Contents14
- ANC and call noise reduction are separate
- Will it remove chatter, keyboards, air conditioning, street noise and wind?
- Call features and wind measures the makers publish
- Does Teams certification tell you how well noise is removed?
- Why call audio sounds muffled on Windows
- How to check for your own office
- Picks by situation
- For calls in a noisy office
- For calls on an iPhone and a Mac
- FAQ
- Does strong ANC mean the earbuds’ mic also cuts the noise around me on calls?
- Do more mics mean cleaner calls?
- Will earbuds cut keyboard clatter or air-conditioning hum on calls?
- Do Teams-certified earbuds also remove more noise?
For calls in a noisy office, this guide picks the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), which Bose says reduces office chatter and wind on calls with AI. It lists 8 mics, but Bose doesn’t say how many are for calls.
This guide is based on the makers’ official pages. No earbuds were tested in person, so how your voice sounds to the other person isn’t judged.
- ANC (active noise cancellation): reduces the noise you hear
- Beamforming: using several mics to pick up sound from your mouth more strongly
- Bone-conduction sensor: tells your voice apart from other sound by the vibration when you speak (also called voice pickup)
- AI noise removal: processing that reduces background noise in the voice it sends
- HFP: the Bluetooth call profile, which is mono
- LE Audio: the newer Bluetooth standard, which can keep stereo during calls when the conditions are met
- Teams certification: Certified for Microsoft Teams, which checks audio quality and Teams call controls
ANC and call noise reduction are separate
Per the makers’ pages as of October 2026, ANC (active noise cancellation) cuts the noise you hear; call noise reduction cuts the noise the other person hears. Sony, Bose and Jabra describe them as separate features, and none says strong ANC keeps background noise out of your calls.
Among the models checked, none says more mics mean better calls. The Sony WF-1000XM6’s 8 mics are for ANC; calls use 2 mics plus a bone-conduction sensor. Bose doesn’t say whether its 8 mics include the ANC ones.
Will it remove chatter, keyboards, air conditioning, street noise and wind?
Among the earbuds compared here, only the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) says it reduces office chatter on calls. Bose describes AI suppression of chatter and wind.
No page names keyboard clatter or air-conditioning hum as something it removes. Bose names voices and wind, the Technics EAH-AZ100 wind and sudden noises, and no page gives figures.
Among the models checked, whether train or street noise is removed like office chatter isn’t clear, and this guide hasn’t verified it.
Every model in the table lists wind measures, and the methods differ. See the Wind measures column.
Call features and wind measures the makers publish
The table comes from the makers’ official pages. Read the “Call features” and “Wind measures” columns. “Not confirmed” means this guide didn’t check, not that the feature is missing, and the table shows only what is published, not how good it sounds.
| Model | Call features | Wind measures | ANC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WF-1000XM6 | 2 call mics aimed at your mouth, bone-conduction sensor and AI | Mic-area structure (micro-perforations, streamlined shape) reduces wind noise | Yes |
| Sony WF-1000XM5 | Voice pickup and bone-conduction sensor (call mic count not listed) | Mic design that reduces wind noise | Yes |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) | 8 mics and AI noise suppression (unclear whether the 8 include the ANC mics) | AI suppression said to reduce wind | Yes |
| Jabra Elite 10 (1st Gen) | 6 mics (one per side picks up your voice by bone conduction) | Wind mode (switches to the in-ear mic) | Not confirmed |
| Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 | 3 mics per side, voice accelerometer and Clear Calling (how it works isn’t explained) | Wind-blocking mesh covers | Not confirmed |
| Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Dual beamforming mics, an inward mic and a speech-detecting accelerometer (Voice Isolation) | Voice Isolation removes wind and other noise (calls on iPhone, iPad and Mac) | Not confirmed |
| Technics EAH-AZ100 | 3 mics per side (6 total) and AI noise reduction | AI said to suppress wind and sudden noises | Yes |
| Poly Voyager Free 60 | 3 mics per side and AI noise removal (NoiseBlockAI) | WindSmart | Yes |
Among the models checked, the Call features column shows which models publish a voice-pickup method or AI noise removal.
