The JBL Quantum TWS Air headphones have improved sound quality over the previous model and are perfect for low-latency gaming with the included USB-C dongle.
The redesigned headphones have a lightweight and comfortable fit, but some users may experience issues operating the overly sensitive touch buttons.
The headphones offer solid connectivity with Bluetooth 5.3 and an included USB-C dongle, and have a good battery life of up to 24 hours.
In 2022, JBL launched the Quantum TWS headphones. They were pretty average except for a USB-C dongle which made them fantastic for gaming. Now the company has something of a sequel in the JBL Quantum TWS Air, with a new design and lower price, only losing a few features along the way.
The included USB-C dongle with original TWS Quantum AI , along with the option of a low latency gaming mode, made the headphones a great option for gamers on the go. The only major downside was the sound quality, which was great for gaming, but a bit lackluster for music.
Can the JBL Quantum TWS Air model be improved from the previous model and still sell for a lower price? They are certainly very close.
Connectivity: always the strong point
The JBL Quantum TWS Air headphones offer Bluetooth version 5.3 instead of 5.2 like the original Quantum TWS, but unlike the previous model, there’s not much codec support. It’s not ideal, but clearly the focus with these headphones is the included dongle.
The USB-C dongle provides a low latency connection to your PC, which is much better for gaming. There’s no driver, which means all you have to do is plug it in, and you’re good to go. You can customize which devices connect automatically, but you’ll need the JBL Headphones app, available for iPhone and iPad as well as Android devices.
This app lets you customize various aspects of the headset, including dual-source, a feature that allows you to quickly swap between using the headset in Bluetooth mode or the dongle. Although these headphones do not support multipoint Bluetooth, it still allows you to easily switch between your phone and your gaming PC.
The app also lets you customize what each capacitive touch button does, as well as adjust the equalizer. Finally, there is a find my buds feature to help you find them if you lose them.
Sound quality improves, but music is still lacking
Hannah Stryker / Geek Comment
Likely due to the new body design, the JBL Quantum TWS Air uses a smaller driver than the previous model. While the original Quantum TWS used a 10mm driver, the Quantum TWS Air uses a 6.8mm driver, which is a bit smaller in comparison.
Luckily, that didn’t seem to matter, because while the Quantum TWS Air retained the same gaming performance as the originals, listening to music is much better on the newer model. For the most part I listened with the built-in EQ turned off, but I tested it, which I’ll mention below.
Listening to the Murlocs’ “Centennial Perspective,” the low end has decent weight, helping the rhythm section hold the song together. There are nice treble details on the variegated acoustic guitar, but the sibilance on the vocals is a little shrill. This could be solved with a little EQ, but unfortunately the JBL Headphones app does not support custom EQ, at least at the time of this writing.
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