How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
For calls, my top pick is the Lenovo LP40 — a dual-mic semi-in-ear set with touch controls and intelligent noise reduction on both earbuds, which is exactly the combination that makes your voice come through clearly on a call without you pressing anything into your ear.
• Lenovo LP40 — best for everyday calls and voice chat; pick this if you want touch controls on both earbuds plus a mic in each one for stereo call audio.
• BLXSounds Earbuds — best for calls in loud places; pick this if you want active noise cancelling on your end and an ENC microphone working on the other person's end.
• Phiaton Bonobuds True — best for long call days with awareness; pick this if you want hybrid ANC, an ambient mode you can switch on mid-call, and a quick-charge case.
• jaddsa Earbuds Deep Bass — best for sweat and weather; pick this if you want an IPX7 waterproof rating, a low-latency Bluetooth 5.3 link, and a battery display on the case.
The LP40 Pro is Lenovo's semi-in-ear true wireless set, and it's the one I'd hand to someone who takes a lot of ordinary voice calls. Two details matter most here. First, there's a microphone in both earbuds, and Lenovo pairs that with intelligent noise reduction so your voice is captured on both sides rather than from a single bud. Second, the touch surface covers music, calls and the voice assistant, so answering and hanging up is a tap rather than a hunt for a button.
The fit is the other half of the story. These are semi-in-ear with a rounded tip and a curved shell, so they sit in the ear canal rather than plugging it. If you've ever ended a two-hour call with sore ear canals, that matters. Lenovo rates 5 hours of music playback per charge, with a 250mAh case that stores and recharges them and a full top-up in about 1.5 hours. The 13mm dynamic driver and AAC/SBC decoding cover the basics for podcasts and music between calls, and Bluetooth 5.1 with a 10-metre range is plenty for a phone in your pocket or a laptop on the desk.
Where it gives ground: this is sound isolation, not active noise cancelling. It won't erase a train carriage or a busy cafe the way ANC does — it just blocks what the physical fit blocks. And the 5-hour figure is per charge, so a full workday means dropping them back in the case at some point. If your calls happen in genuinely loud rooms, look at the next two instead.
For most people taking calls at a desk, on a walk, or on a commute that isn't deafening, I'd start here. The dual mics plus tap-to-answer is the whole job done.
BLXSounds Earbuds
The call chain has two ends, and BLXSounds addresses both. ANC handles what you hear; an ENC microphone handles what the person on the other end hears, automatically reducing background noise and lifting your voice in call mode. Bluetooth 5.4 is the newest version in this group, with a 15-metre range, and the touch controls on both sides cover volume, answer/hang-up and track navigation — volume on the earbud itself is genuinely useful during a call.
Audio is a 13mm dynamic driver with a bio-composite diaphragm and a 20Hz–20,000Hz range. The manufacturer positions these for home, office, conference calls, online courses and video chat, which is a fair read of what they're built for. On battery, the numbers need reading carefully: 4.5 hours average life per charge with a case that the sheet describes as holding reserve power measured in days rather than hours, and a 40-hour figure attached to charging. Take the 4.5-hour per-charge figure as your working number and the case as your top-up.
The trade-off is fit and bulk. In-ear with an ABS plastic shell is a more sealed, more intrusive feeling than a semi-in-ear design, and some people find that tiring over a long day. If you want maximum noise rejection on calls and don't mind a plugged-in feel, this is my pick of the four for noisy environments.
Phiaton is the audio-specialist name in this lineup, and the Bonobuds True show it in the details. The ANC is digital hybrid — internal mics listening for low-pitched noise, external mics scanning a wider range — paired with 12mm drivers tuned specifically for noise-cancelling performance. Hybrid is the more thorough of the two common ANC approaches, and it's the reason these hold their own in a busy office.
The feature I'd actually buy these for on a call is Ambient Mode. Touch controls on each earbud handle play/pause, answer/hang-up and ambient mode, so mid-conversation you can let the outside world back in without pulling a bud out. The round housing is shaped to cut wind noise from friction, which the manufacturer ties directly to call clarity — relevant if you take calls walking outside. You get three sizes of silicone tips, so a proper seal is achievable rather than luck.
