There is a buzzing/static/whistling noise when I gently touch or squeeze my AirPods Pro. The noise disappears when noise cancellation is turned off.

The fact that the buzzing or whistling noise only occurs when Noise Cancellation or Transparency modes are active suggests a potential hardware issue with the external microphones. These modes rely on those microphones to process outside sound, and if they are failing or if there is an internal feedback loop, it often manifests as the static you are describing—especially when you touch or apply pressure to the earbud housing.

Since you have already performed a reset and cleaned the microphones, it is unlikely to be a software glitch. This specific behavior was actually covered under a known service program for AirPods Pro manufactured before October 2020, though later models can still occasionally exhibit similar symptoms.

I recommend taking them to an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider for a hardware diagnostic. They can run a specific audio test that checks the frequency response of the internal and external microphones. If they fail this test, they will generally need to be replaced. If your AirPods are still under warranty or covered by AppleCare+, this should be a straightforward replacement process.