Like their semi in-ear counterparts in the JBL Live range (the Live Beam 3), the Live Flex 3 are open-design earphones vaguely inspired by AirPods. They include noise-cancelling technology aimed at anyone who dislikes silicone tips but still wants some isolation from the outside world.
These earphones come with a charging case fitted with a small touchscreen, placing a particular emphasis on user experience. The case repeats a number of the commands and settings also found in the app, which could be seen as a significant advantage. JBL does highlight customisation options in its documentation, yet it seems the Live Flex 3 mostly rely on the brand’s solid reputation.
The Live Flex 3 launched in June 2024 in finishes of black, silver, purple, and blue.
Build & Comfort
Much like most open earphones with a stem, the JBL Live Flex 3 have a shell that takes its cues from AirPods. However, it’s evident the brand intends to avoid outright copying, shown by their decision not to make a white version. The shape of the stem is also more refined than previous Live Flex models, lending a more harmonious look. As with most JBL products, though, the fairly prominent JBL logo means they aren’t exactly discreet.
Although the glossy finish with metallic grey highlights easily picks up fingerprints, the build quality is otherwise good. Despite the visible assembly lines and extensive use of plastic—save for the acoustic grilles—the Live Flex 3 seem robust. They carry an IP54 rating, meaning they’re protected against dust and light water splashes. However, since there’s no stated sweat-resistance, it’s probably wise not to wear them during rigorous sports.
Without silicone tips, these earphones don’t enter the ear canal, making them very comfortable as long as your ear shape holds them securely. As with the Samsung Galaxy Buds3, the acoustic chamber sits at the entrance of the ear canal, which can feel a bit large for smaller ears. Some people may need to adjust them frequently.
Charging Case
Unlike the typical upright flip-lid case, the Live Flex 3 have a case that sits flat and opens in two halves. In addition to Qi wireless charging, it also features a 3.7 cm touchscreen that provides various controls and settings. While this addition is appealing (and slightly gimmicky), it compromises portability; the case is roughly twice as heavy and thick as that of many rival models, making it more noticeable in a trouser pocket. Nonetheless, you can attach a lanyard (not included) if you need it close at hand on the go.
Although there’s no IP rating for the case and its hinges look a bit flimsy, the overall design is solid. Its satin finish is resistant to fingerprints, and there are strong magnets inside that make it easy to drop the earphones in without fuss.
User Experience
In contrast to many earphones with stems, the JBL Live Flex 3 use no pinch commands. Instead, you have quick and long taps on the upper area of the stem. However, only two out of three control profiles can be active at the same time, meaning you’ll have to sacrifice either playback, ANC mode changes, or volume control.
These controls respond very quickly, making them user-friendly from the start—but also quite unforgiving for clumsy hands. It’s easy to activate a function by mistake when adjusting the earpieces, so the best approach is to grab the tip of the stem when repositioning them.
Case Controls
The charging case’s touchscreen reproduces all the earphones’ tap commands and also offers a few extra features normally found on a smartphone, such as battery level details, spatial audio, earphone location via a sound signal, and various audio modes. It also has a timer, a dim flashlight, and lets you customise the wallpaper.
Because all these functions already exist in the earphones or the JBL Headphones app, the case’s screen might feel redundant when you’re on the move. However, it can be quite handy on a computer that doesn’t support the JBL app. Overall, it’s an additional, though not strictly necessary, control method.
Connectivity
Even with their focus on out-of-the-ordinary features, the Live Flex 3 hold their own when it comes to Bluetooth. Alongside AAC and SBC, they support LDAC. They don’t initially support LE Audio, though it’s expected via a future update. JBL includes a video mode that lowers audio-visual latency from 275 ms to about 140 ms. This improves sync somewhat, but mobile gaming can still suffer noticeable lag.
Their connection remained stable in every scenario, although pairing via the button on the case’s rear can be temperamental. Multipoint works, but we had to disable Bluetooth on our initial device each time to pair with a new one.
App
Well-designed, feature-rich, and easy to navigate, the JBL Headphones app is a real plus for the Live Flex 3. It’s almost as comprehensive as Sony’s equivalent, so it’s impossible to list all personalisation options here. Notable settings include automatic call answering, left–right balance, finer control over call quality, and the ability to play a variety of soothing ambient sounds.
