Open-ear earbuds have become the go-to choice for anyone who wants to stay aware of their surroundings while still enjoying music or podcasts. JBL’s Sense Lite takes that idea and brings it to a more affordable level, aiming squarely at runners, cyclists, and commuters who need comfort and awareness more than isolation.
With Bluetooth 5.4, solid call quality, and an IP54 resistance rating, they promise all-day practicality at a price that makes open-ear tech a bit more accessible.
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Price & Competition
The JBL Sense Lite are categorised as entry-level open-ear fitness earbuds. They cost $111 which is a bit less than the main competition, mainly the $145 Shokz OpenMove Wireless and quite a bit less than the Nothing Ear (Open) which cost $279
At this price, JBL has made the Sense Lite very competitive, in this somewhat limited category. If you’re curious about open-ear headphones but aren’t willing to spend big, the Sense Lite is a great starting point.
Design
The Sense Lite use the familiar fitness-oriented ear-hook design that loops around the back of your ear without sealing the ear canal. It’s clearly aimed at people who are active, runners, cyclists, or anyone who wants to stay aware of what’s going on around them.
The hooks keep the small speaker units resting just above the ear, so you still get your music while being able to hear traffic, conversation, or gym noise. You can use them for everyday listening but they make the most sense when paired with movement.
Each earbud weighs about 9 grams, and they’re genuinely comfortable to wear for long periods. The hooks add good stability and, just as importantly, keep the drivers positioned neatly over the ear canal. I did find myself wishing the fit was a touch tighter though, there can be a little shift when moving your jaw side to side, and there aren’t different-sized arms on offer here.
Build quality feels solid overall, with an IP54 rating for dust, sweat, and light rain. They can easily handle workouts or a jog in drizzle. The only real consideration is for people with smaller ears, who might find the fit slightly on the loose side.
The Sense Lite uses touch-sensitive controls on each earbud for playback, volume, and calls. You can customise these through the JBL Headphones app, which lets you assign gesture groups like “Volume Control” or “Playback Control” to either earbud. The catch is that you can’t mix and match individual actions, for example, you can’t have play/pause and volume on the same side which is a bit limiting. The touch surface itself can also take some getting used to; it’s easy to miss the right spot while running or moving, so accuracy isn’t perfect. That said, once you adjust to the placement, the controls work reliably enough for everyday use.
Audio
The Sense Lite uses 18 × 11 mm dynamic drivers, which are larger than what you’d normally find in standard earbuds. They produce a decent, well-rounded sound with good bass capabilities. This is helped by JBL’s Adaptive Bass Boost feature that adjusts bass levels automatically in real time.
That said, these don’t sound as full or detailed as regular in-ear earbuds, and they’re not really meant to. The open design lets in outside noise, so you do lose that deep, sealed-ear bass. But that’s to be expected. On runs I found the audio clear enough for calls, podcasts, and casual listening.
With the JBL Headphones app, you can fine-tune your sound using the included equaliser which has ten bands. What’s nice is the equaliser actually makes a difference and it allows you to tailor the audio not only to your personal tastes but also your environment.
Battery & Case
Battery performance is excellent. Each bud lasts around 8 hours, and the charging case adds another 24 for a total of 32 hours. A quick 10-minute charge gives you roughly three hours of playback, which is handy for quick top-ups before heading out.
The case itself is on the larger side, mainly because of the ear-hook shape of the buds. It feels fairly lightweight and a bit plasticky, but it does what it needs to holds a charge, protects the earbuds, and slips into a gym bag without fuss. Nothing about it really stands out, but it’s functional and fine for what it is.
A full recharge takes about two hours via USB-C, and for most users that means charging once or twice a week at most.
Connectivity & Features
Connectivity is strong across the board. The Sense Lite runs on Bluetooth 5.4, which is stable. Multi-point pairing lets you stay connected to two devices at once, handy when you’re running and need to switch between say your phone or a smartwatch. Android users also get Fast Pair support and Google Find My Device, which makes setup and locating the earbuds quick and painless.
Call quality is handled by a four-microphone beamforming system that does a solid job keeping your voice clear, even in breezy conditions. JBL’s “hydrodynamic windproof” design helps reduce wind noise, and while it’s not flawless, it’s good enough for a quick chat while outdoors.
There’s no Active Noise Cancellation here, but that’s by design. These are open-ear earbuds meant for awareness, not isolation, so you’ll always hear what’s happening around you, which for runners or commuters is exactly the point.
Verdict
The JBL Sense Lite delivers exactly what it sets out to: a comfortable, everyday pair of open-ear earbuds that keep you connected without cutting you off from the world. Audio quality is fine for casual use but won’t wow anyone who values deep bass, and the touch controls could be more precise. Still, the strong connectivity, long battery life, and decent call performance make these easy to recommend for anyone wanting awareness and convenience over total immersion.
If you’re after something comfortable, simple, and safe for workouts or daily commuting, the Sense Lite does the job well, nothing flashy, just a practical design that fits the open-ear idea nicely.
