The best headphone mic we've ever tested | The Vergecast
TL;DR
The Verge's real-world microphone testing reveals that Apple's AirPods Pro 3 deliver surprisingly mediocre call quality in noisy environments, while the $80 EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus offers superior noise suppression and the $170 Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro sets a new standard as the best headphone microphone the publication has ever tested.
🎙️ The Testing Reality 2 insights
Brutal real-world conditions
Testing occurred at a noisy Ventura Boulevard coffee shop during lunch hour with traffic, motorcycles, and pedestrian chaos to simulate authentic use cases.
Blind comparison methodology
Reviewer John Higgins switched between devices without identifying them to host David Pierce, revealing that popular assumptions about brand quality often misalign with actual performance.
📉 Premium Disappointments 2 insights
AirPods Pro 3 underwhelm
Despite their popularity and $249 price point, the AirPods Pro 3 allow significant background noise through while simultaneously compressing voice quality, creating an unsatisfying middle ground.
Wired EarPods paradox
Apple's $20 wired EarPods deliver the richest, most natural voice quality of any tested device but lack noise suppression entirely, making them unsuitable for outdoor use despite their excellent microphone hardware.
💰 The Budget Champion 2 insights
EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus surprises
At $80 (half the price of AirPods Pro 3), these earbuds eliminate almost all background noise through aggressive compression, though they make the user sound like they're speaking from inside a tin can.
Auracast accessibility feature
The EarFun supports Auracast, an emerging Bluetooth standard allowing unlimited simultaneous connections to public broadcasts like airport announcements or lecture hall audio, currently found primarily in hearing aids.
🏆 The New Gold Standard 2 insights
Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro dominates
Anker's $170 earbuds delivered the best microphone quality The Verge has ever tested, completely eliminating background noise while maintaining voice fidelity with minimal compression.
AI transcription tier
A $230 version includes a case with a larger touchscreen that offers AI transcription and automatic summarization for recorded lectures or meetings.
Bottom Line
For crystal-clear calls in noisy environments, skip the AirPods Pro 3 and buy the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro, which delivers the best microphone performance The Verge has ever tested at a mid-tier price point.
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