Best Noise-Canceling Headphones I've Tested for 2026

CNET

TechnologyCNET·Jun 8, 2026·43 min read

Best Noise-Canceling Headphones I've Tested for 2026

I've been testing noise-canceling headphones for over 20 years (or noise-cancelling, as it's sometimes spelled), going all the way back to Bose's early QuietComfort wired headphones. These days active noise-canceling (ANC) has become a common feature on wireless headphones and earbuds, with even some budget models offering decent noise muffling capabilities. While most selections on this list are among the top premium over-ear headphones and wireless earbuds, I’ve also included a few value picks. And for those looking exclusively for more budget-friendly options, we have lists of the best noise-canceling headphones under $100 and best noise-canceling true wireless earbuds.

9.3/10 CNET Score

Why I like them

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Pros

Upgraded design with wider headband and slightly more comfortable fit

Dual-hinge allows you to fold headphones up and fit into a new, smaller case

Best-in-class noise-canceling and natural-sounding transparency mode

Excellent sound quality with enhanced detail, clarity and bass performance

New, more powerful QN3 chip (seven times faster than previous QN1)

Top-notch voice-calling performance with six beam-forming microphones

Spatial audio with head tracking using 360 Reality Audio technology

Cons

Premium price point that's $50 higher than previous model

No USB-C audio option for digital wired listening

Spatial audio implementation lacks clear on/off controls

9.1/10 CNET Score

Why I like them

Pros

Surprisingly comfortable despite being on the heavier side for over-ear headphones

More powerful H2 chip delivers performance and feature upgrades

Upgraded amplifier

Impressive sound (their sound has been improved slightly) and build-quality

Improved adaptive noise canceling and transparency mode are both top-notch

Slightly improved headset performance for calls with Voice Isolation

USB-C audio for hi-res wired listening

Personalized spatial audio for Apple devices

Automatic switching between iOS devices on your iCloud account (multipoint Bluetooth)

Cons

Expensive

Minimalist smart case remains the same and some people may not like its look or protection level

No USB-C to 3.5mm cable included for wired use on planes

Didn't get Apple's H3 chip, rumored to be in development

Android users lose several key features

9.2/10 CNET Score

Why I like them

Pros

Lightweight, comfortable design with dual hinges that fold both up and flat

Superb noise canceling that rivals Sony's for ANC on the market

Slightly improved sound quality with new immersive-audio Cinema Mode

USB-C audio

Excellent voice-calling performance with minimal background noise

Intuitive mix of physical buttons and touch controls

Cons

Unclear what hardware changes Bose has made, and this model looks almost identical to the previous model

Pricey

Immersive audio mode hurts battery life (30 to 24 hours)

9.2/10 CNET Score

Anker's new-for-2026 Soundcore Space 2 headphones ($130) are a definite upgrade from their predecessor, the first Space. Not only do they feature a more sleek and comfortable design, but they also have improved sound and noise canceling. At around a quarter of the price of Sony's $450 WH-1000XM6 and Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2), they're an excellent, more affordable alternative to those models. While they're more of a B-plus for overall performance, they earn an A-rating in the value department. Read the full review.

Pros

Relatively affordable

Upgraded design with a more comfortable fit

Very good sound for the price

Improved adaptive noise canceling

Long battery life

Integrated voice controls

Strong noise reduction for voice calling

Cons

Callers said my voice sounded a little muffled during voice calls

Noise canceling could be even better

3D Sound mode makes sound quality worse

8.1/10 CNET Score

Why I like them

While I didn't get a new H3 chip and I was hoping that the charging case would be able to convert into a Bluetooth transceiver to use the buds on a plane with an inflight entertainment system, I did get most of what I was looking for in the AirPods Pro 3. The changes may seem incremental to some folks, but all the key elements such as fit, sound quality and noise cancellation have been noticeably leveled up along with single-charge battery. They're about as close as earbuds get to being complete: excellent noise cancellation, strong voice-calling performance and sound quality that rivals the very best. Few buds excel in all three areas -- and the Pro 3s manage it while packing in plenty of extra features, including their new heart-rate monitoring feature. Read my full review.

Pros

Design upgrades to the buds and ear tips improve their fit

Noise cancellation has been upgraded and is now top-notch

They sound better with improved bass response and more clarity

Built-in heart-rate monitoring with new sensors

Excellent voice-calling performance (upgraded microphones)

Battery life rated for up to 8 hours (up from 6 for AirPods Pro 2)

Cons

They still use the H2 chip found in the AirPods Pro 2

Heart-rate monitoring is buried in fitness apps

While they work with Android, many of their features are exclusive to Apple devices

Some new colors would be nice

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Best Noise-Canceling Headphones I've Tested for 2026

What are the best noise-canceling headphones overall?

Best noise-canceling headphones of 2026

Best noise-canceling headphones overall

Best premium noise canceling headphones for Apple users

Best Bose noise-canceling headphones

Best high-end wireless noise-canceling headphones

Best midrange noise-canceling headphones

Best noise-canceling earbuds for Apple users

Best designed noise-canceling headphones

Best value noise-canceling headphones

Best Sennheiser noise-canceling headphones

Best noise-canceling headphones for Sonos users

Top Bose earbuds with superb noise canceling

Best noise-canceling headphones with a unique design

Top value Sony noise-canceling headphones

Best Beats noise-canceling headphones

Best legacy-style Bose noise-canceling headphones

Best noise-canceling headphones for great bass

Factors to consider when choosing noise-canceling headphones

How we test noise-canceling headphones and earbuds

Other noise-canceling headphones we tested

Noise-canceling headphone FAQs

What are the best noise-canceling headphones overall?

