A pair of the best noise-canceling earbuds is a great way to stay distraction-free while you work, travel, or relax. It's all made possible with noise canceling technology, which equalizes the noises coming in from the outside world using very clever algorithms to get nothing but your favorite tunes, podcasts, or other audio.
The very best noise-canceling earbuds at the moment are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds. Their ANC is the best we've ever experienced, blocking almost all noise around us. They sound really good as well, thanks to their Bose tuning, and they come in some great colors. Their battery life isn't the best though, you should consider the Sony WF-1000XM5. They get more battery life, and their noise canceling is very solid.
This list is designed to be as useful and easy to use as possible. First up is our quick list at the top, which shows you the best earbuds at a glance with star ratings for their key features. Then, linked in each entry, we've got links to our mini reviews for in-depth advice. Need a bit more? Read our long-form reviews to learn everything you need to know about the earbuds you're looking at picking up.
The quick list
As always, Bose's noise canceling is truly exceptional. All of the noise around is blocked effortlessly, and there's some top-not sound on offer as well. They are expensive, but you get the best ANC around.
The Airpods Pro 2 might not be the cheapest buds around, but they beat more expensive options for noise canceling handily. They sound excellent too, although some might want more bass.
The Sony WF-C700N may be an entry-level set of ANC wireless earbuds, but they have many similar features and a brand experience as you get with the company's WF-1000XM5.
Sony's next-gen WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds build on the strengths of their predecessor with strong ANC, but really wow with some incredible battery life.
If you're not a fan of silicon ear tips, then the AirPods 4 are the best option out there. They're a comfortable pair of open earbuds, and the noise canceling is surprisingly effective.
While the superb ANC and transparency mode are thanks to Apple's H1 chipset, the wingtip fit makes these a secure option for anyone with an active lifestyle. Their punchy sound ensures exercisers stay motivated.
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So if it were possible, I'd have put these right at the top of the list. They block loads of noise, and they sound absolutely incredible. There's just one problem — at $449, they're incredibly expensive.
If you want the ANC of the flagship options but don't want to pay flagship prices, then the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are the way to go. Comfortable, near silent ANC, and good sound quality.
About the author
I oversee the audio content that goes up on Tom’s Guide, and maintain the site's buying guides for headphones, wireless earbuds, Bluetooth speakers, soundbars, and more. I have spent more than 20 years testing audio equipment for my own enjoyment, and was previously the audio editor for iMore. There's nothing more I love than jamming out to my favorite tunes on audio equipment of different prices and sizes.
Best overall
✅ The best noise canceling. Bose's noise canceling is the very best around, and its no different with the QuietComfort Ultra.
✅ Extremely comfortable. Thanks to the multitude fitting options in the box,
✅ Great sound quality. The sound is warm, welcoming, and great for different genres.
❌ Lack of some features. There's no multipoint connection or wireless charging like with some of the competition.
❌ Battery life could be better. The ear buds don't last quite as long as some of the other options out there.
It’s no secret that Bose’s noise canceling algorithms is one of the best around. When packed into in-ear buds, it gets even better, as the silicon ear tips allow for a great seal from the outside world. The latest version of Bose’s buds, the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, have the best ANC of any pair of earbuds that you can buy right now. They cost more than some of the competition, but the noise canceling you get out of them is second to none.
I really like the way that they sound as well. Our Bose QuietComfort earbuds review found a welcoming, warm sound signature, with some great performance in a range of different genres. I found they excel for rock and guitar-heavy genres, and pop sounds great as well. It is a bass-forward signature, so those looking for more detail might be better off looking elsewhere, but most people are going to really, really like the sound.
But it's the ANC that you’re coming for. Unlike other earbuds, which focus on different frequencies to excel at blocking just one, the QuietComfort buds do a great job across the board. I found them excellent while traveling, and while riding on public transport.
There are some features worth mentioning as well. Bose’s immersive audio modes are the firm’s version of Spatial Audio, and I found them touch and go. With some tracks, doing a great job of expanding the sound stage. For other tracks, the modes made the music feel thin and dimensionless. Having said that, our reviewer really enjoyed the effect on all the different tracks they tested it with, so your mileage may vary.
