Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
In today’s bustling world, noise-canceling headphones have transitioned from a luxury to a necessity. Whether you’re navigating your daily commute, embarking on travels, or seeking tranquility while working remotely, these devices provide an indispensable auditory escape. The market offers a plethora of excellent selections, ensuring a satisfactory choice for every user seeking premium audio and serene listening experiences.
Established industry leaders such as Bose and Sony present compelling options. Apple has swiftly become a major player with its opulent AirPods Max. For discerning audiophiles prioritizing superior audio fidelity, brands like Bowers & Wilkins and Sennheiser offer headphones that may hold greater appeal compared to more mainstream brands.
While earbuds are popular, traditional over-ear and on-ear headphones remain relevant, particularly when extended battery performance is paramount or a more substantial feel is preferred.
Regardless of your specific application, the core criteria for evaluating the best noise-canceling headphones remain consistent.
Key Considerations for Noise-Canceling Headphones
Our top picks for noise-canceling headphones undergo rigorous testing over numerous hours. Assessing their ability to minimize ambient noise is paramount. We evaluate them across diverse settings, including busy urban environments, office spaces, cafes, and public transportation, as well as in quieter home listening environments.
Transparency modes are meticulously tested to determine the clarity of external sound pass-through and the ease of conducting conversations without removing the headphones. Feedback on fit and comfort is gathered from a panel of users. Finally, a diverse selection of music playlists and albums are used to evaluate audio performance and to accurately measure battery life per charge.
Headphone comfort is critical. Even exceptional sound quality and noise cancellation are irrelevant if discomfort becomes a distraction. Lighter headphones are generally more comfortable for prolonged use. Thoughtful design considerations, such as premium ear cup materials and ergonomic headband construction, further enhance comfort. Clamping force, the pressure the headphones exert on your head, is also a significant factor. A firmer clamp may be desirable for secure fit during physical activity but less suitable for relaxed, extended listening.
The headphones featured in our guide excel at delivering distraction-free audio in various noisy environments, such as air travel, offices, and bustling city streets. Noise-canceling headphones employ integrated microphones to capture ambient sounds and then generate inverse sound waves to effectively neutralize external noise.
Historically, potent noise cancellation was often associated with compromised sound reproduction. However, current flagship ANC headphones deliver dynamic, full, and immersive audio experiences. They commonly support a range of Bluetooth codecs, with some, like Sony’s LDAC and aptX HD, enabling higher data transmission rates than standard AAC and SBC codecs. While codec specifications are relevant, superior audio performance ultimately depends on skillful tuning and quality components to ensure excellent music reproduction, irrespective of the codec utilized.
Compared to earbuds, wireless headphones generally offer superior battery endurance. While most earbuds require recharging after approximately five hours of use, wireless headphones often provide around 20 hours of playtime on a single charge. Certain recent models extend this even further, reaching up to 40 hours or more.
For users who frequently multitask across devices, multipoint Bluetooth connectivity is a valuable attribute in headphones. This feature enables noise-canceling headphones to maintain simultaneous connections with two devices. This streamlined connectivity simplifies tasks such as answering a phone call while listening to music from a laptop, eliminating the need to manually manage Bluetooth settings.
Increasingly, headphones incorporate features exclusive to specific manufacturer ecosystems. For instance, AirPods Max offer head-tracking spatial audio and audio sharing capabilities, but these functionalities are exclusively available when paired with other Apple products like iPhones, Macs, or iPads.
The optimal headphones ultimately depend on individual priorities, but our top overall recommendation for best noise-canceling headphones remains the Sony WH-1000XM5. They strike an exceptional balance of audio performance, comfort, and noise cancellation that is difficult to surpass.
Top Pick: Wireless Headphones for Most Users
$398
The Pros
- Enhanced active noise cancellation
- More refined, balanced sound profile
- Significantly improved call clarity
The Cons
- Plasticky design for the price point
- Limited feature upgrades from 1000XM4
- Cumbersome carrying case
Battery Life: 30 hours / Multipoint: Yes / Audio Codecs: LDAC, AAC, SBC Connectors: USB-C (charging), 3.5mm jack (audio)
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones represent a significant design departure from their predecessors. These modifications enhance comfort during prolonged wear, ideal for long flights or extended office use.
Noise cancellation is further refined beyond the already impressive M4, establishing Sony as a market leader in noise attenuation. Audio quality is richer and more balanced compared to the 1000XM4; bass response is impactful yet controlled. The M5 features the clearest voice call performance in the 1000X series and supports simultaneous connection to two devices, facilitating seamless transitions between phone and computer use.
Unique features include “speak to chat,” which automatically pauses music and activates ambient sound when you begin speaking. “Quick attention mode,” activated by hand placement over the right ear cup, is convenient for brief interactions or listening to announcements. Like other premium headphones, automatic pause is triggered upon ear removal.
The primary drawback of the WH-1000XM5 is their higher price point compared to previous models. This cost consideration makes the 1000XM4, our prior top pick, a compelling alternative, especially as they are frequently available at reduced prices.
