Noise-cancelling earbuds, five generations later
What used to be a party trick is now table stakes — we compared the field.
Active noise cancellation used to be the single feature that justified a premium price. Now it ships on earbuds that cost less than a nice dinner, and the differences between brands have moved from “does it work” to “how does it feel.”
- Transparency mode quality varies more than ANC strength
- Battery life still the biggest real-world differentiator
- Fit matters more than the spec sheet suggests
If you're choosing between flagship earbuds this year, the honest advice is: try them on before you read another spec comparison.