Noise-cancelling has become a must-have feature in any good pair of wireless headphones or earbuds, whether it’s used to isolate listening on a morning commute, to drown out the drone of a jet engine, or chatter at the gym when you’re focused on crushing a workout.
And if you’re working from home, it might be worth investing in a pair to drown out distractions and actually hear your coworkers in virtual meetings.
With so many choices available, though, finding the best active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones for you is no easy task.
Some pairs will have more effective noise cancellation, while others may sound better, cost less or suit your eye more.
Finding the right balance for your tastes can be tricky, but luckily we’ve tested the best over-ear cans and in-ear buds currently on the market to help you decide which pair best suits your style and needs.
Best ANC headphones: Our top picks
Pocket-lint
Sony WH-1000XM5
1. Best noise cancelling headphones overall
Sony’s simply superb sound
$300 $348 Save $48
Sony knocked it out of the park with the WH-1000XM5, delivering exceptional noise cancelling and sound quality in a feature-packed pair of headphones.
- Outstanding noise cancellation
- Superb sound quality
- Comfortable to wear for long periods
- No aptX support
- Don’t fold down like the previous models
The Sony WH-1000XM5s are a masterclass for their competitors to learn from, pairing comfort, a bold new design and superb performance – both sonically and in terms of active noise cancellation.
That makes for a very strong combination. If you’re travelling regularly and want to cut out droning noise, or if you just want to lose yourself in your music, the WH-1000XM5s are just a very slight cut above the next best options.
There are definitely a couple of sore points, such as how the new design doesn’t fold down as small as its predecessors, but anybody who wants the very peak ANC package shouldn’t look past this flagship Sony offering.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
2. Best lightweight noise cancelling headphones
Features Bose’s booming bass
$299 $379 Save $80
Bose’s noise-cancelling needs to be heard to be believed, and the rest of the package makes this a very rounded pair.
- Outstanding noise cancellation
- Great balanced sound
- Cool design
Think of noise-cancelling headphones and the chances are high that you’ll think of Bose. Despite the unimaginative name, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 deliver a very imaginative sound quality that rivals the best competition out there. And the multi-level noise-cancelling is pretty close to being class-leading.
There’s also smart assistant integration for Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Siri, a solid app for various customizations (but no EQ, sadly), and well-integrated touch-based controls on the right earcup.
Aside from the Sony XM5s, there’s no better pick to take on your travels. And, even then, we’re sure there are plenty of people that would actually prefer the overall package delivered by Bose here. The margins are very tight at the top.
Bowers & Wilkins PX7
3. Best luxury noise-cancelling heapdphones
Premium pick
$329 $399 Save $70
Supreme sound is backed up by solid ANC, making this model one of the very top options to consider in this area.
- Great design
- Amazing sound
- Really solid ANC
The B&W PX7 headphones look great, and they sound even better. B&W’s noise cancellation is at the top of its class, and adding features like aptX Adaptive support makes for smoother listening experiences and better future-proofing. Really impressively, too, the headphones are even more comfortable than ever before, making for a dreamy user experience.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
4. Best in-ear noise cancelling headphones
A party in your ears
$250 $300 Save $50
If you’re looking for a refined sound and best-in-class noise cancellation, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are a superb choice.
- Incredible ANC
- Refined sound
- Secure fit
- No wireless charging
- No multipoint Bluetooth
The Bose QuietComfort EarBuds II improve on their predecessors in pretty much every way, refining their design, improving their fit and comfort and honing the sound. With an RRP of £280/$299, they are undoubtedly expensive, even in the premium wireless market, but retailers have already begun knocking a little off that at the time of writing – so it’s worth looking around.
If the price tag doesn’t deter you, you certainly won’t be disappointed with your investment. And while they sound great, the real wow factor here is the noise cancellation they are capable of. If you need, want or crave near silence while you’re listening to your music, these are the best true wireless earbuds for the job – without question.
Sony WF-1000XM4
5. Best lightweight noise cancelling earbuds
Tiny but mighty
These in-ears are seriously impressive on all fronts, providing a premium offering for those who require the lighter experience that earbuds offer.
- Great sound
- Excellent ANC
- Improved battery life
- Quite chunky
- Not cheap at all
Sony has applied its audio expertise to noise-cancelling in-ear buds, not just headphones. We’ve seen what the company can do with a pair of over-ears, so we had mighty high expectations for the entirely wire-free in-ear model – the Sony WF-1000XM4 – now in its fourth-gen form.
These wireless in-ears deliver a well-balanced sound that leans neither too heavily on bass, nor higher levels. We found it to be just right. The noise-cancellation is just as accomplished, as well, effectively blocking out the general humdrum of everyday life, as well as plane and train noises.
Of course, being small in-ear buds in a portable case makes them very easy to carry around in your coat pocket or purse.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
6. Worth Considering
Much improved
$174 $280 Save $106
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 are some really great earbuds. They’re cheaper than the last version, have improved in-ear comfort and offer the same excellent sound with ANC that does a little bit more than before. There are some very minor foibles, but Sennheiser’s Momentum 3 are an excellent pick for a reliable set of earbuds.
These Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 are a clear step up on their predecessors with no real downsides and plenty of improvements. They look nicer, are more comfortable and still sound just as great, with better ANC than before and a very solid software experience. That Sennheiser has managed to do so while also cutting the price is even more impressive.
Call quality might not be class-leading, but that’s a common enough issue and one that shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. They’re reliable, beautifully designed and sound great. Well worthy of consideration.
Apple AirPods Pro 2
7. Best in-ear noise cancelling headphones for Apple users
A cult classic
$200 $249 Save $49
AirPods Pro 2 are great earbuds that everyone should buy.
- Great ANC
- Improved, refined sound
- Strong iOS integration
- More pedestrian on Android
For Apple users, the AirPods Pro 2 almost demand to be on your shortlist if you’re in the market for wireless ANC earbuds.
We loved the originals, but these second generation buds bring with them some great new additions, including better noise cancellation, Adaptive Transparency, touch controls and improved battery life.
There are great additions elsewhere too, like the speaker and U1 chip in the charging case, and we love that you can now use an Apple Watch charger to charge them as well, reducing the number of cables we need to keep with us.
While the design of the second generation AirPods Pro may have remained very similar to its predecessor, and they don’t come cheap, the improvements they’ve made make the AirPods Pro 2 an exceptional pair of wireless headphones and one iPhone users in particular should definitely have on their shortlist.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
8. Best aesthetically pleasing noise cancelling headphones
Simple elegance
$274 $380 Save $106
A great redesign that has resulted in some seriously excellent headphones.
- Great sound
- Solid cancelling
- Excellent battery life
- A little generic
- Auto power features unreliable
Sennheiser completely redesigned things for its fourth-generation Momentum 4 Wireless headphones, and the result is super comfortable and really detailed and balanced in its sound profile.
A massive 60-hour battery life is enough to see most people through even a busy week, which is ideal, and the price is slightly lower than the last version (although still premium). It’s a great package, in our view.
Sony WH-1000XM4
9. Best noise cancelling headphones for comfort
All day wear
$348 $400 Save $52
Some of the most comfortable headphones ever made, with excellent noise cancelling proving to be a big bonus.
- Superb cancelling
- Amazing sound
- Great looks and battery life
They might no longer be the latest headphones, but the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are excellent at cutting out external noise, with only a slight drop-off compared to the newer XM5s.
Compared to the XM3s, the design tweaks add quality and refinement, while a more powerful chip provides the grunt to cancel out more noise.
The results are sensational, with the 1000XM4 not only sounding great as a set of headphones, but also being some of the most effective at combatting external noise through more selectable levels. It’s an outstanding package – and one that’s naturally available at a cheaper rate than its newer sibling.
The best noise-cancelling headphones: The bottom line
From our listening and testing in all surround-sound situations, the Sony WH-1000XM5s win Pocket-lint’s top choice for the best noise-cancelling headphones money can buy thanks to the headphones’ superior sound and noise isolation capabilities.
Pocket-lint
Sony WH-1000XM5
Editor’s Choice
Sony’s simply superb sound
$300 $348 Save $48
Sony knocked it out of the park with the WH-1000XM5, delivering exceptional noise cancelling and sound quality in a feature-packed pair of headphones.
With a sleek lightweight form-factor and Bose’s classically great sound, the Bose 700 also make for a close runner-up.
Of course, if you’re in the market for an in-ear bud option rather than over-ear cans, the Bose QuietComfort II buds offer, like the name suggests, extreme comfort with limited pressure build-up, booming Bass, and ANC that’s almost too good.
How to choose noise-cancelling headphones
While active noise-cancellation (ANC) was once rare, there are now countless devices that offer it to choose from – here are some questions to help you narrow things down.
Do you want over or in-ear headphones?
When it comes to ANC, you’ve got a major choice on your hands between over-ear headphones and in-ear earbuds, both of which can be found with the tech and offer different benefits. Earbuds are way smaller and more portable, so are convenient for everyday use in our experience, while over-ears tend to offer the best isolation but are bulkier, making them more suited to home use or longer journeys.
It’s really up to personal preference, as well – some people simply don’t find earbuds as comfortable, and others can’t stand the pressure of over-ears, so if you have a strong leaning in either direction that will probably inform your thinking.
Are you on iOS or Android?
While most options on the market now cater pretty equally to both mobile operating systems, there are still some occasions when you’ll find a device works better on one than the other – particularly when it comes to Apple’s own products, which favour iOS.
This shouldn’t lock you out of any purchases, but it may make you more likely to go with a product, since tighter integration generally leads to easier user controls and pairing.
What are ANC headphones and earbuds we’d also recommend?
The Sony WH-1000XM5 may be Pocket-lint’s pick for the top-performing ANC headphones, but we also know that they won’t be the right pair for everyone. That’s why we also recommend some other great options, including earbuds and headphones from Bose, Apple and Bowers & Wilkins.
What’s your budget?
If you’re going into this sort of purchasing process we recommend that you work out what you’re happy to spend ahead of time, or you might find that you end up spending more than you intended. After all, ANC is still often the preserve of quite premium options, so a lot of the choices available are fairly pricey.
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