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MenaMena here. Eight noise-cancelling earbuds, one table: here is what each maker actually lists.
Noise-cancelling earbuds range from budget pairs that soften commute noise to flagships built to cut plane-engine drone. This guide compares eight current models from Sony, Apple, Bose, JBL, Google and Soundcore, using the numbers the manufacturers publish.
Every spec below comes from the maker’s own pages or manual. Where a maker does not state a value, the table says so instead of guessing.
Quick Picks: Best ANC Earbuds by Use Case
If you only read one section, read this one.
Want to try ANC cheaply? Anker Soundcore P42i. Sony quality for less? WF-C710N. Android with LDAC and Dolby Audio? Soundcore Liberty 5, or the Pixel Buds Pro 2 if you own a Pixel. Strongest noise cancelling? Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) or Sony WF-1000XM6. iPhone user? AirPods Pro 3. Want a touchscreen case? JBL Tour Pro 3.
Comparison Table
| Model | Best for | Battery, earbuds (ANC on) | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anker Soundcore P42i True Wireless Earbuds | First ANC pair on a budget | 8.5 hours | Entry |
| Sony WF-C710N Noise Cancelling Earbuds | Sony ANC at a lower price | 8.5 hours | Mid |
| Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 True Wireless Earbuds | Dolby Audio plus LDAC for Android users | 8 hours | Mid |
| Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 | Pixel and Android phone owners | 8 hours | Mid to upper |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) | Strongest ANC reputation | 6 hours (4 with Immersive Audio) | Flagship |
| Apple AirPods Pro 3 | iPhone integration | 8 hours | Flagship |
| JBL Tour Pro 3 | The touchscreen charging case | 8 hours (7 with True Adaptive ANC) | Flagship |
| Sony WF-1000XM6 Noise Cancelling Earbuds | Best-in-class ANC and sound | 8 hours (5 with LDAC) | Flagship |
Price tiers are relative (entry, mid, flagship) because street prices change often. Battery figures are the maker’s own and come from different test conditions, so compare them as rough guides only.
8 Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Compared
Anker Soundcore P42i True Wireless Earbuds
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Battery, earbuds (ANC on) | 8.5 hours per charge (40 hours with the case), per Soundcore |
| Water resistance (earbuds) | IP55 |
| Weight per earbud | 4.4 g (without case), per Soundcore |
The Soundcore P42i is the entry point of this list. Soundcore lists Hi-Res Audio over LDAC and Bluetooth 6.1.
Who it suits: anyone who wants to try noise cancelling without paying flagship money, or a spare pair for the gym bag. The trade-off is the price tier itself: this is entry-level noise cancelling, so the flagships below are the better fit if cancellation strength is your first priority.
Sony WF-C710N Noise Cancelling Earbuds
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Battery, earbuds (ANC on) | 8.5 hours with AAC, up to 12 hours with ANC off, per Sony |
| Water resistance (earbuds) | IPX4 (earbuds); the charging case is not water resistant |
| Weight per earbud | 5.2 g (including size M ear tips), per Sony |
The WF-C710N is the budget-friendly Sony. Sony’s help guide lists IPX4 for the earbuds and a multipoint connection feature for two devices at once, and the 5.2 g weight (with the medium tips) makes it lighter than most of the models here.
Who it suits: Sony fans who do not need the flagship’s extras. Sony also has a head-to-head of the two Sony models in this list: Sony ANC earbuds compared: WF-C710N vs WF-1000XM6.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 True Wireless Earbuds
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Battery, earbuds (ANC on) | 8 hours (32 hours with the case), per Soundcore |
| Water resistance (earbuds) | IP55 |
| Weight per earbud | 4.6 g (without case), per Soundcore |
The Liberty 5 sits one step above the P42i. Soundcore lists Adaptive ANC 3.0, Dolby Audio, LDAC and Hi-Res Audio support, and Bluetooth 5.4.
Who it suits: Android users who want LDAC and spatial-style audio without a flagship price tag. It is also the pick if you want more from the Soundcore family; see all five Soundcore ANC earbuds compared.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Battery, earbuds (ANC on) | 8 hours (30 hours with the case), per Google |
| Water resistance (earbuds) | IP54 (earbuds); IPX4 (case) |
| Weight per earbud | 4.7 g with the medium eartip, per Google |
Google lists Bluetooth 5.4 for the Pixel Buds Pro 2, and the earbuds are rated IP54 against dust and splashes. Google says Pixel Buds Pro 2 are built around its Tensor A1 chip and Gemini.
Who it suits: Pixel and other Android phone owners who want the tightest software integration. On an iPhone, you would give up part of what makes them special.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Battery, earbuds (ANC on) | Up to 6 hours (up to 4 with Immersive Audio), per Bose |
| Water resistance (earbuds) | IPX4 |
| Weight per earbud | 0.016 lb per earbud, per Bose |
MenaSix hours per charge, so the case matters more here.
Bose lists up to 6 hours of play time, or up to 4 with Immersive Audio turned on, plus IPX4 and Bluetooth multipoint. Bose built its name on noise cancelling, and these are its flagship earbuds.
Who it suits: frequent flyers and open-office workers who want to turn the noise down as far as possible. The 6-hour figure is on the shorter side for this list, so plan on case top-ups during long days.
