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JLab Go Pods ANC vs Skullcandy Smokin' Buds® 360: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the JLab Go Pods ANC comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 82. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: JLab Go Pods ANC - Outstanding overall at around $30.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

JLab Go Pods ANC leads on 6 of 7 measures.

  • JLab Go Pods ANC
  • Skullcandy Smokin' Buds® 360
HearWiki score
82
65
Sound
7.5
6.0
Noise cancelling
7.1
0.0
Battery
6.6
5.6
Calls
7.1
5.6
Value
9.8
8.7
Price (USD)
$30
$24

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

Half a step newer

JLab Go Pods ANC (2024) against Skullcandy Smokin' Buds® 360 (2023). The JLab Go Pods ANC edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Hybrid against None. It also adds Custom EQ, Companion app and Water resistance IP55 against IPX4.

  • Go Pods ANC20241 yr newer
  • Smokin' Buds® 3602023
What differsGo Pods ANCSmokin' Buds® 360

Platform

ANC type
Hybrid
None

Everyday features

Custom EQ
Yes
No
Companion app
Yes
No
Water resistance
IP55
IPX4

Level on: Bluetooth, Top codec, Multipoint pairing, USB-C.

Specifications

Go Pods ANCSmokin' Buds® 360
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$30
$24
HearWiki score
82
65
Released
2024
2023
Availability
Still sold new
Still sold new
Driver
10 mm dynamic
6 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
10 mm
6 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
-
Impedance
32 Ω
16 Ω
Sensitivity
99 dB/mW
100 dB/mW
Bluetooth
5.4
5.4
Codecs
SBC, AAC
SBC, AAC
Multipoint pairing
Yes
Yes
Latency
200 ms
-
Wireless range
9 m
-
Battery life
-
7 h
Battery life (ANC on)
5 h
-
Battery incl. case
26 h
20 h
Full charge time
120 min
120 min
Quick charge
10 min → 1 h
10 min → 2 h
Wireless charging
-
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
No
ANC type
hybrid
-
Transparency mode
Yes
-
Companion app
Yes
No
Custom EQ
Yes
No
Wear detection
No
No
Controls
touch
buttons
Voice assistant
Yes
Yes
Weight
8.4 g
4 g
Case weight
27.6 g
37 g
Water resistance
IP55
IPX4
Detachable cable
No
-
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Microphones
4
2
Microphone type
MEMS
-
Mic sensitivity
-38 dBV
-

What reviewers said

JLab Go Pods ANC

These budget true wireless earbuds deliver a surprisingly robust feature set for the price, including hybrid active noise cancellation, wireless charging, and multipoint connectivity. Sound leans slightly bass-heavy but remains clear and engaging, while the companion app offers a custom EQ to tailor the audio to your liking. They're a strong value pick, though battery life is shorter than some rivals and call quality has some limitations.

  • Pro:Excellent value for the price
  • Pro:Effective hybrid ANC for the cost
  • Pro:Useful app with custom EQ
  • Con:Bass-heavy sound may not suit purists
  • Con:Battery life is below average for the class
  • Con:Call quality is mediocre in noisy settings

Skullcandy Smokin' Buds® 360

The Skullcandy Smokin' Buds 360 are a budget-friendly true wireless option that offer solid everyday features like Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint pairing, and IPX4 sweat resistance. With around 7 hours of playback per charge and 20 hours total with the case, they deliver dependable battery life for the price. While they lack noise cancellation and app support, their lightweight build and physical buttons make them a straightforward, practical pick for casual listeners.

  • Pro:Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint support
  • Pro:Lightweight at 4g per bud
  • Pro:IPX4 water resistance
  • Con:No active noise cancellation
  • Con:No app support or custom EQ
  • Con:SBC and AAC codecs only

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

Compare something else

Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.

New comparisonJLab Go Pods ANCSkullcandy Smokin' Buds® 360