Jaybird X4
The Jaybird X4s are the best wireless sports earbuds for most people. They've got excellent battery life, are fully waterproof, and offer really great sound for $20 less than the SoundSport Wireless.
Bose SoundSport Wireless
Although the battery life and water resistance rating isn't as good as what's offered with the X4, the Bose SoundSport Wireless are the best sports earbuds you can buy if sound quality is your top concern.
For most people, the Jaybird X4 earbuds offer the best overall experience while giving you a good value for your money. However, if you want the very best sound quality around, the SoundSport Wireless are tough to beat.
Which earbuds should I buy?
If you've narrowed your search for wireless sports earbuds down to the Jaybird X4 and Bose SoundSport Wireless, you're in a great position. We've got a feeling you'll be happy no matter which one you choose, but even so, the X4s will likely be the best fit for most people.
For starters, the Jaybird X4s offer fantastic battery life. Jaybird rates them for eight hours of use on a single charge, and in our testing, we saw closer to 10 hours. Whether you're running a marathon or hitting up the treadmill at your gym, this kind of endurance is great to have. Bose's SoundSport Wireless last an admirable six hours per charge, and while that's good, you definitely get more juice in between top-ups with the X4s.
Another area where Jaybird takes the lead is with the X4s durability. The IPX7 rating means the X4 are fully waterproof and can be submerged in water up to one meter for 30 minutes. Comparatively, the IPX4 rating for the SoundSport Wireless only offers guaranteed protection against water sprays and splashes — not actual submersion.
Both earbuds come with a carrying pouch and customizable ear tips, but once again, Jaybird gets the upper-hand with a more compact design.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Jaybird X4 | Bose SoundSport Wireless |
|---|---|---|
| Sweat + water resistance | IPX7 | IPX4 |
| Battery | Up to 8 hours | Up to 6 hours |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth | BluetoothNFC |
| Companion app | Jaybird MySound | Bose Connect |
| Customizable ear tips | Yes | Yes |
All of that may make the SoundSport Wireless sound like a pretty inferior product, but there's one area where these puppies really shine — sound quality.
The Jaybird X4s sound really, really good, but like we've come to expect over the years, Bose is still one of the undisputed kings in these regards. The sound that comes out of the SoundSport Wireless is downright fantastic, and you'd be hard-pressed to not get a huge grin on your face when listening to them.
The best choice for most people.
Jaybird's X4 earbuds offer the best all-around package when it comes to wireless sports earbuds. With excellent battery, full waterproofing, solid sound quality, and a comfy design, it's hard to go wrong.
Awesome sound at the expense of other features.
The Bose SoundSport Wireless aren't quite as complete of a product as the Jaybird X4, but if you're okay with worse battery and a lower IP rating for top-notch sound, these are for you.