There are lots of great noise-canceling headphones, but this list includes only includes models with excellent noise canceling (for value picks, the noise canceling is excellent for the price). Right now, for over-ear headphones, Sony's flagship Sony WH-1000XM6 ($450), Apple's AirPods Max 2 and Bose's Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) feature the best noise-canceling headphones and have all earned a CNET Editors' Choice award (the new Sony 1000X The Collexion headphones also have great noise canceling but are a slight step behind the WH-1000XM6's ANC). On the earbuds front, the Sony WF-1000XM6 and Apple AirPods Pro 3 are at the top of the noise canceling pack with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) a close third.

What we updated: June 2026

We added Apple's AirPods Max 2, Sony's 1000X The Collexion and WF-1000XM6, Anker's Soundcore Space 2 and Sennheiser's Momentum 5 Wireless. We also moved JBL Tour One M3 Smart Tx, CMF Headphone Pro, Earfun Wave Pro and Skullcandy Aviator 900 ANC to the "Other noise-canceling headphones we tested" section.

Best noise-canceling headphones of 2026

Pros

Upgraded design with wider headband and slightly more comfortable fit

Dual-hinge allows you to fold headphones up and fit into a new, smaller case

Best-in-class noise-canceling and natural-sounding transparency mode

Excellent sound quality with enhanced detail, clarity and bass performance

New, more powerful QN3 chip (seven times faster than previous QN1)

Top-notch voice-calling performance with six beam-forming microphones

Spatial audio with head tracking using 360 Reality Audio technology

Cons

Premium price point that's $50 higher than previous model

No USB-C audio option for digital wired listening

Spatial audio implementation lacks clear on/off controls

Why I like them

Over the last several years, Sony has made some of the best noise-canceling headphones on the market, so it's a big deal when the company comes out with a new flagship model, like the WH-1000XM6, which arrives three years after the release of the WH-1000XM5. Though the XM5 was -- and still is -- one of the top over-ear Bluetooth headphones, there's always room for improvement. With the XM6, Sony has fixed the small design flaws of its predecessor while bumping up the overall performance. The result is a headphone that's arguably edged just ahead of the competition and is now at the top of its class. Read my WH-1000XM6 review.

Reasons to buy

The WH-1000XM6 are excellent for frequent travelers, remote workers and commuters who demand top-tier sound quality, noise cancellation and call quality in a very comfortable headphone. If you can afford the high price, you'll appreciate what Sony has achieved here.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

If you're budget-conscious or already own Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones, you should hold off until they go on sale. They offer some significant improvements over the XM5s, but not enough to justify rushing to upgrade at full price.

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Pros

Surprisingly comfortable despite being on the heavier side for over-ear headphones

More powerful H2 chip delivers performance and feature upgrades

Upgraded amplifier

Impressive sound (their sound has been improved slightly) and build-quality

Improved adaptive noise canceling and transparency mode are both top-notch

Slightly improved headset performance for calls with Voice Isolation

USB-C audio for hi-res wired listening

Personalized spatial audio for Apple devices

Automatic switching between iOS devices on your iCloud account (multipoint Bluetooth)

Cons

Expensive

Minimalist smart case remains the same and some people may not like its look or protection level

No USB-C to 3.5mm cable included for wired use on planes

Didn't get Apple's H3 chip, rumored to be in development

Android users lose several key features

Why I like them

While the AirPods Max 2 look the same as the Max (USB-C), they now include a new "dynamic range" amplifier and Apple's H2 chip (the original Max was powered by the H1), which adds a host of features already available in the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 and helps improve the headphones' performance in a few key ways. While Apple didn't upgrade the microphones, the H2 chip supports Apple's Voice Isolation feature, which helps with voice-calling and video-calling performance. On top of that, both the sound quality and noise-canceling are improved. Read my full AirPods Max 2 review.

Reasons to buy

Before the Max 2 arrived, I probably would have told you to get Sony's WH-1000XM6 headphones instead of the Max, which just seemed a little behind the times. But now that the Max 2 are here, they do offer some real advantages to Apple users from a features and usage standpoint. As long as you're good with the Max 2's fit, they're a pretty safe choice if you can afford them.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

Aside from their high price, the other potential downside is their heavy weight. Although I found them comfortable, some people may have trouble with that.

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Pros

Lightweight, comfortable design with dual hinges that fold both up and flat

Superb noise canceling that rivals Sony's for ANC on the market

Slightly improved sound quality with new immersive-audio Cinema Mode

USB-C audio

Excellent voice-calling performance with minimal background noise

Intuitive mix of physical buttons and touch controls

Cons

Unclear what hardware changes Bose has made, and this model looks almost identical to the previous model

Pricey

Immersive audio mode hurts battery life (30 to 24 hours)

Why I like them

While the new-for-2025 Ultras look almost exactly the same as the original QuietComfort Ultra Headphones that were released in 2023 -- and it's unclear exactly what's changed from a hardware standpoint -- this second-gen model features several enhancements, including slightly better sound, improved noise cancellation, USB-C audio, a new immersive-audio Cinema Mode and improved battery life (it's now rated for up to 30 hours instead of 24 hours and the headphones can now be charged during use via the USB-C port).

For noise canceling, these are neck-and-neck with Sony's new WH-1000XM6 headphones as the two companies battle it out for ANC supremacy. Before this 2nd-gen model arrived, I had the Sony XM6s slightly ahead, but with the small but noticeably improvements Bose has made, it's hard to say which headphone is better. It may come down to how they feel on your head -- both are quite comfortable though.

Reasons to buy

They're a good choice for frequent travelers, commuters and professionals who want comfortable, well-designed headphones with impressive overall performance, including superb noise-muffling capabilities.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

Those who are on a tighter budget should obviously look toward more midrange and budget headphones options.

