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My sleeper pick for best noise-canceling earbuds isn't made by Apple or Bose

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ZDNET's key takeaways Sony's LinkBuds Fit are $198

These earbuds boast a solid ANC feature and a comfortable design that is second to none.

Their audio output, however, isn't very powerful. View now at Amazon View now at Best Buy more buying choices

What is the most important aspect of a pair of earbuds? My answer changes depending on the circumstances. I prefer power and volume when I'm at home listening to music. If I'm at the gym, I need something rugged and capable of blocking out sound. Sony's new LinkBuds Fit meets my needs.

I had the opportunity to try out a pair for the past week or so, and they quickly became my go-to workout buddies. I never left home without them. Before I get into the many reasons why I love these buds, I want to quickly give a shoutout to the charging case.

I received the pale green model with a marble lid and a soft rubber bottom. Together, they look lovely. I don't know if these materials help reinforce it or anything, but I am a huge fan of the aesthetics. Sony's LinkBuds Fit have the nicest charging case I've ever had the pleasure of holding.

The LinkBuds Fit can be seen as an evolution of Sony's LinkBuds S. Like the older models, these are wireless, noise-canceling earbuds with a few adjustments. Most importantly, Sony designed its new earbuds to be more comfortable. The company told us it made the casing shorter and covered it with a "silicone supporter." Inside this silicone is an air cushion.

Also: The best noise-canceling earbuds you can buy

In my experience, this design change does two things. It allows the earbud to fit better inside an ear, and the silicone covering protects your ears from rubbing against the LinkBuds Fit's hard plastic casing. In short, you get all-day comfort.

I even fell asleep with them a few times during testing, and when I woke up, my ears didn't feel sore. That's something I can't say about other earbuds, which become uncomfortable over time.

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