| 1 | Ear-tip sizes and materials | Check whether the package includes several tip sizes. Try different sizes and look for a secure seal without pressure or soreness. | A suitable seal can improve stability, passive noise reduction, and bass response. |
| 2 | Earbud shape and weight | Compare the housing shape and published weight per earbud. If possible, wear them for at least 20–30 minutes before deciding. | A light, well-shaped earbud may feel more comfortable during extended listening, but fit varies from person to person. |
| 3 | Fit security during movement | Walk, turn your head, and gently move your jaw while wearing the earbuds. Check whether they shift or need frequent adjustment. | A stable fit is important for commuting, exercise, and consistent sound. |
| 4 | Active noise cancellation (ANC) | Compare ANC settings and test them against steady low-frequency sounds, such as ventilation or vehicle cabin noise. | ANC can reduce some background noise, especially steady low-frequency sounds, but performance varies and it does not eliminate all noise. |
| 5 | Passive isolation and ear-tip seal | Listen with ANC switched off and compare how much outside sound is blocked by the ear tips alone. | Physical fit contributes to noise isolation and can affect how well ANC works. |
| 6 | Transparency or ambient mode | Check whether outside sound can be heard naturally through the earbuds and whether the level can be adjusted. | This mode can help you hear announcements or nearby conversation without removing the earbuds. |
| 7 | Noise-control microphones and wind handling | Look for reviews or demonstrations recorded outdoors, and compare performance in light wind as well as quiet indoor settings. | Microphone placement and processing can affect ANC, transparency, and call quality; wind may create distracting noise. |
| 8 | Controls and accidental touches | Check whether the earbuds use touch, button, or app controls. Test the controls while adjusting the fit. | Easy-to-use controls help you change volume or noise modes without repeatedly taking out your phone. |
| 9 | Battery life with ANC enabled | Compare the maker’s stated playback time with ANC on and off, and check the charging case’s additional capacity. | ANC use can reduce playback time, so figures for different listening modes should not be treated as interchangeable. |
| 10 | Water resistance and safe use | Check the product’s IP rating and the conditions covered by its documentation. Avoid assuming that water resistance means the earbuds are waterproof. | Ingress-protection ratings indicate tested resistance to specific conditions. ANC is not hearing protection, so keep listening volume at a safe level. |