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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- JBL unveils 19 new audio products during CES 2026.
- Although the lineup consists of new gaming headphones and over-ear headphones, the company puts an emphasis on open-ear earbuds.
- The standout products include the JBL Tune 780NC, Soundgear Clips, Sense Pro, and Endurance Zone.
CES 2026 is underway, with numerous companies unveiling their most significant innovations for the year. Although JBL doesn’t officially exhibit at the show, the company converges its announcements with the tech event, showcasing dozens of speakers, earbuds, headsets, and more.
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This year, JBL’s “CES” announcements include a list of products, including new additions to its open-ear headphone Open Sound lineup, its Quantum Series gaming headset family, its over-ear and on-ear Tune headphones, and the Soundgear Clips, the company’s first open-ear, clip-on earbuds.
JBL Open Sound
JBL adds the JBL Sense Pro and Sense Lite to its catalog of open-ear earbuds, which previously consisted of only the JBL Soundgear Sense. These earbuds feature an over-the-ear hook form factor and upgrades to Bluetooth connectivity, battery life, and audio technologies.
The premium Sense Pro includes JBL’s latest air conduction technology, spatial audio, four microphones for voice pickup, Bluetooth 6 connectivity, adaptive bass boost, hi-res audio wireless, Google Fast Pair, wireless charging, and up to 38 hours of playtime.
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The toned-down Sense Lite features four microphones for voice pickup, an IP54 dust and water resistance rating, Bluetooth 5.4, Google Fast Pair, and up to 32 hours of playtime.
According to JBL, the Sense Pro and Sense Lite earbuds will be available in March for $200 and $150, respectively.
JBL Endurance
JBL’s sport-focused Endurance line comprises five new models, including open-ear earbuds, in-ear earbuds, and wired earbuds designed for fitness enthusiasts. The premium Endurance Zone feature JBL’s OpenSound audio technology, an over-the-ear hook design, four beamforming microphones, an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, and up to 32 hours of playtime.
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The Endurance Peak 4 in-ear earbuds feature spatial audio, Adaptive Noise Cancellation, six microphones for voice pickup, an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, and up to 48 hours of playtime.
The JBL Endurance Zone and Endurance Peak 4 will be available this month for $180 and $130, respectively.
JBL Tune
The 2026 JBL Tune lineup comprises eight new on-ear and over-ear headphone models, offering both wired and wireless options, priced from $40 to $150. JBL’s Tune lineup is its budget headphone catalog, a step down from its midrange Live brand.
The most feature-packed headphones within the Tune lineup include the over-ear JBL Tune 780NC and the on-ear 680NC, both of which debut with two beamforming microphones, compared to the previous generation’s single microphone. They also feature JBL Pure Bass Sound and Adaptive Noise Cancellation, Bluetooth 6 connectivity, six more hours of playtime, and JBL Spatial Sound.
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The distinction between the Tune 780NC and Tune 680NC is the 780NC’s 40mm drivers compared to the 680NC’s 32mm drivers. Additionally, the 780NC feature JBL PersoniFi 3.0, the company’s audio personalization feature that tailors the headphones’ audio response to your ears.
The JBL Tune lineup will be available to purchase in June, with the 789NC and 680NC retailing for $150 and $110, respectively.
JBL Soundgear Clips
The Soundgear Clips are JBL’s take on open-ear, clip-on earbuds, a new earbud form factor within the company’s Open Sound lineup. The Soundgear Clips feature JBL’s air conduction audio technology, which promises to limit sound leakage without compromising sound quality.
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The earbuds also feature an Adaptive Bass Boost algorithm and four microphones for voice pickup. According to JBL, their metallic accents and translucent finish are inspired by modern fashion trends, offering a clip-on earbud design for everyday wear.
Other features include touch controls, an IP54 dust and water resistance rating, and up to 32 hours of playtime. The Soundgear Clips will be available in March for $150.