ANC, ENC, LDAC, IP54, “40 hours”: what each earbud spec really means for your phone and your ears, and how to check AirPods with Apple’s own tools.
Earbud boxes are full of big words: ANC, ENC, LDAC, “40 hours”, “game mode”, IPX4. Some matter a lot, some only matter with the right phone, and some are written to sell. This earbuds buying guide explains each one in plain words, checked against the brands’ own support pages, so you can pick a pair that suits your phone, your ears and your day. Pehle samjhiye, phir kharidiye.
ANC (active noise cancellation) changes what you hear. Microphones on the outside of the earbud pick up outside noise, and the earbud plays “anti-noise” to cancel it before it reaches your ear, while a microphone inside listens for what is left (Apple). Sony notes that noise cancelling works mainly on low-frequency sound such as vehicles and air conditioning, and reduces it rather than removing it (Sony). Bus engines, generator hum and aeroplane cabins are where it shines. Many ANC earbuds, including AirPods Pro and Sony’s, also have a transparency or ambient mode that does the opposite: it lets outside sound in, so you can hear traffic without taking the earbuds out.
ENC (environmental noise cancellation) is about calls. Soundcore describes it as isolating your voice from background noise, so it is the other person who hears less of your street (Soundcore). When a box lists ENC but not ANC, expect clearer calls, not quieter music.
A codec is how music is packed to travel over Bluetooth. The Bluetooth audio specification makes SBC mandatory, so every pair works with every phone. The rest are extras:
| Codec | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| SBC | Every phone | Mandatory in Bluetooth audio, so it always works |
| AAC | iPhone, and Android too | Apple says AirPods use AAC |
| aptX family | Android phones that list it | Qualcomm codecs: aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| LDAC | Android phones that list it | Sony’s codec, up to 990 kbps (Sony) |
| LC3 (LE Audio) | Phones and earbuds with LE Audio | Bluetooth’s newer codec: SBC-level quality at under half the bitrate (Bluetooth SIG) |
Android 8.0 and later include AAC, aptX, aptX HD and LDAC alongside SBC, and the phone uses the best codec that both sides support (Android Open Source Project). So a codec only helps when both the phone and the earbuds list it.
On an iPhone, AAC is the one that matters: Apple says AirPods use its AAC codec, and also that Bluetooth connections aren’t lossless (Apple). Apple doesn’t list aptX or LDAC for iPhone, so paying extra for them only makes sense with an Android phone that supports them.
Latency is the delay between something happening on screen and the sound reaching your ears. It matters most in games, where footsteps and gunshots need to land on time.
Some earbuds offer a game or low-latency mode. Samsung’s Gaming mode adjusts the audio delay on Galaxy Buds+ and newer, but only with a Samsung phone through the Galaxy Wearable app (Samsung). realme quotes 40 ms in Game Mode for its Buds Air 5 Pro, measured in its own lab, and adds that results depend on the test environment (realme). Treat any latency figure as a best case.
Battery figures are real, but they are measured under the brand’s own conditions. Apple rates AirPods Pro 3 at up to 8 hours with noise cancellation on at 50% volume, and adds that battery life depends on settings, environment and usage (Apple). Two things to look for:
An IP rating, from the IEC 60529 standard, tells you how well a product resists dust and water. The first digit is dust and the second is water (Samsung). You will often see IPX4, which Sony describes for its earbuds as protection against water splashing from any direction.
Three cautions from the brands themselves:
Earbuds that don’t seal well don’t cancel noise well either. Apple says ANC and transparency work best when AirPods Pro fit well, and its Ear Tip Fit Test (the Acoustic Seal Test on AirPods Pro 3 with iOS 26) checks the seal (Apple). Samsung’s Earbud fit test does the same on Galaxy Buds2, Buds2 Pro, Buds3 Pro and Buds4 Pro (Samsung).
Try every tip size in the box, and don’t assume both ears take the same size: Apple says you might need a different size for each ear.
Copies of popular earbuds can look very close to the real thing, so check with the brand’s own tools, not a seller’s word.
For AirPods, Apple lists three places to find the serial number: Settings > Bluetooth (tap the info button next to your AirPods), the underside of the charging case lid, and next to the barcode on the original box. Apple also says the AirPods and their case share a serial number (Apple). Enter it on Apple’s coverage page and make sure the model is the one you paid for.
A mismatch anywhere is a reason to walk away. A match is a good sign, but no check from a distance is perfect, so the seller still matters.
For Galaxy Buds, we could not find a public genuine-check tool on Samsung’s website. Samsung’s Pakistan warranty terms do say the warranty doesn’t apply to products not bought from an authorised Samsung dealer (Samsung Pakistan), so buy from a seller who gives you an invoice and the official warranty. Every pair in our earbuds range is genuine, comes with an invoice and the brand’s official warranty wherever the brand provides one, and is checked before dispatch.
| If you… | Look for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Use an iPhone | AAC and a good fit | Paying extra for aptX or LDAC |
| Use Android and care about sound | LDAC or aptX, if your phone lists it | A codec your phone doesn’t support |
| Commute or work in noise | ANC with a transparency mode | ENC sold as if it were ANC |
| Take a lot of calls | ENC or another call-noise feature | Earbuds with no call feature listed |
| Game on your phone | A game or low-latency mode | A game mode that needs another brand’s phone |
| Sweat at the gym or walk in the rain | An IP rating with a water digit of 4 or more | Showering or swimming with them |
| Switch between phone and laptop | Multipoint: two devices connected at once | Assuming every pair can do it |
If you ride buses or rickshaws, sit near generators or AC units, or fly, yes: steady low-frequency noise is what ANC handles best. In a quiet room, Sony itself says the effect may not be pronounced.
No. Apple’s own earbuds use AAC, and Apple doesn’t list aptX or LDAC for iPhone, so AAC is the codec to look for.
Don’t. Apple says AirPods aren’t made for swimming or showering, and Samsung’s IP57 rating for Galaxy Buds3 covers fresh water only.
Find the serial in Settings > Bluetooth, match it with the case lid and the box, and check it on Apple’s coverage page. Any mismatch is a red flag.
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