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Jaybird Vista vs AirPods 2

Liberty Air 2 Pro vs. AirPods Pro vs. Liberty 2 Pro vs. Jaybird Vista

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Jaybird Vista vs AirPods 2
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The Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro are currently my favorite earbuds for every day use. Let’s find out why. In this review and comparison I’ll review the Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro, and compare it to the AirPods Pro, Liberty 2 Pro, and Jaybird Vista. I’ll cover features, sound, call quality, battery life, and more.

Why Liberty Air 2 Pro?

The Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro are a strong competitor to the AirPods Pro. They have a similar design and features, but they come in 5 different colors if you’re not a fan of white. Don’t stop at looks. Like the AirPods Pro, the Air 2 Pro have active noise cancellation, transparency, and a wireless charging case. However, unlike the AirPods Pro, they work equally great with both iPhones (iOS) and Android. 

jaybird vista in locker

Jaybird Vista

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airpods case open - cropped

Apple AirPods V2

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What's the difference between the Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro and the AirPods Pro?

Similarities 

  • Both are true wireless premium earbuds.
  • Both have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). 
  • Both have a transparency mode. 
  • Both have touch controls. 
  • Both have ear detection. 
  • Both store and charge in their wireless charging case.
  • Both have a small case that easily fits in your pocket.
  • Both can be used with any Bluetooth device – phone, tablet, computer, etc. 
  • Both provide a stable connection with good range, utilizing Bluetooth 5.
  • Both place the microphone in the stem, providing better call quality.

Differences

  • The Vista are made for sport and fitness use; the Airpods are not.
  • The Vista are IPX7 waterproof and sweatproof; the Airpods are not.
  • The Vista are dust, shock, and crush resistant (i.e. “earthproof”); the Airpods are not. 
  • The Vista has 75-150 ft. range on both iPhone and Android; Airpod range is 30-50 ft. for Android. 
  • The Vista uses “eargels” that lock them in place. The Airpods just sit loosely in your ears. 
  • The Vista “eargels” provide passive noise isolation; the Airpods have virtually no isolation.
  • The Vista has a dedicated app (MySound); available for both iPhone (IOS) and Android. 
  • The Vista provides battery status, control customization, and “find my buds” for both iPhone and Android. 
  • The Vista sound profile can be easily changed (with presets) and customized; the Airpods have no EQ feature. 
  • The Vista works with Siri and Google Assistant; Airpods only work with Siri. 

Jaybird Vista

Rugged “earthproof” headphones to compliment your active and ever changing world

Weather the Storm

Waterproof, sweatproof, dustproof, shock and drop resistant. Built to military MIL-STD810G standards, and IPX7 rated.

Compact Charging Case

The attractive charging case can easily fit in your pocket. The Vista's provide 6 hours of playback, an additional 10 hours with the case, and a 5 minute quick charge provides 1 hour of listening.

Secure Fit

Includes 3 sets of "eargels," allowing you to get the perfect fit, providing great security and passive noise isolation.

Compatible and Customizable

The Vista's Work equally great with iPhone & Android. The MySound app provides battery status, EQ, bud tracking, and more.

JAYBIRD VISTA

87.92
IPHONE & ANDROID COMPATIBILITY
10
SOUND
8.5
SPORT/ FITNESS USE
10
SWEAT / WATERPROOF
9.5
SOUND ISOLATION
8
SECURITY / FIT
9.5
BATTERY LIFE
8
CASE / CHARGING
9.5
APP FEATURES
9.5
CONTROLS (IPHONE)
8
CONTROLS (ANDROID)
8
CALL QUALITY
7
Conclusion

The Jaybird Vista have a secure fit, great sound, and an awesome app. They are perfect for the gym, but also great for casual use. 

8.79

AIRPODS 2

70
IPHONE & ANDROID COMPATIBILITY
6.5
SOUND
7
SPORT/ FITNESS USE
6
SWEAT / WATERPROOF
6
SOUND ISOLATION
5
SECURITY / FIT
9
BATTERY LIFE
9.5
CASE / CHARGING
9
APP FEATURES
5
CONTROLS (IPHONE)
8
CONTROLS (ANDROID)
4
CALL QUALITY
9
Conclusion

Airpods are a great option for Apple users, but they are not fitness oriented, and lack in customization and sound quality. 

