I have been experimenting with headphones for nearly a decade and have never found one I liked as much as the Jabra Elite 8 Active. For me, they are the perfect earbuds while writing, walking, or working out.

So it was a surprise to learn that Jabra plans to discontinue the Elite series, along with all other consumer headphones, effective immediately. We have always ranked the Elite Active Buds as the best workout headphones, but their popularity apparently wasn't enough to keep them off the books.

In a press release, the company stated that its consumer line "does not produce a fair return on investment" compared to its medical, business, and gaming divisions. Confusingly, Jabra announced this on the same day it launched its upgraded Elite 8 Active and Elite 10 earphones.

So is it still a good idea to buy these second-generation models? Here is what we know so far.

On the same day that Jabra announced that it was discontinuing its Elite and Talk consumer products, the company introduced the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 ($229.99) and Elite 10 Gen 2 ($279.99). Both models are available for pre-order from Jabra's store and will ship "mid-June."

The 2023 Elite 8 Active and Elite 10 have some minor but welcome upgrades, including improved noise canceling performance, a tweaked HearThrough (transparent) mode, and AI noise reduction for calls like the feature that will be available in the AirPods Pro later this year. There are several minor but welcome upgrades.

The most notable improvement, however, is the ability to connect the charging case to any device and stream audio wirelessly to the buds. So if you are at the gym, you can plug the case into your treadmill and stream audio from your monitor directly to your headphones.

However, Jabra also plans to pull the plug on the entire Elite series after these two second-generation devices, so buying a new pair and getting locked out of the app's customization features or complaining about the lack of ongoing support if something goes wrong might be wary of.

When we asked for confirmation of the support schedule, we were told that "support will continue at least through the two-year warranty period of the new product and beyond...The Sound+ app, or any future new app, will continue to support all Jabra products" [

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Now that the new models are about to hit store shelves, many retailers are expected to start discounting the first generation Elite 8 Active and Elite 10. Unless you typically need case streaming capability, this is a great way to get premium features and save some money. [You can do it so that you can really come across that you can actually forget about those seemingly exactly how{} anyone we promise, anyone who quickly just ignores these. Since the app will continue to support all Jabra headphones for the foreseeable future, there is no reason to avoid buying older models and save money.

It is worth remembering that earlier models like the Elite 7 Active use the older Bluetooth standard (5.2 vs. 5.3 on the Elite 8 Active). Bluetooth 5.3 improves multi-device connectivity, reduces latency, introduced improved battery life, which should be taken into consideration when making a choice.

The Jabra Sound+ app allows you to customize your audio experience, adjust noise cancellation and hear-through modes, and fine-tune the equalizer. It is a useful tool, although you do not need to use it, as you can connect the headphones to your phone without using the app.

Although the company did not directly mention it when announcing the new (and final) "buds," Jabra intends to keep the Sound+ app available, but made it clear that it may release new tools to manage consumer headphones in the future The company also announced that it will be releasing a new tool for managing consumer headphones in the future. [but you should still be able to download it if you buy new Jabra headphones, as Jabra has no intention of permanently shutting down Sound+ or removing it from Apple's App Store or the Google Play Store.

Beats and Shokz are Jabra's closest competitors, but for different reasons. Apple-owned Beats has carved out a niche for itself in exercise with models like the Powerbeats Pro, offering effective noise cancellation, clarity mode, and 9-hour battery life.

The Powerbeats Pro replaces Jabra's ShakeGrip design with hooks on the ear to prevent them from falling out. If you prefer a more discreet design, the Beats Fit Pro is similar to Jabra's Elite model, but with wingtips to hold it in place.

But if you are an avid runner and are looking for a set that will keep you in touch with your surroundings, the Shokz OpenSwim Pro may be ideal. These bone-conduction headphones attach to the cheekbones and use vibrations to play audio.

Many of the best sports headphones are great alternatives to Jabra, as much depends on how you want to exercise. However, if you are primarily focused on running, you may be better off with a set of the best running headphones instead.