How We Research
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want comfortable on-ear headphones that keep the music going for the longest stretches and let outside sound in through a transparency mode, choose YY KATTY Hybrid Active Headphones; if you need true active noise cancellation in a tiny, sweatproof earbud with a touchscreen charging case, choose Xmenha Active Noise Cancelling.
• YY KATTY Hybrid Active Headphones — biggest strength: a padded on-ear design with a 40 mm dynamic driver, a transparency mode, and a rated 50 hours of playtime from a single 4-hour charge.
• YY KATTY Hybrid Active Headphones — biggest trade-off: it relies on sound isolation rather than active noise cancellation, so it muffles the world instead of electronically cancelling it.
• Xmenha Active Noise Cancelling — biggest strength: genuine active noise cancellation plus a transparency mode, packed into small, sweatproof in-ear buds with a smart touchscreen charging case.
• Xmenha Active Noise Cancelling — biggest trade-off: a shorter rated battery life and a tiny in-ear fit that some people simply don't enjoy wearing for hours.
• Pick YY KATTY if you want long-session comfort, big over-ear-style sound, and marathon battery life.
• Pick Xmenha if you want compact earbuds with real ANC, a screen on the case, and a sweatproof build for workouts.
This is the pair you reach for when comfort and stamina matter more than blocking out the world. The design uses an on-ear fit with a padded headband and soft ear cushions, plus an adjustable slider so you can dial in the fit instead of settling for whatever the factory decided. That combination is built for people who wear headphones for hours — a full workday, a long commute, a study session that turns into an all-nighter. A 40 mm dynamic driver handles the audio, which is the kind of larger driver that tends to push fuller bass and clearer mids than the tiny drivers inside earbuds. If deep bass and a wide, roomy presentation are what you want from your music, this is the more natural match.
Battery life is the headline here. The rated playtime is 50 hours, and a full charge takes about 4 hours. Read that again: on paper you can go days of normal listening between charges, which is the exact opposite of the "plug it in every night" routine earbuds force on you. Bluetooth 5.3 keeps the wireless connection current, and there's a built-in mic for calls. Noise handling comes from sound isolation, not active cancellation — the ear cushions physically reduce what reaches your ears, but there's no chip actively erasing engine drone or air-conditioning hum. The transparency mode is the counterweight: it lets you stay aware of your surroundings without pulling the headphones off.
Buy it if you want one pair of red on-ear headphones for home, commuting, travel, and casual sport, and you value not thinking about charging. Skip it if you fly often and want noise actively cancelled, or if you strongly prefer the tiny, sealed feel of in-ear buds. It's also worth noting there's no headphone jack here — this is a purely wireless pair, so plan around Bluetooth only.
This one is aimed at a very different buyer: someone who wants the smallest possible thing in their ears, with real noise cancellation and a gadget-forward twist. The Xmenha buds are in-ear, made from soft silicone, and designed specifically for small ear canals with an ergonomic, streamlined shape. They're light and stable, and the brand leans hard into the "no need to plug deep into the ear canal" idea — a genuine plus if traditional tips always feel like they're drilling into your head. Active noise cancellation is the core feature, not an afterthought, and the buds also include a transparency mode so outside sound can reach your ears when you want awareness instead of isolation.
Then there's the case, and it's the part people remember. The charging case has a touchscreen display that lets you change sound mode settings, adjust volume, check battery levels for both the buds and the case, see the time, and even set alarms — all without pulling out your phone. That's a real convenience for anyone who hates digging a phone out mid-run. You also get professional-grade sweatproofing for sweat and light rain, a 400 mAh battery, USB-C charging, Bluetooth 5.3, and a roughly 10 m/380 ft barrier-free range.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → YY KATTY Hybrid Active Headphones (rated 50 hours vs roughly 15 hours with the Xmenha case).
• Best for active noise cancellation → Xmenha Active Noise Cancelling, which uses genuine ANC rather than the YY KATTY's sound isolation.
• Best for comfort over long sessions → YY KATTY Hybrid Active Headphones, thanks to the padded headband, soft ear cushions, and adjustable slider.
• Best for small ears and a barely-there fit → Xmenha Active Noise Cancelling, built specifically for small ear canals with soft silicone.
• Best for workouts and sweaty activity → Xmenha Active Noise Cancelling, which is sweatproof and designed to stay put while running or jumping.
• Best for bass and a big, roomy sound → YY KATTY Hybrid Active Headphones, whose 40 mm dynamic driver typically delivers fuller low end than tiny in-ear drivers.
• Best for calls and quick control without your phone → Xmenha Active Noise Cancelling, with its built-in mic and touchscreen case.
• Best for travel and commuting comfort → YY KATTY Hybrid Active Headphones if you want long wear, or Xmenha if you want to cancel out engine and crowd noise.
If I had to buy one, I'd take the YY KATTY Hybrid Active Headphones. The reason is simple: 50 hours of rated playtime, a 40 mm dynamic driver, and a padded on-ear fit I can live in for an entire day outweigh the things I'd give up. I'd only switch to the Xmenha Active Noise Cancelling if active noise cancellation, a sweatproof in-ear fit for small canals, and that clever touchscreen case were non-negotiable for me. In my opinion, most people who just want to put headphones on and forget about them will be happier with the YY KATTY. Check the current price on Amazon for both before you decide — the page has the button.
which airpods have transparency mode
Transparency mode is an Apple feature, but this comparison is about two non-Apple products. Both the YY KATTY Hybrid Active Headphones and the Xmenha Active Noise Cancelling list a transparency mode, so each lets outside sound in when you want awareness of your surroundings.
how to turn airpods to transparency mode
On AirPods you'd normally press and hold the stem or use the Control Center toggle. On the two headphones here it works differently: the Xmenha buds use touch controls on the earbuds and their touchscreen case, while the YY KATTY's transparency setting is handled through its media controls.
do all airpods have transparency mode
No — and the same caution applies to these two. Not every wireless headphone includes transparency mode, but in this case both the YY KATTY Hybrid Active Headphones and the Xmenha Active Noise Cancelling do list it, even though the Xmenha adds active noise cancellation on top.
how to turn on transparency mode airpods
On AirPods it's usually a press-and-hold on the stem. For these two, the Xmenha earbuds let you switch sound modes via their touch controls or the smart case screen, while the YY KATTY's transparency mode is one of the modes you cycle through using its controls.
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