Enjoying calls in noisy environments in everyday life can be difficult without the right Earbuds.
Noise-canceling earbuds are the secret star of modern audio technology, designed to take you from chaos to a world of pure sound.
If you travel often, work remotely, and need to stay focused, or often make calls, these earbuds are your key to hearing heaven.
Our selection of top-quality noise-canceling earbuds ensures an unparalleled call experience in a noisy environment.
They use smart technology to block out external distractions so you can immerse yourself in a call. But it’s not just about silence.
These TWS earphones also offer top-notch sound, a comfortable design for long wearing, and great battery life to keep you entertained for hours.
10 Best Earbuds for Calls in Noisy Environments for 2024
1. Apple AirPods 3
Call quality is impressive in the noisy environment and comparable to the best models on the market. AirPods are known for their solid microphone quality, and the 3rd generation is no different.
You can make calls in quiet and noisy places. If it’s loud, there’s some distortion at the start of a call, but the earbuds soon reduce this to a minimum. Take the test below.
The sound quality is pretty good for a classic earphone. Apple AirPods 3 provides powerful bass and rich sound, providing a pleasant listening experience even for long periods of time.
However, it can sound thin in the upper register.
The design of these truly wireless earphones is very similar to the Apple AirPods Pro but without the eartips. It’s very comfortable and incredibly stable (although not ideal for intense exercise).
The earbuds are now water-resistant, boasting an IPX4 rating. Apple users will love support for the H1 chip, which improves wireless connectivity with macOS and iOS devices.
Additionally, battery life has increased compared to the previous generation, lasting more than 6 hours on a single charge. The charging case lasts for an additional 24 hours and supports Qi wireless charging and MagSafe charging.
If you prefer earbuds that don’t stick in your ears and want clear call quality in all situations, AirPods 3 are for you.
2. One Plus Buds 3
The OnePlus Buds 3 are fantastic wireless earbuds for phone calls and Zoom meetings with clear calls, long battery life, and fantastic multipoint connectivity. Easily connect to multiple devices at the same time.
Available in black or blue, the OnePlus Buds 3 look and feel great. The USB-C powered charging case is compact and won’t get scratched even after heavy use.
The IP55 waterproof earbuds themselves look sleek thanks to their shiny finish, and the soft rubber on the inside makes them secure and extremely comfortable. You can also sleep on your side!
The Buds 3’s battery provides a comfortable 6.5 hours of playback time with active noise cancellation turned on. It gets longer when you turn off the power.
You can use ANC on its own and it will remove darker and most mid-range sounds from your surroundings. However, even when no music is playing, you may still hear sudden noises nearby, such as chatter or laughter. This can be further emphasized with a very natural transparency mode.
Another thing that could have been a little better is the volume control on the stem. Like Apple’s AirPods Pro 2, you control them by swiping the stem up and down, but inputs don’t always register well.
The first is call quality. Phone and video calls are handled very well. Your voice will be heard loud and clear, louder than people and sounds nearby, even in crowded places.
Ambient noise is filtered out well during calls, and your voice remains clear even if there is a slight breeze outside. After reviewing 359 earbuds on this site, they still perform somewhat uniquely.
Second, connectivity. You can easily connect the earbuds to any device you have. When you take the earbuds out of the case, they will connect to the two closest devices to which they were once connected.
You can then switch between earbuds by pausing playback on one device and starting it on another. Or, you can switch automatically when you receive a call.
This is a great way to connect your laptop, work phone, and personal phone to it. Stay connected to your work equipment during the day, and seamlessly connected to your personal devices after the workday.
Lastly, the free HeyMelody app offers tons of features. You can add a single-tap control to manually play/pause next to auto-pause when you take out the earbuds.
There’s a game mode that does a good job of synchronizing sound effects with on-screen action, but there’s a lot more to it.
OnePlus 3D Audio can artificially place music more around you, measure your ear’s hearing ability and adjust the sound accordingly, and has a BassWave setting that can boost or reduce bass.