Battery life is adequate, but not excellent at 6 hours in the buds. There’s also no wireless charging, so you have to use the USB-C port at the bottom of the case. It’s very easy to forget their few shortcomings when you put them in your ears and block out the entirety of the world around you.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | The Bose QC Ultra are quite expensive. | ★★★☆☆ |
Comfort & Fit | Suitable for all-day work wear. | ★★★★★ |
Noise Canceling | The best ANC around. | ★★★★★ |
Sound Quality | Very solid sound, with plenty of depth | ★★★★★ |
- Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review
Best alternative
✅ Very comfortable fit. They're less intrusive in the ear, and feel very comfortable while wearing them.
✅ Good noise canceling. They do a great job of keeping the outside world at bay.
✅ Great Apple device interoperability. They connect to Apple devices like magic, and then work with whatever device is active.
❌ Some people might not like the sound. They have a very neutral sound signature, so bass heads should look elsewhere.
❌ Battery life needs work. The earbuds only last for six hours, so there are longer lasting options.
The AirPods Pro 2 are the headphones that almost brought Apple to the top of the earbuds tree. They are a spectacular pair of earbuds, with some excellent ANC, good sound, and a quality fit. They don’t quite manage to unseat the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds when it comes to noise canceling, but they do get close. They don’t sound quite as good as the XM5 from Sony, but they do have a more neutral signature. In the end, if you want a pair of earbuds that is good at everything, but not necessarily the best at one thing, the AirPods Pro 2 are your go-to.
The ANC is the focus, of course. They do a great job of blocking out noise, although I’ve found over my year of use that you want to make absolutely sure that they fit in your ear properly. With a great in-ear seal, I found that they blocked out all the worst noises that the world could throw at me, and my journeys around cities and towns became a whole lot more tolerable. It wasn’t quite the same as the all-conquering noise canceling of the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, but it's still very good.
The extra modes are good. The transparency mode is solid, blocking out all the really loud noise but allowing voices and the stuff you want to hear in. They’re comfortable too, with less intrusive ear tips than some of the alternatives. I happen to really like the way they sound as well, although some might find them lacking in bass or warmth. Giving Dua Lipa’s Levitating a listen, for example, showed sonic restraint, but lacked some low-end punch.
They only last 6 hours on a charge, and I watched that battery figure drop when listening at louder volumes, so you will want to think about how long you’re going to be listening to them for. All in all, though, they’re a great pair of buds for most people. Apple users will love them more thanks to their great interoperability with Apple devices, of course.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | Not the cheapest, but excellent performance for the price. | ★★★★☆ |
Comfort & Fit | An incredibly comfortable pair of earbuds. | ★★★★★ |
Noise Canceling | Impeccable noise-canceling, blocking out loads of noise. | ★★★★★ |
Sound Quality | Very neutral sound signature, although some may want more bass. | ★★★★☆ |
- Read the full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review
Best budget
✅ Good noise canceling for the price. If you pay more, you get better noise canceling — but for their low price, they are excellent.
✅ Great sound. There's loads of detail on offer, for a dynamic listen.
✅ Useful features. There are some flagship features on the buds for a more expensive feel.
❌ Limited codec support. There's no support for aptX or LDAC.
❌ They look a bit boring. There are more exciting-looking earbuds around.
When you see their $119 price tag, the Sony WF-C700N might seem like a budget pair of buds that don’t deserve much of an extra look. When you put them in the ear and realize that they’re just a slightly less impressive version of the far more expensive WF-1000XM5, however, you’ll soon find a pair of budget buds that really deserve some extra attention. Great sound, good noise canceling and some far more premium features than you might expect make a good case for your money.
The noise canceling, for the price, is excellent. It blocks out more noise than anything else at this price, with our testing finding them outperforming many of the alternatives that come at a similar price. Taking them outside onto a balcony yielded impressive noise-canceling, including car horns and sirens. Low-frequency noises all but evaporated as well, for a relaxing wear.
The sound is typically Sony — good. They have a brighter sound signature, lending them agency and energy. Piano notes in Annie Lennox’s Walking on Broken Glass were clear and emotive in our testing, and Tame Impala’s Is It True hit with some stunning bass impact. The ANC did affect the level of bass on offer, with more coming through when turned on, but not enough to cause an issue.
