Jabra Elite 8 Active Review

First, the Jabra Situation

In 2024, Jabra's parent company GN announced it would wind down its Elite consumer earbud line. Jabra said it would continue to honor warranties and support existing products for several years, but no new Elite models will follow.

For buyers, that means two things. The earbuds still work as designed, and units sold new still carry their warranty. But long-term firmware updates and app support will taper off, so treat the Elite 8 Active as a product you buy for what it does today, ideally at a discount.

Durability Is the Main Selling Point

IP68 means the buds are rated dust-tight and protected against continuous immersion under conditions the manufacturer specifies. Most workout earbuds stop at IP55 or IP57, so this is a real step up for runners in heavy rain or swimmers rinsing off afterward. They are not swimming earbuds; Bluetooth does not work underwater.

Jabra also states the earbuds were tested to the US military's MIL-STD-810H standard for shocks, temperature and humidity. That is a manufacturer claim rather than independent certification, but it matches the robust build impression in independent reviews.

Fit Without Wing Tips

Instead of hooks or fins, Jabra uses a grippy liquid-silicone coating it calls ShakeGrip. Reviewers have generally found the fit secure during running and gym work, and the compact shape is comfortable for longer wear.

Fit is personal. If your ears struggle with standard in-ear shapes, earhook designs like the Powerbeats Pro hold more reliably during high-impact sports.

Sound, ANC and Calls

Sound is tuned with an energetic bass emphasis suited to workouts, adjustable through the Jabra Sound+ app's equalizer. ANC is effective for gym noise and traffic, though independent tests rank it below the flagship Sony and Bose earbuds.

Physical buttons are a practical choice for sport: they work with sweaty fingers and don't trigger when you adjust the fit. Multipoint lets the buds stay paired to a phone and a laptop at once.

Battery and Charging

Jabra quotes up to 8 hours per charge with ANC on and 32 hours total with the case, which is competitive. The case supports wireless charging. Battery capacity in all earbuds declines over a few years, and the batteries are not replaceable, which is worth weighing given the reduced long-term support.