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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want an over-ear pair with Sony's noise canceling, multipoint Bluetooth and a wired 3.5 mm fallback, choose Sony WH-CH720N-BLACK; if you need tiny in-ear buds with deeper ANC, LDAC hi-res audio and a water-resistant design for workouts, choose realme Air 6.
• Sony WH-CH720N-BLACK — biggest strength: over-ear comfort with dual noise sensor canceling, 35 hours of battery (up to 50 with NC off), a 3-minute quick charge for roughly an hour of playback, and multipoint pairing across two devices at once.
• Sony WH-CH720N-BLACK — biggest trade-off: it's a full-size headphone with no water-resistance rating in the specs, so it's a poor fit for sweaty workouts or rainy commutes, and the Sony Headphones Connect app is effectively required to get the most out of its 20-level ambient sound control.
• realme Air 6 — biggest strength: 50dB ANC with 4,000Hz ultra-wide noise reduction, a coaxial dual-driver setup (6mm tweeter + 11mm woofer) with LDAC and Hi-Res support, 3D spatial audio, and IP55 water resistance.
• realme Air 6 — biggest trade-off: it's in-ear only, so battery is split between buds and case, latency tuning (55ms) matters more for gaming than for pure listening, and the silicone tips mean fit is personal — a bad seal undercuts both comfort and ANC.
• Pick Sony WH-CH720N-BLACK if you want long single-charge sessions, hands-free calling clarity, and the option to plug in with a cable.
• Pick realme Air 6 if you want maximum noise reduction in the smallest possible package, hi-res codec support, and buds you can wear to the gym.
The WH-CH720N is Sony's lightest wireless noise-canceling headphone in this line, and the spec sheet backs up the "all-day" pitch. You get up to 35 hours with noise canceling on, and up to 50 hours with it switched off — which is the kind of number that means you can fly long-haul or work a full week of commutes without hunting for a charger. When you do run low, a 3-minute quick charge buys you about 60 minutes of playback. USB-C charging, a 3.5 mm jack, and a single-sided 1.2m cord in the box round that out.
What makes it interesting for real life is the flexibility. Dual Noise Sensor technology paired with Sony's Integrated Processor V1 handles the canceling, while Ambient Sound mode uses feedforward and feedback mics to let outside noise back in — and the Headphones Connect app lets you dial that in across 20 levels. There's a "Focus on Voice" chat mode so you can talk to someone without pulling the headphones off. Precise Voice Pickup with beamforming mics is designed to make your voice land clearly on calls, and multipoint lets you stay connected to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, so a laptop call doesn't get interrupted by your phone.
On sound, you're working with 30mm dynamic drivers, a 7Hz–20kHz frequency range, and DSEE, which reconstructs the high-frequency detail lost when compressed tracks are squeezed down. Bluetooth 5.2 with a 10m effective range covers normal home and office distances.
Who should skip it: if you want buds that disappear into a pocket, if you train hard and sweat heavily, or if you need water resistance. There's no IP rating in the specs here, and over-ear designs in faux leather aren't the tool for the gym. Also skip it if you want the absolute maximum ANC depth — the realme's 50dB figure is the more aggressive claim.
realme Air 6: Who It's For
The realme Air 6 Pro is built around a coaxial dual-driver array: a 6mm micro-plane tweeter handling the highs and an 11mm woofer handling the low end. That's an unusual configuration at this size, and it's the reason the marketing leans on "crisp highs and deep, impactful bass." Add Hi-Res certification, LDAC codec support, and a custom listening algorithm that tailors the sound profile, and you've got a pair of buds aimed squarely at people who care about fidelity on the move. 3D spatial sound widens the stage for movies and games.
Noise canceling is the headline: 50dB Intelligent Deep Sea ANC 2.0, with 4,000Hz ultra-wide frequency reduction and six integrated microphones using AI noise cancellation. In plain terms, that's an aggressive spec sheet designed to swallow a wider band of noise — think engine drone, air conditioning hum, train rumble — rather than just the low-end thud. For a frequent flyer or open-plan-office worker, that's the whole point.
Battery is up to 40 hours total with the charging case, and the case supports wireless charging, which is a nice convenience if you already drop your phone on a pad at night. Bluetooth 5.3 keeps the connection current, and 55ms ultra-low latency means audio stays in sync for video and games. Touch controls handle playback and calls, and the realme Link app opens up further customization. IP55 water resistance means light splashes and workouts are fine.
Who should buy it: commuters, travelers, gym-goers, and anyone who wants the smallest possible footprint with the deepest noise reduction and hi-res codec support. If you split your listening between a phone and a laptop and want spatial audio for entertainment, this is the more feature-dense option.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for all-day battery on one charge → Sony WH-CH720N-BLACK. Up to 35 hours with NC on and up to 50 hours with it off, versus the realme's 20-hour bud figure that relies on the case for the 40-hour total.
• Best for maximum noise reduction → realme Air 6. 50dB ANC with 4,000Hz ultra-wide reduction and six mics is the more aggressive canceling spec.
• Best for hi-res audio codecs → realme Air 6. LDAC and Hi-Res certification give it the edge for listeners chasing fidelity; Sony counters with DSEE upscaling of compressed tracks.
• Best for calls and multitasking → Sony WH-CH720N-BLACK. Precise Voice Pickup beamforming mics plus multipoint pairing across two devices at once is the more office-friendly setup.
• Best for workouts and weather → realme Air 6. IP55 water resistance covers light splashes and training; the Sony specs list no water-resistance rating.
• Best for zero-latency or wired listening → Sony WH-CH720N-BLACK. The 3.5 mm jack means you can go fully wired; the realme is wireless only.
• Best for portability → realme Air 6. In-ear buds with a charging case and wireless charging slip into a pocket; the Sony is a full over-ear headphone with a 1.2m cord in the box.
• Best for cinematic and gaming audio → realme Air 6. 3D spatial sound and 55ms low latency are aimed directly at video and games.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the Sony WH-CH720N-BLACK — for the way I actually listen, an over-ear pair that runs 35 hours with canceling on, charges to an hour of playback in three minutes, holds two devices at once, and still works over a cable when the battery dies is simply the more versatile tool. In my opinion the realme Air 6 is the better pick if noise reduction depth, LDAC hi-res audio, and gym-proof water resistance matter more to you than headband comfort and battery endurance. Both are strong at what they're built for; the deciding question is whether you want something you wear over your ears for hours, or something that vanishes into your pocket. If price is the tiebreaker, check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page before you commit.
Not on the numbers. The realme Air 6 claims 50dB ANC with 4,000Hz ultra-wide reduction, which is the more aggressive spec. Sony relies on Dual Noise Sensor tech plus the Integrated Processor V1, but doesn't publish a dB figure. For pure canceling depth, the realme has the stronger claim.
Sony lists up to 35 hours with noise canceling on and up to 50 hours with it off. realme lists up to 40 hours total with the charging case, with 20 hours as the bud figure. Sony wins on single-charge endurance; realme wins on pocketability.
Yes — it carries an IP55 water resistance rating and a lightweight in-ear design, so light splashes and training are within its stated use. The Sony WH-CH720N-BLACK specs list no water-resistance rating, so I'd keep it away from sweat and rain.
I'd lean toward the Sony WH-CH720N-BLACK. Precise Voice Pickup uses beamforming mics for hands-free calls, and multipoint pairing keeps two Bluetooth devices connected at once. The realme has six mics with AI noise cancellation for calls too, but it's wireless-only with no wired fallback.
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