Will there be a Jaybird Vista 3? All the features I would want to see

Back in 2016, technology giant Logitech acquired Jaybird for $50 million. This was in light of the company already enjoying many successes with its Ultimate Ears audio brand. However, the acquisition of Jaybird broadened its product library for the workout-conscious. In particular, the Jaybird Vista series earbuds are some of the best workout earbuds thanks to their hardy IP rating and consumer-friendly sound. With the Jaybird Vista 2 setting such a high bar, it is no wonder that fans are excited about the updated Jaybird Vista 3.

Unfortunately, there has been no official announcement so far. With rumors of Logitech scrapping the Jaybird audio line due to poor sales, we may be left clutching at straws for a feature-rich upgrade. Nevertheless, if the Jaybird Vista 3 come to fruition, they will need an updated list of gadgets to remain competitive. Here are all the features I want to see included in Jaybird’s next-gen earbuds.

A more comfortable fit

Wireless earbuds come in all different shapes and sizes. Some, like the Apple AirPods Pro, set the industry blueprint for many consumer earbuds. Others, like the Sennheiser Sport True Wireless, wear a more rectangular build. The Jaybird Vista 2 are similarly shaped to the latter. Like many workout earbuds on the market, the Vista 2 come equipped with wing tips. These help to achieve a secure and robust fit that will not come loose during rigorous exercise.

While the three differently-sized wing tips are welcome, it is an oversight not to provide different ear tip sizes. Unless your ear canals are coincidentally the perfect width, you have no choice but to stick it out with the single ear tip size provided. To make matters worse, the included ear tip sleeves are proprietary. This makes it incredibly difficult to find third-party ear tips that fit the Jaybird Vista 2. Those with smaller ears may also find the blocky shape of the buds uncomfortable over long periods. I want to see the Jaybird Vista 3 wear a smaller form factor. The buds would also benefit from providing a list of different ear tip sizes out of the box.

Longer battery life

The average battery life of wireless noise canceling earbuds lasts between four and five hours. Most earbud cases also support fast charging to top up the earbuds on the fly. This can yield several hours of playtime from just a few minutes of charging. Additionally, charging cases grant extra life cycles before running flat. With this in mind, most commuters and musos will find four to five hours of playtime adequate for most everyday uses.

That said, many of Jaybird’s competitors boast far greater battery life. For example, the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC provide 15 hours and 31 minutes of ANC-enabled listening time on a single charge. Likewise, the Sony WF-1000XM5 yield 9 hours and 32 minutes of noise canceling playtime. This compares to the Jaybird Vista 2, which the company states will last up to eight hours on a single charge. However, when subjected to a constant output of 75dB (SPL) with active noise canceling turned on, the buds only last five hours and 20 minutes. If the Jaybird Vista 3 are to compete with other workout earbuds on the market, they must boast longer battery life at launch.

Better noise canceling

Most modern true wireless earbuds provide noise canceling features. This helps to block out unwanted environmental sounds without the need for potentially harmful auditory masking. Subsequently, ANC lowers the risk of noise-induced hearing loss and ear fatigue by allowing users to listen to music at lower volumes. Transparency mode often accompanies noise canceling, which helps the wearer to hear their surroundings. This can be useful for listening to traffic when crossing the road or having conversations at the shop.

However, some earbuds block out intrusive sounds better than others. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro boast best-in-class noise canceling. These earbuds attenuate frequencies below 100Hz by as much as 48dB. This significantly reduces the perceptive loudness of passing cars, train engines, and airplane jets. By comparison, the Jaybird Vista 2 rely heavily on achieving a secure fit and passive isolation. The buds have a substantial drop-off of 0dB attenuation just above 100Hz. That means intrusive rumbles from metro trains and road traffic easily circumvent the buds’ ANC. The Jaybird Vista 3 will need much better noise canceling and isolation to compete with premium earbud rivals.

A more affordable price tag

There is always demand for the best bang for your buck when buying headphones. There is an overwhelming choice, from the best wireless earbuds under $200 to the best picks for less than $50. It is also increasingly common for once high-end features to be bundled into affordable buds. For example, the Edifier TWS1 Pro 2 boast noise canceling that outmatches some of the best premium earbuds that cost four to five times the price.

Unfortunately, there remains a question over whether the Jaybird Vista 2 are good value for money. These earbuds came to shelves with a price tag of $199. This marked a $20 increase upon their predecessor, the Jaybird Vista. While you can find the Vista 2 for less than $149 nowadays, many competitors offer the same for less. For example, the Bose Sport Earbuds offer an exceptionally comfortable fit, an IPX4 water-resistant rating, and a custom EQ in the Bose Music app for less money. If Jaybird wants to remain a compelling choice for deal-spotting athletes, it must bring the Vista 3 to market for a competitive price.

Improved microphone quality

If you need podcast-caliber microphone quality, you are probably best off investing in an external USB microphone. Likewise, keen gamers will benefit most from purchasing a dedicated gaming mic. However, if you only need a microphone for taking the occasional work and phone calls, chances are wireless earbuds have you covered. While these cannot capture voices as accurately as external microphones, their portability is handy for taking calls on the fly.

