Ever been on a call and all your friend hears is traffic? Or tried vibing to your playlist, but some aunty nearby is yelling into her phone louder than your music? Yeah, noise is the villain. But two tech heroes —ENC and ANC — are here to save the day. But what do they even mean? Which one’s better? And more importantly, which one do you need? Let’s break it all down in a chill, 

What is ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) Technology?

ANC stands for Active Noise Cancellation. It's like having a magic button that turns off the noise around you. It uses tiny mics to hear the sounds nearby, then plays opposite sounds to cancel them out. This makes everything quiet, so you feel like you're in your own peaceful space. This is super helpful if you travel a lot, work in noisy places, or just want to enjoy your music without being disturbed. For example, if you're on a flight and don’t want to hear the engine, or you're in a park and want to focus, ANC earbuds help you block the noise. But of course, it’s not all perfect. Because it’s doing a lot of work behind the scenes, it tends to consume more battery. Plus, not all ANC tech is created equal—cheap ANC TWS earbuds can give you pretty mid results. So if you’re big on immersive music and need mental peace from noisy surroundings, ANC is your vibe.

What is ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) Technology?

On the flip side, the full form of ENC is Environmental Noise Cancellation, This earbud is all about voice clarity only during calls. It doesn’t cancel out the noise you hear—it cancels the background noise that others hear when you’re speaking. So if you’re taking a call while your fan is blasting or your dog is going off in the background, this helps the other person hear just you, not the chaos. This makes ENC a top-tier feature for students on Zoom calls, remote workers in noisy homes, gamers talking to their squad, or anyone who’s constantly on the phone. The best part? It is super efficient and doesn’t drain your battery like ANC does. It’s built to keep your voice front and center, so you always sound clear, even in messy environments. But remember, ENC doesn’t do anything to block out sound for you—it only helps the other person have a better listening experience.

So the Final Call… Which One Should You Get?

Now comes the big question—what should you choose? If you’re a music freak who can’t stand even the tiniest background noise when jamming out, ANC is your best friend. It gives you that studio-like experience and lets you hear details in songs you never noticed before. But if your days are filled with meetings, voice notes, or multiplayer gaming, ENC is the real MVP. It’ll make sure your squad hears you loud and clear, no matter what chaos is going on around you. And hey, if you’re someone who wants it all (and why not?), look for earbuds or headsets that come with both ENC and ANC. Yep, hybrid noise cancellation is a thing, and it's the best of both worlds. Some brands—like Ahem Tunifi—already offer models with both built-in features.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, both ENC and ANC are made to make your life easier. ENC is great if you’re someone who takes a lot of calls or plays games and wants your voice to be super clear. ANC is perfect if you want to block out the world and just enjoy your music or focus better. Neither is “better” than the other—it just depends on what you need more. If you can get earphones that have both, that would be even better! Pick what suits your vibe, and say goodbye to all that unwanted noise. Whether you’re searching for the best ANC earbuds or simply exploring the world of earphones TWS, something out there fits just right.