Best Noise-cancelling Headphones

Last Update: May 4, 2024

Sennheiser Accentum Plus

90%

PROS:

CONS:

Sony ULT Wear

81%

PROS:

  • Upgraded microphones
    cnet.com
  • Quick attention mode returns
    cnet.com
  • Improved sound quality and noise-canceling performance
    cnet.com

CONS:

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

88%

PROS:

  • New Immersive Audio with head-tracking offers some sound-quality enhancements
    cnet.com
  • Great ANC
    soundguys.com
  • Lightweight and very comfortable
    cnet.com

CONS:

Apple AirPods Max*

82%

PROS:

  • High-quality active noise cancellation, especially for low-frequency rumble
    pcmag.com
  • Adaptive EQ and Spatial audio
    pcmag.com
  • Hands-free Siri access
    pcmag.com

CONS:

  • People around you can hear what you're listening to if you have the volume up (they leak some sound)
    cnet.com
  • No 3.5mm audio port
    techradar.com
  • Expensive, heavy and the smart case may be too smart for its own good
    cnet.com

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

83%

PROS:

CONS:

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

80%

Anker Soundcore Life Q30

76%

Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless

74%

PROS:

CONS:

Beats Studio Buds +

80%

PROS:

  • Easy iOS integration and support for Google Fast Pair
    pcmag.com
  • Excellent noise cancellation for the price
    pcmag.com
  • Hands-free Siri access
    pcmag.com

CONS:

Urbanista Los Angeles

80%

PROS:

  • Quality noise cancellation for the price
    pcmag.com
  • Impressive audio performance with rich, deep bass and crisp highs
    pcmag.com
  • Solar-powered charging
    pcmag.com

CONS:

Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC

80%

PROS:

  • LDAC support for Android users
    pcmag.com
  • Commendable noise cancellation for the price
    pcmag.com
  • Commendable noise cancellation for the price
    pcmag.com

CONS:

  • Default sound signature has noticeable sculpting
    pcmag.com
  • Average water-resistance rating
    pcmag.com
  • Default sound signature has noticeable sculpting
    pcmag.com

Sony WH-1000XM4

91%

PROS:

CONS:

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

90%

PROS:

CONS:

  • Active noise cancellation cannot be turned off
    techhive.com
  • Active noise cancellation cannot be turned off
    techhive.com
  • No wireless charging or multipoint Bluetooth
    cnet.com

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) With MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C)

90%

PROS:

  • Rich, well-balanced audio performance
    pcmag.com
  • Seamless integration with Apple devices
    pcmag.com
  • Charging case has a built-in speaker, USB-C port
    pcmag.com

CONS:

Bowers & Wilkins PX8

90%

PROS:

CONS:

Focal Bathys

85%

PROS:

CONS:

Sony WH-CH720N headphones

80%

PROS:

CONS:

1More Sonoflow

90%

PROS:

CONS:

Beats Studio Pro

80%

PROS:

  • USB-C audio
    cnet.com
  • Improved sound quality, noise canceling and ear pad design
    cnet.com
  • Very good voice-calling performance
    cnet.com

CONS:

  • No major design changes except for case
    cnet.com
  • No major design changes except for case
    cnet.com
  • No ear-detection sensors
    cnet.com

Sony CH-720N

80%

PROS:

  • Lightweight and comfortable
    cnet.com
  • Good sound with very good noise canceling and ambient sound mode
    cnet.com
  • Good voice-calling performance
    cnet.com

CONS:

Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)

91%

PROS:

  • Powered by Apple's H2 chip
    cnet.com
  • Charging case has U1 chip and built-in speaker for Find My
    cnet.com
  • Top-notch transparency mode
    cnet.com

CONS:

  • No support for high-resolution audio with other Apple devices except headset
    cnet.com
  • Still no XL ear tips
    cnet.com
  • No support for high-resolution audio with other Apple devices except headset
    cnet.com

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd-gen, 2022, Lightning)

90%

PROS:

CONS:

  • Lacks user customizable EQ options
    techhive.com
  • IPX4 splash resistance for buds and case is just so-so
    techhive.com
  • IPX4 splash resistance for buds and case is just so-so
    techhive.com

Google Pixel Buds Pro

80%

PROS:

CONS:

EarFun Free Pro 3

90%

PROS:

CONS:

Wyze Labs Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones

90%

PROS:

CONS:

  • 1/4-inch and airline adapters not provided
    techhive.com
  • Tiny degradation in frequency response when using active noise cancellation
    techhive.com
  • Tiny degradation in frequency response when using active noise cancellation
    techhive.com

Anker Soundcore Space Q45

90%

PROS:

CONS:

Mark Levinson No. 5909 noise-cancelling headphone

80%

PROS:

CONS:

Bowers & Wilkins Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e

90%

PROS:

CONS: