JBL UA True Wireless Streak review

Our Verdict

The JBL UA True Wireless Streak shows strength in sound and design, only at that place's too much weakness in other areas to fully recommend it.

For

Warm, brilliant audio
Strong connectivity
Fully waterproof
Personalized fit

Against

Lacks actress features and app support
Unreliable controls
Weak transparency fashion
Quick-draining battery and discharge issues

Tom'south Guide Verdict

The JBL UA Truthful Wireless Streak shows forcefulness in sound and design, but there'southward besides much weakness in other areas to fully recommend it.

Pros

+
Warm, brilliant audio
+
Strong connectivity
+
Fully waterproof
+
Personalized fit

Cons

-
Lacks extra features and app back up
-
Unreliable controls
-
Weak transparency mode
-
Quick-draining battery and discharge issues

The JBL UA Truthful Wireless Streak is the latest collaboration between the sound and sportswear brands that packages bass-forrard audio and fitness-friendly features into a waterproof design. It also comes with multiple ear tips and a free year of service to ane of the all-time running apps for Android and iOS: Map My Run.

JBL UA Truthful Wireless Streak specs

Colour: Black, Cherry-red, Teal, White

Bombardment life (rated): 6 hours, eighteen hours (with charging case)

Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0

Processor: Not stated

Size: Not stated

Weight: 0.2 ounces (per bud), two.two ounces (charging case)

After a week of testing, these sporty wireless earbuds showed their worth in some areas, while disappointing in others. Potent audio performance volition boost your adrenaline during workouts, and features like Ambience mode are ideal for increasing awareness when jogging outside. However, the Streak'south lack of app support, extra features, and responsive controls are blunders that hurt its overall value. Go along reading our full JBL UE True Wireless Streak review to find out why it won't be joining the ranks of the best sport headphones.

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JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Price and availability

$149 at Amazon
$99 at B&H

The JBL UA True Wireless Streak tin can be purchased for $149.95 directly from Under Armour or at major online retailers, including Amazon and B&H, the latter currently selling it for every bit depression as $99.95. 4 colors are available: Blackness, Red, Teal, and White.

This set of buds falls correct in between the cheap and sub-luxury toll points. Past comparison, the Streak is more than expensive than critical darlings like the Jabra Aristocracy 65t ($99) and Klipsch T5 II Sport ($129), just cheaper than higher-priced models like the Bose Sport Earbuds ($159) and i of the best wireless earbuds out at that place, the Beats Powerbeats Pro ($199).

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JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Design and comfort

Fully waterproof
Secure fit, but at the price of long-term comfort

Likewise the Projection Rock special editions, all other JBL 10 UA products deport monotonous designs, the Streak falling into that category besides. JBL focused on sustainability over mode, which shows in the craftsmanship. These buds come with an IPX7 rating that makes them fully waterproof in up to ane meter of water for 30 minutes. The sturdy plastic beat ensures you they won't interruption when striking the concrete.

JBL UA True Wireless Streak review — (Epitome credit: Regan Coule/Future)

At that place isn't much detail in the design other than the UA logo imprinted correct on the front. JBL's decision to requite some of the colors a translucent exterior gives the buds a cheaper wait as well.

The charging case is the most attractive component of the Streak. Its pill-shaped grade is striking and fits nicely into denim pockets or a gym bag. I as well like the UA branding on the within lid, which as well has a powerful magnet that keeps the case tightly shut. The LEDs on the front and embossed UA logo at the elevation are neat touches also. At 2.ii ounces it'southward not the lightest charging example, but isn't something that will counterbalance you down when sprinting to the gym.

The UA True Wireless Streak and the best running wireless earbuds have two things in common: quality comfort and fit. JBL achieves both with the Streak. Multiple ear tip sizes and fins come bundled with the purchase to adjust different ear shapes. I was fine sporting the preinstalled pairs, which enhanced stability and produced a tight seal that kept the buds locked in. Be mindful that the Streak was designed for exercising, not casual listening, so wearing them longer than 2 hours volition result in some fatigue; the cavity increasingly applies pressure level to the concha.

JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Controls and digital assistant

Inaccurate tap recognition
Questionable input assignments
Weird Siri integration

The Streak'south touch controls are confusing and frustrating to operate. It seems like JBL didn't give much idea to the command scheme, divvying commands awkwardly between each bud and not integrating a triple-tap gesture that would accept made usability more convenient. Onboard volume controls are another notable omission.

Listeners have a diverseness of media controls at their disposal such as playback, call management, vocalization assistance, and the power to switch betwixt listening modes. Unfortunately, the bear upon panels make most of them difficult to execute by struggling to register double taps accurately. A single tap on the left earbud enables TalkThru or Standard mode, while a double tap activates Ambient Aware mode; it would have made more sense to take one office that lets you lot cycle through all iii modes.

Another letdown is the voice assistant feature, something that has become an ongoing trend with contempo JBL models such every bit the Club Pro Plus. While you're given access to Google Assistant and Alexa, which work decently to execute voice commands, users must de-select the two phonation assistants in the companion app to use Siri on iOS and macOS. There isn't any indication to do this in the quick kickoff guide or production page, leaving you to either discover this through some troubleshooting or give-and-take of mouth. You lot're welcome.

JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Audio quality

Warm but balanced
Minimal distortion
No ANC but skilful passive isolation

JBL's sound profile leans heavily on the warm cease of the audio spectrum, but the engineers did a surprisingly expert job of balancing out frequencies to give the Streak a nice mix of punchy lows and crisp highs. You go a squeamish feel for this on jazzy Hip-Hop tracks like A Tribe Called Quest's "Jazz (We've Got"), where the pounding drum loop lands hard and horn samples remain melodically hitting throughout the recording.

