While earbuds can certainly be more uncomfortable than a luxe pair of over-ear headphones—mainly having to do with the difficulty of finding the correctly size ear tip for your ear canal—finding the right fit for your ears can feel as right as Cinderella sliding into her glass slipper.
Unlike headphones, earbuds offer less sound leakage, which usually means better noise-canceling overall. That's why when it comes to active-noise canceling (ANC), earbuds can give you a better experience over headphones. Here are the best ANC earbuds you can buy right now, depending on what you're planning to use them for.
The best earbuds to wear in noisy environments are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, being able to tune out low and high frequencies alike. One of the main reasons these are so good is because they offer several options for their ear-tips, ensuring a snug fit. Of course, the technology is the main factor, with a feature that turns ANC on automatically while using ambient noise to block out loud noises around you.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra ($299)
ANC can make the quality of your audio take a hit. But if you're looking for the best ANC earbuds while still getting the best audio possible, then consider Sony's WF-1000XM5. These have a better sound out of the box than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and have multi-device pairing. So if you have multiple devices and would rather have better audio over a slightly less effective ANC, then consider the Sony WF-1000XM5.
Sony WF-1000XM5 ($298)
As you can see so far on this list, a good pair of earbuds can be pricey. The good news is you can still get very good ANC earbuds for an affordable price. The Soundcore by Anker Space A40 give you as many features and even better ANC than some high-end pairs without the excessive price tag. The main place where these earbuds fall short is capturing your voice when making calls. But for a tight budget, the Soundcore by Anker Space A40 do a great job.
Soundcore by Anker Space A40 (currently $79)
The best gym companion ANC earbud medal goes to the Beats Fit Pro. They are water resistant and offer a secure fit while providing great ANC. If you're in the Apple ecosystem, you will appreciate the Apple's H1 chip in these Beats earbuds, giving you a quicker pairing experience when connecting to your iCloud devices, saving some battery life, and providing a better sound quality in general.
Beats Fit Pro (currently $179)
Not having to leave a room or take your earbuds off to take a call is an underrated feeling. If you're looking for the best earbuds to make calls, then the Status Between 3ANC are the best of the bunch. They have have multipoint technology so you can connect them to your phone and laptop, and can reduce the noise around you while picking up your voice in a noisy environment. They also have many ear-tip options for you to find the best fit for your ears.
Status Between 3ANC (currently $179).
