Verdict
The JLab Go Work 3 is a comfortable, well-featured business headset at a very affordable £50 price point. The foam earcups are soft enough to wear all day long, it has a lot of battery life, a USB-C dongle, wired USB-C connectivity, app support, and Bluetooth multipoint to make it very versatile. You may miss ANC and find the music quality a bit flat, but those are small trade-offs and not dealbreakers if you’re getting this headset primarily for calls
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Lightweight, with great cushioning and comfort
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Long battery life, with over 40 hours of talk time
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Versatile connectivity options, plus customisation via a desktop app
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Intuitive on-headset buttons
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No active noise-cancelling
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Unimpressive sound quality for music
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No charging dock or carry case
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JLab Lab app is currently Windows/macOS only, not iOS or Android
Key Features
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Review Price:
£49.99
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Long battery life
Depending on the number of calls you take, you should get a full working week on a single charge
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Flip-to-mute boom mic
Handy so your colleagues don’t have to remind you to mute yourself!
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Great connectivity
These have a USB-C low-lag dongle, wired USB-C, and Bluetooth multipoint for two simultaneous device connections
Introduction
JLab is best-known for simple and affordable headphones and earbuds that usually come in fun colours. For me (and many of us), it’s the brand that made the first true wireless pair of buds I ever owned, and if my memory serves me well, that was primarily because they were a much better value than the competition.
That aim to make no-nonsense audio products carries over into the brand’s Work lineup, where JLab makes mice, keyboards and microphones too, within its designations of “JBuds”, “Go” and “Epic” (as far as I can tell, Go is always the best value of these, if you’re having trouble understanding JLab’s naming conventions!).
The third generation of its Go Work headset is a worthy upgrade over its predecessors. It has a refreshed design, a flip-to-mute boom mic, extra tweaks within the Lab companion app, and dedicated onboard storage for the USB-C dongle. It doesn’t have ANC, though. You’d need to upgrade to £150 JLab’s Epic Work for that, or pricier headsets from EPOS or Jabra.
Those buying this are likely upgrading from an older headset that may have connected with a USB-A dongle (and would’ve needed an adapter for newer laptops) or that connected to your computer via its 3.5mm jack.
As a newer model, it’s much more designed for USB-C, both with USB-C audio – something that, oddly, certain big-name headphones still lack – and that dongle stored on the headset itself. At £50, it sounds like a great bargain, so I set about testing it to find out if it lives up to its promises as a dependable and comfortable headset.
Design
- On-ear headset weighing just 147g
- USB-C dongle stored on the body
- Customisable action button
This is a very comfortable work headset. I can wear the Go Work 3 all day long, and I barely notice them. The “Cloud Foam” earcups are very plush and soft, and the headband is wide and well-cushioned enough to not leave you with any on-head pressure. The headband hinge is also designed in an uncomplicated way, so it shouldn’t get caught in long hair.
Other leading wireless headsets like the Logitech Zone Wireless on-ears, the Poly Voyager Focus 2, or the over-ear Logitech Zone Vibe 100 tend to sit in the 150 to 190g range, with this being much better at an exceptionally lightweight 147g. It’s a fully plastic build, available only in black, and it’s made to be highly portable for tossing into a laptop bag (but unfortunately doesn’t come with a pouch or case).
Its adjustable headband uses a clicky telescoping rod that feels more premium than certain rivals, and the thick headband transitions into a sleek, rounded arm that connects to the earcups. It doesn’t look as smart as something like JLab’s Epic headset, but it does look more expensive than it is.
On the right cup, you’ll find the boom mic, which flips up to mute, and controls (a multifunction button and volume buttons, plus a customisable action button) that are easy to differentiate by touch alone. On the rear of the left cup, there’s the USB-C dongle, which is also easy to access and remove while you’re wearing the headset.
You don’t need to switch modes to use the dongle. Just connect it to a computer, then select it as the audio device in settings. I used it on both a MacBook Air and an iPad with no issue. Wired USB-C is another benefit, giving you two ways to have low-lag audio.
It’s worth mentioning that the dongle has a smart “offset” design, so most of its bulk can go in one direction. It’ll be usable even on laptops with a crowded USB-C port layout.
Features
- Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint, and SBC and AAC codecs
- USB-C wireless dongle and wired USB-C audio connection
- Flip-to-mute boom mic
- JLab Lab app offers custom EQ, ENC sensitivity adjustments and safe hearing mode
- Customisable action button
The Go Work 3 is more feature-packed than I expected at this price. Its three-way connectivity is probably its strongest selling point; you get Bluetooth, the USB-C dongle and the wired USB-C cable.
The dongle is the way to go for a reliable, lag-free connection to a computer. The wired USB-C connection is probably the simplest way to connect (and charges the headset if you’re low on juice), and Bluetooth is the default way you’ll set up the device. Multipoint is great for having both your phone and laptop connected simultaneously.
Unlike some cheaper headsets, you also get plenty of customisation thanks to its companion app. You will need to be specific about which app to download, though, it is the JLab Lab app (in beta), and it’s only available for Windows and macOS. It’s not the JLab Work app, or the JLab mobile app on iOS or Android. It is a bit of a shame you can’t access settings when connected to your phone, but this may be changed at a later date.
