We reviewed the Jabra Elite 85T headphones, sensational in every aspect

We analyze some new headphones that They don't compete with the AirPods Pro, they outperform them in practically every aspect. The Jabra Elite 85T are simply stunning in every respect, and we tell you why.

I took advantage of the summer holidays to thoroughly test these Jabra True Wireless headphones, and it was the first time that I have not missed my AirPods Pro at all, which until now were always in my pocket. Superior sound quality, extreme comfort, excellent autonomy and a fantastic application for a product of ten.

Specifications

The earphones in fashion for a long time are the "True Wireless", almost no longer conceivable a bluetooth headset that has a cable connecting them. These Jabra Elite 85T have Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity to achieve a stable connection, without interference. We keep them in their case when we are not using them, which will serve not only to turn them off but also to recharge them. To turn them on and connect to our iPhone, iPad or Mac you just have to remove them from the case. With just over 50 grams of weight in total and a size very similar to that of the AirPods Pro (case + headphones), they are really comfortable to carry anywhere in any pocket.

Its autonomy is excellent: more than 5 hours of autonomy using noise reduction, and a total of 25 hours if we take into account the extra charges that the case offers us. To recharge it we can use the USB-C (the cable is included in the box) or a Qi base. Despite the small footprint of the case, they recharge perfectly on any base compatible with the standard. A front led indicates the recharge and the remaining charge by changing color.

They are IPX4 certified, so you can use them with some rain, but not much else. They are not headphones designed for practicing sports, if that is your intention, other models of the brand are preferable. They have six microphones (three per earphone) for noise cancellation and for telephone calls, are compatible with Siri and Alexa (which is installed in the headset itself). Physical controls, multi-device link, fast loading, automatic pause ... a long list of specifications that we are going to analyze in this article.

Practical design with good results

The design of these Jabra Elite 85T is not going to win any awards, but that is no problem. Functional, practical and well finished, to which we add its great comfort, without feeling tired after several hours of use. The oval shape of its silicone pads (we have various sizes to adapt to our ears) help this comfort, since we can wear them without fear of falling, of course, without making sudden movements (we have already said no are intended for sports).

The touch controls are very modern and eye-catching, but opting for a physical button to control the headphones seems like a wise move. You avoid accidental touches when putting on the headset, and also it is much easier to press a button than to touch a surface thanks to the feedback that the pulsation offers you. A very important detail is the grid that includes each silicone pad, which prevents dirt from entering the headset itself and makes cleaning much easier.

Complete controls from the headset itself

Each earbud includes a single button that occupies the entire outside of the earbud once placed on the ear. With these two buttons we can control practically all the functions that these headphones offer us, which are many. Start or pause playback, skip songs, activate noise cancellation or transparency mode, volume up and down, and invoke Siri or Alexa. It seems incredible that with two buttons you can do so many things, but it is like that. And with customization options.

Superior sound quality

The main aspect of a headset is its sound quality. Sometimes manufacturers fill them with functions that cover their deficiencies in terms of sound quality, but this is not the case with these Jabra Elite 85T. Its sound quality is very good, undoubtedly superior to that of the AirPods Pro. They have powerful bass, striking without any doubt, but without forgetting the mid and high frequencies. You can perceive the sounds of all frequencies, singers' voices, instruments ... and the bass helps the songs have greater force. I personally like this equalization, but if it is not your case, no problem, because you can modify it to your liking from the application.

The profiles that you can create with the Jabra Sound + app allow you to combine different equalizations with noise cancellation or transparency mode. In addition, the noise cancellation can be regulated, as well as the transparency mode. With all this in the end it seems that you have several different headphones because the sound changes radically depending on the profile you activate. Cancellation and powerful bass for listening to music on the subway, transparency mode and a flatter profile for listening to a podcast while on the street. You can also activate each profile from the widget that you can add.

The noise cancellation of the Elite 85T is fantastic. Set to maximum level eliminates virtually any noise around you. Perfect for use in noisy places such as means of transport and thus avoid having to turn up the volume to enjoy your music. So is the transparency mode or "Hearthrough" as Jabra calls it, with which you will listen to what you want without isolating yourself from what is around you. You will not have to remove the headset to be able to hear who is speaking to you.

An excellent app

We cannot forget the perfect complement to headphones of this level: its application. Jabra Sound + (link) lets you get the most out of these headphones to hear them to their full potential. In addition to the functions that we have already mentioned, we can also do sound tests to see if the pads fit well to our ear, even we can make a sound customization that adapts to our hearing abilities, so we will hear the best sound that our ear can perceive.

It is difficult to list all the functions that the application has, but we cannot leave without highlighting the possibility of locating our headphones on the map showing the last position in which they were linked to our iPhone. Control configuration, firmware updates, voice assistant installation ... The most complete application you can find on headphones.

Multi-device

When you test headphones as a user of AirPods Pro you always have the feeling that nothing is going to convince you, and much of the blame is on Apple's "magic" with its headphones. Automatic device change is something you cannot give up once you try it. These Jabra Elite 85Ts don't have that magic, but almost. You can link two devices and switch from one to the other automatically. You're listening to your iPhone, pause and turn it on on your iPad, and your Jabra automatically connects to the iPad. I never would have thought that a manufacturer could get so close to the magic of Apple, as Jabra has.

Editor's opinion

When one falls into the category of high-end headphones expect an outstanding product, and these Jabra Elite 85T are license plate. For sound quality, autonomy and noise cancellation they are superior to the AirPods Pro. To this we add the customizable equalization, the automatic device change and an excellent application, and the result is a product that is worth what it costs. Its price is € 229 on Amazon (link).