The Jabra Elite 10 found on Amazon is the first generation. The newer Gen 2 lists 6 mics, but neither their layout nor a Teams certification was found.
Does Teams certification tell you how well noise is removed?
Per Microsoft, no standard for how strongly noise is removed is listed on its pages. Teams certification (Certified for Microsoft Teams) checks audio quality and Teams call controls such as mute sync. Nothing found says earbuds need the certification to work in Teams.
For earbuds paired straight to the PC, Teams certification covers classic Bluetooth only; LE Audio isn’t certified, and a PC with a separate USB Bluetooth adapter is outside the certification.
The only Teams certification found here is for the Teams version of the Poly Voyager Free 60. The regular UC version may not be certified, and the Amazon listing is the UC version from a third-party seller, so this guide doesn’t recommend it.
Why call audio sounds muffled on Windows
Per Microsoft, with classic Bluetooth, Windows switches to the call profile (HFP) when a call app uses the earbuds’ mic, and audio becomes mono. HFP also limits the audio band, which is why call audio sounds muffled. LE Audio is the exception.
The exception is LE Audio: Windows 11 24H2 or later on a PC with factory LE Audio support, and earbuds that keep stereo during calls. None of the models here officially confirms stereo during calls.
Per Apple, AirPods Voice Isolation, which removes background noise such as wind during calls, works in calls on an iPhone, iPad or Mac. Apple doesn’t say whether the same processing applies to Windows calls.
How to check for your own office
- Decide which noise you want gone, and which PC you use
- In the tool below, see which models publish a feature for that noise, then check the ones you like on the maker’s page
- After buying, ask a coworker how you sound on a call
Check which earbuds publish call features for a noisy office
Pick the noise around you (voices, typing, air conditioning, wind) and your PC (Windows or Mac). It shows the specs to check, the caveats and the models that publish a call feature for that noise. It doesn't rate how you sound.
For these settings
For these settings
In the tool, pick the noise around you and your PC to see what to check and which models publish a feature for that noise. This guide doesn’t judge how you sound to the other person, because no earbuds were recorded and compared. It lists only the call features the makers publish.
Picks by situation
Per the makers’ pages, candidates here list call features, wind measures and ANC, plus AI noise reduction or reduced chatter. Of those, only listings with 100+ Amazon.com ratings, 4.0+ stars and a seller of Amazon or the maker are considered.
For calls in a noisy office
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) is the only candidate that meets those rating and seller rules, and it says it reduces office chatter and wind.
Whether the rating count is shared with other models on the listing wasn't checked.
For calls on an iPhone and a Mac
This guide picks the AirPods Pro 3 for iPhone and Mac calls. Per Apple, it has Voice Isolation and dual beamforming mics. Apple doesn’t say whether Voice Isolation works in Windows calls.
FAQ
Does strong ANC mean the earbuds’ mic also cuts the noise around me on calls?
No. ANC cuts the noise you hear, while call noise reduction cuts the noise the other person hears. Sony, Bose and Jabra describe them as separate features.
Do more mics mean cleaner calls?
No official page among the major makers’ earbuds compared here says that more mics mean better calls. The Sony WF-1000XM6 lists 8 mics for ANC, plus 2 call mics and a bone-conduction sensor.
Will earbuds cut keyboard clatter or air-conditioning hum on calls?
No official page among the earbuds compared here names keyboard or air-conditioning noise as something it removes.
Do Teams-certified earbuds also remove more noise?
Microsoft’s pages don’t list how strongly noise is removed as a Teams certification criterion.
Data and formulas used (for verification)
Method
- Scope: current earbuds from Sony, Bose, Jabra, Apple, Google, Technics and Poly as of 2026-10-10, plus official Microsoft and Apple documentation. No recordings were made.
- This guide does not judge how a mic sounds. Mic counts, methods and certifications are the makers’ published specs.
