Reflect Bluetooth Sport Headphones by JBL
CATEGORY | RATING |
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Sound | |
Build Quality | |
Comfort |
What We Like
We Don't Like
Part 1: Present the product
The Reflect Mini Headphones provides many benefits due to its size and wireless functionality. “Mini headphones” are also known as earphones or earbuds fit inside the outer section of the ear canal. Earphones can provide several benefits including the following:
Color/Style
You can pick earphones with basic black/white earphones like Apple’s vanilla-colored AirPods, or bright colors. They’re also available in different styles and have even become a fashion trend.
Comfortable
These headphones are comfier than over-ear headphones that can cause your outer ear to get sore over time. The earbuds include thick padding that prevents ear irritation and pieces to keep the units secure in your ear. Bluetooth earphones also don’t have a bird’s nest of wires.
Affordability
You can find many affordable earphones in the under-$100 price range with many of the same features as over-ear headphones. The prices are much more affordable than the Tournaire’s $120K Focal Utopia.
Cleanability
Earphones can experience dirt/wax buildup, but they’re also quite easy to clean. You can wipe them down with a damp cloth. Sweat-resistant units can also help to reduce residue on the mini headphones.
Portability
Earbuds are small enough to fit inside your pocket so you can easily use them for workouts, hiking, commutes, etc. They’re a good option for on-the-go use and especially wireless Bluetooth versions.
You can also enjoy various benefits of Bluetooth headphones:
Wireless
If you want to “cut the cord”, then Bluetooth-enabled earphones are a good option. This provides cord/hand-free functionality that allows you to fit the earphones in a pocket/bag easily.
They’re a good option for activities like weightlifting, jogging, and cycling since you won’t have to worry about cords getting caught on something and potentially causing an accident.
Stylish
Wireless earphones/earbuds are generally sporty and stylish. They’re designed to stay in place while you’re wearing the units. Yes, form should follow function, but it’s a plus when your headphones don’t look like nerd gear.
Compatibility
Even if your phone or media player isn’t Bluetooth-compactible, you can still use a Bluetooth transmitter that allows you to enjoy wireless functionality. In fact, sometimes this unit is even bundled with the headphones so you won’t have to purchase it separately.
In fact, electronics manufacturers continue to add new Bluetooth-compatible devices. These include computers and TVs. This allows you to enjoy various kinds of content like music, movies, and podcasts.
Sound Quality
If you do your research, you can find Bluetooth earphones with sound quality comparable to wired units. They can even include features like bass boost and noise isolation. The platform’s sound quality has improved exponentially since the first device was released in 1999.
Better Mobility
You can easily do activities like walking, weightlifting, and chores with Bluetooth earphones. For example, you can do those activities without your mobile phone being in-hand. Pressing a button can allow you to take a call then when you’re done, you can return to your music.
JBL’s Reflect Mini Bluetooth earphones are lightweight in-ear sport headphones. Thee wireless earphones can be used to listen to music or make/answer smartphone calls. The units include features like wireless design, built-in mic, ergonomic ear-tips, and sweat-proof.
The main function of Reflect Mini earphones is to allow you to listen to music and make/take phone calls more conveniently. It’s ideal for active people who want more mobility when doing physical activities like gym workouts or household chores. You won’t have to deal with a bird’s nest of cords that can also get caught on objects and cause a safety hazard.
JBL is a US company that makes products like loudspeakers, car speakers, amps, and headphones. The company was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California (USA). JBL was founded by audio engineer James Bullough Lansing.
JBL’s long history makes it a good option over startup companies or generic-off brands in terms of product quality and customer service. That’s due to 70+ years of industry experience. It’s also owned by Samsung-subsidiary Harman Electronics.
JBL Reflect Mini is available in several colors including Blue, Red, Curry Blue, Teal (Blue-Green), and Black. This gives you options to so you can pick your favorite color or pair the earphones with your clothes, device, etc.
If you want a version with more features, then consider Reflect Mini 2. The price point is close to the original Reflect Mini, so you won’t have to spend tons of money on the updated version.
Part 2: Who is this product for?
These mini headphones are a good option for people who want an alternative to wired headphones. They provide a continuous listening experience, but you’ll also have to deal with the wires that can cause various problems if they get tangled up in a bird’s nest or caught on objects.
The wireless functionality is good for various activities like cycling, jogging, and chores. After connecting your earphones to a device, you can enjoy various types of content including music, podcasts, and TV shows.
A related issue is you won’t have to deal with over-ear headphones. These items are significantly heavier than earbuds, which can definitely be an issue when you’re doing athletic activities in particular. Like workout equipment/clothing it’s important to avoid items like cumbersome headphones.
JBL Reflect Mini is also a good option for consumers looking for headphones that are ergonomic. It’s lightweight, snug-fitting, and sweat-resistant to provide a better user experience. A headphone’s comfort level can be just as significant as the sound quality.
If you want headphones with good sound quality, comfort, and durability, then this is a good option. It’s in the under-$100 price range so you can save a small fortune vs. over-hear headphones that tend to have significantly higher costs compared to in-ear units. Reflect Mini offers excellent value for the price point.
