Combined with the great housing boom and the pandemic-induced work from home situation, renovation works are now aplenty. There's nothing quite like the sound of rumbling doom as it hits you just when you're about to get some work done. Thankfully, technology has gotten us to a point where it's possible to cancel out the noise with ANC in-ears. These not only offer passive noise-cancellation by plugging up your ears, they also “cancel” annoying background noise to give you a blissful quiet nirvana suitable for thinking and working.
Just note that these in-ears may not come with noise-cancelling microphones, so you're probably out of luck for Zoom meetings where you have to speak.
Jabra Elite 7 Pro
One of the best ANC in-ears we've reviewed this year, the Jabra Elite 7 Pro is good enough to keep you wondering if the drilling has actually stopped (it hasn't). You'll get nothing but quiet bliss, though if the renovation works is loud enough, you'll probably hear a tiny quiet rumbling in the far background. It also has bone conduction tech for its microphone so you can talk in noisy places.
Sony WF-1000XM4
The fourth-generation of Sony's noise-cancelling wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM4, continues to deliver the goods. It's been almost two years since Sony released the previous model, and the WF-1000XM4 comes with a new design and ear tips. It's also easier to figure out how to get them in your ears. The sound is excellent, the noise-cancelling is great, and the battery life, well, amazing.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
There’s plenty to like about the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro. The bean-shaped wireless earbuds pack great sound in the form of clear trebles and solid bass. Factor in solid active noise cancelling (ANC), voice detection to cancel ANC when you're talking, and you have a winner.
Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Pro
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Pro offers great sound and low latency gaming on demand. These ANC in-ears feature THX-certified EQ, and you can also choose from presets to tweak it to your liking. Factor in comfortable foam ear tips and a charger case that adds in another 20 hours of use, and the Razer in-ears are solidly in the pretty good column.
Redmi Buds 3 Pro
The Redmi Buds 3 Pro does a good impression of more expensive true wireless earbuds. These tiny earbuds pack plenty of features, including hybrid active noise cancellation, in-ear detection and ambient mode, for its S$89 price. But some of these features require a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone with the latest MIUI software. It's a shame because the Redmi Bud 3 Pro should garner a wider audience than just Xiaomi users.
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