They’re a comfortable pair of buds as well, with our tester liking the way they felt in the ear. Sweat and water resistance make them a solid choice for using them outdoors and when walking around, although they’re not advertised for fitness. Battery life we also found excellent, with the rated 7.5 hours of staying power ringing true during a day’s use at mid-volume level. For the price, there’s not a pair of buds that’s going to do you better than the WF-C700N.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | Sub-$100 is always a sweet spot. | ★★★★★ |
Comfort & Fit | You won't find them fatiguing. | ★★★★☆ |
Noise Canceling | Solid ANC for the price. | ★★★☆☆ |
Sound Quality | They're going to sound fine to most people. | ★★★☆☆ |
- Read the full Sony WF-C700N review
Best battery life
✅ Good noise canceling. Sony's buds have very good noise canceling, although not quite enough to get to the top of the list.
✅ Brilliant battery life. 8 hours out of the buds is more than almost anything else out there.
✅ Very small case. They super easy to slip into a pocket or a bag.
❌ Fit is weird. Finding the best fit of the buds is more of an ordeal, with some using finding them too loose.
❌ Some might not like the bassy sound. Where some might like the bassy signature, others might be put off.
Sony’s flagship earbuds are often some of our favorite in-ear options, and the latest version, the WF-1000XM5, are no different. They have excellent noise canceling which outperforms the old model, loads of battery life, and top-notch sound quality. They don’t manage to better the QuietComfort Ultra for noise canceling or the AirPods Pro 2 as a pair of jack of all trades, but they are an excellent choice that should be pretty close to the top of your shortlist.
Noise canceling is good. It doesn’t quite reach the heady heights of the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, but it outperforms that which you’ll find in the AirPods Pro 2. It excels at blocking out the really low environmental noises, like bus engines and loud cityscape noise. They do struggle slightly more with the higher-end sounds, but not enough that it ever becomes a struggle. Our testing still found a pair of buds that blocks out plenty of noise on your commute so you don’t have to worry about loud subways or busy city streets.
The sound quality is a great part of the buds. It's slightly more bass-weighted, and we found in our testing that it was best at producing genres like pop and rock. That doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy listening to other music far from it. There is plenty of detail on offer, and the soundstage is very spacious for a more engaging listening experience. Movie scores were the name of the game in our review, with the likes of Cinema Paradiso (Love Theme) sounding spectacular.
Battery life is another highlight of Sony’s buds. The buds themselves pack in 8 hours of listening with ANC turned on, which is around 2 hours more than the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds and the AirPods Pro 2. We found that the battery life lived up to Sony’s claims, although you will see that drop slightly at higher volumes and if you activate the buds spacial audio feature.
At their core, the Sony WH-1000XM5 are still a great option, and make for a great purchase in 2024.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | They're not cheap, and not often reduced | ★★★☆☆ |
Comfort & Fit | Loads of custom ear-tip options | ★★★★★ |
Noise Canceling | Solid ANC for the price. | ★★★★★ |
Sound Quality | Solid, bassy sound. | ★★★★★ |
- Read the full Sony WF-1000XM5 review
Best open-fit
✅ Surprisingly good noise canceling. While they lack much of an in-ear seal, they still block out noise.
✅ Unobtrusive fit. Because they lack silicon ear tips, they don't intrude into the ear as much.
✅ Good price. They're cheaper than some of the other options on the market.
❌ They don't sound great. There are much better-sounding options, even from Apple.
❌ They're not very secure. The fit means that they sometimes fall out of your ear.
AirPods 4 upgrade Apple's entry-level wireless earbuds in a big way. Not only do they bring an overdue update to the very product line that put AirPods on the map, but they come in a version with active noise cancellation that cost under $180. You'd think without a true seal in more of this “open ear” style bud, the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation wouldn't be effective. But they’re actually quite impressive when it comes to reducing ambient sounds, and the adaptive audio feature blends ANC with transparency for a listening experience.
The $129 version without ANC gets you redesigned acoustic architecture with the addition of modern AirPods features like USB-C charging, Personalized Spatial Audio, Conversation Awareness, and Head Gestures — all very Pro-level features coming in for over $100 less than AirPods Pro 2. The reasons we’d still rank AirPods Pro 2 higher than the AirPods 4 is a better battery life, and more recently, the FDA-cleared ability for the Pro buds to double as hearing aids via a software update.
If you just need a pair of daily buds that fit comfortably and work well with all your Apple devices, the AirPods 4 are easy to recommend.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | Well priced, entry level ANC AirPods. | ★★★★★ |
Comfort & Fit | The new open-fit might be divisive for some. | ★★★☆☆ |
Noise Canceling | You'll be surprised how much noise they block. | ★★★★☆ |
Sound Quality | A good, neutral sound signature. | ★★★★☆ |
- Read our full AirPods 4 review
Best for working out
✅ Great for fitness. Thanks to their fit and waterproofing, they're very good for active users.