7

The Breakdown

You might be wondering why I gave some of the ratings above. While you may have different opinions and needs, I’ll do my best to provide an explanation. Let’s break it down. 

iPhone & Android Compatibility and Range

Summary
 
In short, you can use the Airpods and the Vista with both iPhone and Android. The Vista offers virtually identical performance and features on both iPhone’s and Android phones. You can use Airpods with Android phones, but they will function as basic Bluetooth headphones; this means you’ll miss out on improved range, fast and dynamic pairing, and battery and customization features that you get when they are used with Apple devices. Both the Airpods and the Vista provide little to no latency, and I did not encounter any sync issues when watching videos. 
AirPods Battery Status on an Android Phone (Samsung Galaxy S8+)
AirPods
 
While the AirPods will also pair with any device, they are made for Apple devices. This means that while you can use them with Android, you will miss out on a lot of the features like ear detection, battery status indication, and the ability to change the double tap feature. Some of these features can be regained though (depending on the phone model); check out my YouTube video if you’d like to find out more. Additionally, the range on Airpods is excellent for iPhone’s (100-150 feet or 30-46 meters), while the range for Android phones is only 30-50 ft (9-15 m) in my tests. This is true even if you have a phone with Bluetooth 5 (I tested the Samsung Galaxy Note 9). The reason for this is almost certainly because of the H1 chip in Airpods, which is engineered to work with Apple products. 
Vista
 
The Jaybird Vista, on the other hand, utilize Bluetooth 5.0, as well as what they call JBS1 technology. This means that they work equally well for both iPhone and Android, because they are engineered to work with both. Jaybird says that the “Vista’s cutting-edge JBS1 wireless technology ensures crystal-clear, zero-lag stereo sound for video, music and calls, and a reliable connection that pairs easily with your phone, every time.” I’d say that pretty much sums it up. We’ll dive more into sound and video, but in my experience the Vista’s provide great sound, and a quick, seamless, and reliable experience every time. They deliver a solid Bluetooth connection; very comparable to what you get with the Airpods V2 on an iPhone. In my tests I got 75-150 ft (23-46 m) Bluetooth range, whether used with iPhone or Android. This is pretty exceptional; traditional Bluetooth headphones only get around 33 ft range, and it’s just now that we are seeing competitors like Jaybird catching up to the Airpods. 
Jaybird MySound App on an iPhone 7+

Sound & Customization

This is a pretty easy one; even if you love Apple products, you have to admit that the Airpods sound … just ok. Not everyone cares that much. However, if you do care about sound, you’d be a lot better served by the Jaybird Vista. The Vista have significantly better bass, get louder, have a wider sound stage, and much better customization. The bass is assisted by the passive isolation; what I mean by that, is that they seal off your ear canal better. This amplifies the sound, and prevents contamination from outside noises. Describing sound can be challenging, but I would say that the Airpods just sound flat. Think of that feeling you get when you’re at a really great concert or movie; you feel immersed in the environment. The Vista’s do a much better job at reproducing this feeling. 

Great for the Gym

The Airpods also don’t get nearly as loud. When combined with the lack of isolation, this can be a real problem, especially in the gym or during calls. The Jaybird Vista have their own app. In this app you can customize the lows, mids, and highs as easily as dragging your finger across your phone screen. There are also tons of sound profiles, including those posted by people just like you. There are also profiles from professional athletes such as Rory Bosio, and James Lawrence (the Iron Cowboy). If that doesn’t work you can choose from one of the genre’s (rock, pop, country, etc), or even create your own profile in about 2 minutes using their “personal EQ” setup. 

Jaybird MySound Native Presets

Sport / Fitness Use

If there’s one area where the Jaybird Vista really shine, this is it. There aren’t many premium earbuds that are also built for athletic use. The Vista are ultra secure, low profile, lightweight, and sweat and waterproof. I’ve seen many, many people sporting Airpods at the gym. While the lack of wires is great, they really are pretty poor fitness headphones. That’s not really Apple’s fault though; that’s not what they’re made for. The Airpods have hard and slippery plastic, have nothing to keep them in your ear, virtually no isolation from outside noise, and they don’t get that loud. 

Sweatproof / Waterproof

Are the AirPods waterproof? Well…no. While I have heard stories of them surviving the wash, the Airpods are officially not waterproof, dustproof, or sweatproof.
 