The Buds 3 range from very soft to very loud and always keep the sound nicely balanced except at extremely high volumes. Higher vocals and brighter instruments stand out clearly without falling into harsh territory.
The music has air in the upper register, making it feel open and lively. The bass is also convincing. Rather than hitting you in the face with a jarring hard thump, you gain strength from fullness and depth.
Center mid-tones, such as playing a guitar or piano, may not play the biggest role between the bass and treble, but they sound fluent and natural. The OnePlus Buds 3 never fails to please.
The OnePlus Buds 3 is perfect for both indoor and outdoor calls by connecting your laptop, phone, or both devices simultaneously. Strong battery life and great comfort help make it the best budget TWS for calls in 2024.
3. Bose’s new QuietComfort ultra wireless noise-cancelling earbuds
This model’s clear call capabilities ensure your voice is heard clearly, while active noise-canceling technology eliminates distractions, making it ideal for long conference calls or video conferences.
The Bose QC model offers better mid-bass performance than the Apple AirPods Pro. However, this model is a much better option, especially for those who want top-notch audio quality with excellent call clarity and noise isolation.
Effective for phone calls and virtual meetings with clear voice separation. Top-level noise canceling is effective in environments where external noise must be blocked, such as commuting, open offices, and crowded public places.
Exceptional sound clarity and immersive audio for music, podcasts, and calls. It boasts a stylish appearance with a compact case that is easy to carry.
Overall, these earphones are a fantastic choice for music lovers who appreciate high-quality audio, comfort, and stylish design.
4. Jabra Elite 7 Pro
The Jabra Elite 7 Pro earbuds offer the best call quality of all the products we’ve tested for under $200. Jabra Elite 7 Pro review offers premium microphone performance.
The Jabra Elite 7 Pro lets you make clear, distortion-free calls on the go. Also impressive is the way it handles noisy environments.
Your voice will be slightly quieter, but still understandable, allowing you to communicate clearly even on crowded streets. The sound is not too distorted even in noisy environments.
The Elite 7 Pro has a very neutral sound, which can be further improved with custom EQ. It also has a good sound stage, which increases listening immersion.
The earbuds sit comfortably in your ears without applying pressure. It reaches deep into the ear canal and ensures excellent passive noise isolation.
Additionally, the Jabra+ app offers a variety of features for complete customization. Unfortunately, the active noise cancellation isn’t that impressive.
5. JBL Live Pro 2
These JBL earbuds feature powerful 11mm speakers with Signature Sound tuning.
Adaptive noise cancellation automatically adjusts the volume to match your surroundings, and Smart Ambient lets you hear what’s going on.
Six beamforming microphones pick up your voice, and VoiceAware lets you adjust how loud your voice is heard.
6. Realme Buds Air 5 Pro
Realme Buds Air 5 Pro ticks all the boxes when it comes to the basics. These earbuds are comfortable to wear for long periods of time, are IPX5 water resistant to protect against rain and sweat, and last about 6 hours on a single charge.
After putting it in the case for just 10 minutes, you can get an additional 3 hours of listening time. You will need to recharge the case after fully charging the earbuds three times.
This happens via USB-C. Wireless charging is not supported.
The earbuds also work well. Your music will automatically pause when you take the earbuds out (unless you want them to), and multipoint connectivity lets you connect the Buds Air 5 Pro to your phone and laptop (or two phones) at the same time.
You can then pause one device and play on another, or automatically switch between them when you take a call.
The earbuds also boast solid active noise cancellation that rivals the best under $100. Significantly reduces the volume of low to high frequencies in a uniform and consistent manner.
Darker electronic hums and higher-pitched laughter are strongly suppressed. You may still hear some in-between sounds like keyboard typing, ambient conversation, or background radio, but this only happens when you’re not playing music.
