I’ve spent the last hour digging through Amazon’s “Winter Sale” (or whatever they’re calling it today) across two different deal lists, and honestly? It’s a minefield out there.
On one hand, you have random alphabet-soup brands claiming to be 90% off. On the other, you have the heavy hitters like Sony and Beats actually dropping prices.
If you’re looking to shut out the world—whether it’s a crying baby on a plane or just your own thoughts at the gym—here is the breakdown of the noise canceling earbuds that are actually worth buying right now.
The “Burner Phone” Tier ($19 – $22)
These are the earbuds you buy if you lose a pair every month. They’re cheap, they work, and if they fall into a sewer grate, you won’t cry.
-
The “Exzhig” Noise Canceling Earbuds ($22, supposedly was $160): First off, let’s be real. Nobody ever paid $160 for a brand that sounds like a Scrabble hand. But at $22, these are interesting. They claim “noise canceling,” but read the fine print—it’s mostly passive isolation and mic noise reduction for calls.
-
The Good: IPX7 waterproof (you can shower in them) and a cool LED case that shows battery percentage.
-
The Verdict: Buy these for the gym or as a backup. Just don’t expect Bose-level silence.
-
-
Anker Soundcore P20i ($19, was $39): This is the safer bet. Anker is a real brand. These are currently $19, which is less than a cocktail in NYC.
-
The Catch: They don’t have Active Noise Cancelation (ANC). They rely on a tight seal.
-
The Verdict: If you just want reliable Bluetooth audio for pennies, get these over the mystery “Exzhig” ones.
-
The “Actually Quiet” Tier ($80 – $100)
If you want real Active Noise Cancelation (the kind that uses microphones to delete the sound of a jet engine), you have to spend a little more. Thankfully, the deals here are solid.
-
Sony WF-C710N ($88, was $119): This is the winner. Hands down. Sony’s ANC tech is legendary, and getting it for under $90 is a steal.
-
Why they win: Incredible battery life (up to 30+ hours with the case) and a sound profile that punches way above its weight class.
-
The Verdict: If you have $90, buy these. They are the best value on Amazon right now.
-
-
Beats Studio Buds ($99, was $149): At full price ($150), these are a rip-off. But at $99? They’re a contender.
-
Why consider them: They work flawlessly with iPhones (one-tap pairing), they come in actual colors (not just black/white), and the ANC is decent.
-
The Verdict: Buy these if you want the Apple ecosystem features but refuse to pay Apple prices.
-
Here is your decision tree:
-
Broke / Prone to losing things? Get the Exzhig ($22) if you want waterproofing, or the Anker ($19) if you want reliability.
-
Commuter / Student? Spend the extra cash and get the Sony WF-C710N ($88). The silence is worth the extra $60. Trust me.
Don’t trust the “Original Price” on any brand you can’t pronounce. If it says “Was $160, Now $20,” it was always $20.
