JBL's Live Beam 4 case is useful, but the earbuds win without it

The most conspicuous part of JBL's Live Beam 4 never goes in your ears. It is the colour touchscreen on the charging case, now running a new interface with widgets, favourites and enough controls to let a phone remain buried in a bag. It is also the part a reviewer who spent weeks with the earbuds gradually stopped using.

That apparent contradiction gets to the appeal of these £179.99 / AU$269.95 earbuds. The case is no longer a clumsy demo, yet the Beam 4 does not need the novelty to justify itself. Its better arguments are disciplined bass, a secure fit and eight to 12 hours between trips back to the charger.

JBL Smart OS 3.0 lets the case change volume, tracks, noise-control modes, EQ and spatial audio. Owners can pin favourite controls, set a photo as wallpaper, run a timer or flashlight, trigger Find My Buds and read notifications. Anubhav Roy's hands-on walkthrough and Coolblue's Dutch review both show the proposition clearly: most everyday adjustments are available without opening the JBL Headphones app.

The execution matters because a charging case is an awkward place for bad software. Harry Padoan at TechRadar found the new interface responsive and considerably more capable than JBL's earlier screen cases. He could reach useful settings while his phone was charging or in a bag. He still gravitated back to the app because its larger display and complete control set were more natural.

That makes the screen a good remote rather than a replacement for the phone. It can be handy on a laptop, where the earbuds may be connected to a source whose audio controls are buried behind windows, or on public transport when pulling out a phone is inconvenient. For walking with the case in a pocket, the touch controls on each earbud remain quicker.

The hardware cost is measurable. JBL lists the case at 73g, while the two earbuds together weigh 9.7g. The whole package is 82.7g, and TechRadar called the case bulky despite finding it pocketable. A screen also creates one more surface to scratch and another interface to learn. Buyers who expect a tiny case should see it in person before treating Smart OS as a free bonus.

Underneath the screen story are 10mm dynamic drivers, Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC high-resolution streaming, multipoint connection and support for LE Audio and Auracast. JBL quotes a 20Hz to 40kHz response. Those numbers do not describe the tuning, but Padoan's listening does: bass arrives forward and forceful without smothering the midrange, acoustic guitars retain natural texture, and the soundstage is broad for an in-ear design. He found vocals could use more separation, while treble stayed controlled rather than abrasive.

There is one switch worth leaving alone. TechRadar found JBL's Spatial Sound compressed music and made vocals artificial and shrill. It also requires LDAC to be disabled. For an Android listener with a compatible phone and suitably high-quality source, exchanging the better codec for that processing is a poor bargain.

Fit is the quiet strength. The sealed Beam design uses silicone tips and short stems, in contrast with the open Live Flex 4. A comparison video from What Should I Buy frames that choice as the key distinction between the two £179.99 models: Beam for isolation and a firmer seal, Flex for a more open feel. TechRadar reported wearing the Beam 4 for hours without needing a break and found the fit secure. Four tip sizes are supplied, and the IP55 rating covers dust plus water jets, enough for rain and sweaty workouts but not immersion.

JBL advertises True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0, with continuous calibration to the surroundings. In weeks of buses, office typing, traffic and walking, TechRadar heard an improvement over the Live Beam 3 but still heard plenty of external sound at roughly 70 percent listening volume. The earbuds dulled distractions; they did not approach the hush of Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2.

The six-microphone calling system produced a similar gap between label and result. JBL says its AI-trained Perfect Calls 2.0 algorithm suppresses fans, traffic and slamming doors. Padoan's colleague instead heard a voice lacking expected clarity, while a recording retained sibilance and prominent background noise. Calls were usable, not class-leading.

Battery life is easier to parse once the footnotes are separated. JBL rates the buds for up to 12 hours with ANC off, 10 with standard ANC and eight with True Adaptive ANC. The case adds 36 hours in the least demanding configuration, for 48 total. A 10-minute USB-C charge promises four hours, and Qi wireless charging is included. That endurance exceeds the headline totals JBL publishes for several premium rivals, although real use with adaptive cancellation will land below 48 hours.

The Live Beam 4 therefore suits a particular buyer: someone who values sound, comfort and long battery life, and sees the case display as a convenient extra. Anyone shopping first for maximum noise cancellation, the clearest work calls or the smallest pocket bulge should keep looking. JBL built a better tiny screen. More importantly, it put that screen around earbuds good enough that you can forget it is there.