A caveat is these headphones aren’t on the cheapest on the market. You can even find under-$10 earbuds at Amazon but the old saying “You get what you pay for” certainly applies.” The good news these JBL headphones offer quality and affordability.
In fact, these headphones have received positive reviews, but not everyone is a happy camper. Reflect Mini has received good marks for overall comfort and value. However, it’s also received some negative feedback about issues like sound quality and battery life.
Part 3: What's included
Here's what you get with the JBL Reflect:
JBL Reflect Mini in-ear headphones
Part 4: Overview of features
Here are some of the key features of JBL Reflect Mini:
Colors
The in-ear headphones are available in 5 colors including Red, Blue, and Black. This offers more options, so it’s easier to pick one that matches your outfit, device.
Built-in Microphone
This offers convenience when using the earphones to make/take phone calls. It provides hands-free operation so you won’t have to hold your phone when talking to friends, family, or customers. When doing workouts, for example, you’ll just need to press a button to take a call then press it again to start listening to your favorite jams/playlist again.
Lightweight/Compact
The headphones weigh just 6.7 oz. (190g) so they’re good for options like workouts, hiking, jogging, biking, and chores. You won’t have to worry about lugging around the heavier weights of over-ear headphones.
Reflect Mini is also quite compact, so it’s also easy to fit in pockets, backpacks, and handbags. This is in part due to the unit being earbuds instead of headphones. Since the earphones are also wireless, this also makes them more compact since you won’t have to deal with lots of wires.
Water-resistant
Since these headphones are ipx-4 water-resistant, they’re sweat-proof. As a result, you won’t have to worry about the units malfunctioning while you’re doing activities like jogging, cycling, rowing, hiking, or weightlifting. The earphones are also easy to wipe down between uses.
Wireless Connectivity
If you want headphones with more convenience, then consider Reflect Mini. Today you can find an increasing number of devices that are Bluetooth-enabled. These earbuds are bundled with a Bluetooth transmitter so you can even use them with devices that weren’t originally Bluetooth-friendly.
Reflective Cable
This explains the earphones’ name. The cable is highly reflective, so you’ll be more visible when wearing the headphones at nighttime. It’s a plus when you’re out and about in the evening since you’ll be easier to spot.
Affordability
The Reflect Mini isn’t as cheap as super-budget in-ear headphones so if you’re on a shoestring budget they might be a bit pricey for you. That said, if you’re looking for mid-range quality in terms of quality, sound, battery, etc. then this is a good option.
Battery Life
Reflect Mini provides 8 hrs. of playback time via its powerful drivers. This reduces how soon you’ll have to juice up the battery, which is a plus. It’s especially helpful when you’re doing outdoor activities and won’t be able to charge the headphones until later in the day.
Ergonomic Tips
This helps to keep the headphones in your ears when wearing them. It’s especially helpful when you’re doing high-intensity workouts. This can become an issue with other headphones due to their design.
Part 5: How to Use/Install
Part 6: Alternatives
If you’re searching for an alternative to JBL’s Reflect Mini, you should consider Spirit X Wireless Headphones by Anker. The in-ear wireless headphones have several features offered by Reflect Mini but are in the under-$50 price range.
Spirit X offers decent bass, mids, and treble for a solid balance of sound. For the price point, you shouldn’t expect high-end sound quality, but it provides decent performance for the price point.
You get 12 hrs. of music playtime on a single charge, which is one-third higher than Reflect Mini. This offers enough juice for all-day use or a week’s worth of workouts.
High-end comfort is provided by silicone ear tips and over-ear hooks that help to keep the headphones secure and comfy for different activities.
The unit is sweat-proof like Reflect Mini to protect it from the corrosive properties. It also makes the unit ideal for various physical activities including workouts and chores.
Another similar feature is the inline remote that lets you make hands-free phone calls when wearing the Bluetooth earphones.
Anker Spirit X is bundled with several items including:
- Ear Tips
- Ear Wings
- USB Cable
- Cable/Shirt Clips
- Carabiner
- Travel Pouch
- 18-month Warranty
Part 7: Conclusion
We've just reviewed JBL’s Reflect Mini Bluetooth headphones. What’s our final verdict? We recommend these earbuds for various reasons.
Reflect Mini has generally received high marks for its comfort and ergonomics. That’s due to features like the ear-tips that are designed to stay in place even when you’re doing rigorous workouts.
The headphones also include several other features worth noting. They’re sweat-proof, so they’re good for active users. Reflect Mini also has a reflective cable that becomes a key feature at nighttime when you’re using the headphones outdoors.
You can also use the headphones for hands-free phone calls. The built-in mic and remote make it easy to toggle between music and phone modes so you can make/take calls then get back to the music.
The Reflect Mini has some disadvantages worth noting. The sound is decent for the price point but isn’t outstanding. Meanwhile, the 8-hr. battery life is also mid-range but not as high as other headphones with 12-hr. battery life, for example.
The bottom line is JBL’s Reflect Mini is a good option if you’re looking for mid-tier Bluetooth earbuds. They’re small headphones with big value.
