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For most people the EarFun Air Pro 4 is the one to get under $100: long battery, wireless charging and every common codec. Want the quietest buds for the money? The Nothing Ear (a). On the tightest budget, the CMF Buds Pro 2 still cancel noise well enough.
Updated November 4, 2026
Best for: Most people, especially anyone who wants long battery and Android extras
Catch: Calls sound thin on its microphones.
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Best for: Commuters who want the most quiet and a lively sound
Catch: Shortest battery here, about 5.5 hours.
Best for: A tight budget, a gym pair, or a spare for travel
Catch: Very heavy bass until you turn it down in the app.
Trains and planes are mostly low rumble, which every pick here handles. Voices in an office are harder for all of them.
Look at the battery figure with noise canceling on. That's the number you'll actually get on a commute.
LDAC and aptX only help on Android phones that support them. With an iPhone, all three stream in AAC.
Try every ear tip size in the box. A good seal makes noise canceling and bass much better.
The Nothing Ear (a) block the most noise but run out first. The EarFun lasts about two hours longer per charge, with slightly less quiet.
The EarFun sounds a bit flat and the CMF very bassy until you open the app. A few seconds in the EQ fixes both.
Reviewers complained about controls on all three. The CMF dial is the easiest to use, because it sits on the case.
Final buying advice: Get the EarFun Air Pro 4 if you want one pair that does everything well and lasts a full workday. Choose the Nothing Ear (a) when blocking noise is the priority. If you just need decent quiet for little money, the CMF Buds Pro 2 are the smart buy.
| Model | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price level | Budget | Budget | Budget |
| Battery per charge, noise canceling on (claimed) | Up to 7.5 hours | Up to 5.5 hours | Up to 6.5 hours |
| With the case, noise canceling on (claimed) | Up to 35 hours | Up to 24.5 hours | Up to 26 hours |
| Weight per bud | – | 4.8 g (0.17 oz) | 4.9 g (0.17 oz) |
| Fit | Sealed, silicone tips | Sealed, silicone tips | Sealed, silicone tips |
| Water resistance | IPX5 | IP54 (buds), IPX2 (case) | IP55 |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Not quite. All three reduce engine and air-conditioning hum well, but reviewers found voices and sudden sounds still get through. Flagship buds do better with chatter.
The EarFun Air Pro 4, with up to 7.5 hours claimed with noise canceling on. The Nothing Ear (a) is the shortest at about 5.5 hours.
Yes. They work over Bluetooth with AAC, and the Nothing X app runs on iOS. LDAC won't work on an iPhone, but that's true of every pair here.
We shortlisted noise-canceling earbuds that independent reviewers rate well and that we saw selling under $100 at a major shop, then compared them on the makers' specs.
We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.
Sources: EarFun: Air Pro 4, Android Central: EarFun Air Pro 4 review, PC Gamer: EarFun Air Pro 4 review, Nothing: Ear (a), TechRadar: Nothing Ear (a) review, Expert Reviews: Nothing Ear (a) review, CMF by Nothing: Buds Pro 2, Expert Reviews: CMF Buds Pro 2 review, Stuff: CMF Buds Pro 2 review.