Pros

Redesigned for improved comfort

Reinforced with stainless steel

Upgraded drivers for a more expansive sound stage and refined sound than XM6

More powerful V3 chip, Bluetooth 6.0

Excellent noise-canceling, voice-calling performance

Nice case with built-in handle

New DSEE Ultimate digital processing along with upmix audio modes for music, cinema and gaming

Cons

Very pricey

No USB-C audio

Spatial audio with head-tracking only works with Android devices

Less battery life than XM6

Why I like them

The Collexion is the top pair of headphones I've tested this year and easily one of the top pairs of wireless headphones out there. Obviously, they're also quite expensive. But like Bowers & Wilkins with its flagship PX8 S2, Sony is catering to an audience willing to pay big bucks for headphones with a true luxury vibe and that extra bit of elevated sound quality. Most people can't afford The Collexion, and it's debatable whether they're worth $200 more than Sony's WH-1000XM6, but there's no denying they're great wireless headphones. Read the full review.

Reasons to buy

If you can afford their exceptionally high price, this is arguably the top wireless headphone out there. It features a very comfortable fit and sleek design; plus, it has great sound, noise canceling and voice-calling performance.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

If you can live with the slightly inferior WH-1000XM6 or another very good premium headphone that costs a few hundred dollars less, you may want to skip these because of the price.

Pros

Relatively affordable

Upgraded design with a more comfortable fit

Very good sound for the price

Improved adaptive noise canceling

Long battery life

Integrated voice controls

Strong noise reduction for voice calling

Cons

Callers said my voice sounded a little muffled during voice calls

Noise canceling could be even better

3D Sound mode makes sound quality worse

Get it now

Pros

Design upgrades to the buds and ear tips improve their fit

Noise cancellation has been upgraded and is now top-notch

They sound better with improved bass response and more clarity

Built-in heart-rate monitoring with new sensors

Excellent voice-calling performance (upgraded microphones)

Battery life rated for up to 8 hours (up from 6 for AirPods Pro 2)

Cons

They still use the H2 chip found in the AirPods Pro 2

Heart-rate monitoring is buried in fitness apps

While they work with Android, many of their features are exclusive to Apple devices

Some new colors would be nice

Why I like them

Reasons to buy

As I said, these buds are significantly improved in the four most important areas: fit, sound quality, noise cancellation and battery life. The result is that you don't feel like you're making any compromises when buying the AirPods Pro 3 if you're an Apple user.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

While they work with Android devices, you lose many of the AriPods 3's extra features if you're not using them with Apple devices and its iPhones and iPad in particular. They also may just be a little too expensive for many folks.

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Pros

Eye-catching, premium design is made out of premium material and is slightly slimmer and lighter

Upgraded ear pads for more comfortable fit

Upgraded biocellulose drive units powered by discrete amplifier improves the sound quality

Improved noise-canceling and voice-calling performance with 8 microphones

USB-C audio for lossless wired connection

Cons

Premium price ($50 more expensive than PX7 S2)

Noise canceling isn't quite up to the level of Sony's and Bose's

Headphones fold flat but not up (no dual-hinge)

At default setting, treble may be a touch too aggressive (forward) for some folks

Why I like them

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 may not be the company's flagship headphones (the new PX8 S2 are), but they're arguably the better value as the PX8 S2 cost a whopping $799. While that step-up model does have a little swankier finish, as well as upgraded drivers that make the headphones sound better (the PX8 S2 do sound superb), the two headphones are quite similar looking. Like the PX8 S2, the PX7 S3 offer improved sound quality and superior noise canceling in a trimmer design (300 grams) that fit my head more comfortably. As I said, the drivers aren't the same as the PX8 S2's carbon cone drivers, but the redesigned 40mm biocellulose drive units have an improved chassis, voice coil, suspension and magnet that, according to B&W, deliver "lower coloration and distortion, improved resolution and superior dynamics." Read my review.

Reasons to buy

The sleekly designed, swanky Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 are excellent noise-canceling headphones that are a clear improvement over their predecessor. That said, the biggest reason to buy these over Sony's WH-1000XM6 headphones, which carry the same list price, is that you like their look better. They also feature USB-C audio, while the XM6 don't.

Reason to skip/keep looking

From an aesthetic standpoint, I prefer the design of the PX7 S3 to the Sony WH-1000XM6. But I can't say the PX7 S3 are any more comfortable or sound better (I slightly preferred the sound of the Sony, in fact). The Sonys offer slightly better noise canceling and voice-calling performance, along with some extra features such as Speak-to-Chat and Quick Attention mode. If you already own the earlier PX7 S2e, it's probably not worth shelling out full price for PX7 S3. The same is true if you own Bowers & Wilkins' flagship PX8, which could get the S2 treatment this year. The PX7 S3 sounds more exciting than the PX8, but it's debatable whether it sounds better. I would give the slight nod to the PX8 but that's just my personal taste.

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Pros

Comfortable fit with an attractive, sturdy design

Affordable price

Very good sound for the price

Decent noise-canceling and voice-calling performance

Strong battery life

Hard case included

Cons

Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio mode doesn't really improve the sound

Noise canceling could be a little better

No USB-C audio or ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off

Why I like them

Baseus has two new-for-2025 earbuds -- the Inspire XP1 and Inspire XC1 -- and one set of full-size headphones (the Inspire XH1) that feature Sound by Bose, and they're all good values. They have impressive sound for their price, a more premium design than most "value" headphones and good performance overall. The XH1 are not only fairly lightweight (275 grams) and comfortable to wear, but they have decent build quality, respectable noise canceling and voice-calling performance, as well as very good battery life. I also liked how they not only fold up but fold flat and come with a carrying case and a 3.5mm cable for wired listening. Their controls for playback are also good, though I had to dig into the instructions to figure out that you hold down the volume buttons to advance tracks forward and back. Read review.

Reasons to buy

You're looking for a comfortable, well-designed set of noise-canceling headphones that sound good and cost a lot less than premium models from Sony, Bose and others.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

Premium flagship models from Bose and Sony offer better sound and noise-canceling performance. In other words, you can only expect so much from headphones at this price.

