Best In-Ear Headphones with Mic in India, May 2023

By Dhriti Datta

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a substantial shift in the usage patterns of individuals who work and study from home. The microphone is now an integral aspect in the buying decision of users when it comes to purchasing headphones, and for good reason. A good microphone can be the difference between a bad-quality call filled with disturbances and a good-quality one with a clear and distinct voice with minimal distractions. Headphone manufacturers are increasingly using a combination of good beamforming or boom mics mixed with AI algorithms that enhance the user's voice and mitigate background noise. We’ve included both over-ear headphones and TWS earphones in our suggestions, so you get plenty of options to choose from including the Sony WH-1000XM5, Bose NC 700, Jabra Elite 7 Pro, Nothing Ear (2), and more.

Which headphone with mic is the best?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is your best bet. If you take a lot of calls on Zoom or Google Meet, the headphones’ array of eight microphones provide great call quality. The headphones also mitigate background noise to a great degree. A close second would be the Jabra Elite 85H with its six beamforming microphones. Other options include the Poly Voyager Focus 2 UC, Bose NC 700, and AirPods Pro Max.

Which TWS has the best microphone?

If you are scouring the market for a TWS with good call quality, the Jabra Elite 7 Pro is your best bet. Equipped with a VPU (voice pick-up) sensor, the earphones are extraordinarily good at taking high-quality calls. Other notable options include the Sony WF-1000XM4, Soundcore Anker Liberty 2 Pro, AirPods Pro (2nd Generation), and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.

What is a headphone with mic?

In the sea of headphones across the market, some come without microphones while many incorporate microphones within the headset's body. These microphones may be of various types including boom microphones, beamforming microphones, MEMS microphones, inline microphones, and more. The microphones often work alongside an AI algorithm to enhance the call quality holistically.

Should I use a separate microphone or headset with mic?

With the rapid development of microphone technology in headphones, you often do not need a separate microphone to have good-quality calls. However, if you are recording a podcast or streaming games, it may be prudent to invest in a good professional cardioid condenser microphone that is often able to isolate the user’s voice better than traditional headphone mics.

Audio Video Headphones By Features

Audio Video Headphones By Price

Audio Video Earbuds By Price

Audio Video Neckbands By Price

Audio Video Speakers and Sound Bars

Sony WH-1000XM5

All Details
Photos
Specifications
Expert Review

View Gallery

30 hours
20 Hz–20,000 Hz
NA
‎22.48 x 7.7 x 26.31

Read Review Full specs Other Sony Audio Video

Digit Rating 84/100

Read full review

The Sony WH-1000XM5 pretty much sits at the pinnacle of everything that’s considered important in a good pair of headphones. So, naturally, the microphone quality is fantastic. Equipped with eight microphones and a noise rejection algorithm powered by AI, the Sony WH-1000XM5’s call quality is just impeccable. Background noise is mitigated to a great degree and the caller’s voice sounds distinct and clear whether indoors or outdoors. The headphones’ microphone is massively improved over its predecessor as well, sporting better background noise rejection and more clear voice pick-up.

Pros

Exceptional Active Noise Cancellation
Supremely comfortable
LDAC codec support
Great battery life
Convenient features like Multipoint and Quick Attention

Cons

Slightly boosted bass and low mids
Less portable than before
No IP rating

MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Playback Time	:	30 hours
Frequency Range	:	20 Hz–20,000 Hz
Dimensions	:	‎22.48 x 7.7 x 26.31
Price	:	₹ 29,851

Jabra Elite 85H

All Details
Photos
Specifications
Expert Review

View Gallery

Read Review Full specs Other Jabra Audio Video

Digit Rating 77/100

Read full review

Given that Jabra has solidified its name in having some of the best microphone solutions for headphones, it isn’t surprising that a Jabra product sits near the top of this list. The Jabra Elite 85H employs eight microphones in the headphones, six of which are used predominantly to enhance the quality of calls while blocking out distractions in the form of ambient noise. In our testing, we found that the Jabra Elite 85H can confidently block out most ambient chatter, including difficult-to-isolate sounds such as other people talking in the background. All this while still providing crystal clear sound in calls irrespective of platform.

