The Jabra Elite 85t: An All-Round True Wireless Earphone That Gets the Essentials Right
The true wireless earphone market has exploded, especially in India, where budget options abound. However, the premium segment is also heating up as players like Sennheiser, Samsung, LG, and Oppo release new offerings. Jabra, the Danish audio brand, joins this fray with the Elite 85t, the successor to the popular Elite 75t. Priced at Rs. 17,999, the Elite 85t boasts a key new feature: active noise cancellation. It also promises excellent voice call performance, a hallmark of Jabra, and, of course, great sound. Does the Elite 85t live up to these expectations? Let’s find out in our review.
A Familiar Design with Added Comfort and Features
While the Jabra Elite 85t retains the familiar styling and fit of its predecessors, it borrows heavily from the Elite 75t that launched in 2020. The inner molding has been redesigned for a more secure fit and enhanced passive noise isolation. Each earpiece now features three microphones on the coloured outer portion.
The Elite 85t feels comfortable and offers excellent passive noise isolation. Jabra’s distinctive Scandinavian styling adds a unique aesthetic appeal. Each earpiece has a physical button with an integrated LED that indicates the earphones’ operational status. The sales package includes three sets of silicone ear tips and a USB Type-C charging cable.
The Elite 85t’s charging case closely resembles the Elite 75t’s, with a compact form factor. It features a magnetic lid, a USB Type-C port at the back, and an indicator LED beneath the front logo. A notable addition to the Elite 85t is Qi wireless charging, absent in previous models.
Customization and Control: A User-Friendly Experience
Each earpiece is equipped with a large physical button. The headset controls can be customized through the Jabra Sound+ companion app, available for iOS and Android. Users can choose from playback controls, voice assistant activation, and sound mode cycling (ANC, hear-through, or both off) through single, double, or triple presses.
The buttons also support call control functionalities, and the two earpieces can be configured separately for individual control. Despite lacking volume adjustment, the controls are easy to learn and use thanks to the responsive buttons and secure fit.
The Elite 85t incorporates sensors for automatic playback pause when an earpiece is removed and resumption upon wearing. Unlike many true wireless earphones, the Elite 85t uses a master-slave configuration. The right earpiece connects to the source device, while the left earpiece connects to the right one. This allows independent use of the right earpiece, but the left earpiece requires proximity to the right earpiece for operation.
The Jabra Sound+ app provides a dedicated profile for the Elite 85t and automatically detects the headset upon connection. It offers a comprehensive range of features, including button customization, equaliser adjustment, ANC and hear-through level control, firmware updates, and more.
The app also includes interesting tools such as Jabra’s My Moment sound mode settings and Soundscapes. My Moment lets users create personalized sound profiles depending on their surroundings, while Soundscapes plays various soothing sounds directly through the app.
Sound and Performance: A Balanced and Detailed Soundstage
The Jabra Elite 85t features 12mm dynamic drivers and six microphones (three on each earpiece) for active noise cancellation and voice-based functionalities. The earpieces hold an IPX4 rating, indicating water resistance and protection against minor splashes. Additionally, the headset utilizes Bluetooth 5.1 with support for SBC and AAC codecs. However, the absence of advanced Bluetooth codecs remains a limitation.
With ANC activated and moderate volume levels, the Elite 85t delivers approximately five hours of battery life on the earpieces, along with three full charges from the case, resulting in a total battery life of about 20 hours per charge cycle. This is a respectable battery performance considering the headset’s feature set.
Jabra’s focus on a ‘flagship-only’ approach for its true wireless segment has yielded impressive products, and the Elite 85t is expectedly an improvement. The Elite 85t is a versatile performer, delivering a competent and efficient experience in all functions. Whether you’re listening to music, taking calls, or watching videos, the Elite 85t excels.
While the Jabra Elite 75t had a tendency towards overly aggressive bass, the Elite 85t offers a more balanced sonic signature with a greater emphasis on detail and cohesiveness. The equaliser, which can be adjusted through the app, proves responsive, but the factory-tuned sonic signature is perfectly suitable for most popular genres.
Listening to "Waiting" by Oliver Heldens at around 70 percent volume with ANC activated, the Elite 85t delivers an engaging and responsive experience right from the start. While the bass is not as punchy as the Elite 75t, it retains enough tightness and attack to make for an enjoyable listening experience. The mid-range and highs also perform well, adding a detailed feel to this fast-paced dance track.
Reacting to the news of Daft Punk’s disbandment, I revisited some of the group’s hits, including "Get Lucky." The lows were distinct and powerful, while Pharrell Williams’ vocals and Daft Punk’s signature synth-based robotic voices had remarkable clarity and sharpness. This natural and adaptive sonic signature seamlessly adapts to various genres of music. The Jabra Elite 85t effectively delivers ample detail and character to these tracks.
The lack of advanced Bluetooth codecs isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, as good tuning can compensate for the limitations of even basic SBC and AAC codecs. Jabra’s excellent tuning on the Elite 85t largely addresses the absence of advanced codecs. While the sound quality is generally excellent, the 85t falls slightly short of some competitors, such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro and Sennheiser CX400BT, in this department.
These headsets push the boundaries of detail and cohesiveness, and the Jabra Elite 85t doesn’t quite reach the same level. However, this difference likely only becomes significant with high-resolution audio tracks. For those who primarily use streaming services like Spotify, YouTube Music, or Apple Music, the Jabra Elite 85t adeptly extracts the maximum potential from the source device and tracks.
Active Noise Cancellation: Effective and Adjustable
Active noise cancellation on the Jabra Elite 85t performs admirably, on par with the top contenders in the true wireless segment. While not as starkly silent as the AirPods Pro, there is a considerable dampening of background noise, both indoors and outdoors, without an unsettling level of quiet. The hear-through mode also performs well, but the sound doesn’t feel as natural as I would prefer. However, the ability to adjust both ANC and hear-through levels through the app is a valuable feature.
Jabra’s extensive expertise with devices for professional voice-based applications has consistently yielded positive results on its consumer products, and the Elite 85t is no exception. It works perfectly for calls. The sound is crystal clear on both ends of the call, and stable connectivity over reasonable distances within my home allowed me to use the earphones conveniently while standing approximately 4.5 meters from the source device.
Jabra Elite 85t: Verdict
As with previous Jabra true wireless headsets, my experience with the Elite 85t has been overwhelmingly positive. It is an excellent pair of earphones. What particularly appeals to me about this pair is that it nails all the crucial aspects: sound quality, active noise cancellation, and calling performance. It is also completely device-agnostic and works seamlessly with any source device.
While not the absolute best in any single category even for its price, the Jabra Elite 85t is a strong contender if you need earphones that work well with multiple devices and cater to all essential functionalities. Options like the AirPods Pro, Galaxy Buds Pro, and Sony WF-1000XM3 might excel in specific use cases, but the Jabra Elite 85t effectively combines the best aspects of all three, creating a solid all-rounder.