Pros

Impressively detailed, accurate sound with well-defined bass and natural-sounding mids

Comfortable to wear with nicely cushioned earpads

Much improved noise canceling

Redesigned case is slimmer

Up to 57 hours of battery life

USB-C audio

Replaceable battery

Cons

No design changes from Momentum 4 Wireless

Voice-calling performance could be a little better

$50 price bump from its predecessor's launch price

Feature set not quite as robust as some competing models' feature sets

Why I like them

The Momentum 5 Wireless is in the same chassis as the Momentum 4 Wireless, but Sennheiser has significantly boosted its noise-canceling performance. It's also added spatial audio with head tracking, along with a user-replaceable battery and a few other small feature updates. The result is an excellent set of headphones that's a good alternative to Sony's WH-1000XM6, particularly for fans of Sennheiser's appealing, clean and accurate sound. Read the full review.

Reasons to buy

The much-improved noise canceling is really the biggest change to the Momentum 5 Wireless, fixing its predecessor's biggest weakness and making the Momentum 5 a worthy alternative to flagship models from Sony, Bose and Apple.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

Sennheiser will need to get the price of the Momentum 5 Wireless down to more like $300 or $325 to create some price separation and make it easier for consumers to choose them over those competing models.

Pros

Sleek, sturdy design and comfortable fit

Excellent sound quality with rich, well-balanced audio

Very good noise canceling and strong voice-calling performance with effective background noise reduction

Spatial audio with head-tracking for both iOS and Android

USB-C audio for digital lossless wired connection

TV Audio Swap feature for Sonos users

Cons

Premium price point

Not true Wi-Fi headphones, despite having Wi-Fi chip

TV Audio Swap can be a little glitchy

Why I like them

A lot of people expected Sonos' first headphones to be able to stream lossless audio over Wi-Fi in your home and then use Bluetooth outside your Sonos home network. However, Sonos reps told me that listening to music over Wi-Fi would greatly reduce the headphone's battery life and the company opted to leave that feature off. So even though they're equipped with a Wi-Fi chip so you can tap into a Sonos sound bar at home for private late-night viewing (Sonos refers to this as the TV Audio Swap feature), they're not really Wi-Fi headphones and are first and foremost noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones -- and I was mostly quite impressed by them. Read my Sonos Ace review.

Sleekly designed, at 312 grams, they're not as light as the 254-gram Sony WH-1000XM6s or the 253-gram Bose QuietComfort Ultras, but they're considerably lighter than the 385-gram AirPods Max and I found them quite comfortable to wear, with a relatively small gap between the headband and my head (they hugged my head nicely with just the right amount of clamping). I also appreciated that their chrome metal yoke allows the headphones to swivel in multiple directions -- the hinge is hidden -- and the ear cups adhere magnetically like they do on the AirPods Max and are replaceable, which is good.

All in all, the Sonos Ace headphones perform very well across the board with strong noise canceling, excellent sound quality and very good voice-calling performance. Well balanced, they're clean sounding with nice detail and sparkle in the treble along with punchy, powerful bass that doesn't get boomy. Vocals sounded natural and the headphones have a relatively wide soundstage. It's also good to see that the headphones have USB-C audio support (wired listening with a USB-C cable) and spatial audio with head-tracking.

Reasons to buy

The Sonos Ace are one of the top noise-canceling headphones on the market, rivaling flagship models from Sony, Apple and Bose. Now that they've been out for more than a year, we're seeing some good discounts on them, which makes them a better value, and a potential alternative to Sony's new WH-1000XM6 headphones. While you don't have to be an owner of Sonos speakers to buy them, Sonos soundbar owners can leverage the TV Audio Swap feature for private late-night viewing (the Ace delivers virtual surround sound in this mode).

Reasons to skip/keep looking

You can make the argument that Sony's new WH-1000XM6 are slightly better overall for around the same price (I'm talking list price -- and yes, they're too pricey for some folks). But with the Ace selling for as low as $330, they're an easier sell.

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Pros

Excellent sound and improved noise-canceling that's truly impressive

Fit Kit ear tips and stabilizer system get you a secure, comfortable fit

New Immersive Audio Cinema mode for video content that also improves speech clarity for spoken-word content

Slightly improved voice-calling

Wireless charging has finally been added

Cons

Hardware changes don't really amount to a true 2.0 product

Immersive Audio mode hurts battery life

Why I like them

As far as the hardware goes, the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) look exactly the same as the original QC Ultra Earbuds, although Bose has added a new plum color to the line. There are two small changes. The 2nd Gen Ultra Earbuds now support wireless charging, a feature that should have been available with the originals. The included ear tips now have wax guards, a fancy way of saying there's a silicone mesh that now covers the holes in the tips.

The reality is, they don't seem like a true 2.0 product. But they do feature improved adaptive noise canceling that's truly impressive (it's neck-and-neck with the Apple AirPods Pro 3's noise canceling for the best ANC in a set of earbuds), along with some sound quality enhancements, including a new spatialized immersive audio Cinema mode that widens the soundstage and makes "video content more lifelike" with clearer dialog. The mode also helps with spoken-word audio content like podcasts and audiobooks.

New features available in both the original QC Ultra Earbuds and Gen 2 model include:

Bose SpeechClarity

Spotify Tap

Turn capacitive controls on/off

General connectivity and stability improvements

Feature upgrades available exclusively to the Gen 2 model include:

Enhanced adaptive noise cancellation

Reduced noise floor (the faint hiss in noise-canceling mode)

Case battery reporting

Cinema Mode

Reasons to buy

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra offer a comfortable, secure fit and feature superb noise canceling and excellent sound quality. While the improvements to this model are incremental, it's good that Bose has made some upgrades to an already great set of noise-canceling earbuds. They also work well with both iOS and Android smartphones.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

They're pretty pricey and a little bigger than some earbuds like the AirPods Pro 3 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.

