JBL Reflect Mini 2 Review
Pros: Good for working out, low profile design, relatively inexpensive
Cons: May not fit large ears well, average sound quality and comfort, not true wireless, no charging case
Manufacturer: JBL
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
JBL Reflect Mini 2 | |||||
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| Awards |  |  |  | ||
| Price | $100 List $69.95 at Amazon | $200 List $149.99 at Amazon | $199 List | $120 List $119.99 at Amazon | $120 List $99.95 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Good for working out, low profile design, relatively inexpensive | Sound quality, secure fit, water resistance, very portable, battery life, great in-app EQ | Unique design, sound quality, battery life | Great price for high performance, good sound quality, portability, charging case | Complete awareness or surroundings, secure fit, lightweight |
| Cons | May not fit large ears well, average sound quality and comfort, not true wireless, no charging case | Noise cancellation only average | No charging case, heavy, no noise cancellation | Bulky, uncomfortable for long periods | Expensive, subpar sound quality |
| Bottom Line | Decent performance at a mid range price, this model is likely to have most appeal among athletes who don't mind the wire | Our favorite earbuds to recommend combine great sound with a secure fit and impressive battery life to keep up with your lifestyle | These unique high-quality athletically-inclined earbuds are excellent for high-intensity activity without blocking out your surroundings | A quality, high-scoring product with a price tag that won't break the bank | A good choice for those that really want to listen to music while leaving their ears uncovered |
| Rating Categories | JBL Reflect Mini 2 | Jaybird Vista 2 | Bose Sport Open Ear... | Amazon Echo Buds (2... | AfterShokz Air |
| Sound Quality (30%) | |||||
| Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Athletic Performance (20%) | |||||
| Battery Life (15%) | |||||
| Portability (10%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (5%) | |||||
| Specs | JBL Reflect Mini 2 | Jaybird Vista 2 | Bose Sport Open Ear... | Amazon Echo Buds (2... | AfterShokz Air |
| Weight (oz) | 0.54 | 0.47 | 1.04 | 0.47 | 1.06 |
| Waterproof Rating | IPX5 | IP68 buds IP54 case |
IPX4 | IPX4 | IP55 |
| Measured Battery Life (hours) | 11.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 5 | 7.5 |
| Claimed Battery Life (hours) | 10 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 |
| Carrying Case? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Charging Carrying Case? | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Wireless Charging Option? | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Microphone? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
Sound Quality
The bass of the Reflect Mini 2 is around average in terms of power and quality, and the earbuds produce a fairly fuzzy overall sound. Still, the buds work, and we never felt like motivation was lacking when listening to music and working out with the Reflect Mini. Some models that scored higher in this metric generally had deeper, more powerful bass that added a bit more depth to the music.
These earbuds were also serviceable for making phone calls. In our testing, both the caller and the callee experienced some static, but the entire conversation was easily understood.
Comfort
The Reflect Mini 2 comes with two different sizes of both earpieces and ear fins. We found that this combination provided a secure and comfortable fit for the vast majority of ears. The only exception was those with rather large ear canals, as the larger earpiece size seemed more medium than large. Still even those with larger ear canals could generally get a fairly secure fit via the use of the ear fins. Also, the low weight of these earbuds meant you barely had any tugging sensation when wearing them.
Still, we must say that the cord around the neck isn't comfortable for everyone. Our testers prefer true wireless earbuds that don't have a cord between the buds that can tangle, get caught on things, and just feel unnatural resting on our necks.
Athletic Performance
The combination of a secure fit and lightweight allow these earbuds to stay put through almost any athletic endeavor. After using them for a bit, we felt completely confident that these earbuds would stay in through long runs and sessions in the gym. They also stayed put, even we had lots of sweat dripping down our brows. We didn't have a single instance of the Reflect Mini 2 falling out during our testing.
Battery Life
The Reflect Mini 2 was one of the longest-lasting models in our battery life testing, chugging along for an impressive 11.5 hours. This will get you through all but the longest of plane rides, and will likely last you an entire week of working out before needing a recharge.
Portability
This is where the Reflect Mini 2 has a serious advantage over models with large over-ear hooks, though its corded design falls short of true wireless earbuds.
The lack of any over-the-ear hooks and a totally flexible cable allows these earbuds to be easily stuffed into any pocket, even that tiny pocket in your carpenter jeans that is meant to be used for nails but is never actually used for nails. It doesn't sound like those over-the-ear hooks would be too annoying to deal with, but the fact that these earbuds can fit in any pocket feels oddly liberating after you've used models that simply do not for a while. Still, the cord means that it can get tangled. If you're on the fence about corded earbuds vs. true wireless, we generally recommend true wireless models.
Value
The JBL Reflect Mini 2 provides good performance at an average price.
Conclusion
The JBL Reflect Mini 2 is a fine product without major gripes regarding its performance. If you're looking for a pair of bluetooth earbuds connected by a cord, these are a great option. However, if you're looking for a more modern, true wireless pair of earbuds, these will not satisfy.
— Max Mutter, Michelle Powell, and John Giammona Wilber
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