Skullcandy vs JLab (2021): Comparing Skullcandy Sesh Evo and JLab Audio JBuds Air True Wireless Earbuds

Choosing a pair of true wireless earbuds in the budget range can be overwhelming since there are hundreds of quality products to choose from. While having a lot of options is a good thing, it can also be a hassle if you want to get the best value for your money. If you are currently in this stage of the buying cycle, we recommend two excellent wireless earbuds: the Skullcandy Sesh Evo and the JLab JBuds Air. These two are affordable and they can rival some of the more expensive ones when it comes to sound quality. In this post, we compare the two so that you can choose which one is better suited for your needs.

Skullcandy vs JLab Comparison Chart

Design

The Skullcandy Sesh Evo and JLab JBuds Air are lightweight and comfortable.

While these two are lightweight, they are bulky, so for those with smaller ears, they will stick out. That said, they are quite comfortable when worn. Both the Skullcandy Sesh Evo and JLab JBuds Air come with three pairs of ear tips—small, medium and large—to accommodate all ear canal sizes. The JLab JBuds Air also come with a pair of Cush Fins that can improve the seal and fit of the earbuds. This can result in a more comfortable fit and better sound.

The charging cases that come with the Skullcandy Sesh Evo and JLab JBuds Air are made of plastic and they don’t feel like premium products, which is expected since these are budget earbuds. Even though they are made of plastic, they should be able to withstand accidental drops without breaking. The Skullcandy Sesh Evo charging case is slightly smaller than the JLab JBuds Air charging case so it will fit better in your pocket.

Both earbuds have an IP55 rating, meaning that they are dust and water resistant. They are perfect for running, working out and any other form of outdoor activity. The Skullcandy Sesh Evo are available in bleached blue, chill grey, deep red, pure mint and true black. On the other hand, the JLab JBuds Air are available in black and white.

Features

You can track the Skullcandy Sesh Evo with Tile, a feature that is not available on the JLab JBuds Air.

One advantage that the Skullcandy Sesh Evo has over the JLab JBuds Air is that it can be tracked with Tile. Since these are true wireless earbuds, it’s easy to misplace them. With Tile, you can track either Skullcandy Sesh Evo earbud if you can’t find them. To make it work, you just need to download the Tile app and follow the instructions on how to use it.

Both Skullcandy Sesh Evo earbuds can be used independent of each other. This is useful if you need to have one ear free to hear people around you or your surroundings. With the JLab JBuds Air, you can only use the right earbud by itself.

The two earbuds have clicky buttons on their left and right earbuds for different functions such as play music, answer calls, volume and more. On the Skullcandy Sesh Evo, the control scheme is simpler. The JLab JBuds Air have a more complicated control scheme that can take a while to get used. Both earbuds have built-in microphones for voice controls.

Check out our comparison of the Skullcandy Crusher and Crusher Evo

Sound

The JLab JBuds Air have a more balanced sound than the Skullcandy Sesh Evo.

On the Skullcandy Sesh Evo, the bass is boomy and exaggerated, which can result in a slightly muddy overall sound. The mid-range sounds good though, and it is clear and detailed. The treble is a bit underemphasized, but you can still hear the small details if you are listening to high quality tracks. This pair of earbuds will be preferred by those that like to listen to a lot of bass-heavy music.

As for the JLab JBuds Air, the bass output is actually similar to the Skullcandy Sesh Evo. It is boomy and exaggerated as well. The mid-range is a bit more forward and detailed, so vocals and instruments in this range are clear. The high frequency range on the JLab JBuds Air is more accurate than the high frequency range on the Skullcandy Sesh Evo. It is more emphasized so it sounds brighter. Overall, we prefer the sound of the JLab JBuds Air over the Skullcandy Sesh Evo.

Since these earbuds have an in-ear design, they can passively isolate noise very well. However, the JLab JBuds Air performed better in this area due to its better fit and seal.

When on a call, the microphones on both earbuds are just okay. They don’t sound good, but they don’t sound terrible as well. The person on the other end will hear you just fine.

Battery Life

The Skullcandy Sesh Evo and JLab JBuds Air have the same 24-hour battery life.

When it comes to battery life, the two earbuds are similar. The Skullcandy Sesh Evo earbuds have a battery life of up to 5 hours and its charging case will give you 19 more hours. The JLab JBuds Air earbuds have a battery life of up to 6 hours and its charging case can give you 18 more hours of battery life.

Both earbuds have a rapid charge function as well. The Skullcandy Sesh Evo can be charged for 10 minutes for 2 hours of playback while the JLab JBuds Air can have 1 hour of music playback on a 15 minute charge.

Included with the Skullcandy Sesh Evo is a USB-C charging cable while the JLab JBuds Air come with a charging case with an integrated USB cable. The integrated USB cable that comes with the JLab JBuds Air case is a nice touch, however, it is very short and if it ever stops working, you’ll need to buy a new charging case instead of just a cable.

Verdict

The Skullcandy Sesh Evo are slightly better overall, but the JLab Jbuds Air are more affordable.

These two wireless earbuds are great for the money. We recommend that you go with Skullcandy Sesh Evo if you don’t mind spending extra for its features and if you like a more bass heavy sound. They have Tile trackers that will let you track them if you ever misplace them and you have more color options to choose from. If you want a more affordable pair of wireless earbuds, the JLab JBuds Air are the smarter choice. They sound slightly better, at least to our ears, and they are also more comfortable to wear. Whichever, you choose, you will get a nice sounding pair of wireless earbuds at a budget-friendly price.

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