Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
Notice: We're proud to introduce Test Bench 2.0, which overhauls our audio measurements, with new tests and usages. There's even a brand new multi-target graphing tool! You can read all about this in our changelog, featuring commentary from our Test Designer, Pierre.
- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Design
- Sound
- Isolation
- Microphone
- Active Features
- Connectivity
- Comments
Jaybird X3 Wireless vs Jaybird Freedom F5 Wireless 2016
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Jaybird X3 Wireless
Jaybird Freedom F5 Wireless 2016
Tested using Methodology v1.3.1
Updated Dec 03, 2021 10:44 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.3.1
Updated Dec 03, 2021 11:00 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
TypeIn-ear
EnclosureClosed-Back
Noise CancellingNo
WirelessYes
TransducerDynamic
MicYes
TypeIn-ear
EnclosureClosed-Back
Noise CancellingNo
WirelessYes
TransducerBalanced Armature
MicYes
Variants
- X3 (Alpha Green)
- X3 (Blackout)
- X3 (Red)
- X3 (Sparta White)
- Freedom (Blaze)
- Freedom (Carbon)
- Freedom (Gold)
- Freedom (Ocean)
Our Verdict
Jaybird X3 Wireless
Jaybird Freedom F5 Wireless 2016
The Jaybird Freedom are a slightly better sports headset than the Jaybird X3, although not by much. The Jaybird Freedom have a slightly smaller and more compact in-ear format that's easier to carry around when the charging clip is not attached. The Freedoms are also a bit more comfortable, breathable, and have a slightly better treble range on their default sound profile. On the other hand, the X3 are better built, have a longer battery life that does not require a bulky charging clip, and they're slightly easier to use with a better in-line remote. Their build quality also feels a lot more premium than that of the Freedoms.
Check Price
Alpha Green
X3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comBlaze
Freedom
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comBlackout
X3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comCarbon
Freedom
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comRed
X3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comGold
Freedom
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comSparta White
X3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comOcean
Freedom
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comMain Differences forMixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
7.1
7.2
Full Comparison
Design
Style
Design Picture 2
Type
In-ear
In-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Closed-Back
Wireless
Yes
Yes
Transducer
Dynamic
Balanced Armature
Comfort
6.5
7.0
Comfort Picture
Weight
0.04 lbs
0.03 lbs
Clamping Force
0 lbs
0 lbs
Controls
7.4
7.2
Controls Picture
OS Compatibility
N/A
N/A
Ease Of Use
Good
Good
Feedback
Decent
Okay
Call/Music Control
Yes
Yes
Volume Control
Yes
Yes
Microphone Control
No
No
Channel Mixing
N/A
N/A
Noise Cancelling Control
N/A
N/A
Talk-Through
N/A
N/A
Additional Buttons
No
No
Breathability
9.3
9.3
Breathability After Picture
Avg.Temp.Difference
0.7 °C
0.7 °C
Portability
8.5
9.3
Portability Picture
L
3"
2.3"
W
3"
1.6"
H
0.8"
0.5"
Volume
7 in³
2 in³
Transmitter Required
N/A
N/A
Case
6.0
6.0
Case Picture
Type
Pouch
Pouch
L
N/A
N/A
W
N/A
N/A
H
N/A
N/A
Volume
N/A
N/A
Build Quality
7.5
7.0
Build Quality Picture
Stability
8.0
7.5
Stability Picture
Headshots 1
Angled Picture
Side Picture
Headshots 2
Front Picture
Rear Picture
Top
Top Picture
In The Box
In the box Picture
Sound
Sound Profile
Frequency Response
Bass Amount
1.51 dB
0.81 dB
Treble Amount
-2.84 dB
-2.6 dB
Frequency Response Consistency
9.5
9.2
Consistency L
Consistency R
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.11 dB
0.17 dB
Raw Frequency Response
Bass Accuracy
8.3
8.7
Std. Err.
2.4 dB
1.87 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
10 Hz
10 Hz
Low-Bass
1.69 dB
1.03 dB
Mid-Bass
1.84 dB
1.23 dB
High-Bass
3.77 dB
3.01 dB
Mid Accuracy
8.7
8.5
Std. Err.
1.78 dB
1.99 dB
Low-Mid
1.56 dB
1.88 dB
Mid-Mid
-2 dB
-1.86 dB
High-Mid
0.65 dB
0.8 dB
Treble Accuracy
6.9
8.0
Std. Err.
