Jaybird Vista Opinion
Jaybird has just announced their new sports model earbuds for 2019, I might get some for a review later in the year but at £159 (already discounted to £149 on Amazon), I’m not sure I will !!
Jaybird Vista Specs
The headline from the specs are the 6+10 hours of playtime but the relatively slow 2 hours required for a full charge. Set against that is the claimed ability to deliver an hour of charge in 5 minutes.
The audio quality is perhaps not SO important for running buds but these look like they are par for the course with relatively bog-standard 16-bit audio over an SBC CODEC. Add to that a 6mm driver (speaker size) and nothing stands out as particularly awe-inspiring. The app does allow EQ customisation which, again, is relatively standard from decent manufacturers.
- Type: In-ear style
- Noise-isolation: Passive
- Impedance: 23 Ohm +-15% at 1KHz
- Speaker sensitivity: 103.5 +-1.5dB at 1KHz
- Output 12 mW RMS (with level limit)
- Total Harmonic Distortion <3% (1KHz, 1mW)
- Audio Format: 16-bit Stereo
- Codec: Bluetooth SBC Implementation
- Response Bandwidth 20Hz – 20kHz
- Driver size: 6 mm
- Play Time: 6 Hrs* + 10 Hrs in the case
- Charging time: 2 Hrs
- Quick charge: 5 min = 1 hour playtime
Jaybird Vista Design
The squidgy, looped retainer on the eargels (you get 3 sizes) is a design that I’ve seen work on competing brands.
I’m less keen on the aesthetics with the Jaybird logo prominently emblazoned on a relatively ugly-looking, round-edged rectangular earbud.
With an IPX7 rating, these should be good for keeping your sweat out but note that IPX7 is only for submersion in 100cm of water.
Strange Claim
Jaybird makes a very strange claim: “32 Hours Of Uninterrupted Independent Bud Use“. I don’t know where that number comes from but it doesn’t ring true to me when you look at the specs, above. Maybe it’s 16 hours for each earbud added together to make 3! Yup. It really is.
They also claim “industry-leading battery life” which is not strictly true either as there are others who also have 16 hours of playback time eg Optoma NuForce BE Free5 and the Optomas are a lot cheaper. Jaybird’s longevity claim also is caveated by “May vary dependent on usage, device & aging“. Hmmm.
Discounts, Prices & Availability
These are available now from Amazon at an already discounted price of GBP149 or $179 at release and that price should fall further if you can hold on a bit. If you can’t wait…
HEADS UP: Link to your local Amazon Store (here)
I’ll stick with my Jabra earbuds for now.
Jabra Elite Active 65t Review – Best Running Headphones / Earbuds ?
Last Updated on 21 January 2026 by the5krunner
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors.
“ALWAYS READY: Vista gives you 6 hours of audio on a full charge, plus 10 more in the charging case for 16 hours of total charge and 32 hours if using one bud alone.”
This is a bizarre way of getting to 32 hours of play time.
hey, you have two ears.
why is there a need to use them both at the same time? 😉
just use one earbud and save the other for, err, something else.