The Jaybird Vista are sweat and waterproof, dustproof, shock, and drop-resistant construction to military MIL-STD810G standards, and they are IPX7 rated. This means that you really don’t need to worry about damaging the Vista, and you can take them places you would never consider taking headphones. Crossfit…sure. Crawling through the mud…no problem. Running in the rain…that’s nothing for the Vista. 
Jaybird Vista Submerged in Water

Prices

The Apple Airpods 2 retail for $159, or $199 with the wireless charging case. If you want to buy the wireless charging case alone retails for $79. The Jaybird Vista’s retail for $180. Neither are cheap, but the prices are pretty standard for premium true wireless headphones. You can check updated prices by clicking any of the links in this review, or by checking the “deals” page regularly to see if they are on sale there. 

Sound Isolation

Neither of these headphones have active noise cancellation (ANC). The average consumer probably doesn’t even know what ANC is; though the Airpods Pro may be changing that a bit. ANC reduces outside noises by actually capturing those noises, and then producing sounds that are the opposite. This effectively cancels out unwanted sounds. Passive noise cancellation is the simple act of blocking out sound by physical means. The Vista have better passive noise cancellation because the ear tips sit in to the ear canal. The silicone ear tip, and it’s attached “eargel” physically block out sound. The Airpods have virtually no isolation since they are just hard plastic. This could be an advantage if you want to hear outside sound, such as when running, or if you want to talk to people around you. It would be a disadvantage when you are in noisy environments, and don’t want to be bothered, such as when studying, during a hard workout, or when you are taking the train or flying. 

Security / Fit

We’ve already addressed this to a degree. Airpods work for some people, and not for others. It’s hard to say how they are going to fit you. Personally, they do work pretty well for me, and stay in during all but the most demanding workouts. For other people, they fall out as soon as they turn their head. Airpods are a casual type of headphone; good for sitting around, studying, a coffee shop, or casual work environment. They’ll probably also work fine for daily commuting, though outside noise could be an issue. Airpods do tend to be pretty comfortable; this is helped by their light weight, and loose fit in the ear. 
The Vista have a surprisingly good fit, though each persons ear is different, of course. They come with 3 sets of eargels: 1/2/3. The earbuds are surprisingly lightweight; which helps a great deal in their comfort and security. All eargels have the same body size, since they are a silicone sleeve that fit around the body of the earbuds. Size 2 and 3 have a silicone wing tip that fits into the concha cymba, a small area above the ear canal. In my experience they are extremely secure, and have never fallen out, or even became loose. Since there is silicone on the parts that touch your ear, the Vista’s are pretty comfortable. I can easily wear them for an hour or two, though they have trap in some of the sweat and oils from your ear. They also tend to be more comfortable when you are active; this is because micro shifts happen with movement, and this lessens fatigue on the ears. The foam tips of prior Jaybirds were great, but the Vista’s great security, while simplifying insertion. 
 
– Size 1: The “eargel” is similar in size to size 2; the difference is that it has a small nub, rather than an actual wing tip.
– Size 2: Probably the best option for most people. It has a moderate size wing tip and ear tip. 
– Size 3: Has a larger wing tip and ear tip than size 1 and 2. 

Battery Life

The Jaybird Vista provide 6 hours of listening on a single charge. In my tests this was pretty accurate, providing at least 5 hours reliably. They also have a quick charge feature that provides 1 hour of playtime with a 5 minute charge. You can quick charge them on the way to the gym, or during a short break. It takes about 2 hours to charge the Vista completely. The case provides an additional 10 hours charge, for a total of 16 hours. If you use 1 bud at a time you can get up to 32 hours.
 
Airpods 2 get up to 5 hours of listening time or 3 hours of talk time on a single charge, and provide 24 hours of total listening time with the case. The Airpods provide a 3 hour quick charge with just 15 minutes of charging. This is a win for the Airpods, but it’s also pretty rare that you’re going to use your earbuds for more than 5-6 hours at a time. 

Case / Charging

The Airpods case is pretty legendary. They made a very small, durable, and functional case. It does look like dental floss, but it has a great capacity in a very portable form factor. The Airpods case also has strong magnets to make sure they stay where they belong. The charging light is on the inside, which makes it harder to see, and the pairing button is on the outside. Since the Airpods use a lightning cable to charge, you will need to carry that cable if you are using the Airpods with an Android phone. The one exception would be if you buy the Airpods with the wireless charging case. You would then be able to charge them with a phone that has reverse wireless charging, such as the Samsung Galaxy S10, or any Qi charging pad of course.

