In today’s review, we take a look at the JBL Wave 200TWS fully wireless earbuds, which want to impress with a relatively affordable price tag, good battery life and decent sound. There are a huge number of models sold in a similar price range nowadays, but let’s see how this one from JBL stands up and if it deserves any attention when making a decision.
- What’s in the box
- JBL Wave 200TWS: Hardware
- JBL Wave 200TWS: Design
- JBL Wave 200TWS: Ergonomics and controls
- JBL Wave 200TWS: Sound
- JBL Wave 200TWS: Conclusion
JBL Wave 200TWS Specs
| Frequency range | 20 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Impedance (ohms) | 16 |
| Sensitivity | 108 dB at 1kHz/1mW |
| Earpiece Weight | 8.7 g |
| Charging Case Weight | 39.3 g |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Play time | 20h (5h earbuds + 15h from the case) |
| Charging time | 2 hours |
| Voice assistant support | Yes |
| Calling feature | Yes |
| Water resistance | IPX2 |
| Manual | Official website PDF |
What’s in the box
- 1 x JBL Wave 200TWS earbuds
- 1 x USB Type-C charging cable
- 1 x 3 Sizes of ear tips
- 1 x Charging case
- 1 x Quick Start Guide / Safety Sheet (S / i)
- 1 x Warranty / Warning (W / !)
JBL Wave 200TWS: Hardware
The sound presentation of this model is taken care of by 8 mm dynamic transducers with a frequency range of 20 Hz – 20 kHz and a sensitivity of 108 dB. Communication with your phone or other devices is via Bluetooth 5.0.
Power is provided by two integrated batteries, each with a capacity of 48 mAh, which allow the earbuds to boast up to five hours of battery life (depending on the use). In the charging box, we find another battery, this time with a capacity of 500 mAh, which can charge the earbuds a total of three times, so the earbuds boast a total of about 20 hours of battery life.
Charging the case is done via the USB-C connector and from empty to full takes about 2 hours. As to no surprise, there are integrated microphones for phone calls in the earbuds. The Wave 200TWS and the case are available in four colour options – black, blue, purple and white.
JBL Wave 200TWS: Design
Both the headset and the charging box are completely made of plastic. The only non-plastic part is the silicone ear tips. The plastic used is semi-matt with a slightly rough texture, with a shiny piece of decorative plastic on the outside, with touch surfaces that are used to control the earbuds.
The use of plastic in earbuds in this price range is perfectly fine, prospectively the only question is how long the plastic joint will last in the charging case. Despite the materials used, however, it looks like it should last a while. The strength of the magnets that hold the earbuds in the box is also sufficient, as is the force with which the lid of the charging case closes.
The USB-C connector is located on the underside of the packaging, and on the front, we find a notification LED under the JBL logo, which warns us about, for example, a low battery.
JBL Wave 200TWS: Ergonomics and controls
The JBL Wave 200TWS are very lightweight and at the same time fit well in the ears, so wearing them is comfortable and after a while, you won’t even notice them. A trio of silicone tips (S, M and L) are included as standard, which should ensure to fit most users.
A significant ergonomic (and comfort) advantage is that they can be controlled via touchpads, unlike other models that have physical buttons. You just need to place your finger on the touch surfaces and the earbuds respond. There is no unpleasant pushing a button towards the ear, as is the case with models with physical buttons.
In terms of ergonomics, there is not much to complain about here, but it is understandable that comfort or discomfort when wearing will vary from user to user, as everyone’s ear is a little different. The JBL earbuds offer only the basic controls, i.e. play/pause, next/previous track, accept/cut call and mute microphone. The controls are very simple, based on single, double or triple taps or long hold for the microphone mute function.
JBL Wave 200TWS: Sound
The sound profile of the JBL Wave 200TWS is, in a word, satisfactory. Of course, one has to take into account that this is a model selling for about £70 and one cannot expect miracles, however, within its price level I dare to say that these are above-average-sounding earbuds.
They offer a solid bass presentation with slightly accentuated highs, the overall sound presentation is pleasing and classically “modern”, an unpretentious user will not have much to complain about.
The passive isolation level from the outside world is surprisingly good, and the earbuds are (thanks to the high maximum volume) very usable even in noisy public transport environments. The sound cannot be changed in any way (compatibility with the accompanying app is lacking), but it’s not really necessary in the end. The JBL Wave 200TWS sound decent on their own, and that’s the most important thing.
JBL Wave 200TWS: Conclusion
The JBL Wave 200TWS perfectly fulfils the role of a simple but well-functioning product without any “unnecessaries” that would bring some extra comfort or features, but at the same time would understandably increase the price.
If you’re looking for simple wireless earbuds with solid sound and durability, don’t require any extra features, or don’t want to pay extra for anything beyond the basics, the JBL Wave 200TWS is a great choice.
