Fit matters more than most spec sheets suggest; earbuds with the best noise cancellation are still uncomfortable if the ear tips don’t match the wearer’s ear shape.
Battery life claims usually assume moderate volume without noise cancellation active, so real-world use often falls short of advertised numbers.
Multipoint connection, allowing earbuds to stay paired with two devices at once, has become one of the more genuinely useful features for anyone switching between a phone and a laptop.