✅ Good ANC. The ANC is taken straight from the AirPods Pro, so it does a solid job of blocking out noise.
✅ Spacious sound. The soundstage is top notch for a wider musical experience.
❌ Android app is bad. Android users will be underwhelmed by the app.
❌ Getting old. They've been around for a while now, so there might be a replacement on the way.
There are loads of options for fitness buds out there — although the most recognizable might just be the Beats Fit Pro. With their fitting wings for a more secure fit in your ears and sweat resistance, they are a great option for runners and activity freaks. There’s more to them besides which makes them interesting to us here though, and it’s all down to their ANC.
Thanks to the involvement of Apple, the noise canceling in the Beats Fit Pro is very good. In our review, in fact, we called it surprisingly great, enough that our reviewer questioned whether Apple had put AirPods Pro circuitry in there. Taking them out for a run on busy streets managed to block out all the really distracting noises for a distraction-free sprint, and even wearing them in an office kept you away from the noises of a busy work environment. They’re not quite up there with the top options, of course, with some of the higher frequency noises making it through, but they put on a great show.
Our reviewer also liked the way that the Beats Fit Pro sound. They’re typical ‘Beats’, of course, with more focus on the low-end, but they’re better than that might sound. Stereo separation is a particular strength, with a great showing from the guitars and drums in Bon Jovi’s “Lay Your Hands on Me”. Turn on Spatial audio and compatible tracks sound great too, although we did find that head tracking wasn’t quite as good as the likes of the AirPods Pro 2.
Some might also not like the feeling of the slightly stiff-fitting wings as well, as they bury into parts of your ears. Battery life is also not amazing, but about par for the course out of the buds at 7 hours. The large case does net you more staying power, however, with 30 hours on tap. We found those numbers matched up, with a charge of the case lasting about a week of commutes and office use.
The Fit Pro are more than just fitness buds, and while they don’t have quite the noise canceling of the other options, they are still worth considering.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | There are cheaper options out there | ★★★★☆ |
Comfort & Fit | The wings are great for keeping them in place. | ★★★★☆ |
Noise Canceling | Solid, AirPods Pro first generation-like performance | ★★★★☆ |
Sound Quality | Punchy sound for fitness fanatics. | ★★★★☆ |
- Read our full Beats Fit Pro review
Best for sound
✅ Phenomenal Sound. These are the best-sounding in-ear buds we've tested so far.
✅ Good ANC. It equals that found on the Sony, Bose and Apple alternatives.
✅ Premium look and feel. Made out of exotic materials, the Rex5 feel worth their lofty price.
❌ Expensive. They cost $449 — more than their closest competition by $150.
❌ Battery life. 5 hours of ANC listening isn't quite up to scratch with their closest competitors.
In a perfect world, the Rex5 would sit at the very top of the list. They might not be quite as good as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra when it comes to blocking out noise, but they do a stellar enough job that they perform in a similar manner to the ArPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM5. They’re perfect for blocking out the noise of a busy office, train, or even the bus. The price, however, might stop you from taking them to those places.
At $449, they’re the most expensive pair of buds on the list, and one of the most expensive that you can buy in general. That makes them something that you might not want to use in the same way you might use some of the cheaper options, in case you drop one on the number 13 into town and never see ever again. That’s annoying with less expensive options, not just those that cost a lot.
In my testing, though, I found a pair of buds that sounds much better than just about anything else that you can lay your hands on. They sound huge, coming into contact with wireless options. They’re packed with 5 drivers so that they more easily cover the entire frequency range, and that gives them an inherent musicality that makes them a joy to listen to. Listening to Nine Inch Nails Hurt showed off just how good the buds sound, with some of the most impressive low end in a pair of wireless earbuds. There’s nothing on this list that sounds as good as the Rex5, and it gives them something that makes them feel worth their high price.
The quality of the build also justifies their high price. The case is wrapped in green metal, and the buds themselves are made from similarly emerald aluminum and acrylic for an extremely premium feel. They’re comfortable as well, and I found I could happily wear them all day without any kind of discomfort.