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Pros

Sturdy, eye-catching design with translucent elements

Clean, clear sound with well-defined bass that's enjoyable to listen to

Strong noise-canceling and voice-calling performance

Excellent controls that are intuitive to use

USB-C audio

Nice carrying case (although some find the zipper problematic)

Cons

Headphones are a little heavy and not quite as comfortable as some competing models

They fold flat but don't fold up

Sound quality is good but not a wow

The ear pads are not easily removable and it's unclear whether they're replaceable

The Nothing Headphone (1) ended up being more impressive than I thought it would be. Nothing has always been a good marketing company that usually does a bang-up job hyping its products. Its first earbuds were a little more style over substance (the performance has improved with more recent models), but this headphone's sturdy, eye-catching design is backed by strong performance. While I have some quibbles with the headphone being a little heavy and slightly prefer the sound quality of some competing models, this is one of the best new headphones of 2026. It will be interesting to see if its price can come down a bit to make it an even more compelling premium noise-canceling headphone option. Read Nothing Headphone (1) review.

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Pros

Lightweight and comfortable

Good sound with very good noise-canceling and ambient-sound mode

Good voice-calling performance

Multipoint Bluetooth

35 hours of battery life

Robust EQ settings

Cons

No carrying case or pouch included

Missing more advanced features like ear-detection sensors, LDAC audio codec support and Sony's Quick Attention and Speak-To-Chat

Why I like them

Sony's improved entry-level noise-canceling headphones, the CH-720Ns, have a bit of a plasticky budget vibe, but they're lightweight (only 192 grams) and very comfortable. Part of me was expecting them to sound pretty mediocre, but I was pleasantly surprised, as these headphones offer good overall tonal balance with punchy bass, decent clarity and a fairly wide soundstage (the headphones are suitable for a variety of music genres. They also offers decent noise-canceling and good voice-calling performance.

No, they don't sound as good or perform as well as Sony's WH-1000XM5 or new WH-1000XM6 headphones. But they sound more premium than they look -- and feel -- and their overall performance is a step up from their predecessor, the CH-710Ns. Are they worth $150? Maybe -- or maybe not. But the good news is that, like the CH-710N and WH-XB910 before them, these frequently are discounted to closer to $100, which makes them a good value.

Reasons to buy

Budget-conscious buyers seeking Sony quality at an accessible price point will find these offer a significant step up from truly entry-level headphone options.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

The main reason not get these is that you simply want a more premium noise-canceling headphone that not only offers better build quality but better overall performance along with more advanced features like ear-detection sensors, LDAC audio codec support and Sony's Quick Attention and Speak-To-Chat features. Sony also leaves out any sort of carrying case or pouch with these headphones, which is slightly disappointing.

Pros

Significantly improved sound quality with better clarity, definition and tighter bass

Durable, seamless faux-leather earpads for excellent comfort and acoustic seal

Improved noise cancellation and more natural sounding transparency mode

Very good voice-calling performance

Spatial audio with head tracking for Apple users

USB-C audio for lossless wired listening

Cons

Uses custom Beats chip rather than Apple's H2 chip (limits future feature upgrades)

No ear-detection sensors to automatically pause/resume audio

USB-C listening mode disables noise cancellation and transparency features

Why I like them

Love 'em or hate 'em, Beats Studio headphones are among the most popular headphones of all time, launching as a wired headphone back in 2008. This is the fourth generation of them, and they carry the same list price as their predecessor and look very similar on the outside but have some big changes on the inside that make them significantly better headphones. I'm tempted to describe them as more affordable plastic versions of the AirPods Max. However, that's not quite accurate due to a choice in chipsets and one notable missing feature. But read my full review to find out what makes this a very good headphone with some small caveats.

Reason to buy

The Studio Pros are the best Beats over-ear headphones, geared toward both Apple and Android users. Android users get multipoint Bluetooth pairing with automatic switching between devices linked to your Google account, while Apple users link to their iCloud account but have to manually switch between devices. For Apple users, there's spatial audio with head tracking when watching videos and hands-free Siri access. Those who prefer a more exciting, forward sound signature over more laid back options will find these appealing, and they should work well with a variety of music genres.

Reason to skip/keep looking

The one big miss here is the lack of ear-detection sensors -- most $350 over-ear headphones have this feature, meaning your music doesn't automatically pause when you take the headphones off. I also think it was a mistake for Beats not to power these with Apple's H2 chip, as going forward you won't get feature upgrades designed for that chip. Android users don't get spatial audio with head tracking or hands-free Siri.

Pros

Classic QuietComfort design with very comfortable fit

Very good sound and noise canceling with new Wind Block feature to reduce wind noise during outdoor use

Good voice-calling performance

Included cable with integrated microphone for wired calls (and wired listening)

Cons

Higher price than earlier QC45 model despite minimal changes

Lacks Immersive Audio feature and premium materials found in the Quiet Comfort Ultra model

Value proposition is questionable with fewer advanced features compared to similarly-priced competitors

Why I like them

When Bose released its new flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones in late 2023, it also replaced the QuietComfort 45s with a new, slightly updated model simply called the QuietComfort Headphones. Like the QC 45s, this model carries on the very comfortable tried-and-true legacy QuietComfort design that's been around for a few generations that a lot of people continue to love. The QC Ultra Headphones add Bose's new Immersive Audio feature and have a more refined design with some metal parts (they also have Bluetooth 5.3 instead of Bluetooth 5.1). But the QuietComfort Headphones still feature very good sound (the Ultras offer a small step up in sound quality), excellent noise canceling and strong voice-calling performance.

As for differences between these and the QC45s, Bose says it adjusted some of the electronics to improve battery life (now 24 hours vs. 22 hours) and adjusted the logos to make the products "visually distinguishable and more in line with its latest design language." It also added an inline microphone to the auxiliary cable to "help with some users who may prefer a plug-and-play solution rather than Bluetooth pairing." There's also a Wind Block feature and some additional small performance improvements due to software upgrades. Finally, the headphones come in several new color options, including pink. Some colors may only be available at bose.com.

