We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-30 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want active noise cancellation, a touchscreen charging case and a transparency mode for city walking, choose Thunelec Earbuds; if you need a lighter, simpler pair with four ENC mics for calls and a pocket-friendly case, choose xinwld Earbuds. Both are Bluetooth 5.4 in-ear models with ENC call clarity and IP-rated water resistance, so the real split comes down to how much control you want on the case itself — and whether you'd rather have ANC on top of passive isolation.
• Thunelec Earbuds — biggest strength: 45dB active noise cancellation plus a dedicated transparency mode, controlled from a full-color touchscreen on the charging case.
• Thunelec Earbuds — biggest trade-off: no direct volume control on the earbuds; you adjust volume through the case screen or your connected device.
• xinwld Earbuds — biggest strength: four ENC microphones for call clarity and a genuinely lightweight build (3.8g per bud, 29g case).
• xinwld Earbuds — biggest trade-off: noise control is passive only — there's no active cancellation and no transparency mode.
• Pick Thunelec Earbuds if you commute through loud traffic or open offices and want to switch between silencing the world and hearing it.
• Pick xinwld Earbuds if you mainly take calls and want something that disappears in your pocket.
The Thunelec U9 is built around one idea: give you control without reaching for your phone. The charging case carries a full-color touchscreen, so you can play, pause, skip tracks, take calls and toggle noise cancelling with a tap on the case itself. It also handles 7-language switching, wallpaper customization, brightness adjustment, a headphone-finder function and a timer. That's an unusual amount of on-device control for a pair of in-ear buds, and in my opinion it's the single most distinctive thing about this model.
The audio and noise story backs it up. There's active noise cancellation rated up to 45dB, which the spec sheet describes as blocking roughly 90% of distractions like traffic, blower noise and office chatter. A 14.2mm bio-carbon fiber dynamic driver covers 50Hz to 20,000Hz, and you get five EQ presets — standard, classic, jazz, rock, pop — so you can shift the tuning for podcasts, YouTube or music without an app. Bluetooth 5.4 handles the connection, and the transparency mode lets you hear your surroundings while you keep your audio playing, which is the feature that matters most if you walk or bike near traffic.
Battery life is listed at 6–8 hours per charge and up to 48 hours total with the case, which recharges in about 1.5 hours. The fit uses three sizes of silicone tips (S/M/L), and the IPX7 rating covers sweat, rain and splashes. Thunelec also states a 30-day refund window and a 2-year warranty.
Buy it if you want ANC, transparency mode and case-level controls in one package, and you're comfortable with volume being handled by the case or your phone. Skip it if you want to nudge volume up and down directly on the earbuds — that's the one control it doesn't offer.
The xinwld A97 Pro takes the opposite approach. Instead of a screen, it uses a dual LED display on the case that shows the remaining power of both the earbuds and the case separately — a small thing, but it's more informative than a single blinking light when you're packing for a trip. Pairing is automatic: open the lid and the buds reconnect to the last device they were paired with.
Call handling is where xinwld leans hardest. Four built-in ENC microphones work together to reject surrounding noise and keep your voice clear, and the 13mm high-efficiency drivers are tuned for punchy bass and a full, textured midrange. If your day is mostly meetings, voice notes and phone calls, that mic array is the spec to pay attention to.
The physical design is the other selling point. Each bud weighs 3.8g and the case weighs 29g, which makes the whole kit easy to forget in a pocket. Playtime runs 6–8 hours per charge and up to 40 hours with the case. The IP7 rating covers gym sessions, cycling and jogging, and the touch interface handles play/pause, volume, track skipping, call answer/end and digital-assistant activation — so volume is on the earbuds here, not the case.
Compatibility covers iOS, most Android devices and anything else with Bluetooth, including Windows laptops, tablets and desktops via Bluetooth. The warranty description simply reads "1," so treat the coverage as basic and confirm the details before you buy.
Buy it if you want a featherweight pair with strong call mics and on-bud volume control. Skip it if you need active noise cancellation or a transparency mode — this model has neither.
• Best for noise cancellation → Thunelec Earbuds. Up to 45dB of active cancellation versus passive isolation only on the xinwld.
• Best for transparency mode → Thunelec Earbuds. It's the only one of the two with an awareness mode for hearing traffic and surroundings.
• Best for call clarity → xinwld Earbuds. Four ENC microphones against the Thunelec's ENC setup — more mics doing the noise rejection.
• Best for battery life → Thunelec Earbuds. 48 hours total with the case versus 40 hours on the xinwld.
• Best for lightweight comfort → xinwld Earbuds. 3.8g per bud and a 29g case is about as minimal as in-ear kits get.
• Best for on-bud volume control → xinwld Earbuds. Thunelec routes volume through the case screen or your device.
• Best for case-level control → Thunelec Earbuds. The touchscreen covers playback, calls, EQ modes, noise cancelling and extras like a timer and headphone finder.
• Best for tuning your sound → Thunelec Earbuds. Five EQ presets versus a single factory tuning on the xinwld.
I'd buy the Thunelec Earbuds. The transparency mode is the deciding factor for me — if you're walking through a city or working in a shared space, being able to flip between full ANC and hearing what's around you is worth more day to day than a few grams of weight savings. The 48-hour total battery and the touchscreen case seal it: you get more control without touching your phone. The xinwld A97 Pro is the better pick only if calls are your priority and you want the lightest possible kit with volume right on the buds. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before deciding — that's the variable I can't speak to from the specs alone.
which airpods have transparency mode
Transparency mode is an Apple feature, and among AirPods it's available on the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max lines rather than the standard models. If you specifically want that awareness feature, it's worth confirming on the product page before buying. Both earbuds here are non-Apple brands — of the two, only the Thunelec Earbuds list a transparency mode in their specs.
how to turn airpods to transparency mode
On Apple's AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, you switch modes by pressing and holding the force sensor on the stem, or through the Control Center on a connected iPhone. Thunelec takes a different route: you toggle its transparency mode from the touchscreen on the charging case or with a tap on the earbuds. The xinwld A97 Pro has no transparency mode to switch to.
do all airpods have transparency mode
No. It's limited to the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, and it isn't present on the standard AirPods. The same logic applies outside Apple's lineup: it's a premium feature, not a default one. In this comparison, Thunelec includes it and xinwld does not.
how to turn on transparency mode airpods
On Apple's models you hold the stem control until you hear the mode change, or select it in the Control Center. On the Thunelec Earbuds, tap the charging case screen or the earbud controls to enable it. If transparency mode is a must-have for your commute, that difference alone may settle the choice for you.
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