Jabra Elite 75t vs Elite Active 75t (Is There A Real Difference?)

When you have the Elite 75t and the Elite Active 75t in front of you and you are wondering what the difference is, don’t worry you aren’t alone. You aren’t crazy. These are basically the same earbuds except for a few minor changes.

However, these changes mean all the difference for a lot of active people. Point blank, if you are an outdoor athlete or foresee yourself getting caught in the rain while listening to music or talking on the phone then the Elite Active 75t is your pair. The Elite Active 75t has an IP rating of IP57, whereas the Elite has an IP rating of just IP55. This might seem minor but let’s get into that in a little more detail below.

Technical Specifications

Pay close attention to the specifications of both pairs. As you can see there are a lot of similarities. The Elite 75t is definitely an improvement over the 65t.

Tech Spec	Elite 75t	Elite Active 75t
Battery Life	7.5 Hours	7.5 Hours
Charging Case Life	20.5 Hours	20.5 Hours
IPX Rating	IP55	IP57
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.0
Audio Codecs	SBC, AAC	SBC, AAC
Digital Assistant	Alexa, Google, Siri	Alexa, Google, Siri
Speaker Size	6mm Drivers	6mm Drivers
Color	Black, Titanium, Gold	Navy, Copper, Grey, Mint, Titanium, Sienna
Price	Check Latest Price on Amazon	Check Latest Price on Amazon

How Do They Rank Against Each Other On The Specifics?

Based on you preferences you could either see the above chart and already know which one you want or you may need a little more information. For a bit more description on each specification check out the descriptions of each below. This should help guide you to a better answer and a more informed puchase.

Battery Life: Tie

Battery life is important for sure. You don’t want to be stuck in the middle of a commute or a workout and lose your connection because the battery died. Luckily there is no major difference between the two versions. They both have 7.5-hour battery life from a single full charge.

The major benefit of the new earbuds that are coming out, though, is that the case is a charging point. The case is a portable battery. The charging case gives these earbuds an extra 20.5 hours of life and music listening on the go. This easily covers most activities as the case can be recharged overnight.

IPX Rating: Elite Active 75t Wins

Some headphones you can dunk in water others you can’t do it at all. There is also the idea of dust. Dust gets in everything. The IP or IPX rating describes an electronic device’s ability to withstand the elements. So, if you need something for a moist or sanding area then you need to get something with a high rating.

Here are two nice guides to help out if you need more information on these subjects: DSM&T, and TheEnclosureCompany The IP rating is your quick guide to what activities you can do with your headphones. If you just work at your desk or commute in an area that doesn’t have much bad weather than you don’t really need to worry about the rating. However, if you are an active athlete or spend lots of time outside then you need to consider the IP rating and how that will affect what you do, or vice versa. 

Both the Elite and the Elite Active have an IP rating. The Rating gives you two numbers. IPXX. The first number (X) is the rating for the protection against the ingress of solid material. This means that it is rated about how well it protects against dust from going into the headphones. The first value is ranked from 0 (no protection) to 6 (dust-tight and no intrusion). Both the Elite and the Elite Active have dust protection of 5. This is very good. It means that they can both withstand most conditions and no mechanical issues should result from intrusion.

The second number (X) is the rating for the protection against moisture. This means that it is rated on how well it protects against anything from sweat to being submerged in water. The rating goes from 0 (no protection) to 8 (full immersion protection). The Jabra Elite is rated at 5 which is equivalent to water-resistant. The Jabra Elite Active is rated at 7 which is waterproof. This is a big difference and could mean the difference between listening in the rain and silence.

Connectivity: Tie

If you want to know what the real difference is between Bluetooth 5.0 and anything else you need to understand that wireless connections rely on communication distance and language. HowToGeek has a great guide on the benefits and improvements associated with Bluetooth 5.0. Basically, if you are looking to get your money’s worth for connected audio then you need Bluetooth 5.0.

Both the Elite and the Elite Active uses Bluetooth 5.0, which allows for true wireless audio experience. True wireless connections allow for dual connections. Both earbuds are connected to the audio. Normally only one earbud is connected and then the earbuds talk to each other. However, here your phone is independently connected to each earbud. Along with this Bluetooth 5.0 has an increased range of up to 4 times to the 4.0 version, and can transfer 2x the data per second that 4.0 could. As said, when you are looking for a wireless headphone, headset, or earbud purchase, make sure that it has the latest Bluetooth 5.0 technology. You absolutely will notice a difference the moment you turn them on and start listening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlfU_p5P6eU

Audio Codecs: Tie

If you have ever seen the codecs listed with the Bluetooth sticker you probably wondered what they meant. The Elite and the Elite Active both include support for SBC and AAC audio codecs. As described by TheSoundGuys the basic description of codecs is the language of the Bluetooth device when it compresses, sends, and decompresses the sound file through the air from the transmitter to the receiver.

Some languages are better transmitters than others. The main important tool is to have a high bitrate codec. This means better communication which leads to improved sound, lower latency, and better energy efficiency. AAC is the standard for iPhone users. SBC is the standard entry-level for all other devices. In future versions of the Jabra Elite look for improved codec support to include aptX.

Speaker Size: Tie

As explained in this Medium article is it not the size that matters but the tuning of the drivers. Both the Elite and the Elite Active have 6mm drivers. And if you want an even deeper dive into what makes up a headphone then you should check out the deep dive in MakeTechEasier that discusses the differences between dynamic drivers, planar magnetic drivers, balanced armature drivers, and electrostatic drivers. Based on the size of your ear and the use of earbuds, you will never notice a difference due to the 6mm size of the drivers included in these devices.

Colors: Elite Active 75t Wins

What is in a color? It could mean everything. Looks matter. They always have and always will. Here are a few resources to tell you otherwise: LiveScience, PennState, PsycologyToday. The colors offered could honestly make the decision for which one you are interested in buying. The Elite 75t only offers 3 colors. The Elite Active 75t offers 6 colors. This is a big difference. This means that Jabra is having to double the production capacity to send all the colors out to make them available. This is important.

Improvement Over The 65t? YES

There are two major improvements from the 65t to both the Elite and the Elite Active 75t. The battery life is a major improvement. The battery life went from 5 hours to 7.5 hours. The charging case went from 10 to 20.5 hours. This is basically double the charging capacity which is a major jump and significant improvement. Both have Bluetooth 5.0, which is a must in wireless audio for the moment.

The other big improvement is in the actual design of the earbuds. The earbuds have a slimmer profile and fit better in the ear. This sleeker profile cuts down on noise associated with the wind. So, thinking, you will be able to hear people and music better, and they will be able to hear you better.

Final Sounds

If you are an active individual then there really is no benefit from not getting the Elite Active 75t. If you purchased the Elite 75t you would only be losing the benefits of the added waterproofing protection. This is an important feature and one that you are most likely going to use in your outdoor future.

If you are not sure then it is better to be prepared with an earbud that has a flashy color and a better moisture rating. You never know when you are going to get caught in a rainstorm or fall into a puddle. The last thing you want is your earbuds to get wet and lose their functioning.