Reasons to buy

If you're a fan of Bose's earlier "iconic" headphones design starting with the QC35 (or maybe even the QC25), this is the Bose headphone for you. Cheaper than the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, they also regularly go on sale for $250 or less, marking them a more attractive value.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are better headphones overall with improved all-around performance and a more premium design.

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Pros

Lightweight and comfortable

Improved sound quality and noise-canceling performance

Upgraded microphones

Quick attention mode returns

Cons

Bass can get a little boomy, especially with ULT button engaged

Headphones look a little big

No USB-C audio

The ULT Wear (WH-ULT900N) is the successor to Sony's popular extra bass model, the WH-XB910N, and features upgraded drivers (better sound) along with improved noise canceling and voice-calling performance. Both Sony's flagship WH-1000XM5 and entry-level CH-720N offer more balanced sound, but the ULT Wear deliver on their promise of delivering dynamic, powerful sound with deep bass. The only downside is that bass can get sometimes get a little too boomy, especially when you engage the bass boost mode with the ULT button.

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Budget

Before anything else, you'll want to figure out how much you're willing to spend on new ANC headphones. The quality of value-priced noise-canceling headphones continues to improve, so you can find good affordable headphones for less than $100. But the premium models, which offer better build quality and performance, tend to cost $200 or more -- sometimes much more.

Fit (comfort)

It's key that the headphones you buy fit your head well. They should offer a comfortable fit that's snug yet not too snug. Ideally, you want headphones you can wear over the course of a day with minimal breaks.

Durability

You want headphones that hold up well over time, so look for models that we note have sturdy build quality.

Maximize performance and features for your budget

You want the best-sounding headphones with the best noise cancellation, call quality, and features for whatever you're able to spend.

Return policy

It's critical to buy your headphones at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case you have buyer's remorse. Some people who are having trouble deciding between two models sometimes buy both, try them out for a few days, and then return one.

We test noise-canceling headphones and earbuds based on six key criteria. These criteria include design, sound quality, noise-canceling performance, voice-calling performance, features and value.

Design

Evaluating design, we first assess how comfortable the headphones and earbuds fit (their ergonomics), typically testing each model for several hours across multiple days. For over-ear headphones, we check for adequate ear cup padding, headband pressure and heat buildup. With earbuds, we test all included ear tip sizes and evaluate their stability during movement or other physical activity. Build quality assessment includes stress testing hinges and folding mechanisms, examining material durability and verifying IP (dust- and water-resistance) ratings when applicable.

Sound quality

We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing the earbuds to top competing products in their price range. Some of my test tracks include Spoon's Knock Knock Knock, Athletes of God's Don't Wanna Be Normal, The Doors Touch Me - Take 3, Orbital's Dirty Rat, Taylor Swift's Vigilante Shit, Jvke's Golden Hour and Drake's Passionfruit. Tested sonic traits include:

Frequency response

Tonal balance

Soundstage width and depth

Detail retrieval and instrument separation

Bass response and control

Midrange clarity and vocal reproduction

High-frequency extension without harshness

Noise-canceling performance

We evaluate noise-canceling performance by wearing the headphones in the same spot indoors near a noisy HVAC unit to see how well they do at muffling lower frequencies. Then we head out to the streets of New York to test the headphones in a real-world environment where test their ability in:

Public transit environments (buses, trains and subway platforms)

Busy street intersections for traffic and construction noise

Areas with ambient chatter and voices

Each environment is tested several times.

Extra features

Some great-sounding noise-canceling headphones and earbuds aren't loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from quick-access awareness to transparency modes (your music pauses and the headphones open up to the outside world so you can have a conversation) to special sound modes like EQ customization to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears. Models with Bluetooth multipoint, or the ability to connect to several devices at once, are also noted within the "additional details" section of each product. We also take a look at the companion app for the headphones if there is one and how user friendly it is as well as battery life claims.

Voice calling

When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls in the noisy streets of New York and evaluate how well the headphones or earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear our voice. We assess their reaction to traffic noise and windy conditions for microphone performance. We also move between quiet and noisy environments to test their response. We collect feedback from call recipients about voice clarity and background noise reduction.

Value

We determine value after evaluating the strength of the headphones and earbuds against all these criteria and what they're able to deliver compared to other models in their price class.

JBL Tour One M3: JBL's new flagship noise-canceling headphones, the Tour One M3 Smart Tx, are a nice step up from the company's earlier Tour One M3. Not only are the more comfortable (they weigh 278 grams and have an upgraded ear cup design), but they feature better noise cancellation, slightly improved sound quality and good voice-calling performance. The headphones also come with an accessory that isn't included with competing premium noise-canceling models: the JBL Smart Tx audio transmitter, which enables you to wirelessly deliver audio to the Tour One M3 from any USB-C or analog audio source such as an inflight entertainment system, PC, tablet or television. It has a touchscreen LCD that allows you to control the Tour One M3's features, including music playback, call management and EQ Settings. JBL says the Smart Tx -- it's rated for up to 18 hours of battery life -- also has the ability to broadcast any audio source to an unlimited amount of Auracast-enabled devices.

Skullcandy Aviator 900 ANC: We reviewed Skullcandy's wired Aviator Roc Nation headphones all the way back in 2011. Now Skullcandy's brought the Aviator design back in a wireless noise-canceling model called the Aviator 900 ANC headphones. They kind of surprised me because Skullcandy is better known for its Crusher headphones, which deliver bone-rattling bass but not so-called premium-sounding headphones. However, the Aviator 900 headphones, developed in partnership with THX, deliver surprisingly impressive sound. They're not so great out of the box, but after you make some tweaks to the EQ in the app and turn on the THX spatial audio, the sound improves dramatically and is arguably more exciting than the new Nothing Headphone (1)'s sound and more fun to listen to.