Pros

Long-lasting battery life
Custom sound profiles and equaliser modes
Accurate representation of high frequencies

Cons

Bass could be a little punchier
Hear Through feature not perfect
Significantly heavier than competitors

Poly Voyager Focus 2 UC

All Details
Photos
Specifications

View Gallery

NA
NA
NA
‎10.16 x 15.24 x 7.11

Full specs Other Plantronics Audio Video

The Poly (previously Plantronics) Voyager Focus 2 UC is a headset advertised for those whose day revolves around taking calls on Zoom, Teams, Meet, and the works. It is one of the few headphones on this list with a boom microphone. The advantage of boom microphones is that it is situated closer to your mouth which inadvertently improves voice clarity in general. It features Poly’s Acoustic Fence technology which basically works behind the scene to mitigate background chatter and wind noise as much as possible to allow for clearer calls. While we haven’t reviewed these headphones, general consensus says that these are also incredibly comfortable, allowing users to take long work calls without too much fatigue.

MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions	:	‎10.16 x 15.24 x 7.11
Price	:	₹ 43,500

Bose NC 700

All Details
Photos
Specifications

View Gallery

20 Hours
20Hz - 20kHz
NA
5.1 x 16.5 x 20.3

Full specs Other Bose Audio Video

Equipped with an improved microphone system, the Bose NC 700 is one of our top choices for the best headphones with microphones. Why, you ask? Bose’s beamforming microphones work perfectly with its ‘rejection array’ algorithm to isolate speech and mitigate unwanted background noise. The headphones consist of eight microphones in total and they divide the call and ANC duties between them. Six microphones work together to cancel background noise while four of these microphones also further suppress the remaining sound to allow for precise voice pick-up. As a result, calls are extremely clear without any distractions which allows you to focus entirely on the conversation.

MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Playback Time	:	20 Hours
Frequency Range	:	20Hz - 20kHz
Dimensions	:	5.1 x 16.5 x 20.3
Price	:	₹ 34,500

Apple AirPods Max

All Details
Photos
Specifications

View Gallery

20 hours
NA
NA
24 x 24.3 x 8

Full specs Other Apple Audio Video

Apple disrupted the headphones category with its AirPods Max – complete with an industrial look, deep Apple ecosystem integration, and Spatial Audio support with head tracking. The headphones house three microphones for voice pick-up that do a good job of clearly relaying the speaker’s voice while also reducing background chatter. While these aren’t as reliable as the headphones we’ve mentioned above when it comes to calling clarity, these cans are still perfectly serviceable in an indoor environment that lacks a lot of ambient noise. So, if you’re part of the Apple ecosystem already, these can be a good option for you for your daily work calls or online classes.

MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Playback Time	:	20 hours
Dimensions	:	24 x 24.3 x 8
Price	:	₹ 59,900

Jabra Elite 7 Pro

All Details
Photos
Specifications
Expert Review

View Gallery

Read Review Full specs Other Jabra Audio Video

Digit Rating 76/100

Read full review

If you’re looking for a TWS – instead of headphones – with a reliable microphone, none is better in our experience than the Jabra Elite 7 Pro. Despite the fact that these are more than a year old at the time of writing, they’ve still got the best microphone setup we’ve experienced in TWS earphones. Four microphones work in tandem with a VPU (voice pick up) sensor to pick up the caller’s voice clearly while cancelling out ambient sounds such as wind and traffic. There’s barely any distortion in calls or voice recordings and the speaker’s voice sounds full and natural.

Pros

Warm, pleasant sound
Excellent microphone intelligibility
Impressive battery life
IP57 dust and water resistant

Cons

Mediocre ANC performance
No multipoint connectivity (yet)
Unstable wireless connection at times

Sony WF-1000XM4

All Details
Photos
Specifications
Expert Review

View Gallery

36 Hours
20Hz - 40,000Hz
Dual
‎9.4 x 6.5 x 8.61

Read Review Full specs Other Sony Audio Video

Digit Rating 84/100

Read full review

Sony massively improved its microphone performance with the Sony WF-1000XM4 compared to its predecessor – the Mark 3s. Beamforming microphones coupled with bone conduction sensors result in excellent call quality where voices are extremely clear and void of distortion. Now, this set up doesn’t work for everyone so, kudos to the Sony team for implementing bone conduction well and not just being a gimmicky feature. The microphone setup also drastically reduces ambient noise when on calls, meaning that even in noisy environments, you are going to be able to enjoy mostly distraction-free conversations.

