LogFAQs > #956455123

I've tried both, the noise canceling on earbuds definitely isn't as good as over-ear headphones, but it's still pretty good. It depends on how well the specific earbuds seal in your ear and which ones you get too.

Also I think that the noise canceling effectiveness deteriorates over time, because my year and a half old AirPods Pro definitely don't cancel noise out as well as they used to when I first got them. I also tried my dad's Bose Quietcomfort earbuds and they have MUCH better noise canceling than my AirPods Pro, but he literally just got them so that could be it too.

Keep in mind, active noise canceling technology is meant to cancel out lower frequencies and consistent ones, such as the low rumbling of a plane or bus engine. Higher and more erratic/sudden sounds such as voices talking aren't meant to be filtered out by active noise cancellation, that's just how it is. Voices and such might be a bit more muffled for sure, but not designed to be blocked out completely. Lots of people don't know this and are disappointed when everything isn't completely blocked out by their new ANC device.