JBL Tune 225tws review: true wireless earbuds with cool sound

The JBL Tune 225tws are wireless earbuds that are hard to place. They're not super-expensive high-end earbuds, but they're certainly not budget earbuds either. So what are they? The JBL Tune 225tws are half in-ear earbuds available in several colors. We're testing the snow-white version of the JBL Tune 225tws. And where better to do that than, yes, in the snow.

In this article

• 1. Specifications: JBL Tune 225tws
• 1.1 Sound quality
• 1.2 Microphone: calls and video meetings
• 1.3 Fit
• 1.4 Earbud controls
• 1.5 Battery: how long do they last?
• 1.6 Charging case
• 2. Conclusion: our verdict
• 3. Alternatives

Pros and cons

Here are the pros and cons of the JBL Tune 225tws. See at a glance whether these earbuds are right for you.

JBL Tune 225tws specifications

• Price: under €80
• Driver: 12 mm Dynamic Driver
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20.000Hz+
• Sensitivity: 105 dB SPL
• Mic. Sensitivity: -30dBV@1 kHz/PA
• Bluetooth: 5.0
• Range: 10m
• Case battery: 410mAh
• Earbud battery: 22mAh
• Cable: usb C

JBL Tune 225tws sound

The JBL Tune 225tws are half in-ear earbuds. They sound slightly different from in-ear earbuds. Still, many people prefer AirPods-style earbuds without a rubber or silicone ear tip in their ear.

Normally, half in-ear earbuds like these JBL earbuds have a little less bass than in-ear earbuds. We paid particular attention to the bass during testing. After all, getting full-bodied sound from half in-ear earbuds would be an achievement for JBL.

But our first impressions were very good: the bass is definitely there. Does it hit your ears like a subwoofer? No, but that's not something you'd expect from earbuds priced at €50 and up.

The mids, perhaps the most important part, are nicely present too. They give the sound a lovely foundation. Yes, this really is better than other half in-ear earbuds under €50, and we've tested plenty of those too.

Sound quality score: 8.5

The biggest difference compared with half in-ear earbuds up to €50 is the treble, which sounds pure and clear. It rounds off the sound beautifully and gives it a real sense of quality. A pleasure to listen to!

Do the JBL Tune 225tws sound as good as AirPods?

Yes. At least as good. In our view, AirPods are slightly overrated. These JBL earbuds sound at least as good as AirPods or EarPods, if not better.

Microphone: are the JBL Tune 225tws good for calls?

First, the design of earbuds like the JBL Tune 225tws makes it easier to pick up your voice clearly. The stem points toward your mouth and sits closer to it, helping the microphone capture your voice.

That raises expectations for the JBL Tune 225tws. But does our microphone test back them up?

Microphone score: 8

Hear how the JBL Tune 225tws sound

You heard that right. The microphone on these JBL earbuds makes your voice easy to understand. Is it studio quality? No. Is it about what we'd expect from earbuds at this price? Yes.

You do notice a slightly sharp sound when you say an 's', as you can hear in the clip. That's normal, especially at this price. Compare them with earbuds that cost twice as much and you'll hear a difference. With the Jabra Elite 85t, for example, you don't hear that harsh 's'. But perhaps that's because Jabra focuses a little more on headsets and online meeting solutions.

Order the JBL 225tws at Coolblue

Sometimes cheaper at Bol

Fit: how do the JBL Tune 225tws feel?

The JBL Tune 225tws are semi-in-ear earbuds, so they sit against your ear canal rather than inside it. That naturally makes them fit a little more loosely than in-ear earbuds.

But if you've made it this far into the review, you're probably looking for half in-ear earbuds like the JBL Tune 225tws.

The JBL earbuds sit comfortably in your ears. They're made from a matte plastic that gives them more grip. That's also handy when taking them out of the case. With the QCY T8, for example, it's almost impossible to get the earbuds out. These JBL earbuds are easy to grab and put in your ears.

Fit score: 6.5

The wireless earbuds themselves feel rather large. Larger than the average half in-ear earbuds. At least, that's what we were going to write. But when we measured them, they came in at 4.2 cm. And, you guessed it, the best-known semi-in-ear option, AirPods, is exactly the same size.

So what makes us think these earbuds are bigger? They're wider, squarer and bulkier. Maybe that's it. The head is a little bigger too.

