I currently have have some Bose QuietComfort earbuds but the case the case for them is quite thick and doesn’t easily fit in a front pocket. I am wondering what’s out there with a form factor similar to AirPods.

Here’s a picture of the current headphones I have

Some other features that are important to me are:

  • Transparency mode

  • Active noise cancelling

  • Comfortable

  • Not going to easy fall out of my ears

  • Decent IP (Ingress Progression) rating

  • Multipoint so I can toggle between devices

I feel like the Jabra Elite 10 looks promising.

  • PolysicsEnglish
    2•6 months ago

    The Pixel Buds Pro are very nice and fit all your requirements. They will work with apple devices if that’s a factor but the app is exclusive to Android.

    If you need an apple friendly one, the Nothing Ear (current model, not the original of the same name, or the gen 2) also meets all your criteria and has an iOS and Android app.

    Yes I do personally own both and I daily drive the pixel buds and keep the nothing in my bag as a backup.

    Of course fit/comfort is not going to be universal since your ears are very unlikely to be exactly like mine but just buy them from some source that has a good return policy.

    Someone else mentioned the Jabra elite 10, and I also own those, but the noise cancelling and transparency is lacking compared to the pixel and nothing’s. It does meet all your criteria, it’s just IMO the others are better for everyday use. I use the Jabra for outdoor chores like lawn work because they have a high IP rating so I can sweat my face off and not worry.

    Airpod pros are nice but don’t have true multi point. It’s a pseudo multi point that only works with, of course, apple products. I have a pair of those for the office because the transparency is unbeatable so I can talk and leave them in and also we use all Apple products at work so the convenience is nice. Also for my ears at least the fit is not as secure as the others I’ve mentioned.

    Yes I have a problem. No, that is not the full list of headphones/earbuds I have.

    • CorrodedOPEnglish
      1•6 months ago

      Do you have any experience with the Technics EAH-AZ80? That’s another option I have been looking at

      • PolysicsEnglish
        2•6 months ago

        Actually yes and I had to return them because they were very painful in my ears.

        To get at least somewhat of an idea of my ear size and shape, I usually have to use the smallest size tips that come with earbuds.

        The technics hurt the cartilage in my ears so they were a no go. I got a good seal in the canals but the rest of the ears broke the deal for me.

        Good sound and noise cancelling though. And the 3 way multipoint was neat. Case is that awkward shape that isn’t very pocketable though, so if I did keep those they would have stayed in my bag or at my desk.

        I have the Bose QC earbuds 2 and they are very comfy, but no multipoint so I only use them for watching movies on my computer. The NC and transparency on them is amazing though.

        • CorrodedOPEnglish
          1•6 months ago

          Good sound and noise cancelling though. And the 3 way multipoint was neat. Case is that awkward shape that isn’t very pocketable though, so if I did keep those they would have stayed in my bag or at my desk.

          Awkward in what way?

          • PolysicsEnglish
            1•6 months ago

            For pocketable cases I’d say look to the shapes that the airpods and pixel buds have. Very pebble-like in shape where they try to make them very flat. The technics, while not large like ANY of the Bose cases, is still “thick” like previous generations of Jabra cases (the Jabra elite 10 is better about that now) so unless you wear cargo pants you won’t want them in your jeans or slacks pocket. They’re that kind of shape and size like a stone in your shoe where you will always feel them and that bugs the hell out of me.

            The Nothing Ear have that problem kinda, but not because the case is thick, but because the case is very square and angular. Hence why those stay in my bag as backups.

            Edit: I know I used 2 rock examples but it fits. A pebble, smooth and flat like you’d skip on the water, vs. a stone, which you certainly would not because it’s a bulky little thing.

    • CorrodedOPEnglish
      2•6 months ago

      That’s a good source. I will definitely be saving it for future reference.

      I like being able to create custom tables. I made this table for noise cancellation, multi-point, headphone type, talk-through, and case volume.

      It seems a bit strange to me the portability score is based off of just the earbuds with no case. It makes me wonder how many people are actually throwing them in their pocket.

      Either way the list is making me lean towards the Technics EAH-AZ80 True Wireless