Vista vs Airpods Case

You may have noticed that the case of the Vista’s is tiny. When it comes to practicality this makes a huge difference. Like the Airpods, the Vista’s can easily fit into your pocket, and like the Airpods, the Vista’s charge in their case. This means that you are much more likely to have them with you, and they are much more likely to be charged. The Vista case is a true winner. It has a soft and durable finish that doesn’t show fingerprints easily. It also has strong magnets that hold the earbuds in place; they don’t fall out, even when shaking them with the case open. It’s attractive and feels durable. The pairing button is easily accessible, yet hidden on the interior. An indicator light makes it easy to see charging status, and lets you know if the battery is low. Lastly, the case charges with USB-C; this is the present and future of charging. Unfortunately, iPhone’s don’t have USB type-C yet, however. This means that you will need to carry an extra cable if you are using them with an iPhone. 

Jaybird Vista Held in by Magnets

Convenience

This is something I recommend you pay close attention to, and something that the Airpods and Vista both excel at. The Airpods and the Vista are small enough to always keep with you; this has huge implications when you are using them on a daily basis. Either case can fit easily in your pocket, whether your heading to work, going on a run, or just walking around town. The Vista also includes a removable loop; this can be used to attach the case to backpacks, keys, and more. 

Vista in pocket (Left), AirPods in pocket (Right). Zoom for full pic on mobile.

Controls (iPhone)

[ Airpods 2 ]
 
You can modify the double-tap feature of Airpods when they are used with an Apple product; this lets you change what happens when you tap twice on the stem. Here are the options:
  • Use Siri
  • Play and pause your audio content
  • Skip to the next track 
  • Go back to the previous track
  • Turn off your audio content
Each Airpod can be customized for a different task, but this can only be accomplished when they are connected to an Apple device. With Airpods version 2 your can also activate Siri with your voice, when connected to an iPhone, by saying “hey siri.” 
[ Jaybird Vista ]
 
The Vista’s only have one multi-function button, and each earbud can be used independently. The button controls are customized in the Jaybird MySound App. 

Here are the choices: 
 
Single press
– Play/pause or accept/end call
– Activate Siri
– Custom. Custom is a specific function that integrates with Spotify, such as “play my run playlist.” This uses the “in-app player” and requires a Spotify premium subscription. 
 
Double Press
– Next song
– Activate Siri
– Next track – Right bud / Previous track – Left bud
 
Long Press
– Turn off or on the earbuds. Taking them out of the case also turns them on automatically, and the Vista’s will “announce” to your the battery percentage when you first take them out of the case. 
– Volume up – Right bud / Volume down – Left bud
Jaybird MySound App on an iPhone 7+

Controls (Android)

[ Airpods 2 ]
 
Airpods can be used with any device that has Bluetooth, but there functions will be reduced. There are several apps which can be used to bring features such as battery status ear detection to Android phones. Airbattery is a great app, but has limited compatibility currently with Airpods 2. If you’d like to see it in action you can check out my video on YouTube here. I’m also planning on reviewing several more apps in the future. If you are not using an app, the Airpods will basically function as simple Bluetooth earbuds. You can utilize the double-tap feature for one function. On my phone the default was play-pause. The double-tap feature can be changed, but only by connecting them to an Apple device. 
[ Jaybird Vista ]
 
The Vista will function identically on both iOS (iPhone) and Android devices. The only exception is that they’ll activate Siri with iOS, and Google Assistant with Android. I’ll include it here though; just so you don’t have to look above. 
 
The Vista’s only have one multi-function button, and each earbud can be used independently. The button controls are customized in the Jaybird MySound App. 

Here are the choices: 

Single press
– Play/pause or accept/end call
– Activate Google Assistant
– Custom. Custom is a specific function that integrates with Spotify, such as “play my crossfit playlist.” This uses the “in-app player” and requires a Spotify premium subscription. 

Double Press
– Next song
– Activate Google Assistant
– Next track – Right bud / Previous track – Left bud

Long Press
– Turn off or on the earbuds. Taking them out of the case also turns them on automatically, and the Vista’s will “announce” to your the battery percentage when you first take them out of the case. 
– Volume up – Right bud / Volume down – Left bud
 
Jaybird Vista Button Control Choices on Android
Using Google Assistant

Call Quality

Call quality is one of the areas where Airpods win the most. The Airpod microphone is located in that weird cotton swab looking thing. While this isn’t the most attractive design, it does help get the microphone closer to your mouth. It also angles the microphone in a direction closer to your mouth. This all gives the Airpods pretty good call quality for true wireless headphones. 
 