CMF Headphone Pro: Nothing started out with a few different wireless earbuds but has now branched into the over-ear headphones market with its eye-catching Nothing Headphone (1) and the budget-oriented CMF Headphone Pro, which also have a pretty unique look and feature interchangeable ear pads in a few different color options.cI was expecting all that much from these headphones, but after using them for a week, they check a lot of boxes for a top value headphone, including a comfortable fit (they pretty lightweight at 283 grams), decent build quality and good sound quality that's highlighted by powerful bass that can be dialed up or down with a slider control on the left ear cup (you can also tweak the sound in the companion app). The Skullcandy Crusher 2 headphones have a similar slider, but the CMF's bass doesn't get to head-rattling levels (the Crusher 2's bass literally makes the headphones vibrate).

Earfun Wave Pro: Earfun has made some very solid budget earbuds, and it entered the full-size ANC headphone space with its Wave Pro headphones in 2024. They sell for $80, but click the $20-off instant coupon on their product page and add the code EWPROCNET at checkout for a sweet discount.While they may not sound as good as premium noise-canceling headphones from Bose or Sony, they're comfortable to wear, feature decent sound with punchy bass (they're a bit lacking in clarity and bass definition compared to more expensive models), and they offer respectable noise canceling (you can toggle between two levels of ANC) and voice-calling performance. I found them to be a step up from the Soundpeats Space headphones, which sometimes cost a little less.

Edifier W830NB: The Edifier W830NB remain a good value noise-canceling headphone pick. They look slightly more premium than their predecessor, W820NB Plus, and and are fairly lightweight (265 grams) and comfortable, with cushy memory foam ear pads. They also sound very good for their price, offering decent clarity and fairly well-defined bass with an amply wide sound stage (they lack the refinement and depth of higher-end headphones, but you can't expect the world from sub-$80 headphones). You can tweak the sound profile in Edifier's companion app for iOS and Android.

QCY H3 Pro: QCY is another Chinese brand like Tribit, Earfun and plenty of others that make budget-priced headphones that sound better than you'd think they would for their relatively low price (the company says the Q stands for quality, C stands for creative and Y stands for youth). Its new-for-2024 H3 Pro headphones are similar to models in this price range from 1More, Tribit and Edifier, but they arguably sound a touch better and I found them relatively comfortable to wear, as they feature a lightweight design and memory foam ear pads.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2: Bowers & Wilkins released the PX7 S2 headphones in 2022 with some significant improvements over the first-generation version. That was followed by a slightly upgraded version, the PX7 S2e ($400), with the "e" standing for evolved. The audio quality has been slightly upgraded thanks to improved digital processing (the headphones have been retuned), which we assume involves an upgraded chip. You may see this model nicely discounted because Bowers & Wilkins has released the PX7 S3 ($450) in 2025 with both design and performance upgrades.

1More SonoFlow: The design of 1More's SonoFlow headphones reminds me a little of some earlier Sony headphones and also the newer Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 4. They're a bit generic looking, but they're sleek enough, and more importantly, they're comfortable to wear. They also feature very respectable sound quality. Though it doesn't quite measure up to the sound quality of what you'll get with more premium models like the Momentum Wireless 4, it isn't that far off. The SonoFlow headphones deliver smooth sound with good clarity and relatively well-defined bass (they're just not quite as rich or dynamic sounding as those premium models I mentioned). They also have support for the LDAC audio codec.

Google Pixel Buds Pro: The Pixel Buds Pro are Google's first earbuds to feature active noise canceling. While it's nice that they finally have a feature that a lot of true-wireless earbuds have had for a while, what ultimately sets the Pixel Buds Pro apart and makes them worth considering -- particularly for Android users -- is their distinct design and winning fit. That helps enhance their performance on both the sound quality and noise-canceling fronts. While not quite elite for voice-calling, they also performed well as a headset for making calls. Read our Google Pixel Buds Pro review.

Soundcore by Anker Space One: Available in three colors, the Soundcore Space One are Anker's latest noise-canceling headphones and a good value for around $100, offering a strong feature set along with good sound quality and performance. They can't quite compete sound-wise with many of the premium noise-canceling models, but you don't feel like you're giving up that much on the sound front to save a good deal of money. They lack a bit of that natural, refined quality you look for in a great set of cans, but the Space Ones sound respectable, with decent clarity and bass definition and measure up well to the more expensive Soundcore Space 45. Noise-canceling and voice-calling performance are also good for headphones in this price range, though the transparency mode is only OK. Anker has developed a version of Sony's Speak-to-Chat feature -- Anker calls it Easy Chat -- that automatically pauses your music and enters a transparency mode when you walk up to someone and start a conversation. The headphones are equipped with wear-detection sensors, a feature not usually found at this price, and include a carrying pouch. LDAC audio codec support is available for Android users.

Shure Aonic 50: A lot of us liked Shure's original Aonic 50 headphones, but they had pretty middling noise cancellation. Well, the 2nd-gen version addresses that issue -- the noise canceling is much improved -- and Shure has more than doubled the the battery life to around 45 hours (they now have a quick-charge feature) and also shrunk the headphone's carry case a bit, though it's still not that compact. Those upgrades make the Aonic 50 Gen 2 a top noise-canceling headphone. While the Aonic 50 Gen 2s are pretty heavy at 334 grams, they're built sturdily and are also comfortable to wear, with nicely padded ear cups. They feature excellent sound quality with very good clarity and well-defined bass. Shure call them a "studio headphone," so the sound profile is fairly neutral, but you can add more bass in the EQ settings in Shure's companion app for iOS and Android (engaging the Spatializer setting in the app expands the soundstage slightly but doesn't make a big difference).

