10 Great noise cancelling earbuds
BY READERS DIGEST
10th Oct 2023 Technology
4 min read
Noise cancelling earbuds are available in many different designs and quality, but here are some that stand above the rest
The audio industry is a massive, booming part of the
retail technology sector, with ever-changing and improving devices that
millions of people worldwide use daily. From over-ear
headphones to the more recent introduction of earbuds, build and
overall quality can vary significantly from brand to brand.
It can be hard to navigate such a saturated sector, but
this list will help you sort through a few options and highlight some of the
best noise-cancelling earbuds available.
Sony XM5
Sony once again proves its credentials as a top audio
brand with the new XM5s, an incremental upgrade on the XM4. The buds
have a small profile and a slightly tweaked design and now come with wireless
charging—just a three-minute charge provides up to 60 minutes of battery life.
These earbuds boast industry recognised premium sound
quality, coupled with fast charging and fast connection to Bluetooth devices,
working on both iOS and Android.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
You can argue a case for the latest generation of the
AirPod Pro being Apple’s best audio devices. They’re form-fitting and unlike
other AirPod models also feature ear tips, making them great in-ear fits and much
less likely to fall out if that’s an issue you have with earbuds.
Plus, they have low-distortion and adaptive audio for
crisp, ideal sound, allowing you to even take calls in a busy environment—these
are the best buds to get for any iPhone user.
Beats Fit Pro
The Beats Fit Pro are relatively new to the earbud
scene, a sister model to the Beats Fit buds. These buds feature wing tips,
designed for comfort when used in-ear for long periods.
They support spatial
audio and head tracking, for immersive sound whether you’re
gaming, watching a film or listening to music. In addition, active noise cancelling
will help to enhance your audio experience by drowning out external sounds.
Google Pixel Buds Pro
In a very competitive and fast-moving sector, it’s no
surprise that tech giant Google has also thrown their hat in and has been
making earbuds for a few years now. The Pixel Buds Pro are some of their best
devices to date, with an oval-shaped case and rounded buds that are easy to
control and designed to prevent a blocked ear feeling.
Sennheiser Momentum 3
Sennheiser is known in the audio industry for making
generally high quality and reliable products and the Momentum earbuds are no
different. With a more unconventional and less rounded bud design, you’ll still
get adaptive
noise cancelling as well as a notable 28-hour battery life with
the case.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ
The Beoplay EQ earbuds have a relatively
unconventional design by industry standards, coming with up to 20 hours of
battery life with the case as well as USB-C charging.
They come in three main colours and have six built-in
microphones for delivering clear and smooth audio with signature Bang &
Olufsen bass in addition.
Bose QuietComfort II
With thicker buds designed to sit upright in the ear,
the Bose QuietComfort are a good choice if you find difficulty with having
earbuds that don’t fall out of your ears—they also come with stability tips
primarily for that reason.
They may come at a premium price but promise to
deliver high-quality sound, great noise cancellation and a quick charge
feature, providing up to two hours battery life from just a 20-minute charge.
Jabra Elite 8 Active
Jabra has been a high-standard player in the audio market
but doesn’t quite make as much of a splash in the market as Sony, Apple or
Google. Despite this, Jabra regularly iterates on their range of devices and
delivers earbuds that can compete with the best in the market.
The 8 Active earbuds are durable, fit comfortably in
the ear with three different size eargels. They’re also water and sweatproof,
making them perfect for working out at the gym or at
home.
Apple AirPods (3rd generation)
Another pair of AirPods make this list and for good
reason—the third generation of AirPods feature some improvements from its
previous model. They have a shorter stem and contoured design for a sturdier
fit in the ear as well as adaptive EQ
for producing the best listening experience depending on what you’re listening
to.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Samsung’s Galaxy buds are one of their latest audio
offerings, providing Hi-Fi sound and an ergonomic design, made for a
comfortable fit. They also feature convenient touch controls and intelligent
360 audio for an immersive experience.
The buds also come in white, graphite black and
purple.
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