Jabra Elite 10 vs Elite 85t: 5 Things to Consider
By Naila Syifa
Updated September 2023
Jabra Elite 10 and Elite 85t are almost similarly priced, but they have some significant differences you might want to consider before making a purchase.
In this article, we will compare these two wireless earbuds across five key consideration aspects including price, design and durability, sound and performance, battery life, and connectivity. Let's dive in and see which one is the best fit for your needs.
| Specs | Jabra Elite 10 | Jabra Elite 85t |
|---|---|---|
| Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon | |
| Price | $249.99 | $229.99 |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Microphones | 6 | 6 |
| Speaker Size | 10 mm | 12 mm |
| Spatial Sound | Yes, Dolby Atmos with Head Tracking | No |
| ANC | Yes, Advanced | Yes, Advanced |
| HearThrough | Yes | Yes |
| Voice Assistant Enabled | Siri, Google Assistant | Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant |
| Listening Time | Up to 6 hours | Up to 5.5 hours |
| IP Rating | IP57 | IPX4 |
| Earbud Design | Semi-Open | Semi-Open |
| MySound + MyFit | No | Yes |
Key Takeaways
Compared to Elite 10, Elite 85t has larger speakers for a more powerful sound. Elite 85t also has Alexa Built-In while Elite 10 supports Siri and Google Assistant. Another difference is that the Elite 10 has water and dust resistance with IP57 rating while Elite 85t is only splash-resistant with IPX4 rating.
Jabra Elite 10
Advanced Earbuds for
Work & Life
✓ ComfortFit technolgoy
✓ Dolby Head Tracking
✓ Advanced ANC
✓ Bluetooth Multipoint
Jabra Elite 85t
Advanced Calls and Music
✓ 12 mm speakers
✓ Advanced ANC
✓ MySound, MyControls, MyFit
✓ Alexa Built-In
#1 Price
Jabra Elite 10
Jabra Elite 10 is slightly more expensive at $249.99, compared to the Elite 85t which is priced at $229.99. The price difference is not significant, so it's important to consider some other factors that we'll cover below. Read on to learn more.
#2 Design & Durability
Jabra Elite 85t
Jabra Elite 85t is slightly larger with dimensions of 23.1 x 19.0 x 16.2 mm and heavier with a weight of 7 g for each earbud. The Elite 10, on the other hand, measures 19.1 x 16 x 17.6 mm and weighs 5.4 grams per earbud. You can get both models in a variety of colors. The Elite 10 comes in cream, titanium black, matte black, gloss black, and cocoa, while the Elite 85t is available in black, copper black, gold beige, gray, and titanium black.
Both earbuds feature a semi-open design, which provides comfort by exerting less pressure on the ear canal than a closed design. Both designs also went into 62,000 ear scans to ensure a comfortable fit to any ear shape. However, the Elite 10 is claimed to be ultra-comfortable, thanks to the new Jabra ComfortFit technology which ensures all-day comfort. The Elite 10 is currently the only Jabra earbud that features this technology, making it a perfect choice if you tend to wear earbuds for extended periods.
Jabra Elite 10
Although the Elite 85t has no such a feature, it has an advantage with its MyFit feature, which allows you to do a fit test of the earbuds. The Sound+ app will play a few seconds of audio to check sound leakage and if an issue is detected, the app will recommend you to adjust the earbuds position or try a different set of EarGels.
Another difference between the two models is their durability. The Elite 10 is more durable with an IP rating of IP57, indicating a high level of protection from dust and water exposure. The Elite 85t, on the other hand, has an IPX4 rating, which means that it is water-resistant only at the splash level.
#3 Sound & Performance
Jabra Elite 85t
One notable feature that both the Elite 10 and Elite 85t share in common is the Advanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), the highest level of Jabra cancellation technology which uses scanning technology and in-built noise leakage detection to auto-adjust for the sound around you, canceling out noises and providing an interrupted listening experience and crystal clear audio for calls.
If you want to hear some sound in your surroundings instead of fully canceling out noises, you can use the HearThrough feature available in both models to adjust the level of ambient noise you want to let in. This is useful for when you need to talk to someone like ordering a cup of coffee, all simply by tapping the button and without having to take out your earbuds.
Jabra Elite 10
When it comes to sound quality, the Elite 85t has a slight edge over the Elite 10, thanks to its bigger 12 mm speakers compared to the Elite 10's 10 mm speakers. The Elite 85t also has MySound features in the Sound+ app, where you can enjoy a personalized sound based on your individual hearing profile.
The Elite 10, however, is not losing out. It features new Spatial Sound with Dolby Atmos Head Tracking, providing a more immersive listening experience that puts you in the center of the action. This feature is not available in the Elite 85t.
#4 Battery Life
Jabra Elite 85t
In terms of battery life, the Elite 10 has a slightly longer battery life with up to 6 hours of battery life with ANC on and 8 hours with ANC off. With 6 hours of playback, you can listen up to 103 songs on a single charge. If you use the charging case, you can add another 21 hours of power. The Elite 10 also supports fast charging, giving you up to 1 hour of playback in 5 minutes of charging.
The Elite 85t, on the other hand, has a battery life of up to 5.5 hours with ANC on and 6 hours with ANC off. With the case, you can get up to 25 hours with ANC on or up to 31 hours with ANC off. By charging for 15 minutes, you can get up to 1 hour of playback with the fast charge feature.
#5 Connectivity
Jabra Elite 10
Both earbuds support Bluetooth Multipoint, meaning that you can connect to 2 devices simultaneously to quickly switch between your connected devices without having to reconnect, such as switching between videoconferencing on your laptop and calls on your phone.
One difference is that the Elite 10 is Bluetooth LE-ready and supports a newer version of Bluetooth 5.3, while the Elite 85t supports the older version of Bluetooth 5.1.
However, the Elite 85t has an advantage with its Alexa Built-In, Siri, and Google Assistant compatibility, while the Elite 10 only works with Siri and Google Assistant.
Jabra Elite 10 vs Elite 85t
Final Thoughts
Jabra Elite 85t
In conclusion, both Jabra Elite 10 and Elite 85t are great earbuds with their advantages and limitations. Choosing between the two depends on your personal preferences and needs.
The Elite 10 provides better comfort and durability, with unique features like Dolby Atmos Head Tracking and Bluetooth LE ready. It also has a longer battery life and is more lightweight.
The Elite 85t, on the other hand, stands out with its large 12 mm speakers, Alexa Built-In, and in-app features like MySound and MyFit. It is also slightly more affordable.
If you like to read more about Wireless Earbuds, check out our other relevant guides here:
Jabra Elite 10 vs Elite 8 Active
Jabra Elite 10 vs Jabra Elite 7 Pro
Jabra Elite 10 vs Jabra Elite 5
Jabra Elite 10 vs Sony WF-1000XM5
Jabra Elite 10 vs AirPods Pro 2
Jabra Elite 8 Active vs Elite 7 Active
Jabra Elite 8 Active vs Elite 4 Active
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