Once connected via the dongle, the desktop app auto-recognises the Go Work 3, and you have multiple settings you can change. You can set a safe volume limit (either 85dB or 95dB), you can change the ENC (environmental noise cancellation), microphone and sidetone volume, and you can choose between Music and Voice EQ presets, or make a custom preset.
You can also change the function of the top action button and set particular controls for a single press, double-press or hold. In fact, you’re able to change what almost all the buttons do, or disable them. It’s quite comprehensive.
Call quality is a big priority for anyone buying this headset, and I’d say it’s decent at this price. I tested in quiet environments at home but also in a coffee shop to check the capabilities of the ENC, and I tested it both over Bluetooth and via the dongle. While the background noise of the coffee shop was successfully silenced, my voice came through quieter with some distortion, and that’ll probably require you to speak up in busy places.
At home and without distracting noise to cancel, my voice came through with more clarity, but it still isn’t the loudest microphone pickup. I think it’s adequate rather than excellent, and there is a very minor improvement when you use the dongle or USB-C cable to connect. It’s helpful that when you need to mute, you just flip up the microphone into its upright position.
Battery life is exceptional for this category. JLab promises over 70 hours of playtime at 50% volume and over 40 hours of talk time. In real mixed use, I feel confident that you’d get around 50 hours of use, and there’s a fast charge capability too, with a 10-minute charge restoring seven hours of use.
It’ll charge to full in around two hours, and is meant to have over 400 hours of standby time too. Overall, it’s a great performance, and I like that the voice prompt announces battery level every time you turn the headset on.
Sound Quality
- 40mm dynamic drivers
- Bright, vocal-focused tuning
- Slightly hollow bass performance
The JLab Go Work 3 is better than expected for a work headset – it opts for a bright, clean tuning with its 40mm drivers, and, by default, I think this can double for music as well as it can for voice calls and podcasts. They’re a little flat, and I don’t think they’ll replace dedicated music headphones, but they also don’t sound muddy.
I started with Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy to test the low-end, and while the bass is a bit mushy and hollow, the vocals came through clearly. Obviously, it’s an on-ear design, so you shouldn’t expect a lot of deep sub-bass thump. The mid-range is clean, something I also noted on Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins.
To check if the brightness became piercing, I next listened to Eva Cassidy’s Fields of Gold, and I found the upper frequencies well-managed. I didn’t hear harsh or fatiguing sibilance. And it’s a similar positive story when playing Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams. There’s not much of a wide soundstage, but instruments are well-separated, and vocals centred.
Overall, I think these are good for a clean sound profile. They’ll work for whatever you’re listening to or watching on your work laptop on your lunch break, whether that’s music, YouTube videos, or podcasts.
I did all this initial testing in the default mode, which, interestingly, is the “Music” EQ. I played around with the “Voice” EQ, too, and there’s not a big difference between the two. The Music mode may be a little fuller, while the Voice one makes the mids a little more refined. After switching between the two, I’d probably leave it on Voice if you’re taking a lot of calls, or just set EQ to the custom button so you can freely switch between them and a custom EQ.
Should you buy it?
You want a great value work headset
For £50, you’re getting a headset that’s comfortable to wear all day long, an extensive battery life and three versatile connection options. The microphone is solid, and it has a good app for customising features, so it’s a great buy for home workers or light office use.
You need noise-cancelling
If you need to take calls in a loud and busy office, there’s no noise-cancelling, so you’ll hear a lot of the ambient noise around you, especially as you won’t have that much of a passive seal. The mic’s ENC will also struggle in a louder environment.
Final Thoughts
JLab has done an impressive job of delivering on all the things that matter most if you’re picking up a budget work headset. The battery lasts ages, they’re comfortable for all-day wear, they’ve got reliable and versatile connectivity, and a microphone that’s practical to use. They’re ideal if you need something more flexible than your old wired headset, but don’t need something from the premium end of the headset market.
I think the controls are well-designed and intuitive, that the dongle works well, and that the desktop app is handy and allows you to customise several features. For something so focused on portability, it’s a shame that it doesn’t have a pouch or case, and that there’s no mobile version of the app.
The lack of ANC may frustrate some, and the voice isolation could be a bit better in noisier environments, but this headset is generally a solid recommendation.
How We Test
The JLab GO Work 3 was tested for multiple days of real-world testing. We test every headphone we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use industry-standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
- Used for several days
- Tested with real-world use
FAQs
Yes, the headset is designed to work with all major video conferencing platforms, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet. JLab recommends using the included USB-C dongle or wired USB-C connection for the most stable experience.
JLab says you’ll get over 70 hours of playback at 50% volume, or over 40 hours of talk time. And that they’ll be ready to go, with 400+ hours of standby time.
Full Specs
| JLab Go Work 3 Wireless On-Ear Review | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | JLab |
| IP rating | No |
| Battery Hours | 55 |
| Fast Charging | Yes |
| ASIN | B0G6KVN39N |
| Release Date | 2026 |
| Audio Resolution | SBC, AAC |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Colours | Black |
| Frequency Range | 20 20000 – Hz |
| Headphone Type | On-ear |
| UK RRP | £49.99 |
| USA RRP | $49.99 |
| AUD RRP | AU$119.99 |
