JBL Live Beam 4 review: Punchy sound with smart features

The wireless earbuds market is crowded, and standing out takes more than good sound alone. JBL has been competing in this space for years, but the company has also been experimenting with ways to make its earbuds more than just a pair of audio accessories. Adding a touchscreen to the charging case is one such innovation, giving users greater control over their listening experience without having to reach for their phones. The all-new JBL Live Beam 4 is a prime example of this innovation from the company.

I spent time using the JBL Live Beam 4 to see how well its features translate into real-world performance. From sound quality and call performance to comfort, connectivity, and battery life, there is plenty to explore beyond the specifications sheet. The earbuds offer several useful personalisation options, although the companion app can occasionally feel cumbersome. So, does the JBL Live Beam 4 justify its premium positioning, or are there any everyday compromises that hold it back? Here is my experience with JBL Live Beam 4 companies’ latest feature-packed wireless earbuds.

JBL Live Beam 4 design and build: Funky, light, and a bit plastic

If you’ve used the JBL Live Beam 3, the new JBL Live Beam 4 may feel familiar. The earbuds and charging case look almost identical to the previous generation. The numbers back this up, too. Each Live Beam 4 earbud weighs 4.85 g, compared to 5 g for the Live Beam 3. The case weighs 73 g, just 1 g more than the previous model’s 72 g. Both models also have an IP55 rating. JBL calls the new case ‘redesigned’, but in terms of looks and weight, it feels much the same as the old one.

One area where I feel there is room for improvement is the build quality. Although the device is lightweight, the plastic build, unchanged from the Live Beam 3, could have been a bit more premium. The quality of the eartips, especially the rubber material used, could also be improved for better comfort and durability.

The case is another area that could be improved, as at 73 g, it is considerably heavier than its competitors, which usually weigh around 50 to 55 g. Moreover, it also feels a little bulky, making it less convenient to carry in a pocket. While the touchscreen is a unique and useful feature, reducing the size and weight of the case could make the overall experience even better.

However, one thing that makes it different from the competition and its predecessors is its funky colour variants. While most rivals come in black, white or grey, the company offers the device in seven different finishes, notably black, blue, green, silver, orange, purple and sand. The device comes with an IP55 certification, ensuring that the earbuds are splash-resistant and can be used during workouts.

Fit and comfort: Great fit, as long as you pick the right size

The overall experience of a wearable depends largely on how well it fits your ears and how comfortable it feels during use. JBL addresses this with a ‘Check My Best Fit’ section in its Headphones app, which guides you through quick tests during setup to determine how well each ear tip seals and which size suits you best. This is particularly useful since ear sizes vary, and the default tips may not work for everyone. In my case, I had to switch to a different size. While most brands include extra tips, choosing the right one is often a matter of trial and error. JBL’s fit test takes the guesswork out of the process, making it a genuinely useful feature.

The earbuds felt a little loose in my ears initially. During ordinary listening, this was not always a problem, but more noticeable movements made me question how securely they were sitting. Even washing my face could cause them to fall out. That is not exactly reassuring when I want to move around without constantly checking my earbuds. But once I switched to the recommended tip, the comfort was immediately noticeable.

Touchscreen case: Advantage or drawback

The touchscreen charging case is easily the most interesting thing about the JBL Live Beam 4. Most charging cases are just a small box that holds your earbuds and tops them up. This one does a little more. From the case itself, you can control playback, volume, noise cancellation modes and EQ.

It’s a nice touch, and I enjoyed having it around, as it allows me to quickly change songs or modes or nudge the volume up without taking my phone out, but the controls on the earpieces can do the same job, and I often find myself reaching out to them anyway.

It does offer some useful features, such as displaying battery levels and notifications. You can also make use of the built-in timer, flashlight, and Find My Buds feature. However, these features aren’t valuable enough for me to trade off my convenience and portability. On top of that, the screen makes the case bulkier and less pocket-friendly.

If you like having controls and information right at your fingertips, this design could win you over. In simple words, I don’t dislike the screen case at all, but I hope that the future version of the buds doesn’t compromise on the size and weight just to fit in an accessory.

JBL Live Beam 4 sound quality: Bass first, details later

As soon as I put on the buds, the JBL Live Beam 4 makes me want to sit back and let the playlist run. The sound is warm and bass-forward, giving music a rich, full-bodied character without completely overshadowing other elements. Whether it’s the weight of the low end or the presence of the vocals, there’s an enjoyable balance that makes everyday listening feel effortless.

When I play something with a solid low end, like Aahatein by Agnee, the bass adds depth and weight to the track, giving it a fuller, more immersive feel. The same goes for Ramta Jogi from Taal, where the driving rhythm and punchy percussion benefit from the extra emphasis on lower frequencies. The bass feels like an integral part of the listening experience rather than just an added effect.

