"Excellent battery and Apple features can't hide the missing noise cancellation."
The 'up to 50 hours of battery life' is a real-world number, not a lab-only fantasy. It translates to charging once a week for most users, instead of every other day.
This is for a style-conscious user already in the Apple ecosystem who prioritizes extreme battery life and seamless pairing above all else. For listening in quiet spaces like a home or private office, they are a reasonable choice.
Anyone who commutes, flies, or works in an open-plan office should skip this. The lack of ANC is a fundamental flaw for use in noisy environments, and competitors offer it at the same price point.