Best Noise-Canceling Headphones for Travel
$380
The Pros
- Exceptional comfort for extended wear
- Leading noise cancellation
- Enhanced transparency mode clarity
- Improved voice call quality over NCH700
The Cons
- Inconsistent Immersive Audio quality
- Immersive Audio reduces battery life
- No USB-C audio support
- Case design flaws
Battery Life: 24 hours / Multipoint: Yes / Audio Codecs: aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC Connectors: USB-C (charging), 2.5mm jack (audio)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones blend the best aspects of the Noise Canceling Headphones 700 and QuietComfort 45, incorporating a new “immersive audio” mode. Consistent with Bose’s reputation, they are lightweight and exceptionally comfortable, even over extended periods. Unlike the Noise Canceling Headphones 700, the Ultra model folds for enhanced portability.
A 24-hour battery life is ample, and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec support enhances audio fidelity on compatible Android devices.
The immersive audio feature exhibits variable performance across different music genres. While experimentation is encouraged, excellent noise cancellation, pleasing sound, and a useful transparency mode ensure a premium experience even without utilizing immersive audio.
Optimal Wireless Headphones for iPhone Users
$500
The Pros
- High-end, luxurious design
- Superb, balanced audio reproduction
- Highly effective noise cancellation
- Reliable, intuitive controls
- Immersive spatial audio for entertainment
The Cons
- Heavier than many competing models
- No 3.5mm audio jack
- Wired listening necessitates a costly separate cable
- Subpar carrying case
- Lacks newer AirPods Pro functionalities
Battery Life: 20 hours / Multipoint: No / Audio Codecs: AAC, SBC Connectors: Lightning (audio and charging)
The $549 price tag of Apple’s AirPods Max noise-canceling headphones caused considerable initial shock upon their 2020 introduction. Priced significantly higher than our other recommendations, the AirPods Max distinguish themselves with exceptional build quality. Replacing plastic with steel and aluminum, and incorporating breathable mesh fabric ear cups, they exude a premium feel. While undeniably substantial in weight, the AirPods Max, apart from the excluded headphone cable, offer undeniable quality. The digital crown control is a welcome alternative to often inconsistent touch-based gestures.
Crucially, AirPods Max deliver audio performance on par with the top-tier high-end Bluetooth headphones. Featuring an expansive, immersive soundstage and excellent dynamics, they invite exploration of your music library to rediscover nuances in familiar tracks.
Apple’s noise cancellation rivals Sony and Bose, and their transparency mode is unmatched, providing a natural awareness of surroundings. Features like Spatial Audio and seamless switching within the Apple ecosystem partially justify the premium cost.
However, AirPods Max are not without shortcomings. The carrying case is inadequate, battery life is merely average for the category, and their design is deeply integrated with the Apple ecosystem. Their high price is harder to rationalize outside of the Apple device ecosystem.
The updated AirPods Max with USB-C charging and new color options launched in September. While testing is ongoing, minimal performance differences from the original Lightning model are anticipated. Notably, they now support lossless audio and ultra-low latency via a recent firmware update, a technical advantage over the Lightning version.
Best Sounding Wireless Headphones
$288
The Pros
- Distinctive, elegant design
- Exceptional audio performance
- Supports wired USB-C audio
The Cons
- No standard headphone jack
- Lacks LDAC codec support
- Potential for ear overheating
Battery Life: 30 hours / Multipoint: Yes / Audio Codecs: aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC / Connectors: USB-C (audio and charging)
For ultimate audio purists, Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e headphones are the premier choice. Displaying incredibly detailed and refined sound, favored by some over the AirPods Max, the Bowers & Wilkins headphones embody the brand’s heritage of sophisticated design and exceptional build. The “e” variant incorporates updated digital signal processing optimizing streamed music quality.
Physical buttons are preferred over touch controls of Sony’s WH-1000XM5 by some users. With a 30-hour battery life, they are competitive with less expensive mainstream alternatives. The warm, engaging sound profile enhances diverse musical genres. The primary limitation is the absence of a traditional 3.5mm or 2.5mm headphone cable input, although wired USB-C listening is supported.
Noise-Canceling Headphones with Longest Battery Life
$280
The Pros
- Significantly enhanced comfort
- Improved noise cancellation
- Extended 60-hour battery capacity
The Cons
- Uninspired, generic design
- No physical button controls
- Occasional unintended power-on issues
Battery Life: 60 hours / Multipoint: Yes / Audio Codecs: aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, SBC / Connectors: USB-C (audio and charging), 2.5mm jack (audio)
An astounding 60-hour battery life defines the Sennheiser Momentum 4 wireless headphones, making them the undisputed endurance champion. Beyond longevity, they deliver excellent sound and exceptional comfort for extended listening. While not budget-priced, they periodically become available at attractive prices.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones offer superior comfort to Bowers & Wilkins due to a lighter build and exhibit slightly improved noise cancellation. Rivaling Sony and Bose QC Ultra Headphones in comfort, they enable hours of fatigue-free listening.
Sennheiser’s sonic signature is more expressive with more pronounced bass compared to B&W, while maintaining crystal-clear high frequencies. The primary drawback is occasional unintended power-on when stored in the case, leading to unwanted device connections.
Both B&W and Sennheiser headphones feature multipoint connectivity and support a range of Bluetooth codecs, including SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive.
Update, April 7th: Content updated to reflect current market prices, availability, and inclusion of lossless audio support for latest Apple AirPods Max via firmware update.