True Wireless
JLab Go Pods ANC
82Outstanding
$30
Full review dataJLab Go Pods ANC vs XG-12 TWS: 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.
True Wireless
XG-12 TWS
32Weak
$26
Full review dataScore 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
- XG-12 TWS
HearWiki score
82
32
Sound
7.5
3.5
Noise cancelling
7.1
-
Battery
6.6
0.9
Calls
7.1
0.6
Value
9.8
-
Price (USD)
$30
$26
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?
New platform
JLab Go Pods ANC (2024) against XG-12 TWS (2019). The JLab Go Pods ANC is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.4 against 5.0, Top codec AAC against SBC and ANC type Hybrid against None. It also adds Water resistance IP55 against IPX5.
- Go Pods ANC20245 yr newer
- TWS2019
What differsGo Pods ANCTWS
- Bluetooth
- 5.4
- 5.0
- Top codec
- AAC
- SBC
- ANC type
- Hybrid
- None
- Water resistance
- IP55
- IPX5
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Multipoint pairing, USB-C.
Specifications
Go Pods ANCTWS
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $30
- $26
- HearWiki score
- 82
- 32
- Released
- 2024
- 2019
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 10 mm dynamic
- 8 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 10 mm
- 8 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance
- 32 Ω
- 16 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 99 dB/mW
- 98 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.4
- 5.0
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- SBC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Latency
- 200 ms
- -
- Wireless range
- 9 m
- 10 m
- Battery life
- -
- 3.2 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 5 h
- -
- Battery incl. case
- 26 h
- 12.8 h
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- 60 min
- Quick charge
- 10 min → 1 h
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- No
- ANC type
- hybrid
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- No
- -
- Controls
- touch
- buttons
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- Google Assistant, Siri
- Weight
- 8.4 g
- 35.6 g
- Case weight
- 27.6 g
- 103 g
- Water resistance
- IP55
- IPX5
- Detachable cable
- No
- -
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 4
- -
- 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
XG-12 TWS
The XG-12 TWS earbuds are a budget-friendly option that offers basic wireless functionality, including Bluetooth 5.0, multipoint support, and an IPX5 water resistance rating. However, their overall performance is hampered by a flimsy charging case, unstable connectivity, and a sound signature that lacks clarity, making them a less compelling choice even at their low price point.
- Pro:Very affordable price point
- Pro:IPX5 water resistance
- Pro:Supports multipoint connection
- Con:Unstable Bluetooth connection
- Con:Muddy and tinny audio quality
- Con:Flimsy-feeling charging case
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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