The battery life could stand to be improved — 5 hours of staying power with ANC on isn’t up there with the best, unfortunately. But once they’re in your ears, the noise is blocked, and you’re listening to your music with sound quality you didn’t realize you could get out of a pair of wireless earbuds, it’s not going to bother you.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | They are prohibitively expensive. | ★★☆☆☆ |
Comfort & Fit | They fit well, and they're comfortable over the course of a day. | ★★★★★ |
Noise Canceling | Very good noise canceling that keeps the outside world at bay. | ★★★★★ |
Sound Quality | They really are the best sounding buds you've ever heard. | ★★★★★ |
- Read our full Noble FoKus Rex5 review
Best mid-range
✅ Incredible ANC. While they don't cost as much as their more expensive Ultra cousins, their ANC is still excellent.
✅ Solid sound. They have a lovely warm sound signature.
✅ Incredible comfort. The QuietComfort earbuds put the 'comfort' in 'QuietComfort'.
❌ Cheap feeling case. They might not be the most expensive, but the case feels a little expensive.
❌ Sensitive voice controls. Our reviewer had to turn the voice control off because it became too annoying.
The 2024 iteration of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds is an absolute winner. Costing just under $180, the QuietComfort Earbuds offer best-in-class active noise cancelation that Bose has earned itself quite the name for. Both the Quiet and Aware modes work fantastically, and the earbuds block out most sounds — especially when you’re on a busy bus or train.
Unlike AirPods, the QuietComfort Earbuds sport a rounded design and come with rubber bands that contribute towards making them exceptionally comfortable. There are three lovely colorways to choose from — we love the chilled lilac variant — and you get a selection of ear tips in the box. But the main event is the audio quality. The QuietComfort Earbuds have a wide soundstage and do an excellent job of balancing lows, mids and highs. They sound consistent across a range of genres, and you can customize the equalizer via the detailed companion app. Battery life is fantastic too, with a single charge yielding up to nine hours of playback with ANC on.
These earbuds aren’t perfect though. They don’t support advanced aptX and LDAC codecs, which could leave audiophiles feeling shortchanged. The charging case is also flimsy and not something you’d expect when you’re paying $179. The earbuds themselves are a little too sensitive to voice commands.
The QuietComfort Earbuds still rank very highly though, for their ANC and sound quality alone, and are well worth the investment if you don’t want to spend more on the QuietComfort Ultra.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | A great, mid-range price. | ★★★★☆ |
Comfort & Fit | A comfortable all-day wear. | ★★★★★ |
Noise Canceling | Excellent noise canceling that rivals more expensive models. | ★★★★★ |
Sound Quality | Good sound quality, if a little warm. | ★★★★☆ |
- Read our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review
Best noise-cancelling earbuds: Specs compared
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Battery life | Connectivity | Wireless charging case | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds | 6 hours; 24 hours (charging case) | Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive support | No (optional) | IPX4 (earbuds) |
Apple AirPods Pro 2 USB-C | 6 hours; 30 hours (charging case) | Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC | Yes | IP54 (earbuds and charging case) |
Sony WF-C700N | 7.5 hours; 24 hours (charging case) | Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC | No | IPX4 (earbuds) |
Sony WF-1000XM5 | 8 hours; 24 hours (charging case) | Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC, and LDAC | Yes | IPX4 (earbuds) |
AirPods 4 with ANC | 5 hours (ANC off); 30 hours (charging case with ANC off) | Bluetooth 5.4 with SBC, AAC | Yes | IP54 (earbuds) |
Beats Fit Pro | 6 hours; 27 hours (charging case) | Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC, AAC | No | IPX4 (earbuds) |
Also tested
At Tom's Guide we test a lot of noise-canceling earbuds, but not everything can make it into our buying guides. Whether that's down to better performance or stronger features from rival models in a particular category and price, some miss ranking in this list by the slightest of margins. With that in mind, these models are strong contenders and great alternative considerations.
How we test noise-canceling earbuds
We've judged the best noise-canceling earbuds on several factors: audio performance, battery life, Bluetooth range, call quality, comfort and fit, and the effectiveness of the noise cancellation. We also weigh special features, such as included apps, and how easy they are to use.
During the testing phase, our reviewers wear each pair of headphones for 2 hours at a time throughout the course of a week, to test comfort over time.
ANC, meanwhile, is tested in both indoor and outdoor environments where ambient sounds are produced at high levels. This includes airplanes, city parks, convenience shops, offices, and public transportation. ANC headphones programmed with transparency modes are also tested thoroughly to determine how well the listener can hear their surroundings.
