If you want on-ear headphones with up to 40 hours of battery life, choose JBL Tune 510BT; if you need compact, water-resistant earbuds for nurses, choose Skullcandy Sesh Evo in-Ear.
The key difference is the form: JBL gives you an adjustable headband and long listening time, while Skullcandy offers an in-ear fit, solo-earbud use, and IP55 water and dust resistance.
• JBL Tune 510BT: Its on-ear design, adjustable headband, foldable construction, and up to 40 hours of battery life suit longer listening sessions. The trade-off is that it is a headband-style pair rather than a compact set of earbuds.
• Skullcandy Sesh Evo in-Ear: Its earbuds can be used one at a time, are rated IP55 for dust and water resistance, and can be located with Tile technology. The trade-off is up to five hours of listening from the earbuds before recharging in the case.
• Choose JBL if you want a headband, on-ear cushions, and extended battery life between charges.
• Choose Skullcandy if you want an in-ear option, sweat and light-rain resistance, and the flexibility to use either bud solo.
The JBL Tune 510BT is an on-ear Bluetooth headphone with a padded, adjustable headband and soft ear cushions. That design makes it the more natural fit if you specifically want headband headphones rather than earbuds. It folds for carrying, and its listed weight is 5.6 ounces, so the basic design is intended to be portable without turning into a separate pair of in-ear pieces.
Its headline practical advantage is battery life: JBL specifies up to 40 hours of wireless listening, with a full recharge taking about two hours over USB-C. If you realize you are low on charge shortly before a shift or trip, a five-minute recharge is listed as providing two additional hours of listening. The on-ear buttons handle sound and calls, and a microphone on the ear cup supports hands-free calling. JBL also says the headphones can switch between two Bluetooth devices, which could be useful if you move between a tablet and phone.
For nurses looking at hi res headband headphones for nurses, the important distinction is that these are headband headphones, not a product described as hi-res. The listed Bluetooth features, microphone, and long battery life may make them worth considering for breaks, commuting, or listening outside work. They are not described as active noise-cancelling headphones, despite a noise-control field in the product information: I would not choose them on the assumption that they provide active noise cancellation.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-17 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip them: Skip the JBL if you want small earbuds, IP55 water resistance, or a design you can use with just one earbud at a time.
Skullcandy lists the earbuds as IP55-rated, with resistance to dust and water. The sheet specifically describes sweat and light rain as situations they can handle. That gives the Sesh Evo a clear practical edge over the JBL when water and sweat exposure are part of the decision. It also includes Tile tracking technology to help locate a misplaced earbud, an appealing detail for small pieces that can be easy to set down and forget.
Battery life needs a closer look than the 24-hour headline suggests. Skullcandy lists five hours in the earbuds and another 19 hours in the case, for 24 hours in total. The earbuds themselves therefore need to return to the case after a shorter stretch of continuous listening. A ten-minute rapid charge is listed as adding two hours of listening. The product also has sound-isolation noise control, but that is not the same feature as active noise cancellation. Nurses searching for the best active noise cancelling headband headphones for nurses should note that the Sesh Evo is neither a headband model nor described as active-noise-cancelling.
Who should skip them: Skip the Sesh Evo if your priority is long, uninterrupted listening without returning earbuds to a case, or if you specifically want an adjustable headband.
• Best for longer listening between charges → JBL Tune 510BT. Its listed wireless battery life is up to 40 hours, compared with five hours from the Sesh Evo earbuds before they need the case.
• Best for a headband fit → JBL Tune 510BT. It has an adjustable headband and padded ear cushions; Skullcandy is an in-ear design.
• Best for sweat or light rain → Skullcandy Sesh Evo. Its IP55 rating and stated resistance to sweat and light rain make it the clearer match for those conditions.
• Best for using one side at a time → Skullcandy Sesh Evo. Solo mode lets you use either earbud separately.
• Best for hands-free calls with on-ear controls → JBL Tune 510BT. It has a microphone on the ear cup and buttons for managing calls and sound.
• Best for finding a misplaced listening piece → Skullcandy Sesh Evo. Tile technology is included to help locate either earbud.
• Best for a quick top-up → It’s close, but the details differ. JBL lists five minutes for two extra hours of music; Skullcandy lists ten minutes for two extra hours of listening.
• Best for switching between two connected devices → JBL Tune 510BT. JBL says it can switch between two Bluetooth devices, such as a tablet and phone.
Buying Considerations
Battery figures also need to be compared on equal terms. JBL lists up to 40 hours for the headphones. Skullcandy’s 24-hour total includes both the five hours in the earbuds and the additional 19 hours available from the charging case. If you want to listen for a long stretch without handling a case, JBL’s specification is the more compelling one. If you tend to listen in shorter periods and appreciate the ability to recharge in a case, Skullcandy’s setup may suit your routine.
Finally, do not treat every noise-control phrase as interchangeable. The product information describes sound isolation for Skullcandy, while its product description does not claim active noise cancellation. JBL is not presented as an active-noise-cancelling model either. If cancelling surrounding noise is essential, neither product’s listed features establish that it provides the active noise cancellation you are seeking. For shoppers asking about the best headphones for nurses, the most responsible choice is the one that matches the setting, comfort preference, and workplace requirements—not a feature claim the specifications do not support.
I would choose the JBL Tune 510BT for nurses who want headband-style headphones for breaks or commuting, mainly because its up-to-40-hour battery and adjustable fit are more persuasive for long listening sessions. The Skullcandy Sesh Evo is the better fit if I needed in-ear buds, solo mode, or IP55 resistance for sweat and light rain. My pick is JBL for the headband-and-battery combination, but I would not mistake either model for a specified active-noise-cancelling option.
The listed information does not establish that either model offers active noise cancellation. Skullcandy is described as using sound isolation; that is not the same claim as active noise cancellation.
Which has longer battery life: JBL Tune 510BT or Skullcandy Sesh Evo?
Yes. Its solo mode allows either earbud to be used separately for calls or listening. That is different from the JBL’s listed ability to switch between two Bluetooth devices.
The JBL Tune 510BT is the headband-style choice, with an adjustable headband and on-ear cushions. The Sesh Evo is an in-ear set, so it is the alternative for someone who prefers earbuds.
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