Pros

Impressive sound quality
LDAC codec supported
Sony Headphones Connect app is fantastic
Excellent ANC performance
IPX4 water resistance

Cons

No multipoint connectivity
Bulky earbuds

MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Playback Time	:	36 Hours
Frequency Range	:	20Hz - 40,000Hz
Channels	:	Dual
Dimensions	:	‎9.4 x 6.5 x 8.61
Price	:	₹ 19,990

Nothing Ear (2)

All Details
Photos
Specifications
Expert Review

View Gallery

Read Review Full specs Other Nothing Audio Video

Digit Rating 80/100

Read full review

The Nothing Ear (2) has fantastic microphone intelligibility for its price. It has a six-microphone setup paired with Nothing’s Clear Voice Technology that honestly, works wonders. This combined with the extended stems of the earbuds means that you’ll get clear-sounding calls in which the caller’s voice is crisp and natural-sounding. The background noise is mitigated to a degree which is rarely seen at its price point – be it traffic, fans, or your noisy coworkers. You will barely receive any complaints about call quality with the Nothing Ear (2) – which is a massive improvement over the Nothing Ear (1) which didn’t provide as great results.

Pros

Mesmerising design and great fit
Well rounded package
Near perfect app
Intuitive pinch controls

Cons

Lacklustre ANC
Sound signature could have been better

Soundcore Anker Liberty 2 Pro

All Details
Photos
Specifications

View Gallery

8 Hours
20000 Hz
NA
78.42 x 56.69 x 29.62

Full specs Other Soundcore Audio Video

While we haven’t tested these earphones, the Soundcore Anker Liberty 2 Pro is known to have one of the best-performing microphone setups in TWS earphones. The Liberty 2 Pro sport quad-microphones equipped with Qualcomm’s cVc 8.0 noise reduction technology that allows for clear calls with minimal ambient noise. cVc is a suite of algorithms that enhance call quality by reducing echo, minimising packet loss, and enhancing the transmission of voice calls no matter where you are. The company claims 60 per cent less noise and precise voice isolation as well, so these look like fantastic TWS for calls, on paper.

MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Playback Time	:	8 Hours
Frequency Range	:	20000 Hz
Dimensions	:	78.42 x 56.69 x 29.62
Price	:	₹ 9,999

10.

AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

All Details
Photos
Specifications
Expert Review

View Gallery

NA
NA
NA
2.2 x 6.1 x 0.1 cm

Read Review Full specs Other Apple Audio Video

Digit Rating 72/100

Read full review

The AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) made a lot of improvements over its predecessor. One of these is call quality. The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) come packing two beamforming microphones. The mics face inwards, meaning they are located closer to your mouth which translates to better voice pick-up. In our testing, we found that the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) has a dependable microphone. The microphone performs well even in large rooms and eliminates most of the echo. The caller’s voice is usually clear and crisp in most conditions, making these ideal – especially for Apple users.

Pros

Excellent overall performance
Loaded with features
Seamless connection with Apple devices

Cons

Limited compatibility and features for Android devices
Glossy case picks up scratches and scuffs easily

MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions	:	2.2 x 6.1 x 0.1 cm
Price	:	₹ 26,900

Disclaimer: Digit, like all other media houses, gives you links to online stores which contain embedded affiliate information, which allows us to get a tiny percentage of your purchase back from the online store. We urge all our readers to use our Buy button links to make their purchases as a way of supporting our work. If you are a user who already does this, thank you for supporting and keeping unbiased technology journalism alive in India.

Dhriti Datta

Email Email Dhriti Datta

About Me: Perpetually sporting a death stare, this one can be seen tinkering around with her smartphone which she holds more dear than life itself and stuffing her face with copious amounts of bacon. Read More about Dhriti Datta

Explore More

List Of Best In-Ear Headphones With Mic In India

Product Name	Seller	Price
Sony WH-1000XM5	Amazon	₹ 29,851
Jabra Elite 85H	Amazon	₹ 24,990
Poly Voyager Focus 2 UC	N/A	₹ 43,500
Bose NC 700	N/A	₹ 34,500
Apple AirPods Max	Croma	₹ 59,900
Jabra Elite 7 Pro	Amazon	₹ 11,999
Sony WF-1000XM4	Amazon	₹ 19,990
Nothing Ear (2)	N/A	N/A
Soundcore Anker Liberty 2 Pro	N/A	₹ 9,999
AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)	Croma	₹ 26,900

Best In-Ear Headphones with Mic in India, May 2023

Audio Video Headphones By Features

Audio Video Headphones By Price

Audio Video Earbuds By Price

Audio Video Neckbands By Price

Audio Video Speakers and Sound Bars

Sony WH-1000XM5

Jabra Elite 85H

Poly Voyager Focus 2 UC

Bose NC 700

Apple AirPods Max

Jabra Elite 7 Pro

Sony WF-1000XM4

Nothing Ear (2)

Soundcore Anker Liberty 2 Pro

AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

You may also like

Explore More

List Of Best In-Ear Headphones With Mic In India