Got the AP4 exactly one year ago, as an upgrade to the AP3 and especially geared towards calling in semi-noisy environments such as walking in the street.
Things were good until a few days ago, when people started complaining that my voice sounded muddy and they couldn't hear me. It was quite sudden and out of the blue. So much so that even the AP3 (that I had held) now performs better in this regard.
I'm a bit reluctant to move to the AP4+ if it's a one-year thing, but I still hope it's a random defect or something a software update could address.
If ANC is your top goal and you want real noise blocking in cafés/parks/home, the cheap JBLs won’t cut it. In your $100–$130 range, the Anker Soundcore A40 and EarFun Air Pro 3 are much stronger for actual ANC, more comfortable for long study sessions, and still sound good. Those are the best budget picks.
Before you buy, try [audiotones.co](http://audiotones.co) to check the tunings so you can see which sound profile fits your vibe.
I got a pair of Earfun Air Pro 3s for my Steam Deck and they're incredible value. Not only does it have a great gaming mode, but they have ANC too, the case has wireless charging, and my favorite thing about them is you can configure an EQ for them in the app that is SAVED TO THE BUDS. I think there's an Air Pro 4 or whatever now, but regardless Earfun is a good pick for Bluetooth gaming.
BMWfiend
