Jaybird has released an update to their truly wireless Run earbuds, the Run XT. The new Run XT seems to be a small update, adding full IPX7 waterproofing and new color options.
Jaybird has built a good reputation for exercise headphones, but the predecessor Run wasn’t a hit. Many users complain about poor Bluetooth connectivity issues which I myself also encountered (I sold my Run away for the Jabra Elite 65t).
Based on the specs sheet, it does not seem like a huge upgrade or release. It’s 2019 so it’s really intriguing that Jaybird still decides to stick with Bluetooth 4.1 (even even their cheaper Tarah model has Bluetooth 5.0). Jaybird has not mentioned whether they did improve on the connectivity issues. Bluetooth codec is again only limited to SBC (the lowest quality of Bluetooth codec).
As for aesthetics, the design hasn’t really changed much, and so are the buttons. Battery life is the same, rated at 4 hours from a single charge.
The Run XT will retail for S$299 / USD$180.