What surprised me, though, is that the vocals and guitars don’t get buried. The mids hold their ground, and there’s a nice lift in the upper mids that keeps voices present. On an acoustic track like Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud, the guitar and vocals still sound natural, even while the bass does most of the heavy lifting. For everyday listening, whether I’m commuting or working, it’s an easy sound to enjoy, especially if I like my music with some body to it.

Our testing confirms the same overall sound signature. The frequency response graph shows a gradual decline through much of the midrange, followed by a noticeable rise in the upper mids and lower treble before the response rolls off towards the highest frequencies.

One of the things I liked most about the Live Beam 4 is how much control JBL gives you. The app has a 10-band equaliser, so instead of being limited to a few preset sound profiles, I could shape the sound band by band, adding a little treble here or easing back on the mids there.

EQ and personalisation are subjective and ultimately come down to personal preference. If you find the buds too bass-heavy or prefer brighter vocals, I’d suggest trying a more balanced profile, such as Jazz. Personally, though, I prefer my bass with a little extra punch. While the default sound profile is decent, tracks from the golden era of Punjabi pop, such as Mundian To Bach Ke by Panjabi MC, sound more exciting to me with the bass turned up, as sometimes I just want that extra thump.

Moreover, JBL includes Personi-Fi 3.0, which uses an interactive hearing test to personalise the audio to your hearing. It’s a useful extra that offers another way to fine-tune the sound to suit your ears.

Active Noise Cancellation and Ambient Modes: Useful, but not perfect

The Live Beam 4’s Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is effective enough to soften everyday indoor sounds, such as air conditioners, keyboard typing and nearby conversations, helping me focus without increasing the volume. However, louder traffic and voices remain noticeable outdoors, so the ANC isn’t ideal for those expecting exceptional noise isolation. It’s also important to note that enabling the feature also reduces the claimed battery life of the earbuds significantly.

While testing the ambient modes on the device, I found that Ambient Aware was less natural when compared to the TalkThru mode, which worked much better, allowing me to converse without removing the earbuds. I tested the TalkThru mode in heavy traffic, and to my surprise, it distinguished my voice from others remarkably well. One caveat I noticed is that the ambient sound control is a little buggy, as sometimes the app won’t let you switch between modes.

Call performance: Good for everyday conversations

With a six-microphone system, when I tested the earbud in quieter surroundings, I found that the call quality was decent, as the other person was able to hear my voice clearly and vice versa. However, when in heavy traffic, wind or other noisy outdoor conditions, you may feel that you need to pitch up a bit so that your voice can go through. I’d describe the device’s call quality as satisfactory rather than position it as a key selling point.

JBL Live Beam 4 connectivity: Multipoint is handy

I tested the earbuds with a Dell laptop, an iPhone and an Android phone. Bluetooth 6.0 and multipoint let them stay connected to two devices at once, which is convenient for a laptop-plus-phone setup without repeated re-pairing.

However, one thing to note is that the JBL Live Beam 4 doesn’t switch instantly between the devices. Rather, you need to pause playback on one device, which is followed by a slight delay before audio starts on the other. This is not a deal breaker, as I’ve seen the same on other earbuds as well.

Battery life and charging: Built for long listening days

Battery life is one of the highlights of the JBL Live Beam 4. In my testing, the earbuds lasted around 19 hours on a single charge, delivering impressive endurance for extended listening sessions. Do note that we tested the battery life with the ANC turned off, but as the feature was toggled on, the battery life decreased significantly. Moreover, the charging case took approximately 91 minutes to go from 0 to 100 per cent using a 33W charger.

Should you buy JBL Live Beam 4?

The JBL Live Beam 4 gets several important things right. I like its energetic, bass-forward sound, extensive EQ options, useful touchscreen case, wireless charging, and long claimed battery life. The ability to personalise the listening experience is a genuine advantage, and the earbuds offer enough features to satisfy someone who enjoys having control over their audio.

I would consider the Live Beam 4 if I wanted feature-rich earbuds with an engaging sound and plenty of customisation. But I would make sure the fit worked for me before committing to them, especially if I planned to use them while travelling or exercising.

Ultimately, the Live Beam 4 feels like a product with plenty of good ideas, some of which are more useful than others. I enjoyed its sound and appreciated its flexibility, but I wanted a more compact case and a smoother everyday experience especially with a better ANC.

The JBL Live Beam 4 is highly recommended for users who want feature-rich earbuds for everyday listening, especially in offices, indoor spaces, and relatively quiet environments. Its punchy bass, customisable sound, multipoint connectivity, and long battery life make it a good choice for work and entertainment. However, users who prioritise a compact charging case, strong noise cancellation, or reliable fit during workouts may want to explore other options.