4.42 dB
3.5 dB
Low-Treble
-0.75 dB
0.52 dB
Mid-Treble
0.29 dB
-0.87 dB
High-Treble
-7.98 dB
-6.66 dB
Peaks/Dips
6.4
7.1
Peaks/Dips Graph
Peaks
2.47 dB
1.89 dB
Dips
1.57 dB
1.52 dB
Imaging
8.1
7.9
Phase Response
Weighted Group Delay
0.13
0.11
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.64
2.12
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.28
2.8
Weighted Phase Mismatch
20
2.46
Soundstage
0.5
0.6
PRTF
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
N/A
N/A
PRTF Size (Avg.)
N/A
N/A
PRTF Distance
N/A
N/A
Openness
2.3
2.5
Acoustic Space Excitation
0.2
0.6
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
7.2
7.5
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.219
0.212
WHD @ 100
0.376
0.211
Isolation
Noise Isolation
7.7
7.5
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-23.51 dB
-21.8 dB
Noise Cancelling
No
No
Bass
-8.28 dB
-7.65 dB
Mid
-20.12 dB
-18.04 dB
Treble
-43.12 dB
-40.55 dB
Leakage
9.9
9.5
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
21.83 dB
24.36 dB
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
Yes
Yes
In-line
No
No
Boom
No
No
Detachable Boom
N/A
N/A
Mic
Yes
Yes
Recording Quality
6.0
6.6
Microphone Frequency Response
Recorded Speech
LFE
486.43 Hz
329.38 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
2.33 dB
2.51 dB
HFE
3,466.89 Hz
3,466.89 Hz
Weighted THD
3.452
4.043
Gain
38.52 dB
39.8 dB
Noise Handling
6.2
6.2
Speech + Pink Noise
Speech + Subway Noise
SpNR
14.23 dB
14.87 dB
Active Features
Battery
6.1
5.8
Battery Type
Rechargable
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
7.1 hrs
4.1 hrs
Additional Charges
0
0
Total Battery Life
7.1 hrs
4.1 hrs
Charge Time
1.7 hrs
1.5 hrs
Power Saving Feature
Standby mode
Standby mode
Audio While Charging
No
Yes
Passive Playback
No
No
Charging Port
micro-USB
Proprietary
App Support
8.0
8.0
App Picture
App Name
Jaybird MySound
Jaybird MySound
iOS
Yes
Yes
Android
Yes
Yes
macOS
N/A
N/A
Windows
N/A
N/A
Equalizer
Parametric + Presets
Parametric + Presets
ANC Control
N/A
N/A
Mic Control
N/A
N/A
Room effects
No
No
Playback Control
No
Yes
Button Mapping
N/A
N/A
Surround Sound
N/A
N/A
Connectivity
Bluetooth
8.5
8.4
Bluetooth Version
4.1
4.1
Multi-Device Pairing
2 Devices
2 Devices
NFC Pairing
No
No
Line of Sight Range
191 ft
177 ft
Default Latency
180 ms
179 ms
aptX Latency
N/A
N/A
aptX(LL) Latency
N/A
N/A
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
0.0
0.0
Non-BT Line of Sight Range
N/A
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A
N/A
Wired
0.0
0.0
Cable Picture
Analog Audio
N/A
N/A
USB Audio
N/A
N/A
Detachable
No
No
Length
N/A
N/A
Connection
N/A
N/A
Wired Latency
N/A
N/A
PC / PS4 Compatibility
PC / PS4 Analog
No
No
PC / PS4 Wired USB
No
No
PC / PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
No
Xbox One Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
No
No
Xbox One Wired USB
No
No
Xbox One Wireless
No
No
Base/Dock
0.0
0.0
Type
N/A
N/A
USB Input
N/A
N/A
Line In
N/A
N/A
Line Out
N/A
N/A
Optical Input
N/A
N/A
RCA Input
N/A
N/A
Dock Charging
N/A
N/A
Power Supply
N/A
N/A
Check Price
Alpha Green
X3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comBlaze
Freedom
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comBlackout
X3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comCarbon
Freedom
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comRed
X3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comGold
Freedom
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comSparta White
X3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comOcean
Freedom
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Jaybird X3 Wireless
Jaybird Freedom F5 Wireless 2016
Comments
Jaybird X3 Wireless vs Jaybird Freedom F5 Wireless 2016: Main Discussion
What do you think of these products? Let us know below.
Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.