The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 is the last consumer earbud Jabra ever launched: the brand announced its exit from that market right afterwards. A French test run with proper measuring equipment found a drastic treble drop above 6 kHz, a documented technical flaw that flatly contradicts the gushing subjective reviews published elsewhere. Enough to seriously dent this model's reputation as the ultimate sports earbud.
© Jabra, official photo used for editorial purposes
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 is an IP68 noise-cancelling in-ear earbud that launched at 249,95 € in June 2024. A French test backed by a measurement rig found a glaring lack of treble above 6 kHz and noise cancelling that trails the competition, for an overall score of 7/10. It is also Jabra's very last Elite model, as the brand shut down its consumer earbuds business shortly after launch.
Launched in June 2024 at 249,95 €, the Elite 8 Active Gen 2 replaces the original Elite 8 Active, which French reviewers tested back in 2023. Jabra adds a new USB-C charging case that works with the bundled 3.5 mm jack adapter, billed by the brand as the world's first Bluetooth LE Audio-ready case, plus Dolby-optimised spatial sound and adaptive hybrid noise cancelling claimed to be twice as effective as the previous generation.
This launch has a bittersweet edge, though: Jabra pulled the plug on its consumer business shortly after the Elite 8 Active Gen 2 hit shelves, which makes it the brand's final earbud for regular buyers. It still gets security updates, the latest in January 2026, so software support holds up fine even with no successor on the way.
RunMorph's tip: if you want a more affordable Jabra with a similar sporty profile, the Jabra Elite 4 Active is still on sale for a lot less.
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | In-ear, stemless, ShakeGrip technology |
| Water resistance | IP68 (earbuds), IP54 (case), MIL-STD-810H certified |
| Noise cancelling | Adaptive hybrid ANC + HearThrough mode |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3, LE Audio (LC3 codec), multipoint with 2 devices |
| Audio codecs | AAC, SBC (no aptX, no high-res codec) |
| Claimed battery life | 14 h (earbuds, ANC off) / 8 h (ANC on); up to 56 h with the case (ANC off) / 32 h (ANC on) |
| Case | USB-C, Qi wireless charging, 3.5 mm jack adapter included |
| Colours | Black, Coral, Olive Green, Navy |
| Price | 249,95 € at launch (June 2024) |
On battery life, Jabra's numbers broadly hold up: a test using a calibrated measurement rig recorded nearly 9 hours of continuous playback at 70 % volume with ANC off, better than the market average, and close to 36 hours in total with the case. Switching on ANC or HearThrough mode, however, cuts battery life per charge to just over 5 hours, against the 8 hours claimed. A real gap, but still within a reasonable range.
Sound is where the gap gets serious. The same test, using a frequency response measurement rig, documents a drastic drop in output from 6 kHz upwards, with the signal all but gone from 18 kHz. The result was checked twice on two different devices to rule out any measurement error. In practice, this flaw shows up as a harsh sound, vocals pushed too far forward and high-pitched instruments (guitar, cymbals) losing their natural fullness. That flatly contradicts other online reviews calling the sound "remarkable" with "crisp treble", none of which rely on instrument measurements. RunMorph sides with the most rigorous source, the one that documents its method and backs it with numbers.
| Metric | Jabra's claim | Measured / tested |
|---|---|---|
| Music playback, ANC off | 14 h | ~9 h at 70 % volume (above the market average) |
| Playback with ANC on | 8 h | ~5 h per charge |
| Noise cancelling | "2x stronger" than the previous generation | Behind the competition, especially on quiet sounds (air conditioning, fans) |
| Treble reproduction | Dolby-optimised spatial sound | Measured drop from 6 kHz, signal almost nil from 18 kHz |
© Jabra, official photo used for editorial purposes
Stemless and coated in ShakeGrip, the earbuds sit in the concha of your ear, more like the Beats Solo Buds than the classic AirPods style. One tester wore them for running and mountain biking without ever having to push them back in mid-effort, a rare feat for a wingless design. The IP68 rating allows immersion down to 1 metre, confirmed in the pool, with one logical catch: the Bluetooth connection drops as soon as your head goes underwater, and there's no onboard storage to play music while you swim.
