Products in this test

Completely wireless earbuds have been the most popular type of headphones for years, and no wonder: they’re convenient to bring along, the case fits in your pocket, and the earbuds themselves are so small that you hardly notice them once they’re inserted into the ear canal.

But it’s not quite as easy to be sure that a set of earbuds will fit as it is with normal headphones, which fit fairly securely around most ears – even my own protruding troll ears.

‘’Earbuds aren’t for me – I have difficult ears‘’ is a phrase I often hear.

To cover as many ears and personal preferences as possible, JBL has created three different versions of their Live 3 earbuds. The basic technology in terms of electronics and drivers is the same, but they are meant to be used and worn in different ways.

We’ve tried and compared the three models and while they’re obviously similar in some ways, they’re also surprisingly different.

‘’Earbuds aren’t for me – I have difficult ears!‘’

JBL Live Buds 3 is the classic earbud that fits completely inside the ear. It’s discreet and will probably be the choice for most people.

If you use your earbuds a lot for phone calls, JBL Live Beam 3 might be the best choice. It has the same sound quality as Live Buds 3, but thanks to its elongated shape, the microphone is a little closer to the mouth. The Live Beam 3 also has the longest battery life of the three tested.

Finally, the JBL Live Flex 3 offers a completely different wearing experience, where you are not hermetically sealed in your own world but can still hear your surroundings.