ear pair, and it is very good at being conventional. Each earbud is rated for 9+ hours, and the slim USB-C charging case adds 26+ hours for 35+ hours total — JLab frames that as enough to cover a full workweek of commutes without hunting for a cable. The quick-charge figure is genuinely useful: about 10 minutes in the case for roughly an hour of playtime.
Sound is tunable rather than fixed. EQ3 gives you three signatures — Signature, Bass Boost and Balanced — switchable on the fly, and the JLab app lets you go further with EQ presets, touch-control remapping and Be Aware settings. Be Aware Mode is JLab's answer to the open-ear problem: it pipes ambient sound in on purpose so you can hear what is going on around you without removing a bud. It is not the same as a physically open design, but it covers similar ground when you want it. The buds are 15% smaller than the previous generation, IPX4 rated, and ship with three gel tip sizes (S/M/L) so you can dial in a seal. Bluetooth 5.3 handles the connection to iOS, Android and PC, Dual Connect lets you run either bud independently, and each earbud has a MEMS mic for calls. Voice assistant access is built in, and there is a 2-year JLab warranty.
Who should buy it: commuters, podcast and playlist listeners, students, and anyone who takes a lot of calls and wants one bud in while the other charges. The small case, USB-C charging and tip-size options make it an easy everyday carry.
Who should skip it: if you specifically want an open-ear hook and refuse to put anything inside your ear canal, the Go Air Pop+ is the wrong shape. It is in-ear by design, and no amount of Be Aware Mode changes that.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for staying aware of traffic and surroundings → Samudgate Headphone. The open-ear hook physically leaves the canal clear.
• Best for a single-eardrum setup → Samudgate Headphone, since it is a single open-ear earbud by design. On the JLab you get there via Dual Connect, using just one of the two buds independently.
• Best for stereo music listening → JLab Go Air Pop+. Two in-ear buds with EQ3 modes and a 20Hz–20kHz range beat one open bud for immersive listening.
• Best for calls in noise → JLab Go Air Pop+ on paper. A MEMS mic in each bud, plus the option to run both for a more stable pickup. Samudgate counters with its own noise-reduction mic, which is a reasonable single-bud option.
• Best for long-wear comfort if you dislike in-ear tips → Samudgate Headphone. The silicone cushion and open fit avoid canal pressure entirely.
• Best for fit customization → JLab Go Air Pop+. Three gel tip sizes let you tune the seal; the Samudgate is one fixed over-ear shape.
• Best for quick top-ups → close call. Samudgate quotes 15 minutes for about 300 minutes; JLab quotes 10 minutes for about an hour. Samudgate wins on minutes-per-charge, JLab wins on case convenience.
• Best for a warranty safety net → JLab Go Air Pop+, which carries a 2-year JLab warranty.
If I could only pick one, I would buy the JLab Go Air Pop+ for most people. In my opinion it is the more complete product: a real stereo pair, a USB-C case that stretches listening to 35+ hours, adjustable EQ, three tip sizes and a 2-year warranty cover more everyday situations than a single open bud can. The one case where I would flip is outdoor training where hearing your surroundings is non-negotiable — there, the Samudgate Headphone's open-ear hook is the better tool, and I would take it without hesitation. Decide which of those two people you are, and the choice is obvious.
It is a single open-ear earbud with an earhook, sold as one item. If you want two earbuds for stereo listening, the JLab Go Air Pop+ is the one to look at.
Yes. It includes a slim USB-C charging case rated for 26+ hours on top of 9+ hours per earbud, and a 10-minute charge gets you about an hour of playtime.
The Samudgate Headphone. Its open-ear design leaves your ear canal clear so ambient sound comes through naturally. The JLab has Be Aware Mode to let sound in, but it still sits inside your ear.
I do not quote prices here — they change often. Check the current price on Amazon for both before you decide, then weigh that against the battery, fit and feature differences above.
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