Official values used
| Item | Value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| windows_hfp_mono | When a mic is opened, Windows switches from A2DP (stereo) to HFP (mono, 8 kHz or 16 kHz); only a Bluetooth LE Audio PC plus earbuds can keep stereo during calls | learn.microsoft.com Microsoft Learn: ‘Bluetooth Classic audio supports stereo audio playback over th | 2026-10-10 |
| windows11_hfp_trigger | Windows 11 picks HFP when an app opens the mic or plays a Communications-category stream | learn.microsoft.com Microsoft Learn: ‘A2DP only supports audio output from the host to the audio dev | 2026-10-10 |
| windows_le_audio_requirements | Stereo during calls needs Windows 11 24H2+, a PC with factory-integrated Bluetooth LE support, and earbuds that support stereo while the mic is in use | support.microsoft.com | 2026-10-10 |
| sony_video_call_note | Sony tells users to check the PC link is HFP or HSP for video calls | helpguide.sony.net Sony: ‘When using a video calling application on a computer, check that the head | 2026-10-10 |
| jabra_mics_elite10 | 6 microphones | jabra.com | 2026-10-10 |
| xm6_anc | Yes | helpguide.sony.net | 2026-10-10 |
| xm5_anc | Yes | helpguide.sony.net | 2026-10-10 |
| bose_anc | Yes | bose.com | 2026-10-10 |
| az100_anc | Yes | jp.technics.com | 2026-10-10 |
| anc_vs_call_nr_separate | Makers describe ANC (what you hear) and call microphone noise reduction (what the other person hears) as separate features | sony.jp | 2026-10-10 |
| bose_anc_vs_call | Bose lists ANC changes and AI call noise suppression as separate items | bose.com | 2026-10-10 |
| xm6_call_mics | Sony WF-1000XM6: 2 mics for calls (directional toward the mouth) + bone conduction sensor + AI noise reduction; ANC uses a separate 4 mics per earbud (8 total) | sony.jp | 2026-10-10 |
| xm5_call_mics | Sony WF-1000XM5: wind-reducing mic structure + precision voice pickup technology + bone conduction sensor; 3 ANC mics per earbud (6 total) | sony.jp | 2026-10-10 |
| bose_qc2_mics | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): 8 microphones; AI noise suppression for calls | bose.com | 2026-10-10 |
| jabra_elite10g2_mics | Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2: 6 MEMS microphones, noise reduction on calls, HFP v1.8 | jabra.com | 2026-10-10 |
| jabra_elite10_wind | Jabra Elite 10 (1st gen): a wind mode switches to the in-ear microphone; Jabra says one mic per earbud picks up voice through bone conduction | jabra.com | 2026-10-10 |
| pixel_buds_pro2_mics | Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: three microphones per earbud, voice accelerometer, wind-blocking mesh covers, Clear Calling | store.google.com | 2026-10-10 |
| airpods_pro3_mics | Apple AirPods Pro 3: dual beamforming microphones, an inward-facing microphone, a speech-detecting accelerometer, Voice Isolation | apple.com | 2026-10-10 |
| airpods_voice_isolation | AirPods Voice Isolation removes background noise such as wind for the listener; AirPods 4, Pro 2 and Pro 3 | support.apple.com | 2026-10-10 |
| az100_mics | Technics EAH-AZ100: three microphones per earbud plus AI noise reduction (trained on 500 million audio samples); suppresses wind and sudden noises | us.technics.com Technics: ‘The AZ100 is equipped with AI trained on 500 million pieces of audio | 2026-10-10 |
| poly_free60_mics | Poly Voyager Free 60: three microphones per earbud, WindSmart wind protection, NoiseBlockAI | hp.com | 2026-10-10 |
| poly_free60_teams | Poly Voyager Free 60 is Microsoft Teams Certified (Teams version only), so the plain UC model is not necessarily certified | hp.com | 2026-10-10 |
| teams_cert_meaning | Teams certification checks audio quality and Teams call control (e.g. mute sync); Microsoft’s two pages state no noise-removal strength criterion | learn.microsoft.com | 2026-10-10 |
| teams_native_bt_limits | Native Bluetooth Teams certification covers Classic Bluetooth only (LE Audio not certified); aftermarket USB Bluetooth adapters are not certified | learn.microsoft.com Microsoft Learn: ‘This certification is currently for Classic Bluetooth devices. | 2026-10-10 |
| xm6_wind_mic | Streamlined body, micro-perforated mic area and an airflow structure to reduce wind noise, which also helps what the caller hears | sony.jp | 2026-10-10 |
Check which earbuds publish call features for a noisy office: quick reference
The calculator in this article shows the result and a matching product for your own settings. Settings can be set in the URL; each link below opens the calculator with those settings.
