is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.
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JLab, a brand best known for its budget-friendly but well-featured wireless earbuds, has announced a new pair of headphones that are far less discreet. The oversized Blue XL Speaker Headphones look like an ill-timed April Fools’ Day prank but are actually a pair of Bluetooth speakers cosplaying as wireless headphones. They’re wearable, but for the sake of your eardrums, you’ll want to leave them hanging around your neck.
The Blue XL are now available through JLab’s online store for $99.99 in limited quantities and, as the name implies, blue is the only color option. Inside each ear cup is a 2.5-inch driver paired with a similar-sized passive radiator to boost lower frequencies. You can prop them up on a table to use as a standalone speaker, but the ear cups don’t detach. Battery life is claimed to be up to 20 hours, while a full recharge takes about three hours.
The Blue XL can be worn as headphones if you don’t mind attracting confused looks. Image: JLab The speaker includes a volume dial on one of the ear cups and up to 20 hours of battery life. Image: JLab
JLab’s latest creation is reminiscent of the TDM Neo headphones that debuted at CES 2026 and are expected to launch on Kickstarter next week. The Neo also offers dual headphone / speaker functionality but through a design that cleverly rolls up to switch between modes. The Blue XL’s approach is to just be… big. Portability is not a priority, but I’d certainly enjoy a front row seat to the spectacle of someone wearing these on a plane.