The AirPods Pro 3 has better ANC than any over-ear headphones

Apple’s latest earbuds just did something remarkable: they outperformed every over-ear headphone we’ve ever tested for noise cancelation. That includes flagship models that cost significantly more and have far larger earcups to work with.

In our standardized lab tests, the AirPods Pro 3 ($249 at Amazon) achieved an average noise attenuation of 90%. To put that in perspective, the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 — two of the most acclaimed noise canceling headphones on the market — both manage 87%. Even Apple’s own AirPods Max, which previously held our top spot, only reaches 88%.

Apple just beat their own record, and they did it with earbuds.

What 90% noise reduction actually means

This isn’t a small improvement — it’s a meaningful leap in real-world performance. The AirPods Pro 3 can effectively silence noisy neighbors, chatty coworkers, and the roar of your next flight. Whether you’re commuting by train, working in a busy coffee shop, or trying to focus in an open office, these earbuds deliver the kind of isolation we typically associate with premium over-ear headphones.

The improved performance comes from a combination of factors. Apple has refined the fit of the AirPods Pro 3, and the new ear tips contribute to better passive isolation even before ANC kicks in.

The fit caveat

Here’s the catch: you absolutely need a proper fit to achieve these results. The ANC feature will shut off if the sensor doesn’t detect your ear, and a poor seal will dramatically reduce performance. Apple includes multiple ear tip sizes in the box, and you may need different sizes for each ear — that’s completely normal.

Use Apple’s Acoustic Seal test in the Settings app to verify that you have the right fit. Our team found that the test results generally aligned with our subjective experiences, although a few of us could still hear office noise even with ANC engaged. Remember, these aren’t memory foam tips, so don’t expect perfect low-end isolation from passive fit alone — the ANC does the heavy lifting.

Earbuds officially beat over-ears

For years, over-ear headphones held an inherent advantage in noise cancelation simply due to their size. Larger earcups meant more space for microphones, better passive isolation, and more room for acoustic tuning. The AirPods Pro 3 prove that advantage is gone, at least for now.

Apple hasn’t just matched the best over-ear headphones — they’ve surpassed them. And they’ve done it in a package you can slip into your pocket.