The Independent: Apple AirPods Pro are the best in-ear noise-cancelling headphones

The Independent looks at the best noise-cancelling headphones for 2021 naming Apple’s AirPods Pro the best in-ear noise-cancelling headphones.

Noise-canceling shootout:AirPods Pro are packed with audio innovation to deliver superior sound and an immersive noise-canceling experience.
Apple’s current AirPods Pro are packed with audio innovation to deliver superior sound and an immersive noise-canceling experience.

David Phelan for The Independent:

Apple’s newest in-ears are a revelation. Unlike previous AirPods, they have a silicone ear tip that fits the ear perfectly. There are three sizes of ear tip to choose from and a clever ear tip fit test in the app on the iPhone which plays music and listens to judge if the fit is right.

The battery shape has changed so the AirPods pro feel more secure in the ear. The noise-cancelling is fantastic, working as effectively on a train or Tube as on a plane. Although in-ear headphones can’t beat over-ears for noise-cancelling efficacy, these come pretty close.

There’s a transparency mode here, too, on a par with that on the Bose [see full review]. If you do take one earbud out, the music pauses automatically, resuming when you put the earbud back.

They also work brilliantly for phone calls, effective with either one or both buds. Pairing with any phone is straightforward, but completely simple and very fast with an iPhone (you just open the case near the iPhone and that’s it, you’re done).

MacDailyNews Take: We use Apple’s AirPods Pro daily and highly recommended them for everything from commuting to running!

8 Comments

    1. Thanks for your post. I’m on the fence about buying Master Dynamic’s MW08. And then Sony just released their new buds. So many good choices and only two ears to enjoy them with (and only so many dollars to spend).

  1. Noise-cancelling is fine but the big problems are connection issues. My Pros routinely fail to connect to my iPhone, latey I’ve been getting a „these are not your Airpods Pro” message, following the steps on screen is an endless loop. I should have just bought a new pair of classic airpods, my gen 1 set never had an issue.

  2. That’s a huge problem. Truly, with the various 3rd party buds/phones I use, connection issues…with Anker (3) and Beats are non-existent. Connection to the eco-system (iPh) is supposed to be the magic?

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