Mark Levinson No. 5909: The No. 5909 are premium audio brand Mark Levinson's first headphones and, yes, they're really expensive at $999. But they're also really good. They have a sturdy design without managing to feel hefty on your head (read: they're substantial but not too heavy) and they're comfortable to wear over long periods thanks to their nicely padded (and replaceable) leather-covered earcups and headband. Read our Mark Levinson No. 5909 hands-on.

Focal Bathys: French audio company Focal is known for its high-end speaker systems and headphones. You might call it the Bowers & Wilkins of France. And now it's finally done what a lot of high-end audio companies have had to do in this age of on-the-go wireless music listening: make active noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones. These $699 cans sound fantastic and are great overall but their noise-canceling is fairly light, so don't buy them for their ANC. Learn more about the premium model in our full Focal Bathys hands-on.

Master & Dynamic MW09: Master & Dynamic headphones and earbuds have always featured unique, eye-catching designs that include premium materials like aluminum, sapphire glass and Kevlar. Its latest MW09 flagship earbuds look pretty similar to its earlier MW08 buds, but have some upgrades on the inside that deliver better performance, particularly when it comes to battery life and noise canceling (it's now very close to what Bose and Sony offer, though not quite at their level for ANC).

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offer improved noise canceling along with very good sound and voice-calling performance, plus support for high-resolution wireless audio streaming if you're a Galaxy device owner with the right setup. That said, their biggest upgrade may be their new design and smaller size, which make them a better fit for more ears. Aside from their somewhat high price tag, their only drawback is that some of their key features only work with Samsung Galaxy devices. So if you're a Galaxy user or otherwise interested in the model, you can read more in my full Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review.

Beats Studio Buds Plus: Alas, for those of you who bought the original Beats Studio Buds, which remain on the market for now, I'm sorry to report that these new Plus buds are significantly improved, with better sound, noise canceling and battery life. Additionally, they now deliver top-notch voice-calling performance. If you're interested in making the upgrade, check out my full Beats Studio Buds Plus review.

Beats Fit Pro: While the Beats Fit Pro technically aren't AirPods, they're built on the same tech platform as the AirPods Pro (yes, Apple owns Beats). Unlike Beats' earlier and less expensive Studio Buds and 2023 Studio Buds Plus, the Beats Fit Pro include Apple's H1 chip and have most of the AirPods Pro's features, including active noise canceling, spatial audio and Adaptive EQ. I'd venture to call them the sports AirPods you've always wanted. Read more about the model in my full Beats Fit Pro review.

Technics EAH-A800: There's a bit of an old-school vibe to the Technics EAH-A800 -- and it's not just the Technics brand, which Panasonic resurrected in the last few years. Their design is something of a throwback but the headphones are comfortable and both fold up and fold flat. They feature a big, energetic sound with powerful bass and good detail (however, they take a day or two to break in).

Technics EAH-AZ80: Panasonic has done a nice job of creating an all-around top-performing set of buds that offer an improved fit with terrific sound, good noise canceling and a robust feature set.

Are noise-canceling headphones worth it?

A few years ago, you had to pay significantly more money for active noise-cancelling headphones. But the feature has become pretty common and while the best noise-canceling headphones (by that I mean the headphones that offer the best noise cancellation) tend to be fairly expensive, you can find cheaper models that offer decent noise cancellation. I do think that if noise canceling is important to you, it's better to spend more money on the best pair of noise-canceling headphones you can afford. And it's worth noting that many of the premium models get discounted sporadically during the year so you can often save $50 or more on many top headphones if you time your purchase right.

What's the difference between 'Noise Canceling' vs. 'Noise Cancelling'

Either spelling is correct, as "canceling" is more common in American English while "cancelling" is more common in British English. CNET uses "noise canceling" since the company is based in the US, but the noise is canceled just the same, regardless of spelling. If you're looking to see what different noise-impacting technology is out there for headphones, check out our article on noise-canceling versus noise-isolating headphones, which highlights differences in function (and not just a difference in spelling).

Does noise cancellation block all noise?

Noise-canceling headphones have traditionally been good at blocking out lower frequency sounds such as the rumbling you hear while traveling on a plane. They haven't been so good at muffling higher frequencies (a baby screaming, for example) and even people talking around you. But companies like Bose, Sony and Apple have improved the technology in the last year or two so their noise cancellation works across a wider frequency range with a greater frequency response. It still can't muffle all noise but top noise canceling is now doing a better job tamping down more noises that live in midrange and higher frequencies.

Does noise canceling drain the headphones' battery?

When noise canceling is engaged, it does tend to have an impact on battery life. This is more of a factor with earbuds, which tend to offer anywhere from five to eight hours of battery life with noise canceling on and seven to 12 hours with it off. Full-size headphones can offer 25 to 30 hours of battery life with noise canceling on and up to 40 to 50 hours with it off.

Does noise cancelling impact sound quality?

Active noise cancellation does have an adverse effect on sound quality, especially if the noise canceling isn't all that good (noise canceling can create a faint background hiss). It can mess with the purity of the sound quality so it's tricky to create a noise-canceling headphone that sounds really good. As a result, often high-end noise-canceling headphones that tout fantastic sound quality don't have as powerful noise canceling (the noise canceling feels lighter).

Can I use noise-canceling headphones with Dolby Atmos audio?

Yes, you can use both audio features at the same time. While you won't need special headphones to play Dolby Atmos -- just a Dolby Atmos-enabled device and audio -- noise canceling headphones can add an even more space, clarity, and depth to your audio experience that rivals the surround sound experienced in a home theater system.

Are noise-canceling headphones waterproof?

Some noise-canceling headphones are at least water-resistant, with IP ratings of around IPX4. However, many over- and on-ear noise-cancelling headphones are not waterproof, as is expected for their model (most over- and on-ear headphones are not waterproof). If you're looking for noise-cancelling headphones to use in the rain, we recommend looking at earbuds rather than headphones, like the Sony WF-1000XM5, the Apple AirPods, or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.

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