REASONS TO BUY
Good for working out
Low profile design
Relatively inexpensive
REASONS TO AVOID
May not fit large ears well
Average sound quality and comfort
Not true wireless
No charging case
JBL discontinued the Reflect Mini 2.
JBL Reflect Mini 2 Review
Decent performance at a mid range price, this model is likely to have most appeal among athletes who don't mind the wire
Credit: JBL
RELATED: Best Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds
Our Verdict
The JBL Reflect Mini 2 provides several earbud and ear fin sizes, allowing for a comfortable and secure fit in almost any ear. This, combined with their lightweight and minimalistic design, make them great for active pursuits like running and working out. As quickly noticed, these are not "true wireless" earbuds, and this design is starting to feel old-school. But, if you don't mind the wire on your neck, we think these are a solid pair with good value, especially for athletes.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
If you don't need true wireless earbuds, the Reflect Mini 2 is a good option.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
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.
The Reflect Mini's sound quality held up to the scrutiny of rainy day listening, though it pales in comparison to models offering more bass.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
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.
The Reflect Mini performed well on outdoor adventures.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
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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