Apple AirPods Pro 3
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Battery, earbuds (ANC on) | Up to 8 hours with Active Noise Cancellation enabled, per Apple |
| Water resistance (earbuds) | IP57 (earbuds and charging case) |
| Weight per earbud | 5.55 g (0.20 oz), per Apple |
MenaIP57 is the highest rating among the specs the makers state.
Apple lists the H2 chip, Bluetooth 5.3, and IP57 dust, sweat and water resistance for the AirPods Pro 3. Apple also lists Live Translation, heart rate sensing and a Hearing Aid feature.
Who it suits: iPhone, iPad and Mac users, where pairing and device switching are the draw. Who should skip it: Android users, who lose most of the integration and the extra features.
JBL Tour Pro 3
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Battery, earbuds (ANC on) | Up to 8 hours with ANC on (up to 7 with True Adaptive ANC on), per JBL |
| Water resistance (earbuds) | Not stated by manufacturer |
| Weight per earbud | 5.6 g per earbud, per JBL |
MenaThe case does the unusual part: a touchscreen and a transmitter mode.
What sets the Tour Pro 3 apart is its Smart Charging Case with a touchscreen. JBL says the case can also act as an audio transmitter dongle, which is handy on flights, and it lists a hybrid dual driver (10.2 mm dynamic plus balanced armature) and Bluetooth 5.3.
Who it suits: people who like controlling things from the case, or who want a plug-in dongle mode. For the whole JBL range, see JBL noise cancelling earbuds compared by price tier.
Sony WF-1000XM6 Noise Cancelling Earbuds
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Battery, earbuds (ANC on) | 8 hours with AAC and ANC on; 5 hours with LDAC and ANC on, per Sony |
| Water resistance (earbuds) | IPX4 (earbuds; Sony notes they are not waterproof and the charging case is not water resistant) |
| Weight per earbud | 6.5 g (including size M ear tips), per Sony |
MenaIPX4 on the earbuds only; the case is not water resistant.
Sony’s help guide lists the WF-1000XM6 at up to 8 hours with AAC and ANC on, dropping to 5 hours with LDAC, and it rates the earbuds IPX4 (splash resistance), while noting that they are not waterproof and the charging case is not water resistant. It also lists multipoint connection and LC3 support.
Who it suits: shoppers who want Sony’s top ANC and sound. IPX4 covers sweat and splashes, but not swimming or showers, and the charging case has no water resistance.
How to Choose ANC Earbuds
Match the phone
iPhone users get the most from AirPods Pro 3. Pixel and Android users get more from the Pixel Buds Pro 2, Soundcore Liberty 5 or the Sony models. LDAC only works on Android with a compatible source; on an iPhone the connection falls back to AAC.
Check the battery with ANC on
Always read the ANC-on number, not the headline. Among these eight, the earbuds themselves run from 5 hours (Sony WF-1000XM6 with LDAC) to 8.5 hours (Sony WF-C710N with AAC and Soundcore P42i), before any case top-ups.
Check the water rating if you work out
IPX4 means splash resistance from any direction. IP55 adds dust resistance and protection from water jets. IP57 adds protection from temporary immersion. None of these are meant for swimming or showering, and the charging cases are often not rated even when the earbuds are.
Try before you commit
Ear shape changes comfort more than any spec. Buy from a seller with a good return window and try each ear tip size.
Want to go deeper on one brand? See our Sennheiser ANC earbuds ranked and Technics ANC earbuds compared.
FAQ
Q. Does ANC performance scale with price?
A: Generally, but not in a straight line. Flagships usually add more microphones and more processing, which helps against low-frequency noise like engine drone. A mid-priced pair can still beat a flagship in fit, battery or features.
Q. What is the difference between IPX4, IP55 and IP57?
A: IPX4 covers splashes. IP55 adds dust protection and resistance to low-pressure water jets. IP57 adds protection from temporary immersion in water. Always check the maker’s note, because ratings apply to the earbuds and often not to the case.
Q. Does LDAC work on iPhone?
A: No. LDAC needs an Android source that supports it. An iPhone connects over AAC even when the earbuds support LDAC.
Q. What is multipoint?
A: Multipoint lets one pair of earbuds stay connected to two devices at once, such as a laptop and a phone. Bose and Sony list it for their models in this guide.
Q. Why does battery life drop with ANC on?
A: Noise cancelling runs microphones and processing all the time, which uses power. Makers such as Sony list separate ANC-on and ANC-off times, and some also list times per codec.
MenaCheck the ANC-on battery number before you buy.
Conclusion
For a first ANC pair, start with the Anker Soundcore P42i. For Sony without the flagship price, the WF-C710N. For Android with LDAC and Dolby Audio, the Soundcore Liberty 5, or the Pixel Buds Pro 2 if you own a Pixel.
If strong noise cancelling is the priority, look at the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) or the Sony WF-1000XM6. iPhone owners will like the AirPods Pro 3, and anyone who wants a touchscreen case should check the JBL Tour Pro 3.
Related Articles
- Sony ANC Buds Compared: WF-C710N vs WF-1000XM6
- JBL Noise Cancelling Earbuds Compared: All 5 Current Models by Price Tier
- Silence, Solved! Anker Soundcore ANC Earbuds, All 5 Models Compared
- Not the Same! Sennheiser ANC Earbuds, 3 Models Ranked
- Not All The Same! Technics EAH-AZ40M2, AZ60M2, AZ80 & AZ100 Compared