As expected, some headphones perform phone calls better than others. For example, the Sony WH-1000XM5 have some of the most compelling call quality on the market. In particular, they sport an eight-microphone array and an AI “machine learning” algorithm to reject unwanted environmental noise. For much less money than the WH-1000XM5, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC use a six-microphone array and an AI algorithm to reproduce low-pitched voices very well. On the other hand, the Jaybird Vista 2 struggle to differentiate well between background elements and voices. This is despite the buds wearing Jaybird’s proprietary “WindDefense fabric” to cut out unwanted gusts of air. The Jaybird Vista 3 should house better microphones to reproduce voices more clearly when they come to shelves.

Will there be a Jaybird Vista 3?

Jaybird has a proud history of producing some of the most resilient headphones in its product category. The company has released earbuds over the last 18 years capable of enduring rain, mud, and rigorous outdoor sports. Nevertheless, it has been unusually long since the Vista 2 came to market. Most concerningly, industry analyst Rebecca Day of Consumer Electronic Daily reports that Logitech scrapped the Jaybird headphone line in 2022. This is seemingly due to a 32% drop in sales in the company’s audio and wearables category in Q3 of 2021. With no other official announcement, there’s a chance we’ll never see a third-gen Jaybird Vista launch.

Nevertheless, Jaybird released its newest Vista 2 on June 8, 2021. These buds brought much-needed improvements to their predecessors. However, their proprietary ear tip sleeves and bulky design can be uncomfortable. They also came to market at a higher price than the original Jaybird Vista earbuds. Fortunately for consumers, cheaper brands are increasingly offering the same for less. If the Jaybird Vista 3 launch, they must include an affordable and broad feature set to stay in the game.

• Jaybird Vista — July 31, 2019
• Jaybird Vista 2 — June 8, 2021

Jaybird favors summer releases when updating its Vista series earbuds. For example, the original Jaybird Vista and updated Vista 2 came to market in the Summer of 2019 and 2021 respectively. Additionally, the company released the Jaybird Vista 2 one year and 11 months after the native Vista buds. By that metric, we should have expected the Jaybird Vista 3 to come to shelves by May 2023. Unfortunately, there was no mention of the new flagship Vista earbuds at CES 2024 either. With it increasingly likely that the Jaybird Vista 3 will never see the light of day, it is an appropriate time to look at other options.

Should you wait for the Jaybird Vista 3?

The Jaybird Vista 2 remain on sale from the company’s website and most major online retailers. While these buds do not make our list of the best earbuds for running, they are among the hardiest on the market. However, given the Jaybird Vista 3 look unlikely to retail, it is worth considering the alternatives.

The current Jaybird Vista 2 ($117 at Amazon) boast an IP68 and military-grade MIL-STD-810G certification. This protects the buds from dust ingress and submersion under 3m of water for up to 30 minutes. The Vista 2 are also home to a consumer-friendly sound profile. This closely follows our ideal target frequency curve, with a deviation in the mids between 300 and 900Hz. Any desired audio customization can be carried out seamlessly within the Jaybird companion app. Users can conduct firmware updates, adjust ANC settings, and select from hundreds of other Jaybird users’ EQ presets. That said, the one-size-fits-all ear tip does no favors for those with smaller ear canals. Likewise, the bulky design and proprietary ear tip sleeve make attaining a comfortable fit difficult.

Those looking for superior comfort will enjoy the Bose Sport Earbuds ($165 at Amazon.) Unlike the Jaybird Vista 2, Bose’s Sport Earbuds do not use tactile buttons. Instead, the buds opt for touch panels on the flat exterior housing. The earbuds also sport Bose’s “StayHear Max ear tips”. While larger than standard ear tip sleeves, they are excellent at forming a robust and comfortable seal. The Bose Sport Earbuds also wear an IPX4 rating to protect from sweaty workouts. The Bose Music app brings a custom EQ, while those who do not want to tinker around can enjoy Bose’s Active EQ software. It is worth noting that the Bose Sport Earbuds do not have ANC. Instead, they rely on solid isolation to block out intrusive environmental noise.

If staying aware of your surroundings is the name of your game, then the Bose Sport Open Earbuds (on the product’s website) are worth consideration. Unlike bone conduction headphones, these buds keep you tuned into your surroundings by sporting an unoccluded design. Looking somewhat like snails, the buds dangle from bulbous ear hooks that direct sound to your ear canals. This produces a frequency response that is far superior to that of bone conduction headphones. The buds also wear an IPX4 rating and house easy-to-find button controls. The Bose Sport Open Earbuds last longer than the Jaybird Vista 2, begetting over seven hours of listening time. The buds also support fast charging, with a 30-minute top-up providing 180 minutes of playtime. Unfortunately, the earbuds do not come equipped with a charging case. Instead, Bose supplies a USB-A charging cradle with three-pin connectors for each earbud.

Finally, the Jabra Elite 7 Active ($179 at Amazon) offer a comprehensive feature set and tons of customization. For example, the Jabra Sound+ app provides access to Bluetooth multipoint, sidetone, and voice assistant controls. The buds also own adjustable noise canceling and Jabra’s HearThrough feature. The housing is IP57-rated, protecting the earbuds from small solid objects and complete submersion in 1m of water for up to 30 minutes. The Elite 7 Active supports Bluetooth 5.2 and the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs, with the possibility of supporting the LC3 audio codec in the future. Battery life beats the Jaybird Vista 2 hands down, with over seven hours of playtime with ANC set to maximum. The sound quality is also very pleasing, with a slight boost below 300Hz that many athletes will enjoy. However, some may find these earbuds cause pressure and comfort issues.

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