On range and latency, Bluetooth 5.3 makes the difference: over 25 metres without dropouts on a recent smartphone, and latency judged imperceptible for both gaming and video. The 3.5 mm jack adapter on the case cable even lets you hook the earbuds up to a PlayStation or an in-flight entertainment screen with no Bluetooth. A niche feature, but a smart one.
Intense training and contact sports: its home turf, with MIL-STD-810H certified toughness and a flawless fit even through sudden, jerky movements.
Running in quiet areas or nature: the lack of strong noise cancelling won't bother you, and the measured battery life is more than enough for a long run.
Demanding music listening: the documented weak spot. If you love balanced sound with real treble, you'll regret this pick, app equaliser or not.
Public transport or busy streets: the noise cancelling handles low frequencies (engines) but lets voices and car horns through, trailing the best on the market.
Phone calls in noisy places: the mic struggles with ambient noise and saturates, a confirmed weakness for calls on busy streets.
This isn't a subjective impression but a result confirmed by instrument measurement and reproduced on two different devices: output drops drastically from 6 kHz and the signal almost completely disappears from 18 kHz. In practice, music lacks clarity and air in the high frequencies (cymbals, some voices), a flaw the Jabra Sound+ app equaliser softens without ever fully fixing it.
Once a pioneer in the field, Jabra is now clearly behind on ANC compared to the market leaders such as the Apple AirPods Pro 2: quiet, constant sounds (air conditioning, fans) are barely reduced, and HearThrough mode suffers from a constant hiss that gets annoying. In a dense urban setting, the feature is usable but nowhere near a reason to buy.
The first generation, launched in 2023 and reviewed by the French press at the time, already laid the groundwork: IP68, ShakeGrip, generous battery life. The Gen 2 mainly adds a new USB-C case with 3.5 mm jack and LE Audio support, plus noise cancelling Jabra claims is twice as effective. So the most tangible day-to-day change is the case. If you already own the first generation and don't need the extra connectivity, the upgrade isn't essential.
Against the Apple AirPods Pro 3, Apple clearly wins on noise cancelling and sound quality, two areas where the Jabra showed its limits in this test. The Jabra keeps the edge on certified toughness and price, which is usually lower.
Against the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, aimed at the same sporty crowd but with an ear hook design rather than stemless, the choice mostly comes down to fit: a rigid hook from Beats versus Jabra's ShakeGrip bud, two different philosophies chasing the same goal of staying put while you move.
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The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 delivers on a clear promise: an earbud built to take the hardest workouts without ever shifting or fearing water and sweat. On that specific front, it's still a benchmark. But the most rigorous test available in French, backed by instrument measurements, documents a real treble reproduction flaw, along with noise cancelling that has lost the lead Jabra once held. If you're an athlete who wants toughness and fit above all, the maths still works in its favour. If you're an audiophile or a regular on noisy commutes, other options will do better for a similar price.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 is an IP68 sports earbud at 249,95 €, with hybrid ANC, a USB-C case compatible with a 3.5 mm jack, and LE Audio. A test using a calibrated measurement rig recorded real battery life close to 9 hours with ANC off (above the market average), but also documents a sharp treble drop above 6 kHz and noise cancelling that trails the competition. It's the last consumer earbud Jabra launched before leaving that market, and it's still being updated in 2026.
Is the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 still on sale in 2026?
Yes, it's still available from retailers and keeps getting security updates, the latest in January 2026, even though Jabra announced the end of its consumer earbuds business.
What's the real flaw of the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2?
A French test using measuring equipment documents a drastic drop in output from 6 kHz, with the signal almost nil from 18 kHz, a flaw confirmed twice on two different devices.
Is the noise cancelling on the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 any good?
It's usable but trails the market leaders such as the AirPods Pro 2 or 3, especially on quiet, constant sounds like air conditioning or a fan.
Can you swim with the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2?
The IP68 rating allows immersion down to 1 metre, but the Bluetooth connection drops as soon as your head is underwater, and the earbuds have no onboard storage for music.
What's the difference with the original Jabra Elite 8 Active (Gen 1)?
The Gen 2 adds a USB-C case compatible with a 3.5 mm jack and LE Audio, plus noise cancelling Jabra claims is twice as effective. The rest of the experience (fit, toughness) is very close.