Audio
JBL is often tight-lipped about audio performance, using descriptions like “JBL Pure Bass” or “JBL Signature.” Placed among the latter, the Live Flex 3 aim to deliver the more “balanced” side of JBL’s house sound. But fans will recognise the brand’s tendency for powerful bass and sparkling treble. The Live Flex 3 do indeed produce a punchy, well-reined sound—though not strictly neutral—that feels characteristic of JBL.
With noise-cancelling activated, the Live Flex 3 aim for a bold yet crisp sound. The lower-midrange takes a slight hit to let the higher frequencies shine, though the manufacturer clearly still wanted richness in the bass, as evidenced by a boost centred around 60 Hz. While this extra thickness doesn’t ruin the sound, it can slightly reduce the overall clarity. It’s not a massive drawback and is possibly due to the inherent limits of open designs.
The Live Flex 3 also amplify the higher register for an energetic feel. Mids are just forward enough to keep synth layers and some vocals clear and natural, while there’s a spike near 7 kHz that compensates for the elevated bass. Percussion, brass instruments, and female voices remain realistic, albeit with a slightly artificial edge.
However, these earphones can be a bit too assertive in the upper mids, around 3 kHz. This can boost the presence of certain instruments but can also accentuate sibilant consonants (S, T, CH). Consequently, music that’s already quite bright can become wearing at loud volumes.
Overall, the Live Flex 3 deliver a mostly realistic sound with acceptable stereo width, but the absent ultra-high frequencies sap a bit of depth from the soundstage. In complex tracks, instrument separation can come across as muddled. Once the ANC is switched off, the bass drops sharply, without improving precision and instead highlighting the already bright upper mids, so it’s generally better to leave ANC on while listening.
Isolation
Building noise-cancelling into open-style earphones—minus silicone tips for passive isolation—is extremely challenging. JBL took the gamble with the Live Flex 3, ahead of some of their rivals, but unfortunately, the implementation pales next to products launched not long after. As with most open models, enabling ANC barely affects high frequencies, so female voices, birdsong, and metallic noises remain unchanged.
Even more disappointingly, the Live Flex 3 can’t manage more than around 5 dB of attenuation in the bass and midrange. The noise cancellation is so feeble that sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s actually on or off. Making matters worse is the sensation of ear pressure when ANC is activated. The only minor benefit is a small dip in wind noise and very slight reduction of general city bustle.
Hands-Free Kit
Inside the Live Flex 3, six intelligent microphones work together to reduce ambient noise when you’re on a call. In heavy traffic, your voice remains clear and dominant over background sounds, though loud passing lorries can be distorted into a sharp, strident noise.
JBL also provides a “private call” mode for noisy settings. You can hold one earphone close to your mouth to capture your voice at a suitable volume without raising your voice. When set to High in an especially loud environment, the clarity of your whisper-level speech is impressive. As seen with the Live Beam 3, though, wind noise can be boosted and the signal can become choppy.
In quieter surroundings, whether indoors or outdoors, the Live Flex 3 capture your speech intelligibly, even if higher frequencies can sound a bit sharp.
The JBL Headphones app additionally lets you adjust the tonality of your voice and the overall signal. Beyond hearing your own voice, there’s also a feature to automatically balance the other person’s voice at an optimal level. Rare in the market, these extra settings make the Live Flex 3 one of the most thorough hands-free options out there.
Battery Life
Although JBL appears to understate expectations, the diminutive Live Flex 3 are among the top when it comes to battery performance. According to our own tests, they exceed the stated figures by lasting roughly 7 hours 50 minutes with ANC engaged, and around 13 hours 15 minutes with ANC switched off. They’re just a touch above average with noise-cancelling activated, but they’re outright champions among open earphones relying purely on passive isolation.
Pros
• Energetic, well-controlled sound
• Numerous features
• Innovative charging case
• Excellent hands-free functionality
• Enormous battery life
Cons
• Slightly overblown bass
• Occasionally harsh upper mids
• Fit could be better
• Bulky case
• Pointless noise-cancelling
Conclusion
With Apple’s AirPods 4 widely praised, producing open-design earphones to a similar standard is no easy feat. The JBL Live Flex 3 succeed in certain areas, mainly their clever case and the extensive customisation of their microphones, delivering a superior user experience. They also stand out for their remarkable battery life when relying on passive isolation, as well as their sturdy build. Though their sound signature is enjoyable, it could do with a touch more precision and refinement. Above all, the feeble noise-cancelling is hard to pardon, particularly given how competitors are making strides in the open-ear segment.
