Apple sells three types of AirPods, but not all of them offer Active Noise Cancelation (ANC). Active Noise Cancelation blocks out external sounds using a continuously active system. It is different from ive noise cancelation which is provided by the earbuds' own seal or earpads (in the case of over-ear headphones). ANC works by canceling out the noise picked up by the external microphones with anti-noise (sound waves with the same amplitude but with the opposite phase) generated after analyzing the external noise.
Apple has released six AirPods models over the years, with the first-generation AirPods making their debut in 2016. However, the first AirPods with Active Noise Cancelation didn't arrive until 2019. That year, Apple launched two models – the AirPods 2 and the AirPods Pro, but only the latter had for Active Noise Cancelation. Not only did the AirPods Pro allow s to block out external noise, but it also gave them the option to let in outside sound at any time, thanks to a feature called Transparency mode.
AirPods Pro 2 Have Advanced ANC
The AirPods Pro 2 launched in 2022 also feature ANC. The new enhanced Adaptive Transparency Mode, which can reduce environmental noise such as traffic or construction sounds, while still allowing the to be aware of their surroundings.
Apart from the AirPods Pro models, the AirPods Max also offer ANC. The AirPods Max are Apple's answer to over-ear noise-canceling headphones from brands such as Bose and Sony. They have noise cancelation and a Transparency mode like the first-generation AirPods Pro, but are powered by the older H1 chip.
While both the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max have ANC, the experience is better on the latter. This is the result of the AirPods Max having more microphones. The wireless headphones have six outward-facing microphones for detecting environmental noise and two inward-facing microphones to pick up unwanted sound from inside the ears. On the other hand, the AirPods Pro have just one outward-facing microphone and one inward-facing microphone per earbud.
Do Regular AirPods Have Noise Cancelation?
Unfortunately, the standard AirPods (first, second, and third-generation models) don't have ANC. This is because they don't feature eartips like the AirPods Pro to seal outside sound. Instead, each earbud is a single unit, with the plastic tip sitting just inside a 's ear. The AirPods 3 do have an acoustic mesh-covered microphone in each earbud that reduces wind noise when s are on a call, but that's the extent of their noise reduction abilities.
Apple's cheaper AirPods 3 do come with some advanced features found on the AirPods Pro though, including an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance, Adaptive EQ, and Spatial Audio with head-tracking. Additionally, the AirPods 3 also feature a MagSafe-compatible case for wireless charging.
Source: Apple