For sound quality, we listen to many different sample tracks and span as many music genres as possible, including hip-hop, rock, jazz, classical and R&B, while evaluating volume, clarity, and fullness. Find out what we listen for during our testing process and how to get the best headphone sound for you.
And now that more streaming music services are offering high-resolution audio, be sure to read our audio codec FAQ for all you need to know.
Finally, we’ll rate noise-canceling earbuds on our five-point system, with 1 being the worst and 5 the best. If a pair is particularly excellent, with a robust range of qualities, we may award it an Editor's Choice badge.
Find out how we test for more information on our reviewing procedures.
How to choose the best noise-canceling earbuds for you
The first item to check off the list when shopping for the best noise-canceling earbuds is their active noise cancellation performance, which shouldn’t be confused with passive noise cancellation. What are the differences?
1. Active vs. passive noise cancellation: ANC uses advanced circuitry and microphones to pick up noise signals and create inverse waves that cancel out these sonic disruptions, whereas PNC physically isolates high-pitched sounds through the headphone design and materials. Most headphones advertised with noise cancellation are categorized under ANC.
2. Battery life: Noise-canceling earbuds have a reputation for sucking up lots of power, so you’ll want a pair that holds a charge long enough to get you through a long business flight or weekly commutes. Noise-canceling wireless earbuds are usually rated for 4.5 to 8 hours, but with included charging cases the total possible playback time might be much more competitive.
Think about how long and how often you’d want to wear your earbuds for on lengthy trips. A longer “per charge” battery life is better, but if you only want some entertainment on short commutes then it not quite so important, as you’ll probably be storing the buds in their case more regularly.
3. Sound quality: ANC technology can compress sound and reduce dynamics, which may affect audio performance when turned on. In some cases, you’ll notice a background hiss when listening to music. However, the best noise-canceling earbuds limit these disruptions to deliver full, crisp sound.
4. Design: The look, build and feel of a pair of in-ear 'buds is massively important when selecting the best noise-canceling earbuds, so consider how they look and feel and whether the style is right for you. In our best noise-canceling headphones round up we mention that over-ear headphones tend to give the best noise cancellation, but some of the more recent wireless in-ear models are proving to be just as effective.
5. Pricing considerations: Obviously, price is a big consideration when looking for the best noise-canceling earbuds. Although there are always exceptions, big-name brands will typically command a bit extra, but generally speaking, the less you spend on a pair of headphones the greater the chance that sound and features will be compromised. Going for a budget option isn't always the best choice, as any money you save on your purchase won't do you much good if you're constantly needing to recharge your audio gear, or the sound quality is poor.
As the saying goes: timing is everything; and right now many of our favorite models are being discounted by online retailers, meaning you can bag a bargain for even less. Bookmark our best headphone deals page to keep track on the latest price drops.
FAQs
What is ANC?
ANC explained: Active noise cancellation (ANC) models employ built-in mics to pick up ambient sounds around the wearer. An identical but inverted audio signal of the noise is played back to the listener through the headphones. Listeners aren't aware of this happening of course, as the inverted (or out of phase) signal effectively 'cancels out' the noise of the surroundings for the headphone wearer. The process removes the external sounds, which results in a significant reduction in the level of background noise at the very least.
Does ANC affect battery life?
Given that it uses both more computational power and a bunch of microphones in order to work, ANC has an effect on your battery life. This often chops a couple of hours off, so they won't last quite as long. If you want to keep the battery going for longer then you'll want to keep the noise canceling turned off.
Do noise-canceling earbuds actually work?
In most cases, noise-canceling earbuds are very effective at reducing ambient sounds. There are limits, though, and some designs are less effective at silencing certain types of sounds than others. The process is fast but it can’t physically occur in real time, so ANC works best with consistent low-frequency sounds as opposed to higher-pitched, inconsistent sounds like human speech. Vehicle engines and droning air conditioners are easy to cancel out, but the shorter wavelength of high-frequency sounds, like a sudden blast from a car horn, makes it tougher for the ANC’s anti-noise waves to perfectly mask these bursts.
Even so, all sounds will be at least a little quieter when you’re wearing noise-canceling headphones, and many sounds can be completely silenced even on low-cost pairs or earbuds. Check out our explainer on active noise cancelation for more information.