Earbud controls

The JBL earbuds have buttons, not touch controls. To be clear, either can work well. Both high-end and budget earbuds come with touch controls or buttons. It's all about how well they're implemented.

We might lean slightly toward buttons. When they work well, they're the easiest way to control your earbuds. But plenty of earbuds have excellent touch controls too.

The buttons on the JBL Tune 225tws are very narrow and feel a little sharp against your fingers. The designer probably chose this to make them easier to feel. But that benefit is overshadowed by how wobbly and fragile the buttons feel.

The SoundPEATS Trueair2, for example, cost around €50 less and have touch controls that really do work better than those on the JBL Tune 225tws.

Another example is the Jabra 85t, in-ear earbuds with a large button on each earbud. They're a good example of button controls that work perfectly.

Touch controls sound fancy, but they tend to go wrong more often than buttons. In this case, though, we're not particularly happy with how the buttons on the JBL Tune 225tws work.

Controls: 6

How do the JBL Tune 225tws touch controls work?

It's a shame JBL didn't include volume controls on the earbuds themselves. Having to take your phone out of your pocket every time you want to turn the volume down is a hassle. We might be able to change this in the app, but we couldn't install it because the Tune 225tws aren't compatible with the app yet. Shame on you, JBL.

Battery: how long can you use the earbuds?

The JBL 225tws have a 22mAh battery in each earbud. That's below average, but JBL says you can use them for up to 5 hours. In our experience, they run out after about 4 hours of listening.

Sure, you probably don't use your earbuds for 4 hours straight. But we think you should expect more for the price. Certainly more than 22mAh per earbud. Compare those 4 hours with the Eardopes B6 pro, and the Eardopes B6 Pro win by a wide margin: you can use them for 8 hours on a single charge.

Battery score: 6.5

The charging case has a 410mAh battery. That's slightly below average for Bluetooth earbuds on the market. At this price, you'd expect around 500mAh. There are even standout options with 1000mAh.

All in all, you can listen to music for 25 hours before you need a cable. That sounds okay. Not good, but okay.

In that sense, it looks as though JBL has prioritized sound quality. And there's something to be said for that!

Charging case

Like the earbuds, the charging case is made from matte plastic. It feels solid and sturdy. The finish is lovely! It's simply a nice case to hold, and it's easy to tuck away.

The charging case doesn't support wireless charging. That's another feature you might expect from earbuds at this price. Still, we won't be too harsh. Again, the money JBL didn't spend on wireless charging could go toward sound quality instead. And however you look at it, the sound is very good!

Here's the back of the case too. Overall, the JBL Tune 225tws charging case feels very good indeed.

Conclusion: are the JBL Tune 225tws good?

The JBL Tune 225tws are excellent earbuds if you like semi-in-ear earbuds and want to spend less than you would on AirPods. In our view, these JBL 225tws sound just as good as, or even better than AirPods.

The sound of the JBL Tune 225tws is genuinely very good. The microphone also passes our demanding editor's test. People on the other end of a call, or your colleagues in an online meeting, can hear you clearly. The fit is comfortable thanks to the matte material JBL chose for the earbuds. The controls are a little flimsy. The buttons are fragile and hard to find by touch, though you get used to them very quickly. Battery life is average. Not bad, but not outstanding either.

Order the JBL 225tws at Coolblue

Sometimes cheaper at Bol

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Alternatives

JBL Tune 225tws vs. AirPods 2

JBL beats AirPods on price. Quality is about the same. In some areas, we even prefer the JBL earbuds to AirPods. Both are semi-in-ear earbuds. Sound quality is roughly equal, although the JBL Tube 225tws have just a little more depth than AirPods. Neither pair's controls convinced us.

With AirPods, there's no comfortable spot to place your finger. With the JBL earbuds, the button feels too fragile. But neither issue is a dealbreaker. If we had to choose between the two, we'd go with JBL.

Order the JBL 225tws at Coolblue

Sometimes cheaper at Bol

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Others also viewed:

• Browse all our wireless earbud articles
• These are the best earbuds under €50
• These are the earbuds with the best microphone
• See our in-depth article on QCY earbuds
• And see our article on alternatives to AirPods
• See the 3 best earbuds for running
• See our hands-on with the Eardopes B6 pro.