The Jaybird Vista microphone is located within the earbud, and since they don’t have stem, this makes the microphone further from your mouth. I’d say they actually do pretty well given their compact sport configuration. However, calls aren’t as clear as they are on the Airpods, and background noise will probably be a little more obvious. 

Are There Better Options?

Note: This section is based off of industry consensus and research; I have not personally tested these earbuds. 
 
1. AirPod Pro: If you are stuck on Apple, I’d suggest you spring for the Airpod Pro, which has better sound, better isolation, and active noise cancellation. The Airpod Pro’s are pretty sweet, but they are only IPX4 water resistant, and still don’t play nice with Android devices. They are an ok option for the active person, but not as rugged and compact as the Jaybird Vista. They are not the best at a lot of things, but they are pretty good at everything. 
 
2. Sony WF-1000XM3: If you want one of the best sounding true wireless earbuds, are seeking active noise cancellation (ANC), and don’t mind spending a few bucks, look no further than the Sony WF-1000XM3. Sony isn’t as popular as Apple, and their horrible naming convention probably isn’t helping much. However, they make some truly awesome, and great sounding headphones. The Sony WF-1000XM3 are made with the audiophile in mind. They’re definitely not the best fitness headphones, the case is not very pocketable, and they’re pretty noticeable in the ear. They’re better than the Vista in some ways; worse in others. If you’re likely to find yourself in more meetings and planes/trains, and less mountains and gym’s, then the WF-1000XM3 might be just what you need. 
 
3. Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro: These earbuds have some pretty cutting edge technology, and Anker claims they are “endorsed by 10 grammy-award winning producers.” If you really like to nerd it up, these are an interesting option. The Liberty 2 Pro feature what Anker calls “astria coaxial acoustic architecture.” This is said to create excellent and natural sound, with sound that aligns directly to your ear. They look similar to the Sony WF-1000XM3, and target a similar consumer. At $149.99 retail they offer a lot for the price. They are only IPX4 certified however, and a have a relatively large footprint. If you’re looking for fitness headphones the Liberty 2 Pro probably aren’t for you. However, if you’re a more casual audiophile, they are certainly worth a shot. 
 
4. Jabra Elite 75t (and their 65t predecessor): The 75t are probably the closest to the Jaybird Vista. They have a similar small footprint, are sport oriented earbuds, and have an impressive 7.5 hours of battery life. They are also compatible with both iOS and Android, and they offer heart through technology, allowing you to hear your surroundings better. The Elite 75t also offer 4 microphones for enhanced call quality, and have an app that resembles the Jaybird MySound app. That’s all good stuff. The IP55 protection is probably enough for most people, but they are only certified to withstand a low pressure water stream; they Vista can withstand full submersion in water. The 75t also have a bigger case that probably won’t fit well in your pocket. The app is nice, but is less “cool” than the Jaybird app. Lastly, they have a simple silicone ear tip and hard plastic casing; the Vista offer a softer silicone sleeve, as well as wing tips to keep them secure. 

So, Vista or AirPods 2?

If you are looking for a fitness earbuds, clearly the Jaybird Vista is the better choice. They have a much more secure fit, are pretty-much-everything proof, and have superior sound. If you are an Android user the choice should also be pretty clear. Even if you don’t buy the Vista, there are better options than the Airpods, and this comes from a guy who made a video all about using Airpods with Android. Bluetooth range alone makes the Vista a better choice. The offer basically everything the Airpods do, and a bit more. The Vista’s have a refined and complete feel; in that way they are sort of like the Airpods. You can tell that they are really thought out. 
 
If you are an iPhone user the choice might be a little more complex. The Airpods offer excellent integration and range when used with an iPhone. In this situation, Airpods have many features similar to the Vista. This includes control customization, and the ability to find them with GPS. However, the Vista’s still have better sound, better isolation, and better sound customization. The Airpods do excel in terms of call quality, and this could be really important to you.
 
If all of these benefits don’t swing you towards the Vista, and you are even the least bit active, you should probably save up for the Airpods Pro. Either way, I hope I gave you some food for thought. 
Sending
User Review
2.75 (4 votes)

3 Comments

  1. betterlifereviews May 9, 2020

    I don’t see the link. Nice site though.

    Reply
  2. ปั้มไลค์ July 18, 2020

    Like!! Really appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really thank you! Keep writing.

    Reply
    • betterlifereviews July 30, 2020

      Will do. Thanks.

      Reply

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