JBL Tune Buds 2 Review

If you’re in the market for affordable true wireless earbuds that deliver bold bass, reliable active noise canceling (ANC), and surprisingly long battery life, the JBL Tune Buds 2 deserve your attention. Positioned as the follow-up to the original JBL Tune Buds, this second-gen release adds polish with a sleeker design, improved functionality, and impressive battery specs, all while keeping the price under $100. But how do they actually sound, and are they worth the upgrade? Let’s break down everything from build quality and Bluetooth performance to real-world soundstage and frequency response so you can decide if these earbuds belong in your daily carry.

What You Get

• JBL Tune Buds 2 headphones
• Type-C USB charging cable
• 3 sizes of ear tips
• Charging case
• Warranty / Warning (W / !)
• product QSG/ Safety Sheet (S / i)

Look & Feel

Compared to the previous Tune Buds, the new Tune Buds have a sleeker look. They keep the solid colors with a glossier texture that fills in the logos. LED lights are also added to the face of the earbuds for extra aesthetic flair. The surface area of the buds leaves more than enough room for your finger to touch the sensors naturally. They have the same fit as the previous Tune Buds as well. I wore them for many hours without any significant issues.

Design & Functionality

The JBL Tune Buds 2 have 10mm dynamic drivers, and the output can get surprisingly loud for budget true wireless earbuds. If you’re worried about your earbuds not getting loud enough, the Tune Buds might be your answer. Noise-canceling controls will also help with isolation, which is passable for the price. You’ll most likely still hear large obstructive sounds, but silence most vents. If you download JBL’s headphone companion app, you’ll be able to use the Smart Ambient feature that adjusts how much of your environment you can hear. The app is host to other features like Personi-Fi 3.0 sound personalization, EQ, and spatial audio. If you’re just looking for simple playback controls, the Tune Buds 2 use very responsive touch sensors, giving you immediate feedback to let you know that your taps have registered.

Bluetooth

The Tune Buds 2 use Bluetooth version 5.3. When I took the earbuds out of the case, they were immediately found by my phone. If you’re looking for aptX or LDAC earbuds, the Tune Buds 2 only provide standard CODECs.

Battery Life

Whether you’re using ANC or not, the Tune Buds 2 impressively reach double digits from just one full charge. 10 hours with ANC on and 12 hours with ANC off is surprising to see for a hundred-dollar earbuds, which could end up being a huge reason to buy these over some more expensive options.

Soundstage

JBL earbuds never have the largest soundstage, but some of their more recent efforts have been quite surprising. The Tune Buds 2 carries that on with an admirable amount of stereo width for the price. Everything sounds inside your head, but the imaging is spread out enough to separate the instruments articulately. It’s a linear soundstage, but it sounds good for true wireless earbuds. In the app, you can apply different spatial modes that will slightly change the soundstage. I haven’t liked JBL’s spatial audio controls in the past, but with the Tune Buds 2, it’s a bit better. The sound never feels like it’s being filtered or losing resolution. Movie mode makes more of a difference to the imaging than music and game mode, jutting out the sound a tad further than before, however, the soundstage gains no height.

Low End

These are JBL earbuds, so expect some thumpy bass with solid body. It uses the mid-bass for punch with a subtle sub-bass lift from underneath that establishes a defined foundation for the sound signature. While the resolution isn’t the most pristine, there’s enough texture and physicality to the bass that results in clear grooves without dropping into muddiness.

Mids

JBL earphones are usually scooped out in the mids, and that’s the case for the Tune Buds 2 as well. The sound signature is V-shaped, with the low-mids and upper-mids featuring the most presence in the frequency response. It’s all perfectly consumable for rock, hip-hop, and EDM, but don’t expect much detail to be received from this midrange timbre.

Highs

While the high frequencies have a slight shimmer to their timbre, they mostly remain soft and neutral. Some hard rock tracks showcase a slight edge to the highs, which adds more character to them, but these are otherwise very laid-back tones.

Summary

For their price point, the JBL Tune Buds 2 offer an excellent value, especially for casual listeners who prioritize battery life, deep bass, and convenience. While audiophiles may find the midrange detail and spatial audio modes a bit limited, the strong low end, responsive touch controls, and support from the JBL Headphones app add enough versatility to make them a compelling choice. With 10 hours of playback on a single charge (ANC on), Bluetooth 5.3 stability, and a customizable listening experience, the Tune Buds 2 continue JBL’s tradition of delivering feature-rich earbuds that punch well above their price. If you’re shopping for the best budget true wireless earbuds with ANC in 2025, the Tune Buds 2 should be on your shortlist.

The JBL Tune Buds 2 are available at Audio46.