The 1.45-inch touchscreen on the charging case immediately caught my attention upon unboxing the Live Beam 3. By connecting to your phone, this screen allows users to view notifications about battery life, control music, adjust EQ, and even take calls directly from the case. This adds a level of convenience that is comparable to smartphone controls.
In my experience using the JBL Live 3 with this multifunctional screen, the colors were vibrant and the response time was snappy, with minimal lag. Users can even set their favorite wallpaper on the headphone case, adding a personal touch.
Another plus is the compact design of the Live Beam 3. When placed next to the JBL Tour Pro 2, the Live Beam 3 is noticeably smaller. This makes it easy to carry around in my purse or backpack without taking up too much space.
Aside from the impressive screen, the charging case maintains a functional design with a Type-C port, a pairing button, and a lanyard hole. The build quality of the JBL case is excellent for its price range, with a satisfying snap when closing and a strong magnet to keep it securely shut.
The housing of the earbuds is made of a combination of matte and glossy plastic, creating a stylish contrast. The earbuds are IP55 rated for dust and water resistance, allowing me to wear them during workouts without worrying about sweat affecting their durability. The Live Beam 3’s IP55 rating surpasses the IPX5 rating of the Tour Pro 2.
In terms of call quality, JBL has equipped each earbud with three microphones to enhance voice pickup. In my tests, the Live Beam 3 was able to capture my voice clearly and loudly while effectively reducing background noise, such as music or traffic.
Most importantly, the earbuds provide a comfortable fit for extended wear. The touch controls on the earbuds are highly responsive, allowing for easy music playback control, track skipping, and access to virtual assistants. These touch commands can be customized within the My JBL Headphones app.
Additionally, the app offers features like checking earbud fit, customizing transparency and noise-canceling modes, and locating lost earbuds.
The JBL Live Beam 3 boasts a range of features, including Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, adaptive active noise cancellation, Hi-res audio, JBL Signature Sound, and 10mm drivers with a focus on bass.
The sound signature of the JBL Live Beam 3 is well-balanced and versatile, capable of handling various music genres, from rock to pop and vocal-centric songs. However, its strength lies in its bass performance, showcasing JBL’s distinctive tuning.
According to JBL, the Live Beam 3 offers up to 12 hours of battery life without ANC (active noise cancellation) and 10 hours with ANC turned on. These figures are impressive, as not many premium wireless earbuds can match this level of endurance.
Beyond the standard features, the Live Beam 3 boasts some unique tricks up its sleeve. The Smart Talk feature automatically lowers the volume when you start speaking and restores it when you stop. This function works seamlessly and accurately, eliminating the need to manually pause your music when engaging in a conversation, thus providing a more fluid and optimized experience.
I often wear the Live Beam 3 earbuds to the gym, and the noise-canceling feature comes into its own in that environment. Without music playing, I can still hear the lively sounds of the gym. However, once I start my workout playlist, the outside world is effectively blocked out, allowing me to immerse myself in my music and focus on my exercises.
Overall, the JBL Live Beam 3 is an exciting wireless earbud option, offering a modern feel with its touchscreen case, a convenient and comfortable user experience, and impressive sound quality, all complemented by a host of smart features.
At a price point of around 4 million VND, JBL’s newest offering emerges as a strong competitor to the AirPods 3 (standard version) and the Marshall Minor IV.
