The JBL Tour Pro lineup has always been about the case. Giving you control of almost everything, without needing to reach for your phone, is what sets them apart. If you’re considering the Tour Pro 3s, chances are it’s not just for the earbuds, you’re eyeing up what the case can do.
This latest version builds on what worked with the Tour Pro 2s, refining the experience with slightly better audio, a bigger screen, longer battery life, and new features like Spatial Audio and LDAC support. And while JBL hasn't reinvented the wheel here, it has introduced one or two meaningful improvements that add versatility and practicality, especially if you can take advantage of the case’s standout feature, wireless audio transmission.
If that’s something you’d actually use, the Tour Pro 3s are one of the most unique earbuds out there. If not, they’re still a solid premium option, offering good sound, reliable ANC, and plenty of features.
They’re not market-leading in any single category, but they’re more than capable of delivering a great experience. The case just adds an extra layer of functionality, if you have a reason to use it.
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Design
The Tour Pro 3 sticks with the familiar stemmed earbud design, and at a glance, you might not notice much difference from the previous model. They’re not the most premium-feeling earbuds, with their plastic build, slightly bulky size, and chrome finish that tends to pick up smudges. But they’re comfortable and functional, which is what matters most.
JBL now includes five sets of ear tips, ranging from extra-small to extra-large, ensuring there’s a size for everyone. There’s also an extra set of foam tips, which is a nice addition for better noise isolation. The JBL Headphones app even has a fit test feature to help you find the best seal.
All the expected touch controls are here, skip tracks, toggle ANC, adjust volume, and more, but the customisation options remain limited. Within the JBL Headphones app, you can only assign two out of three control groups: Ambient Sound Control, Volume Control, or Playback Control. That means you’ll have to sacrifice one, which is a bit disappointing.
The charging case is also very familiar, with the main upgrade being the larger 1.57-inch screen. The extra space makes it easier to navigate, and you can now see more on-screen information at a glance. However, aside from that, it’s almost identical to its predecessor, and the touchscreen responsiveness isn’t perfect, sometimes requiring multiple taps to register an input.
Sound
JBL’s earbuds have always had a strong, bass-driven sound, and that doesn’t change here. Right out of the box, the lower frequencies dominate, so if you’re a bass lover, you’ll feel right at home.
But it’s not just about bass. The dual-driver system in each bud includes an armature driver for high notes and a 10.2mm dynamic driver for the lows, delivering clear vocals and deep, smooth bass without muddying the mix.
You can tweak the sound using both the case and the JBL app, and the EQ settings actually make a difference. There are six presets, ranging from Studio to Extreme Bass, plus the option to create your own custom presets to fine-tune the sound exactly how you like it.
JBL also includes Personifi, a feature that personalises the sound based on a series of hearing tests. It takes a few minutes, requiring you to indicate when you can no longer hear certain sounds, but at the end, you can compare the before and after. For me, the difference was definitely noticeable.
If you’re into high-resolution audio, these support LDAC, though you’ll need a compatible device and streaming service to take advantage of it. There’s also JBL Spatial 360 sound with head tracking, designed to create a more immersive experience for movies and games. You can set it to fixed mode for a traditional surround effect, or turn head tracking on, where the audio stays anchored in place as you move your head - so if you look to the right, the sound will shift to feel like it’s coming from the left.
This works well for things like gaming but for music and audio, it only worked well when used with audio specifically designed for it. I tried it with standard Spotify tracks, and it wasn’t great, so I mostly left it turned off.
ANC/Transparency/TalkThru
JBL’s noise cancellation has never been best-in-class, and the Tour Pro 3 doesn’t change that. They still don’t beat Sony or Bose, but the ANC is very good.
With True Adaptive ANC 2.0, the earbuds now do a better job at blocking out midrange sounds, like voices, making them more effective in offices or busy cafés. For general background noise, like airplane engines, road noise, or fans, the ANC is solid, but not quite on the level of the best in the industry.
Like most earbuds, the Tour Pro 3 also has a transparency mode, which picks up outside noise and feeds it into your ears through the microphones, letting you stay aware of your surroundings. This works exactly as it should.
There’s also TalkThru, which lowers the music when it detects you speaking. I found it a bit too sensitive at times, on a bus or train it would sometimes pick up other people’s conversations and drop my volume unexpectedly. And since I tend to sing along to my music, I ended up leaving it off most of the time.
Case
The Tour Pro 3s case is easily its most interesting feature, acting as more than just a charging hub. With its 1.57-inch touchscreen, it essentially functions like a mini control centre, allowing you to adjust ANC levels, tweak the EQ, enable silent mode, skip tracks, check battery life, and even customise the display with a background image, all without needing to open the JBL app on your phone.
This brings some convenience, like being able to quickly access settings, check battery levels, or locate lost earbuds with Find My Earbuds, but in reality, its usefulness is limited. Most of these controls can be accessed directly through the earbuds' touch controls or your phone, which makes the screen feel a bit redundant in daily use. You still need your phone or an audio player to actually listen to music, so for most people, it’s more of a nice-to-have than a must-have.
However, one feature makes the case stand out - its wireless audio transmitter. You can plug it into any AUX or USB-C source, like a TV, airplane seat, or gym treadmill, and it will transmit the audio wirelessly to your earbuds via Auracast. For travel, this is a game-changer. Instead of using wired earbuds or a third-party adapter, you can just plug in the case and go. It also allows shared listening, so when I connected it to my laptop, both my Tour Pro 3s and my partner’s Sony WF-1000XM5s were able to listen to the same audio simultaneously. Just keep in mind that the other earbuds need to support Auracast for this to work.
Battery/Mics
The battery offers up to 11 hours of playback with ANC off and another three charges from the case and 8 hours with ANC on and another three charges from the case.
There’s also a quick charge feature where you can get 3 hours of playback after an 11-minute charge.
These are relatively standard numbers; the battery isn’t market leading but it’s good enough to last a day.
The earbuds have six microphones and they’re very good for calls. There are two beamforming outer mics that pick up the user's voice and an inner mic that isolates noise. The results are very good.
Verdict
The JBL Tour Pro 3 does everything you’d expect from a premium pair of earbuds, great sound, solid ANC, plenty of features, and a comfortable fit. But let’s be honest: if you’re looking at these, it’s not because they’re just another solid pair of earbuds. It’s because of the case.
If you can find a real use for the case, these suddenly become one of the most interesting earbuds on the market. The ability to plug into any AUX or USB-C source and wirelessly transmit audio to your earbuds, or even broadcast it to multiple Bluetooth devices via Auracast, is unique. And for planes, trains, gaming, or shared listening, it’s a game-changer.
Now, most of the time you probably won’t find yourself in a situation where the wireless transmission feature is needed, and that’s what makes the Tour Pro 3’s case tricky to justify in real-world use. You can already control everything from your phone or the earbuds, so finding a reason to rely on the case isn’t always easy.
Fortunately, as earbuds, they won’t disappoint. They’re comfortable, sound great, have solid ANC, and are packed with advanced features. Even if you only use the case’s wireless transmission feature occasionally, you’re still getting a well-rounded pair of earbuds, and the case is just an added bonus.
