The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones โ€” Which Is Right For You?

There are a lot of wireless headphones with active noise-cancellation. We’ve rounded up the best of the best.

noise canceling headphonesPhoto by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

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Wireless noise-canceling headphones are super popular and effective these days. They have powerful processors and special mics that, together, generate opposing sound waves โ€” called anti-phases โ€” that cancel out the sounds around you. The result is that you just hear the music and not your apartment’s TV, your colleagues’ lunch conversation or the dull buzz of an airplane.

No wonder there are now a lot of noise-canceling headphones to choose from. Bose and Sony are probably the most well-known makers, but pretty much every other audio and tech company โ€” Bowers & Wilkins to Sennheiser, Master & Dynamic to Apple โ€” has thrown its hat in the ring (at least once).

If you’re looking for top-quality noise-canceling headphones, you can expect to spend between $300 and $400 โ€” that’s what most of today’s flagship options are going for. Of course, you can spend a lot more or a lot less than that, too.

How We Tested

Some of the best noise-canceling headphones
There are a lot of really good noise-canceling headphones these days. And they’re all a little bit different.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

We test each pair of headphones for sound quality, call clarity, comfort, battery life and features (such as button or swipe controls as well as support for a companion app). We also test each headphone’s noise-canceling abilities in a range of different noisy and quiet environments.

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

The Best ANC Headphones for Most People

sony wh 1000xm5 headphonesSony

Sony WH-1000XM5

Specs

Battery Life Up to 30 hours
Weight 0.55 pounds
Charging USB-C

Pros

  • Excellent noise-cancellation
  • Superb sound quality
  • Lightweight and comfortable design
  • Customizable controls and features

Cons

  • Don't feel as premium as more expensive options
  • Swipe controls might not be your style

Release date: May 2022

Released in May 2022, the Sony WH-1000XM5 are new-and-improved versions of the company’s acclaimed WH-1000XM4 noise-canceling headphones. The XM5s have a new lightweight design with larger earcups so they’re even more comfortable.

They have an extra processor that helps them deliver even stronger active noise cancellation (especially for mid-to-high-range frequencies). They have double the built-in microphones so they’ve significantly better for calls, along with many of the same features and sound that made the XM4s our previous pick for the best noise-canceling headphones. The catch? The XM5s are $50 more expensive.

headphones on a table
For a deeper look, check out our review of the Sony WH-1000XM5.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

Most Comfortable ANC Headphones

Sonos

Sonos Ace

Specs

Battery Life Up to 30 hours
Weight 0.71 pounds
Charging USB-C

Pros

  • Maybe the most comfortable noise-canceling headphones
  • ANC and sound quality are both extremely impressive
  • Physical buttons (especially the Content Key) are nice

Cons

  • More expensive than alternatives from Bose and Sony
  • Can't stream music over Wi-Fi or be grouped with Sonos speakers
  • TV Audio Swap isn't quite ready yet
  • Release date: June 2024

The Sonos Ace is the companyโ€™s first pair of wireless over-ear noise-canceling headphones โ€” and they’re excellent. Their sound quality and active noise-cancellation are every bit on the same level as Apple’s, Bose’s, and Sony’s flagships. And they’re one of the most comfortable wireless headphones we’ve tested.

Despite being made by Sonos, the king of multi-room wireless speakers, the Ace work similarly to most other noise-canceling headphones out there. The one “Sonos-y” feature they have only applies to folks who have a Sonos soundbar; with a press of a button, you can quickly swap your TVโ€™s audio to these headphones for a private listening session.

Sonos-Ace-Review
For a deeper look, check out our review of the Sony Ace.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

Best ANC Headphones for iPhone Owners

apple airpods maxAmazon

Apple AirPods Max

Specs

Battery Life Up to 20 hours
Weight 0.85 pounds
Charging Lightning

Pros

  • Superb sound quality and support for spatial audio
  • Excellent noise-cancellation
  • The best noise-canceling headphones for iPhone users

Cons

  • Very expensive and heavy
  • Works best with Apple devices
  • Lacks some of the newer features of Apple's newest AirPods Pro

Release date: December 2020

Apple’s first pair of over-ear headphones are very luxurious. The earcups are made entirely of stainless steel โ€“ no plastic โ€” so they look great, although they are heavier than most alternatives. The sound quality and noise-canceling ability of the AirPods Max are both excellent, easily making them some of the best you can buy.

They are baked with Apple’s (now-older) H1 chip and have most of the same features as AirPods Pro (Gen 2)โ€”such as a transparency mode, support for spatial audio and Dolby Atmos, and easy iPhone pairing. They are several years old, however, and lack some newer features such as USB-C charging and support for the newest AirPods Pro features.

That said, if you have an iPhone and can stomach the high price tag, you can’t go wrong with the AirPods Max.

airpods max
For a deeper look, check out our review of the AirPods Max.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

Most Elite Active Noise-Cancellation

a pair of headphonesBose

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Specs

Battery Life Up to 60 hours
Weight 0.56 pounds
Charging USB-C

Pros

  • Best-in-class noise cancellation
  • One of the most comfortable ANC headphones you can buy
  • New foldable and travel-friendly design

Cons

  • Still quite expensive
  • Spatial Audio can be hit or miss
  • Release date: September 2023

Introduced in late 2023, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are the company’s new flagship noise-canceling headphones … and they are quite the departure from the 2019-released Bose Headphones 700 (now discontinued). They have a new design that prioritizes comfort and portability; they fold in on themselves into a more travel-friendly size.

The QuietComfort Ultra deliver some of the most powerful active noise-cancellation you’re going to find in a pair of headphones, but Bose drastically improved the transparency mode and call clarity as well. They also have an Immersive Audio mode for listening to spatial audio; it’s not quite a game changer, but it does allow the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones to deliver a listening experience that’s in the same ballpark as Sony’s and Apple’s wireless headphones.

bose quietcomfort ultra headphones
For a deeper look, check out our review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.
Photo by Will Sabel Courtney for Gear Patrol

An Affordable Alternative to Apple’s AirPods Max

Beats Studio Pro - Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones - Personalized Spatial Audio, USB-C Lossless Audio, Apple & Android Compatibility, Up to 40 Hours Battery Life - BlackAmazon

Beats Studio Pro

Specs

Battery Life Up to 40 hours
Weight 0.57 pounds
Charging USB-C

Pros

  • Work very similarly to AirPods Max, but cost significantly less
  • Work really well with Android smartphones, too
  • Support lossless audio when over a wired USB-C connection

Cons

  • Mostly the same design as Beats's previous noise-canceling headphones
  • Lacks support for Bluetooth multi-point for Apple's ecosystem
  • Don't expect the same elite levels of sound and ANC as AirPods Max
  • Release date: July 2023

The Beats Studio Pros are essentially a more budget-friendly alternative to Appleโ€™s AirPods Max. The two headphones share a lot of the same features (reminder: Apple owns Beats), such as fast iPhone pairing, hands-free โ€œHey Siriโ€ and support for Appleโ€™s Find My network. They support for Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, just like AirPods Max.

The main tradeoff is that while good, the sound quality as well as noise-canceling and transparency modes arenโ€™t quite elite. That said, the Studio Pros are significantly cheaper and lighter (so youโ€™ll probably find them more comfortable), and they work better with Android devices. They also can work as wired headphones via 3.5mm or USB-C jacks (the latter of which can even play lossless audio).

Beats Studio Pro
For a deeper look, check out our review of the Beats Studio Pro.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

Bowers & Wilkins’s Stylish ANC Headphones

bowers wilkins px7 s2 headphonesAmazon

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2

Specs

Battery Life Up to 30 hours
Weight 0.68 pounds
Charging USB-C

Pros

  • Excellent and expansive sound quality
  • Improved noise-cancellation
  • Unique look and feel

Cons

  • Still quite expensive
  • Not as elite as B&W's Px8
  • Release date: June 2022

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 is the successor to the 2019-released PX7. Despite looking fairly similar, B&W has revamped them on the inside to improve their sound quality and noise-cancellation ability. They’re also lighter, smaller, and ever-so-comfortable to wear. You can buy them in black, blue, and gray.