Realme’s noise-cancelling feature doesn’t put too much pressure on your ears and doesn’t show too much wind noise either. Transparency mode effectively transmits traffic sounds when needed, rather than conversations.
Buds Air 5 Pro delivers clear phone and video calls both indoors and outdoors, even when there are people around or it’s slightly windy.
You’ll hear sudden noises during calls for brief moments, but they quickly attack to match your voice and remain louder and clearer.
The controls are also excellent, including easy volume control and customizable controls in the Realme Link app for iPhone and Android phones. But the best part about Realme Buds Air 5 Pro is the sound quality.
The sound here has a nice mix of warmth and clarity. Center midrange sounds, such as guitar or piano playing, have a warm feel but still sound natural.
The full range of vocals moves forward and shows nuance, from Leonard Cohen’s sonorous depths to Björk’s squeaks on It’s Oh So Quiet.
Meanwhile, instrumental details come from left and right. And underneath there’s an impactful bass that’s controlled and deep but not overwhelming.
At background listening levels it can be a bit full, but it gets clearer and tighter at higher volumes.
Not to mention what else you can do with sound through the app. With its ‘Golden Sound’ hearing test, Realme monitors hearing loss at the highest frequencies and compensates by raising the treble, making the treble vivid without being too shrill(!).
There are multiple equalizers and a separate bass slider to increase bass fullness, and the Spatial Audio here is really impressive. This means it makes music and videos more ambient and much more immersive.
If call quality is important to you, but you also want fantastic all-round wireless earbuds, the Realme Buds Air 5 Pro might be a better fit for you, as they offer stronger ANC and richer sound than the OnePlus Buds 3.
7. Antreon Kimura Duo
The Antlion Kimura Duo is perfect for phone calls and games with friends. It comes with a great boom mic. It can bend in all directions and is not so long that it becomes distracting.
Excellent background noise suppression provides excellent clarity during phone calls. You can rest assured that others will not hear the sound of air coming out of your nose. Take the test below.
Kimura Duo is one of the best wired in-ear monitors for gaming. Delivers exceptional sound quality with rich detail and powerful bass.
Despite its low-pitched sound signature, it plays with great control and produces detailed high notes thanks to its balanced armature drivers.
Lastly, the ear hooks make it comfortable and stable. However, it takes some time to get them into your ears. And since they are wired, not everyone likes them.
If you’re looking for reliable, great-sounding wired earbuds with a clear boom mic, get the Antlion Kimura Duo.
These are slightly cheaper earbuds and come with a high-quality boom mic like the Kimura Duo. However, the sound quality is a bit blurry. But if you just need to make phone calls, the Solo does a great job.
8. Skullcandy Rail ANC In-Ear Noise Canceling Wireless Earbuds
Skullcandy’s Rail ANC earbuds offer an impressive combination of noise cancellation and sound quality, making them perfect for both entertainment and communication.
Advanced noise cancellation actively mutes the surrounding environment for a disruption-free calling experience.
Long battery life of up to 38 hours and fast charging ensures uninterrupted communication all day, while multipoint pairing lets you seamlessly switch between devices.
All these features make this model one of the best noise-canceling earbuds for phone calls.
Call quality is a strong point of this earbud model. They offer clear voice transmission and effective background noise reduction, making them one of the best earbuds for phone calls, virtual meetings, and more.
The overall sound quality is decent and the bass is powerful. Sometimes the sound may feel flat, but you can improve the sound profile with the app’s equalizer settings.
9. Huawei FreeBuds SE 2
Huawei FreeBuds SE 2 are half-in-ear or half-in-ear earbuds, so you can just place them in your ears. It has all the advantages of this form factor.
It’s very lightweight and comfortable to wear for hours, and you can still hear ambient noise while in use, which is great for safety. Fortunately, sound leakage is limited even when listening to music loudly.
The FreeBuds SE 2 takes the crown from the SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS for offering the best AirPods-like earbuds on a budget.