| Settings | Result | Calculator |
|---|---|---|
| Coworkers talking, Windows | ✓ 6 models publish a feature for coworkers talking. Sony WF-1000XM6, Sony WF-1000XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), Jabra Elite 10 (1st Gen), Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, Apple AirPods Pro 3. For voices around you, look for a way of picking out your own voice (bone-conduction or motion sensors, mics aimed at your mouth) or a stated reduction of nearby speech. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are the ones that clearly say they cut coworkers’ voices in calls. ANC cuts the noise you hear; the noise the other person hears is handled by a separate call feature. More mics don’t mean clearer calls (the Sony WF-1000XM6’s 8 mics are for ANC; calls use 2). Bose doesn’t say whether its 8 mics include the ANC ones. Teams certification covers audio quality and call controls such as mute sync; Microsoft’s pages don’t list a standard for noise removal. For earbuds paired straight to the PC, certification covers classic Bluetooth only; LE Audio and setups with a separate USB Bluetooth adapter are outside it. The only certification found is for the Teams version of the Poly Voyager Free 60. The Amazon listing is the UC version from a third-party seller, so it isn’t recommended. On Windows, once a call app uses the mic, audio switches to the call profile (HFP) and turns mono. The exception is LE Audio (an LE Audio PC on Windows 11 24H2 or later and earbuds that keep stereo in calls); no model here officially confirms stereo during calls. AirPods Pro 3 Voice Isolation works in calls on an iPhone, iPad or Mac; Apple doesn’t say whether it works on Windows | Open with these settings |
| Keyboard typing, Windows | △ None names keyboard typing. 4 models publish AI noise removal. Sony WF-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), Technics EAH-AZ100, Poly Voyager Free 60. No official page checked names keyboard clatter or air-conditioning hum as something it removes. Even models with AI noise removal don’t say which sounds it handles or how well. ANC cuts the noise you hear; the noise the other person hears is handled by a separate call feature. More mics don’t mean clearer calls (the Sony WF-1000XM6’s 8 mics are for ANC; calls use 2). Bose doesn’t say whether its 8 mics include the ANC ones. Teams certification covers audio quality and call controls such as mute sync; Microsoft’s pages don’t list a standard for noise removal. For earbuds paired straight to the PC, certification covers classic Bluetooth only; LE Audio and setups with a separate USB Bluetooth adapter are outside it. The only certification found is for the Teams version of the Poly Voyager Free 60. The Amazon listing is the UC version from a third-party seller, so it isn’t recommended. On Windows, once a call app uses the mic, audio switches to the call profile (HFP) and turns mono. The exception is LE Audio (an LE Audio PC on Windows 11 24H2 or later and earbuds that keep stereo in calls); no model here officially confirms stereo during calls. AirPods Pro 3 Voice Isolation works in calls on an iPhone, iPad or Mac; Apple doesn’t say whether it works on Windows | Open with these settings |
| Air conditioning, Windows | △ None names air conditioning. 4 models publish AI noise removal. Sony WF-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), Technics EAH-AZ100, Poly Voyager Free 60. No official page checked names keyboard clatter or air-conditioning hum as something it removes. Even models with AI noise removal don’t say which sounds it handles or how well. ANC cuts the noise you hear; the noise the other person hears is handled by a separate call feature. More mics don’t mean clearer calls (the Sony WF-1000XM6’s 8 mics are for ANC; calls use 2). Bose doesn’t say whether its 8 mics include the ANC ones. Teams certification covers audio quality and call controls such as mute sync; Microsoft’s pages don’t list a standard for noise removal. For earbuds paired straight to the PC, certification covers classic Bluetooth only; LE Audio and setups with a separate USB Bluetooth adapter are outside it. The only certification found is for the Teams version of the Poly Voyager Free 60. The Amazon listing is the UC version from a third-party seller, so it isn’t recommended. On Windows, once a call app uses the mic, audio switches to the call profile (HFP) and turns mono. The exception is LE Audio (an LE Audio PC on Windows 11 24H2 or later and earbuds that keep stereo in calls); no model here officially confirms stereo during calls. AirPods Pro 3 Voice Isolation works in calls on an iPhone, iPad or Mac; Apple doesn’t say whether it works on Windows | Open with these settings |
