IFA's off to a wearable and hearable packed start and Jabra has got in on the action by announcing the Jabra Elite Sport - a pair of smart wireless earbuds.
Like the Bragi Dash and Samsung Gear IconX, the Elite Sport won't have a wire connecting the two earbuds. With its heart rate sensor, VO2 Max testing and in-ear coaching, Jabra's offering seems to have a leg up on the competition.
They're also fully sweat and waterproof with an IP67 rating meaning they'll work for at least 30 minutes while submerged in up to three feet of water.
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With four microphones (two in each earbud), you're able to easily switch between calls and music, and apparently the earbuds will analyse external sounds and automatically switch to the ear with the least background noise for calls. Like the Dash and Gear IconX, you can use both buds or a single one as well.
If a call comes in while you're out running or exercising, voice controls and audio prompts let you manage calls without needing to touch your phone. The feature also applies when you're listening to music or trying to hear the in-ear training tips. There's also an audio pass-through that will allow you to tune-in to your surroundings at the touch of a button.
Fitness smarts
The fitness analysis has been touted by Jabra as 90% accurate or higher. The integrated iOS and Android app is where you'll find the VO2 Max data taken from the earbuds along with race-time predictor and recovery advisor. With the information, the coach is able to provide real-time feedback based on heart rate and fitness level.
The Jabra Sport Life app can then give you a post-workout rundown with data on how you can improve future workouts and increase fitness levels, like distance covered, pace, route, calories burnt and training effect. There's also support for third party fitness apps to feed your data into, which is big news.
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In terms of battery life, the Jabra Elite Sports, we're told, will last up to three hours for music playback and phone calls. With the carrying case the earbuds come in, you can get an extra six hours since it serves as a portable charger. That's looking like the current battery life standard for wireless earbuds based on our experiences with the Dash.
You'll also find ear gels and ear wings in the box, as well as foam tips for passive noise-cancellation and enhanced bass, all to ensure you get the most comfortable fit.
The Jabra Elite Sport earbuds will cost you $249.99 and will be available for pre-order exclusively from Best Buy stores on 30 October with online pre-orders opening at the start of that month.
With the company revamping its Jabra Sport Pulse and Jabra Sport Coach to include automatic and continuous VO2 Max monitoring, it's clearly getting serious about biometric tracking sports headphones and we can't wait to try out a pair.
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