Housed in this tiny plastic case, the earbuds are IP54 water resistant and offer an incredibly long battery life of up to 9 hours of playback on a single charge!
In the meantime, you’ll have no trouble answering calls as the FreeBuds pick up your voice loud and clear. It’s a little less so when people start talking loudly around you, but the microphone still focuses well on you.
Like the older FreeBuds 4i that made this buying guide last year, they’re particularly good at handling phone calls in the wind.
Controls are limited by default and only offer play/pause. Track skip/return options can be added using the free Huawei AI Life app for iPhone and Android, but Android users will need to download it from outside the Play Store.
You can easily get it using the QR code on the box.
The app is recommended. You can activate low-latency gaming mode, update firmware, find your earphones if you lose them, and come with four sound presets.
If the features aren’t enough for you, it’s the sound that definitely warrants a place in this buying guide is really good.
The FreeBuds SE 2 enjoys the clarity and openness you easily get from semi-in-ears while keeping the treble from being too prominent or harsh.
Below that is a soft, warm underline. Both the female high-pitched and low-pitched male vocals have plenty of texture, the mid-tones of the guitar and piano performances are cozy, and the mid-bass is moderately booming.
Subtly boosted lower mids accentuate the bass, giving the music an openness and pleasant fullness. From singer-songwriter ballads to heavy dance numbers, this warmly balanced presentation is a pleasure to listen to.
The Huawei Freebuds SE 2 aren’t great earbuds like the regular $40-$70 AirPods. This is one of the best half-in-ears in the entire market. They sound much better than Apple’s AirPods 3.
10. Sony INZONE Buds WF-G700N
Sony INZONE Buds WF-G700N are undoubtedly a good choice for calls. Noise-cancelling technology minimizes background noise and ensures your voice is heard clearly.
360-degree spatial sound also helps you perceive your surroundings. 8.4mm drivers and spatial sound personalization deliver exceptional audio and deliver a clear, immersive soundscape.
Sony INZONE Buds WF-G700N are designed for serious gamers. It offers an impressive combination of long battery life, high-quality sound, and low latency.
With excellent sound quality and noise isolation, these earbuds are a reliable choice for clear, uninterrupted communication. Additionally, the compact, lightweight design and comfortable in-ear fit make it ideal for long-term use.
The headphones work perfectly with both PS5 and mobile via Bluetooth.
The microphone provides amazing voice quality and clarity and the sound is superb as the headphones can get very loud with good bass and the dual connections work great.
11. Samsung Galaxy Buds FE
The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE is another affordable wireless earbuds that handle phone and video calls well.
Ideal for indoor phone calls in crowded areas and lets you seamlessly switch between transparency or ANC during a call.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE is a revisit of Samsung’s Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, and thankfully the Korean brand has invested heavily in improving call clarity.
While the Buds 2 couldn’t handle background noise, let alone wind, the Buds FE is a company for phones and video calls.
Your voice will sound loud and natural during calls, and Buds FE does a good job of reducing background chatter.
You may hear other people on the other end of the line, but your voice is always at the forefront. Sudden sounds are also quickly reduced.
Surprisingly, the audio isn’t always completely in sync with the picture in Google Meet’s video calls, but other than that, it’s perfect for office use.
There is another reason too. Press and hold one of the earbuds to toggle between Active Noise Canceling and Transparency.
Do your colleagues want to hear it too? Just hold down the button. Want to exclude them to focus on your calls? Grab it again. Samsung will remind you of your latest settings.
Transparency mode is powerful, allowing you to easily follow conversations while listening to music or taking phone calls, and the active noise cancellation itself, which eliminates wind noise, is powerful enough to reduce or eliminate all frequencies around you.
The Galaxy Buds FE boasts a battery life of 5.5 hours per charge with ANC turned on. Unfortunately, the earpieces don’t have volume control and are IPX4 resistant to light rain. But it hits back in the sound department.