Battery is 6 hours of playback plus 14 hours of reserve in the wireless charging case, with quick charge on top. Bluetooth 5.2 and a 33-foot operating range are solid, and the frequency response runs 50Hz to 20kHz. Note the specs list this as an open-ear placement with a rounded shape — worth knowing, because open designs leak more sound in and out, which is the flip side of staying aware of traffic or rain.
jaddsa Earbuds Deep Bass
The jaddsa T18 is the rugged one. IPX7 waterproofing is the headline for anyone who's typed "ipx7 waterproof on ear headphones for calls" into a search bar — that rating covers immersion, not just splashes, so sweat, rain and a rinse under the tap are all within scope. If your calls happen while you're moving, that's the spec that decides it.
The rest of the sheet is built for long sessions. Bluetooth 5.3 with a stated 0.05s ultra-low latency and 65ms audio latency keeps audio and video lined up, which matters for video calls and for anyone also using these for gaming. Battery is 9 hours per charge with a case that extends total playtime to 48 hours, and a dual LED display on the case shows both the case's remaining power and the buds' charging status — small thing, but it removes the guesswork about whether you're leaving the house with a full charge. Each bud weighs 0.13 ounces, and three sizes of silicone tips are included.
Call performance leans on a 13.2mm driver with deep bass and clear vocals, plus passive noise cancellation from the in-ear seal rather than active circuitry. So: no ANC here. It blocks what the fit blocks. The touch controls use an upgraded chip aimed at accuracy and fewer accidental taps, and sensitivity is listed at 38dB with 32-ohm impedance.
Where it falls short is exactly where the others shine — no active noise cancelling and no ambient mode. In a quiet-to-moderate room that's irrelevant; on a plane it isn't. But for workouts, runs, rainy walks and long days where you don't want to think about charging, this is the one I'd take.
I compared the published spec sheets — microphone setup, noise-control type, Bluetooth version, driver size, battery figures and water resistance — and weighed them against the job of taking calls. The ranking is my independent editorial opinion, based on how those features translate into real call situations. No brand paid for placement, and nothing here is scraped from a retailer listing.
Do touch controls work for answering calls, or only music?
On all four, touch handles calls as well as media. The Lenovo LP40, BLXSounds and jaddsa all list call answer/hang-up among the touch functions, and the Phiaton adds ambient mode to the same surface. The practical difference is that BLXSounds puts volume on the earbud too.
ANC reduces the noise reaching your ears, so you're not straining or shouting. ENC works on the microphone side, cleaning up what the person on the other end hears. BLXSounds is the only set here that lists both; the Phiaton and Lenovo handle the mic side without active cancellation.
The jaddsa is the closest fit — Bluetooth 5.3 with a stated 0.05s ultra-low latency and 65ms audio latency keeps audio synced to video, which is the same problem gaming and video calls share. The Lenovo's low-latency Bluetooth 5.1 link is a reasonable second choice.
Only the jaddsa carries an IPX7 waterproof rating. The Phiaton is IPX4, which covers heavy workouts and light rain but not immersion. The Lenovo and BLXSounds sheets don't list a water-resistance rating, so I wouldn't assume one.
For most people, the Lenovo LP40 — dual mics, touch controls on both earbuds, and a semi-in-ear fit you can wear all day without pressure. Step up to the BLXSounds if your calls happen somewhere loud, the Phiaton if you want hybrid ANC plus ambient mode, and the jaddsa if water and battery life matter more than active noise cancelling.
• NENOS Kids Headphones vs Moondrop Old Fashioned 40mm
• our ERIPHA Two Way Radio vs stdgove 2-way pick
• pzoz Earbuds Case Compatible vs VOTILE Case: Charging Case
• AMORNO Headphones vs KONNAO Kid Headphones: Wireless Travel
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.