| Wind (window or outdoors), Windows | ✓ 7 models publish a feature for wind (window or outdoors). Sony WF-1000XM6, Sony WF-1000XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), Jabra Elite 10 (1st Gen), Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, Technics EAH-AZ100, Poly Voyager Free 60. For wind, look for a stated wind measure (mic design, mesh, wind mode, AI). ANC cuts the noise you hear; the noise the other person hears is handled by a separate call feature. More mics don’t mean clearer calls (the Sony WF-1000XM6’s 8 mics are for ANC; calls use 2). Bose doesn’t say whether its 8 mics include the ANC ones. Teams certification covers audio quality and call controls such as mute sync; Microsoft’s pages don’t list a standard for noise removal. For earbuds paired straight to the PC, certification covers classic Bluetooth only; LE Audio and setups with a separate USB Bluetooth adapter are outside it. The only certification found is for the Teams version of the Poly Voyager Free 60. The Amazon listing is the UC version from a third-party seller, so it isn’t recommended. On Windows, once a call app uses the mic, audio switches to the call profile (HFP) and turns mono. The exception is LE Audio (an LE Audio PC on Windows 11 24H2 or later and earbuds that keep stereo in calls); no model here officially confirms stereo during calls. AirPods Pro 3 Voice Isolation works in calls on an iPhone, iPad or Mac; Apple doesn’t say whether it works on Windows | Open with these settings |
| Wind (window or outdoors), Mac | ✓ 8 models publish a feature for wind (window or outdoors). Sony WF-1000XM6, Sony WF-1000XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), Jabra Elite 10 (1st Gen), Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, Apple AirPods Pro 3, Technics EAH-AZ100, Poly Voyager Free 60. For wind, look for a stated wind measure (mic design, mesh, wind mode, AI). ANC cuts the noise you hear; the noise the other person hears is handled by a separate call feature. More mics don’t mean clearer calls (the Sony WF-1000XM6’s 8 mics are for ANC; calls use 2). Bose doesn’t say whether its 8 mics include the ANC ones. Teams certification covers audio quality and call controls such as mute sync; Microsoft’s pages don’t list a standard for noise removal. For earbuds paired straight to the PC, certification covers classic Bluetooth only; LE Audio and setups with a separate USB Bluetooth adapter are outside it. The only certification found is for the Teams version of the Poly Voyager Free 60. The Amazon listing is the UC version from a third-party seller, so it isn’t recommended. How calls work on a Mac wasn’t checked for this guide. AirPods Pro 3 Voice Isolation works in Mac calls | Open with these settings |
| Coworkers talking, Mac | ✓ 6 models publish a feature for coworkers talking. Sony WF-1000XM6, Sony WF-1000XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), Jabra Elite 10 (1st Gen), Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, Apple AirPods Pro 3. For voices around you, look for a way of picking out your own voice (bone-conduction or motion sensors, mics aimed at your mouth) or a stated reduction of nearby speech. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are the ones that clearly say they cut coworkers’ voices in calls. ANC cuts the noise you hear; the noise the other person hears is handled by a separate call feature. More mics don’t mean clearer calls (the Sony WF-1000XM6’s 8 mics are for ANC; calls use 2). Bose doesn’t say whether its 8 mics include the ANC ones. Teams certification covers audio quality and call controls such as mute sync; Microsoft’s pages don’t list a standard for noise removal. For earbuds paired straight to the PC, certification covers classic Bluetooth only; LE Audio and setups with a separate USB Bluetooth adapter are outside it. The only certification found is for the Teams version of the Poly Voyager Free 60. The Amazon listing is the UC version from a third-party seller, so it isn’t recommended. How calls work on a Mac wasn’t checked for this guide. AirPods Pro 3 Voice Isolation works in Mac calls | Open with these settings |
