JBL Tour Pro 2 hands-on: Putting earbud controls on a touchscreen case | Engadget

JBL is exhibiting off a number of fashions of true wi-fi earbuds at CES, however maybe probably the most fascinating is the Tour Pro 2. This premium set comes with a “smart” case that contains a touchscreen show on the surface. That 1.45-inch LED panel offers you entry to the core options of the JBL One app, together with noise cancellation modes, EQ presets, quantity and monitor controls. The show may even present you battery data for every earbud and the case individually, together with the present time. Those 4 gadgets line the highest whereas the opposite instruments can be found by swiping throughout screens. 

The show activates while you open the case or while you faucet it, and then you definitely unlock it with a swipe. As you would possibly count on, the touchscreen robotically turns off after a couple of seconds and JBL has thrown in brightness and wallpaper customization for good measure. Another merchandise the Tour Pro 2 case affords is message and social notifications, however the show does not truly present any textual content for these. It will simply let you realize you may have one thing ready. 

The touchscreen case is on the bigger facet for a set of true wi-fi earbuds, however not drastically so. It’s noticeably larger than most of JBL’s lineup, however undoubtedly not the biggest I’ve seen. Of course, the bigger stature is comprehensible for the reason that firm wanted extra room to accommodate an even bigger battery for the show. Despite the additional energy consumption, JBL remains to be promising battery life you’d count on in energetic noise canceling (ANC) buds: as much as 8 hours with it on, as much as 10 with it off. Plus, the case affords wi-fi charging and the quick-charge characteristic offers you 4 hours of listening in quarter-hour. 

JBL is touting the comfort of not having to take a look at your telephone for the “smart” case with the Tour Pro 2. Of course, you may nonetheless have to hold the case with you and you will have to remain inside Bluetooth vary of your linked system. I feel the idea might have potential, however I’ll must spend a while doing “regular” on a regular basis issues to correctly gauge the utility. There are issues out there on the show that you could’t entry instantly on the earbuds and that you’ll in any other case must faucet into JBL’s app to vary, so it might conceivably prevent a couple of seconds.  

I’ll have to attend till the $250 Tour Pro 2 arrives this spring to guage the audio high quality as I wasn’t ready to take action throughout a quick CES demo. However, the corporate has a strong monitor document in that division so I count on its newest premium set will deal with listening habits simply wonderful.