That said, the PX7 S2 are technically the second best noise-canceling headphones that B&W makes. Released a few months afterward, the PX8 are very similar to the PX7 S2, but have slightly improved sound and made of higher-end materials (and therefore are considerably more expensive).

bowers
For a deeper look, check out our review of the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2.
Tucker Bowe

Bowers & Wilkins’s Upgraded, More Luxurious Option

bowers and wilkins headphonesBowers & Wilkins

Bowers & Wilkins Px8

Specs

Battery Life Up to 30 hours
Weight 0.71 pounds
Charging USB-C

Pros

  • Exceptional sound quality
  • Super luxurious design
  • Physical buttons are nice

Cons

  • Super steep price tag
  • Many of the same features as B&W's more affordable headphones
  • Release date: September 2022

The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 are essentially a fancier and better version of the Px7 S2. The two headphones look similar, but the PX8 is made of higher-end materials like aluminum and real leather rather than plastic.

Additionally, the PX8 delivers an even more refined sound thanks to carbon fiber and resin drivers. But at just shy of $700, they’re among the most expensive wireless noise-canceling headphones you can buy.

bowers and wilkins px8 headphones
For a deeper look, check out our review of the Bowers & Wilkins PX8.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

Excellent ANC Headphones with a Modern Look

techMaster & Dynamic

Master & Dynamic MW75

Specs

Battery Life Up to 32 hours
Weight 0.75 pounds
Charging USB-C

Pros

  • Top notch sound quality and noise-cancellation
  • Gorgeous design made with premium materials
  • Features galore

Cons

  • One of the most expensive options out there
  • Design might not be your vibe
  • Release date: June 2022

Master & Dynamic’s flagship noise-cancellation headphones combine excellent design, superb sound, and a hefty price tag. Compared to their predecessors, the MW65s, they have a new look (and new tempered glass earcups), and M&D has drastically improved their noise-cancellation capabilities.

For those familiar with M&D’s over-ear headphones, the MW75 are also unique because they work with a companion app โ€” M&D Connect โ€” which allows you to tweak the EQ and various other settings (previous models didn’t support such an app).

tech
For a deeper look, check out our full review of the Master & Dynamic MW75.
Tucker Bowe

The High-End Hi-Fi Option

focal bathysAmazon

Focal Bathys

Specs

Battery Life Up to 30 hours
Weight 0.77 pounds
Charging USB-C

Pros

  • Sound exceptional even when playing over Bluetooth
  • Can play lossless audio when using a wired USB-C connection
  • Surprisingly comfortable to wear

Cons

  • $699 is far from cheap
  • ANC won't blow your socks off
  • Design might not be your jam
  • Release date: October 2022

The Focal Bathys โ€” pronounced “bat-ees” โ€” are the French high-end audio company’s first pair of wireless noise-canceling headphones. Among the most expensive headphones on the market, they bring over a lot of technologies and sound qualities from Focal’s high-end wired headphones. They also have more of a luxury build with premium materials like metal and leather, which obviously drives up the price.

The Bathys are rich with features, including a robust app for tweaking the sound quality. They also work well as wired headphones, even supporting lossless audio (up to 24-bit/192kHz) when used with the included USB-C-to-USB-C cable. The noise-canceling and transparency skills are good but not quite elite, but they score many points with the design and sound.

focal bathys
For a deeper look, check out our full review of the Focal Bathys.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

Sennheiser’s Flagship ANC Headphones

headphonesSennheiser

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

Specs

Battery Life up to 60 hours
Weight 0.65 pounds
Charging USB-C

Pros

  • Comfortable and lightweightdesign
  • Exceptionally long-lasting battery life
  • Sennheiser's signature sound quality

Cons

  • No physical buttons for playback control
  • Design is more mainstream than Sennheiser's previous headphones
  • Release date: August 2022

The Momentum 4 Wireless are Sennheiser’s current flagship noise-canceling headphones. They are quite a departure from Momentum 3 Wireless as they have a completely new and lightweight design that has been streamlined for comfort. They have drastically improved sound quality and noise-canceling. And at up to 60 hours, they have some of the best battery life in any wireless ANC headphones.

The only real downside is that the new design has ditched the retro look that made the Momentum 3 Wireless so unique. They also ditched the physical buttons in favor of capacitive controls.

,