But what yous actually want is blast-filled sonics to fuel your workouts, which the Streak delivers. Putting on 2Pac's "California Beloved" revved up the engine before a 5K run, giving the pulsating bassline extra oomph that competitors like the T5 Two Sport and Bose Sport Earbuds couldn't lucifer. It was besides great to hear Roger Trotman's synthesized hook crystal articulate. Even on super-boomy tracks like KRS-I's "Outta Here," the Streak kept bass response in bank check and never distorted vocals or veiled background instruments.

Jazz records are my go-to for post-workout recovery and the Streak did a fine job of helping cool things downward. The choir-esque harmonies at the commencement of Donald Byrd's "Cristo Redentor" sounded soothing and offered relief during stretches, though it was the build-up to Byrd's vibrant sax play that sent a jolt of energy through my ears and lifted me off the ground. Despite the T5 II Sport producing improve instrumental separation and clarity on such tracks, the Streak proved that information technology's no slouch either.

These buds might not come with agile noise cancellation, but the passive dissonance isolation they provide is effective to minimalize ambient noises that enter your ears. The tight seal created by tips prevents sound from bleeding out equally well. Volume isn't hazardously loud either, just don't take that equally an open invitation to blast music during runs.

JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Special features

No app support
Pass-through modes helpful but imperfectly implemented

The Streak isn't compatible with the JBL Headphones app, which is baffling, especially when there are other JBL 10 UA products that support the software. This was a greatly missed opportunity that would take given owners several useful features, including an EQ with multiple presets and the Check My Best Fit setting to decide the all-time ear tip size for optimal fit.

At least you get 2 listening modes that come in handy when commuting: Ambient Enlightened and TalkThru. Both of them work similarly in that they open upward the mics and let in more ambient noise to increase your ecology awareness. Sadly, the results don't compare to what you get from JBL'south more expensive models.

TalkThru is the improve-performing fashion and lets you communicate clearly by dropping volume down to 20 percentage without pausing music. The upshot is that enabling it creates this whooshing consequence that makes y'all feel like you lot're underneath an air vent. Ambient Aware won't allow you hear much either; whisking cars were all that caught my attention during daytime jogs. In that location were even moments when my wife thought I was ignoring her during the testing phase.

JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Battery life and charging case

Middling battery life
Inconsistent discharge rates

JBL rates battery life at half-dozen hours, which is really virtually 5 hours after factoring in volume, streaming, and listening modes. This is practically equal to the Sport Earbuds (5 hours) and lower than the T5 II Sport (viii hours). Another downer is that the buds only come twenty% charged out of the box; my sample unit of measurement did, anyway.

USB Blazon-C fast-charging is supported, though there is very trivial data shared other than a full charge can be achieved in 2 hours. That doesn't sound particularly fast. My testing did encounter the right bud go from 10 to seventy percent in 15 minutes, while the left remained at 10 percent, a clear indication that the Streak has discharge issues.

Complaints aside, a full accuse is sufficient for nigh 3 to 4 days of workouts earlier tossing the buds into the charging case, which holds upwards to 18 hours fully charged. This falls short of the average industry fourth dimension set past the AirPods' charging example of 24 hours. Pop features like a Bluetooth pairing push and wireless charging are missing as well. Something else worth noting is that the USB-C port on the rear doesn't take a flap to protect information technology from dirt or moisture damage.

JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Phone call quality and connectivity

Skilful wireless range
Low clarity in calls

If you're in a pinch and need to make a phone call, the Streak will suffice, but it won't be a go-to for long conversations or business calls. 1 positive is that you'll hear those on the opposite end loud and clear. That performance isn't reciprocated, as there is muffling and some pocket-sized cutout that occurs on your end, no matter the environment. My wife could tell I was outside and heard everything around me; JBL's dual beam-forming mics picked up a lot of ambience noise. When within the house, she said my voice was aural, but was still cutting out every few seconds. Video chats were also unsatisfying with clients sounding very buzzy during Google Run into calls.

Bluetooth v.0 is outstanding on the Streak. Removing the buds from the instance automatically places them in pairing fashion. Google Fast Pair does speed up the process on Android devices, but you won't take any issues connecting to iOS/macOS devices either. Range is the Streak'south unsung characteristic and is actually higher than what'southward advertised, giving you about 40 anxiety of wireless listening before sound stutters.

JBL did program the Streak to exist used in stereo or mono (merely leave 1 bud in the example), though they excluded its proprietary Dual Connect+Sync technology to hands switch connections from one device to some other.

JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Verdict

If you happen to be a longtime JBL or UA fan, and want reasonably affordable conditioning buds with dynamic sound and a most-harm-proof pattern, you may wish to check out the Streak. The engineers did correct by the sound signature, which balances impactful bass and crisp highs very well. Waterproof protection as well grants peace of heed when engaging in sweat-inducing activities or lounging by the pool area. Bluetooth is strong likewise to maintain a steady connection in most settings.

All the same, the Streak kind of feels like an unfinished JBL product with a UA logo slapped on it. I say that considering at that place are some bugs that were never flushed out, and JBL has however to make Siri more conveniently accessible to users. On top of that, the controls and transparency modes don't work well, which strengthens my belief that JBL rushed these buds off the associates line.

Still, the Streak is also overpriced at $149, and y'all can find other elite-performing alternatives like the T5 II Sport and Elite 65t that offer more performance more significantly less cash.

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A lifestyle journalist with an affinity for consumer products, Alex has over a decade of experience and has worked with popular publications such as Complex, Thrillist, Men'south Wellness, Gear Patrol, AskMen, and Hoop Magazine. He currently focuses on audio, reviewing the most coveted headphones in the market for both Tom's Guide and Laptop Magazine.