The sound of the Galaxy Buds FE is excellent. Midtones have natural tones and strong textures. Here you can hear the sounds of piano keys being pressed or guitar strings being plucked in high-quality recordings.
Both female and male vocals are distinct and rich, reaching lower tones as easily as they reach high explosions.
The Buds FE reveals details that other earbuds in this price range can’t, and they achieve this without boosting the treble too much. It’s never too sharp.
The mids and lows are weighty and detailed, and thanks to excellent separation, there is no interference with the treble or bass.
The bass boasts impactful drums and fast hits. It’s more detailed, deeper, and tighter than the base on the OnePlus. Unless you like crazy high-pitched sound, these are an audiophile’s choice for earbuds under $100.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE is a great package that combines clear indoor calls with powerful active noise cancellation and fantastic sound quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to find the best noise-canceling earbuds?
To find the best noise-canceling earbuds, consider a few key factors. First, prioritize the level of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) offered.
This determines how effectively external noise is blocked. Look for earbuds with long battery life so you can use them all day.
Also consider the sound quality and comfort of the earbuds, as well as any additional features such as customizable sound profiles or water resistance.
Reading reviews and comparing different models based on these criteria will help you find the best noise-canceling earbuds for your needs and budget.
How do I know if my earbuds have a microphone?
This information is usually stated on the box. Additionally, almost all Bluetooth earphones have a built-in microphone. If you’re using wired earbuds, there’s a microphone module in the cable.
Do all earbuds have a microphone?
Most earbuds have a microphone. All Bluetooth earbuds have a microphone built into the housing. Only some wired earphones have a microphone on the cable.
What does a built-in microphone mean?
This means that the microphone is located inside the earbud/headphone housing. Most Bluetooth earphones have a built-in microphone.
Are noise-canceling earbuds worth it?
Yes, noise-canceling earbuds are worth it if you value an immersive audio experience, especially in noisy environments like commuting or working in a busy office.
Are noise-canceling earphones effective for sleep?
Some noise-cancelling earbuds may be comfortable enough for sleeping, but they are not specifically designed for this purpose. If you plan on using them while sleeping, you’ll want to look for earbuds with a low profile and a comfortable fit.
Can I use noise-cancelling earbuds without ANC?
Yes, most noise-canceling earbuds can be used without activating the ANC feature, giving you the option to save battery or use them in situations where noise-canceling is not required.
Do noise-canceling earbuds block all external noise?
Noise-canceling earbuds can greatly reduce ambient noise, especially low-frequency sounds that are constantly generated, such as airplane engines or air conditioning units, but they cannot completely block all external noise, especially sudden or very high-frequency sounds.
Can I use noise-canceling earbuds when talking on the phone?
Yes, many noise-canceling earbuds have a built-in microphone for making and receiving calls. This microphone is designed to capture your voice clearly while reducing background noise from those on the other end of the call.
What is the difference between earphones with and without a microphone?
Earbuds equipped with a microphone can provide additional features, such as answering calls or summoning a voice assistant.
Additionally, a microphone is essential for both active noise cancellation and ambient sound modes to work. On the other hand, earbuds without a microphone can only play audio.
Are earphones good for talking on the phone?
Some earbuds are suitable for phone calls. In general, both perform similarly to larger headphones. But to get good call quality, you need to choose the right model. Microphone performance varies considerably.
Are wireless earphones better than wired earphones for phone calls?
Wireless earbuds often come with advanced features such as noise cancellation, improved microphone quality, and voice assistant integration to further enhance convenience and mobility during calls.
What should I consider regarding the microphone quality of my earbuds?
If you are looking for earbuds for calls or gaming, you should consider a noise-canceling microphone and clear audio transmission so that others can hear you clearly.
Can earbuds with voice assistants improve calling capabilities?
Yes, you get hands-free control and quick access to calling features. This allows you to manage your calls and adjust the volume without touching your phone, which is especially helpful while driving or exercising.