Jabra launches Elite 8 Active and Elite 10 TWS earbuds with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Head Tracking

Jabra Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active are flagship TWS earbuds boasting Dolby Atmos and Dolby Head Tracking spatial audio support.

Two years since the Elite 7 Pro, Jabra's finally back with not one, but two flagship TWS earbuds: the Elite 8 Active and Elite 10. Now, I know Jabra's naming conventions haven't been all that clear over the past couple of years, but with the Elite 8 Active and Elite 10, it does seem like there's a clear idea who these devices are made for. And if there's one thing you can take away from this is that both Elite 8 Active and Elite 10 supports Dolby Atmos audio processing, which means they will work with Apple Music's Spatial Audio tracks. Since Apple's iPhone 15 launch last night did not include new AirPods, maybe these new Jabras can be a consideration.

Elite 8 Active

The Elite 8 Active takes the 'toughness' aspect of rugged earbuds to the next level with US MIL-810H certification, IP68 ingress rating, and made to survive multiple cycles of Highly Accelerate Corrosion Testing (HACT). Even the case is IP54 rated this time round. The Elite 8 Active will literally laugh in the face of heat, humidity, dust, and liquid. As with past Active earbuds from Jabra, the Elite 8 Active will feature a ShakeGrip silicone layer that covers almost the entire earbud to stick better to your ears and is easier to clean grime off.

The Elite 8 Active is wrapped in ShakeGrip material, tested the extremes to withstand all environments, and even the case is IP54 dust and water resistant.

The Elite 8 Active is wrapped in ShakeGrip material, tested the extremes to withstand all environments, and even the case is IP54 dust and water resistant.

Hardware-wise, the Elite 8 Active seem to follow the platform and inherits all the improvements from the Elite 75t to the Elite 7 series with 6mm audio drivers. The key highlight is definitely Dolby Atmos spatial audio support. Here's the rest of the main features of the Elite 8 Active, and there are a few other interesting tidbits to note. For one, Jabra has gone back to a standard mic array for voice calls, without the bone conduction sensor like in the Elite 7 Pro. There's a larger effort to reduce wind noise, and a mention of LC3 codec support coming in a future firmware update. 

Key Features - Elite 8 Active:

  • Jabra ShakeGrip for a secure fit
  • Adaptive Hybrid ANC with feedforward and feedback mics
  • Wind Neutralizing HearThrough for outdoor action
  • 6-mic call tech with wind noise protection
  • Up to 8 hours battery with ANC (32 hours with case)
  • Google Assistant, Smartwatch, Fast Pair, Swift Pair, and Spotify Tap support
  • Bluetooth 5.3, with Multipoint connection
  • Future-ready with Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) and LC3 codec support

Jabra Elite 10

The Elite 10 on the other hand is actually built on a different platform from the Elite 8 Active, and feels more like the spiritual successor to the Elite 85t instead. The Elite 10 features a semi-open design where the earbuds do not fully enter or seal your ear canal. Jabra calls this their ComforFit tech and has also designed a new EarGel tip from scanning 62,000 ears. The benefits of this include more comfortable wearing over long ours, better at protecting your hearing, and more environmentally aware. Of course, the downside of a semi-open design is that there's reduced passive noise isolation.

Close up of the Jabra Elite 10 and its semi-open ComfortFit design and oval EarGel. Notice that the tip step is much shorter and will not enter the ear canal.

Close up of the Jabra Elite 10 and its semi-open ComfortFit design and oval EarGel. Notice that the tip step is much shorter and will not enter the ear canal.

The Elite 8 Active as a comparison has a more traditional earbud design with a longer stem and rounded silicone tip that fully seals your ear canal opening.

The Elite 8 Active as a comparison has a more traditional earbud design with a longer stem and rounded silicone tip that fully seals your ear canal opening.

To combat this, the Elite 10 features larger 10mm drivers for more powerful audio delivery, and what Jabra claims to be Advanced ANC over the Elite 8 Active to help keep sound out when you need to. It supposedly can measure the audio levels in your surroundings and your ear canal too in order to adapt noise cancellation levels to fit. 

An exploded view of the Jabra Elite 10. Image Source: Jabra.

An exploded view of the Jabra Elite 10. Image Source: Jabra.

In addition to Dolby Atmos support, the Elite 10 will also support Dolby Head Tracking so you can feel the audio move around you as you move your head around. We'll have to further test this feature out, but a quick listen showed that it works with regular stereio tracks (Spotify), as well as spatial audio-enabled tracks (Apple Music), albeit more impressively on Apple Music.

The rest of the features are similar to the Elite 8 Active, and according to Jabra, both earbuds are powered by the same chipset platform.

Key Features - Elite 10:

  • Dolby Atmos with Dolby Head Tracking
  • Jabra ComfortFit design with oval EarGel
  • Advanced ANC 
  • HearThrough with wind noise reduction
  • Up to 6 hours battery with ANC (27 hours with case) and wireless charging
  • IP57
  • Bluetooth 5.3, Multipoint connection
  • Voice assistants, Fast Pair, Swift Pair, Spotify Tap
  • Ready for Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) and LC3 codec support in the future.

Local launch pricing and promos

Both the Jabra Elite 8 Active and Elite 10 drops on 22nd September 2023, with a retail price of S$308 (Elite 8 Active) and S$378 (Elite 10). The Elite 8 Active comes in Caramel, Navy, Black, or Dark grey, while the Elite 10 come in Cream, Cocoa, Titanium Black, Gloss Black, and Matte Black. 

  • Between 22nd September and 15th October 2023, you'll score a complimentary S$50 Puma e-voucher (Elite 8 Active) or Golden Village Movie Tickets worth S$62 (Elite 10) with your purchase.
  • Trade-in your old Jabra TWS from 22nd September to 15th October 2023, and get S$100 off.
  • From 16th October to 5th November 2023, trade in your Jabra TWS for S$50 off at participating authorized retailers.

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