JLab surprised me in early 2020 when the company introduced its $29 Go Air headphones. For the first time, I realized that I needed to pay more attention to budget headphones because some companies manage to make impressive products for under $50. Do they offer flagship-level features and performance? No. Do they cover the basics and sound good enough for occasional use? Absolutely.
The company has announced several products since then, including the $60 JBuds ANC (3rd Gen) earlier this year. It seems JLab wasn't happy with that model being its most affordable noise cancellation option. Today, the company revealed the Go pop ANC ($30)a set of earbuds that still offer some noise-blocking capabilities for half the price of the JBuds ANC. This new model is the company's most affordable noise-cancelling set to date, and JLab even says it's the lowest-priced set of active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones you can buy right now at full price.
JLab says you can expect over six hours of listening time on the earbuds (ANC on), with a maximum of over 24 hours when you factor in the case (ANC off). Like previous JLab models, the Go Pop ANC case has a built-in USB-C cable, so there's always a way to plug it in. Plus, a quick charge feature gives you an hour of use in 10 minutes.
The IP55-rated earbuds are sweat- and splash-proof, and offer stronger ingress protection than some flagship models that cost 10 times more. Bluetooth multipoint connectivity is here, as is the ability to customize audio and more through the JLab app. Specifically, that software will let you adjust the equalizer and reconfigure the onboard controls, plus there's a safe listening tool and dedicated modes for music and movies.
To accompany the noise cancellation functionality of the Go Pop ANC, there is a Be Aware transparency mode when you need it. The 10mm dynamic drivers handle the sound and the two ANC MEMS microphones enable “clear” calls. The Go Pop ANC also supports Google Fast Pair and is available in fuchsia and teal color options, in addition to the black shown in the photo.
The Go Pop ANC is available now for $30.
