Not without talent, but in the face of strong competition the Jabras come up a little short

Smooth; mature sound; Compact and comfortable; Good battery life

Lack dynamic and rhythmic expression; ANC can affect sound quality; Bettered by rivals

While they don’t quite cut it like the Jabra Elite Active 75t buds do owing to a slightly bulkier design, the Elite 85t deliver impressive performance thanks to some great audio quality, effective noise cancellation and decent battery life.

Adjustable active noise cancellation; Elegant design; Great audio with impressive bass

Much bulkier than the 75t; Fit isn’t perfect; Rather pricey

The Jabra Elite 85t are some of the best true wireless earbuds you can buy. They combine great sound, good noise cancelling, long battery life and a comfortable fit with an excellent, pocketable case and the ability to connect to two devices at the same time.

Pros: great sound; good noise cancelling; multi-connection; good controls; comfortable fit; great case; long battery; no stalks.

Cons: only right earbud can be used on its own; no aptX; not repairable; batteries not replaceable; expensive.

The true wireless Jabra Elite 85t earphones deliver top-shelf noise cancellation and excellent audio performance, both of which you can tune to your taste.

Powerful audio performance with boosted bass and sculpted highs; Top-notch noise cancellation; Adjustable EQ and on-ear controls; Water-resistant design

Expensive; Default sound signature isn't for those seeking accuracy

Should you buy the new Jabra Elite 85t or the last-gen Elite 75t series? It depends on whether you need a more powerful ANC which the 85t series deliver. I find that the Elite 75t with updated ANC delivers sufficiently good ANC, so the 75t series still offer some great price value.

Better Balanced Audio Tuning; Adjustable ANC and HearThrough levels; Customisable controls and audio tuning for music and calls; Compact Design; Long Battery Life

Only IPX4 water rating compared to predecessors

The Jabra Elite 85t—just like the Jabra Elite 75t and Jabra Elite 65t before them—are excellent earphones. Now with active noise canceling, Jabra's flagship true wireless earphones make a compelling case for your upgrade. However, a high pricetag might be out of your reach.

Adjustable noise cancelling and HearThrough; Bluetooth 5.1; USB-C; wireless; and fast charging; Bluetooth multipoint; IPX4 water-resistance; Useful mobile app; Ergonomic ear tips

Cost; SBC/AAC only; no aptX; Connection issues possible

When it comes to high-end true wireless earbuds, there are Apple AirPods Pro and then there’s everyone else. That’s how it has been—at least in my mind—for the last 12 months. The Jabra Elite/Active 75t have been the closest competitor, so I’ve been looking forward to the incoming 85t since Jabra...

Excellent sound quality; Good; comfortable fit; Incredible ANC; Great battery life and wireless charging

SideTone could sound a little more natural

The Jabra Elite 75t is my standard go-to earbuds for outside running and just recently was provided with an update that adds a level of active noise-cancellation. Jabra also now offers the Jabra Elite 85t that was designed and built with ANC at its core.

Excellent sound quality; Simple; large buttons for control; Advanced smartphone application; HearThrough mode for safety; Six mics for good quality calling; Wireless charging case

Only the right earbud can be used individually; Too large for secure workout use

Over the last several years, Jabra’s true wireless earbuds have consistently earned positive reviews and are often at the top of recommendation lists for people who aren’t interested in Apple’s AirPods.

Good noise cancellation; Excellent on-earbud controls; Comfortable; airy fit; Bluetooth multipoint

Less bass than Elite 75t; IPX4 water / sweat resistance is a downgrade; Only the right earbud can be used independently; New eartips aren't quite as snug

Jabra’s Elite 85t offer an outstanding number of features to go along with good sound and noise canceling that rivals or beats the best in the business. They’re also comfortable, as durable or more so than all major competitors, and they’re incredibly nimble when compared to top-tier picks like...

Outstanding features and design; Rich; balanced sound; Impressive noise canceling

Not as sport-friendly as other Jabra buds