Mpow Jaws V4.1 Review
Pros: Great battery life, inexpensive
Cons: Average sound quality, not good for working out
Manufacturer: Mpow
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Mpow Jaws V4.1 | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | |||
| Price | $26 List | $180 List $149.00 at Amazon | $249 List $199.00 at Amazon | $180 List $129.99 at Amazon | $200 List $131.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Great battery life, inexpensive | Great sound Quality, exceptional athletic performance, comfortable | Good sound quality, active noise cancellation, great user interface | Fantastic sound quality, great battery life | Secure fit, great sound quality |
| Cons | Average sound quality, not good for working out | Expensive | Expensive, Android users lose many of the unique features | Comfort is quite hit or miss, athletic performance also hit or miss | Expensive, can get in the way of sunglasses |
| Bottom Line | An inexpensive way to get rid of headphone cables, but doesn't sound great and doesn't work well for athletic pursuits | True wireless buds that sound great, are comfortable enough for extended wear, and can stand up to athletic endeavors | Offers great all-around quality and, for Apple users, a seamless experience, but all that comes at a price premium | Sounds great but comfort varies quite a bit from person to person, order from somewhere that offers returns in case they don't fit | High quality sound and a secure fit makes these earbuds sound good and stay put in any situation |
| Rating Categories | Mpow Jaws V4.1 | Jaybird Vista | Apple AirPods Pro | Jabra Elite 75t | Beats by Dr. Dre... |
| Sound Quality (30%) | |||||
| Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Athletic Performance (20%) | |||||
| Battery Life (15%) | |||||
| Portability (10%) | |||||
| Ease Of Use (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Mpow Jaws V4.1 | Jaybird Vista | Apple AirPods Pro | Jabra Elite 75t | Beats by Dr. Dre... |
| Weight (oz) | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.38 | 0.4 | 0.9 |
| Microphone Yes/No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Claimed Battery Life (hours) | 13 | 6 | 4.5 | 7.5 | 12 |
| Measured Battery Life (hours) | 11 | 5.75 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| Carrying Case Yes/No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Mpow Jaws V4.1 have very few redeeming characteristics beyond a good battery life, and we wouldn't recommend them to most users. If you're just looking for a cheap way to get rid of headphone wires while you work, they perform adequately, but they're certainly not going to blow you away.
Performance Comparison
The Mpow Jaws V4.1 earned the worst overall score in our testing. Below we discuss how the Jaws performed in all of the tests we used to determine those overall scores.
Sound Quality
The Jaws were average in our sound quality testing, picking up a score of 5 out of 10. The bass was actually decently powerful, slightly above average, which gave the sound decent depth. However, the clarity was below average, making higher notes and complex melodies sound somewhat muddled and occasionally staticy. They're good enough for casually listening to music, but if you're looking for a nuanced listening experience you're going to have to look elsewhere, and spend much more.
Making calls with the Jaws was also average. All of our conversations were understandable, but there was some slight static.
Comfort
The Jaws again scored an average 5 out of 10 in our comfort testing. The Jaws comes with three sizes of earpieces, allowing most users to find a decent fit. Once in the ear the earbuds feel fairly snug and secure, and do a decent job of blocking out at least some of the more annoying ambient noise. The mostly rigid neckpiece is much higher profile than most models. Just sitting at your desk this feels fine, but move around at all and you feel like you're wearing a large, obtrusive necklace.
Athletic Performance
The Jaws are not designed for athletic pursuits and accordingly scored a 2 out of 10 in our athletic performance testing. The earbuds have no fins or hooks to add extra stability, and the rigid neckpiece bounces around like crazy if you run or jump at all. That gets extremely annoying very quickly, so there is no way you should take these earbuds to the gym.
Battery Life
Battery life is the one place where the Jaws shined, lasting a full 11 hours in our testing. Transatlantic flight? No problem. Full day at the office? Easy. Long train ride to work? Piece of cake.
Portability
The Jaws reeled in one of the lowest scores in our portability testing with a 4 out of 10. The large neck piece prevents them from being easily stowed away, requiring much more space and packing care then earbuds that use flexible wires instead. The neckpiece is slightly flexible, making these more packable than the LG TONE Platinum.
Value
The Mpow Jaws V4.1 lists for a very economical $26, so there is very little financial risk in terms of giving these earbuds a try. However, we feel that the Anker SoundBuds perform better and provide more of the common advantages of Bluetooth earbuds for just a slightly higher list price.
Conclusion
The Mpow Jaws V4.1 are inexpensive earbuds that are fine for sedentary activities, but can't keep up with any athletic pursuits.
— Max Mutter and Steven Tata