Jabra announces new Elite 85t earbuds, releases ANC update for 75t earbuds

Jabra is stepping up to the plate with the new Jabra Elite 85t noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds. These earphones share striking similarities with the previous Jabra Elite 75t models, and thanks to a significant update, the two series even share active noise-cancelling capabilities. This noise-cancelling release and update speaks to Jabra’s confidence. It gives customers the unbridled choice to purchase brand new ANC earbuds, or to simply stick with and update their old earbuds.

There are still great things going for the Jabra Elite 85t that the Elite 75t lacks. For one, it now has a six-microphone array instead of a four-microphone array for calls and wind reduction. There are three microphones on each earbud, two of which face outward and one that faces inward. All six work together during calls, while four of work in tandem to enable feedforward and feedback noise cancelling. You may choose from five different levels of noise cancelling; each ascending level reduces outside noise by 3dB. You can also adjust how much noise you want to let in.

The Elite 85t also includes a wireless charging case, which isn’t an option with last year’s model. While the Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t now have noise-cancelling, the Elite 75t buds don’t have a dedicated ANC chip for efficient background noise reduction. Jabra’s latest earbuds also have  dedicated vents to relieve ear pressure, similar to what we’ve seen from the Apple AirPods Pro and Google Pixel Buds.

Battery life is rated at 5.5 hours with ANC enabled, and an extra 20 hours of battery life are provided by the case. To get more playtime from a single charge, disable noise-cancelling. This will get you seven hours of standalone battery life and an extra 24 hours from the case. We’ll be sure to update you on the battery life and noise-cancelling performance once we receive a Jabra Elite 85t review unit.

The new Jabra Elite 85t earphones use 12mm dynamic drivers, twice the size of the old model. This should enhance bass reproduction; though, it was already emphasized with the Elite 75t. Along with adjusting the driver size, Jabra also changed the ear tips: the Elite 85t uses oval-shaped ear tips instead of the traditional circular shape. This should provide more users with a comfortable, secure fit. The latest noise cancelling earbuds are, however, less durable than the Elite 75t series; the Jabra Elite 85t sports an IPX4 rating, rather than an IP55 or IP57 rating.

You may like: Jabra Elite 75t vs Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus

As with many noise-cancelling true wireless earphones, you may adjust the digital noise cancelling to your liking. This is great for listeners who are particularly sensitive to ANC technology. You also benefit from Jabra’s HearThrough Mode which passes background noise through the headset at all times (e.g. as music plays, when on a call, and even when there’s no media playback). You may also select your preferred smart assistant, customize controls, and create a custom sound profile through the app.

How do you get the Jabra Elite 75t noise-cancelling upgrade?

The Jabra Elite 75t and Jabra Elite Active 75t may be upgraded with noise-cancelling capabilities via the Jabra Sound Plus app, which is available for iOS and Android users. Jabra planned ahead with Qualcomm, because this functionality was baked into the Elite 75t series Qualcomm chipset. Unlike the Elite 85t, however, users cannot adjust ANC intensity. Instead, it’s a simple on and off toggle.

Battery life will be affected when noise-cancelling is enabled, so users will get 5.5 hours of battery life with ANC enabled and an extra 18.5 hours supplied by the case. When ANC is disabled, users will get 7.5 hours of battery life on one charge with an extra 20.5 hours supplied by the case.

From October 2020 and on, Jabra will continue to sell its Elite 75t earbuds for $179.99, and the Elite Active 75t will still retail for $199.99 — both with ANC as the standard. All other features of the Jabra Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t will remain unchanged; the headsets will be just as durable with an IP55 and IP57 ratings, respectively. They will retain the same microphone system and default sound signature.

The Jabra Elite 85t will be available in November 2020 and will retail for $229, undercutting the AirPods Pro. Only the Titanium/Black colorway will be available in November, and Gold/Beige, Copper/Black, Black, and Grey will be available January 2021.