JBL Endurance Peak 4 Review: Secure Running Earbuds Under $100

Introduction

The JBL Endurance Peak 4 is a set of truly wireless earbuds with an ear hook design aimed squarely at runners. After a month of testing across indoor and outdoor runs, the picture is fairly clear: these deliver a secure fit, a bright and customizable sound, and solid battery life for a price sitting just under the $100 mark in the US ($99.95, or £89.99 in the UK). That price also positions them as a more affordable alternative to options like the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, the Shokz OpenFit Pro, and the Suunto Spark.

Who This Product Is For

These earbuds make the most sense for runners who want a locked-in fit without spending premium money. If your budget is around $100 or £100, and you want ear hook-style buds that hold firm across different running paces, with good sound, ANC, and useful call features, the Endurance Peak 4 covers all of those bases. Runners who prioritize best-in-class audio refinement or tiny pocketable cases will need to look at more expensive options.

Main Strengths

The headline strength is fit. JBL kept the ear hook style from the previous generation but made the buds smaller and lighter, and the twist lock design works extremely well. Across indoor runs, outdoor runs, and sweaty heat wave conditions, they simply did not budge.

JBL also includes multiple sets of ear tips plus a small enhancer that sits before the tips. Those enhancers feel integral to getting a good seal and a secure in-ear fit, and they are definitely worth using.

Waterproofing is another strong point. The buds carry an IP68 rating, among the best protection available on sports earbuds, so they handle rain, sweat, and even brief immersion. The charging case adds an IPX2 rating, which is modest but still offers splash protection as a package.

Battery life is reliable too. You get up to 8 hours with ANC on, up to 12 hours with ANC off, plus an additional 36 hours held in the case. Real-world testing showed a drop of just over 10% per hour of running with ANC enabled, and less than 10% with ANC off. A quick charge mode is handy when you forget to top up the night before a morning run.

Sound and Features

Out of the box, the sound leans toward power, bass, and warmth. If you want sparkling treble and rich mid-range detail, you will need to spend more elsewhere. But the overall sound quality sits just below the best in class for sports earbuds, which is a strong result at this price.

Downloading the JBL app matters here. You get preset and custom EQ modes, a spatial audio mode that genuinely improves immersion, a talk-through mode for conversations, dedicated video and call modes, plus ANC and ambient aware modes.

ANC performance is good, though not quite at the level of Bose, Sony, or Apple. Indoors and in the gym it performed very well, and it held up against traffic noise. It struggled a little in windier conditions, and getting the right ear tips for a solid seal is crucial to getting the best out of it.

Call quality prioritizes volume over clarity. It is perfectly usable, though Apple and Sony offer better call quality if you are willing to pay more.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The touch controls are the main disappointment. JBL stuck with touch rather than physical buttons, and while the touch surface is fairly large, taps and swipes do not register reliably, especially on faster tempo runs. If dependable mid-run controls matter to you, this is a real weakness.

The charging case is also on the bulky side. It is protective and includes a lanyard attachment, but it is not compact, which makes it less convenient for running belts where space is tight.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery numbers match the previous generation, and that consistency is a positive. Around an hour of running with ANC on cost just over 10% of battery, and disabling ANC brought that under 10%. Combined with the case’s 36 hours of reserve capacity and quick charging, battery life is one of the areas where the Endurance Peak 4 delivers without compromise. The main caveat remains the case’s size rather than its capacity.

How It Compares to Alternatives

The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 shares the ear hook design, is slimmer and lighter, and offers more effective ANC overall, but it sits in a higher price category. The Shokz OpenFit Pro offers ANC only in certain scenarios that are not really suitable for running. The Suunto Spark is an ear hook-style open-ear design that fits runners well, but without an in-ear seal and at a higher price.

None of these alternatives are a like-for-like match at this price, which is exactly why the Endurance Peak 4 stands out as a value pick.

Buying Advice

If you have around $100 or £100 to spend on running earbuds, the Endurance Peak 4 is easy to recommend. It delivers a secure and reliable fit, a bright and enjoyable sound that becomes very customizable through the JBL app, and strong battery life with or without ANC. For runners using pricier ear hooks like the Powerbeats Pro 2 who want a similar experience for less money, these are a sensible swap.

Conclusion

The JBL Endurance Peak 4 is not a flawless product. The touch controls are unreliable and the case is bulky. But for the money, the combination of fit security, waterproofing, battery life, and good-not-great ANC makes these a very appealing set of running earbuds, and an easy pick for anyone shopping below the $100 mark.