We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want next-gen Bluetooth LE Audio with broadcast audio sharing and a proven hybrid ANC setup, choose Creative Zen Air Plus; if you need a smart touch-screen charging case with EQ customization and gadget-style shortcuts, choose Xmenha True.
• Creative Zen Air Plus — biggest strength: Next-gen Bluetooth LE Audio with Broadcast mode, plus Hybrid ANC, Ambient Mode, and a low ~55 ms latency mode for synchronized playback.
• Creative Zen Air Plus — biggest trade-off: No smart screen case and no EQ customization options; you get the essentials done well rather than extras.
• Xmenha True — biggest strength: An interactive touch-screen charging case that shows battery status, mode selection, and notifications, plus EQ modes and shortcut features like a camera trigger and earbud locator.
• Xmenha True — biggest trade-off: Bluetooth 5.0 rather than the newer 5.3 and LE Audio standard, so no Broadcast audio sharing and a shorter 30-foot wireless range.
• Pick Creative Zen Air Plus if you care most about audio codec technology, call clarity, and water resistance for workouts.
• Pick Xmenha True if you want on-case controls, sound tuning, and extra convenience features in a single package.
The Creative Zen Air Plus is built around audio technology rather than gadget features. Its headline spec is Bluetooth LE Audio, which Creative describes as delivering improved wireless audio performance at lower bitrates and power consumption. That matters practically: LE Audio is the newer standard, and the earbuds also support Broadcast mode, which lets you join audio streams being shared around you. If you like the idea of audio sharing — a gym TV, a public broadcast, a shared listening session — this is a genuine differentiator that the Xmenha True's Bluetooth 5.0 connection does not offer.
Noise control is handled by Hybrid ANC paired with Ambient Mode, and the sound comes from 10 mm neodymium dynamic drivers covering a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range. Creative also lists a low latency mode of around 55 ms, which is the kind of figure that makes lip-sync feel natural when you're watching video. On calls, six microphones work with ENC technology to filter background noise and keep your voice clear — a spec that matters if you take meetings or calls in busy places.
For battery, Creative claims up to 8 hours per charge and up to 32 hours total with the case, with a case battery average life listed at 24 hours and a 16-hour charge time. The earbuds carry an IPX4 rating and weigh 48.6 g / 1.71 oz in the case, which suits active use and light sweat. Touch controls handle playback and calls.
Who should skip it: If you want a screen on your charging case, EQ sound profiles, or convenience extras like a stopwatch and earbud locator, this model doesn't offer those.
Xmenha True: Who It's For
The Xmenha True takes a completely different approach. Its defining feature is the smart touch-screen charging case — a built-in display that shows battery status, mode selection, and notifications. That's a real quality-of-life difference: instead of guessing whether your case is charged or which noise mode you're in, you glance at the case. For anyone who finds touch controls on tiny earbuds fiddly, having a screen to confirm settings is genuinely useful.
Noise cancellation is handled by Hybrid ANC with ENC technology, and the earbuds support customizable modes — Transparency, ANC, and Off — so you can decide how much of the world gets in. Sound personalization comes through EQ modes, and playback, volume, and track skipping are all handled via touch. Xmenha also lists dual-mode performance: a low-latency game mode for gaming and a high-fidelity music mode, which you switch between depending on what you're doing.
The extra features are where this pair stands out. There are shortcuts for short-video likes, a remote camera trigger, a stopwatch timer, and a Bluetooth earbud locator for when you misplace one. Battery life is listed at 30 hours with the quick-charging case. Connectivity is Bluetooth 5.0 with a 30-foot range, and the earbuds are compatible with iOS, Android, and Bluetooth 5.0+ devices. The enclosure is plastic in white, and the age range description starts at 10+.
Who should buy it: Anyone who wants visible battery and mode info on the case, likes tuning sound with EQ modes, plays mobile games, or enjoys shortcut features like a camera trigger and earbud finder.
Who should skip it: If Bluetooth LE Audio, Broadcast mode, IPX4 water resistance, or the newer Bluetooth 5.3 standard are priorities, this model doesn't cover those.
• Best for newer wireless audio tech → Creative Zen Air Plus. Bluetooth LE Audio and Broadcast mode put it a generation ahead on connectivity standards.
• Best for case information at a glance → Xmenha True. The touch-screen case shows battery status, modes, and notifications without opening an app.
• Best for call clarity → Creative Zen Air Plus. Six microphones with ENC technology are specifically designed for voice pickup in noisy environments.
• Best for sound customization → Xmenha True. EQ modes let you adjust the sound profile; the Creative model offers fixed tuning.
• Best for workouts and sweat → Creative Zen Air Plus. The IPX4 rating is the only water-resistance claim between the two.
• Best for gaming and video sync → Split decision. Creative lists ~55 ms low latency; Xmenha lists a dedicated low-latency game mode. Both address the same problem.
• Best for battery longevity → Xmenha True. 30 hours total with the case versus Creative's 32-hour claim — close enough that convenience features matter more than the gap.
• Best for gadget shortcuts → Xmenha True. Camera trigger, stopwatch, short-video likes, and earbud locator are unique to this model.
In my opinion, I'd buy the Creative Zen Air Plus if audio technology and call quality are what you care about most. Bluetooth LE Audio, Broadcast mode, Hybrid ANC with Ambient Mode, six ENC microphones, IPX4, and ~55 ms latency make it the more future-proof and versatile choice for commuting, working, and training. I'd pick the Xmenha True only if the smart screen case and EQ customization genuinely appeal to you — those are real conveniences, but they come with an older Bluetooth 5.0 foundation and no water-resistance rating. For most shoppers torn between the two, the Creative Zen Air Plus is the safer long-term pick.
what is hybrid anc earbuds
Hybrid ANC means the earbuds use microphones on both the outside and inside to detect noise, then cancel it more effectively than a single-mic setup. Both the Creative Zen Air Plus and Xmenha True list Hybrid ANC. It works best on steady low-frequency sounds like engine hum or air conditioning.
what is anc earbuds
ANC stands for Active Noise Cancellation — the earbuds actively neutralize ambient sound rather than just blocking it physically. The Creative Zen Air Plus pairs it with Ambient Mode so you can let outside sound back in, while the Xmenha True offers Transparency, ANC, and Off modes. Both are designed for commutes, offices, and noisy environments.
what are hybrid anc earbuds
They're earbuds that combine feedforward and feedback microphones for noise cancellation, which is what both models here use. The practical benefit is stronger, more consistent noise reduction across different environments. The Xmenha True adds EQ modes on top, while the Creative Zen Air Plus adds Ambient Mode.
what are anc earbuds
ANC earbuds are wireless earbuds with built-in noise cancellation, and both picks in this comparison qualify. The Creative Zen Air Plus adds LE Audio, IPX4, and six ENC mics; the Xmenha True adds a touch-screen case and shortcut features. Which one fits you depends on whether you value audio technology or on-case convenience more.
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