Maybe it's a function of getting older, but I often feel like the Grinch: "All the noise, noise, noise, NOISE!" Leaf blowers outside my window, chatterboxes at the coffee shop, the roar of jet engines on a long flight — it's enough to make me want to Van Gogh my own ears. Fortunately, there's a less extreme solution: The best noise-cancelling earbuds can greatly reduce those rackets, while also delivering sweet-sounding music, podcasts and the like. Yes, these things can get expensive, but there are some affordable high-quality earbuds out there as well. Read on for my picks, followed by tips on what features to look for, how I tested and more.
Reality check: ANC (active noise-cancelling) technology
doesn't fully combat every kind of discord. It's best against low frequencies: the hum of a fan, the drone of an engine, everyday background noise, etc. It's less effective against things like crying babies and barking dogs. ANC can reduce the intensity
of those sounds, but you'll still hear them.
Also, take note of a potential safety issue: If you're out walking or jogging with ANC activated, you're less likely to hear an oncoming car or cyclist, or even a shouted warning. ("Look out for that runaway sleigh!") Thankfully, these earbuds all have transparency mode, which disables ANC and enables the microphones to allow for better "situational awareness." Make sure to take advantage of it.
In this story
Oh, and if screwing silicone ear tips into your head isn't your thing, check out our roundup of the best noise-cancelling headphones , which go over your ears instead of into them.
Best noise-cancelling earbuds overall
ANC:Adaptive | Controls:Touch | Ear detection:Yes | Multipoint connectivity:Yes | Case charging:USB-C, wireless | Waterproof rating:IPX4 | Max battery life:6 hours on a charge | Ear tips included:3 sizes
Now a second-generation product, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra remains our top pick for one simple reason: It's the best at cancelling noise. Not by a ton, and not without a few quibbles, but if your chief goal is maximum quiet, you've found your earbuds.
Let me refer you to my full review of the 1st-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultras , then talk about what's new here (and what still needs improvement).
According to Bose, the QC Ultra 2nd-gen offers even better ANC than before and more finely tuned audio. I could detect no differences in either, but I'd argue that's because both were already exemplary.
The more practical improvements include wireless case charging and easy multipoint connections (meaning pairing with more than one audio source, like a phone and a tablet).
One tradeoff for the Ultras' amazing ANC: There's a slight hiss when you're not listening to audio, which bothers me if I'm trying to work in silence. AirPods Pro 3, in comparison, don't have this issue.
The earbuds' touch controls are still too easy to graze by accident, and there's still almost no customization available: You can't, for example, configure them so that a single tap does nothing, the better to accommodate those accidental touches.
Meanwhile, battery life is really starting to pale in comparison to the competition: You're still topping out at six hours, max, versus eight on AirPods Pro 3 and up to 12 on some others.
You'll have to decide how much these issues matter; I suspect many users are willing to overlook them in exchange for the luscious sound, superb spatial audio and virtually unrivaled ANC.
- Superb sound quality and ANC
- Highly immersive spatial audio
- Logical, responsive touch controls
- Excellent in-app tutorials
- So-so battery life
- Difficult to remove from case
- Limited equalizer options and touch-control customization
- App still a bit confusing in areas
- No printed setup or operating instructions
Other noise-cancelling earbuds we like
ANC:Adaptive | Controls:Touch | Ear detection:No | Multipoint connectivity:Yes | Case charging:USB-C | Waterproof rating:IP55 | Max battery life:12 hours on a charge | Ear tips included:5 sizes
What I expected from a $40 pair of earbuds: Poor fit, limited features, crummy companion app, AM-radio sound quality.
What I got from the Baseus Bass BP1 Pro: A fit as comfortable as any earbuds I've tried, nearly all the features I want, a legit-great app and delightful bass-forward sound.
To be fair, I had to do some tweaking in the Baseus app; I thought the best overall audio quality came from having ANC and bass-boost turned on and Spatial Acoustics turned off (as opposed to set to Music). There's also an 8-band equalizer for those who like even more fine-tuning.
In fact, there's a Deep Bass preset that, when paired with Bass Boost mode, produces a double-helping of resonant thump that's sure to please bass-lovers. (This might be a good time to point out that Apple AirPods Pro 3, which cost $249, don't even have an equalizer.)
The Bass BP1 Pro's adaptive ANC performed better than I expected, with several location-specific modes available and even a custom setting. It's not the strongest ANC I've tested, but definitely not the weakest, either.
I wish the Baseus quick-start guide had larger print, but at least the app is easy to navigate, despite having so many options.
Indeed, it's amazing how well-rounded these earbuds are considering the price. And here's the real shocker: They frequently go on sale for just $28.
- Impressive sound and ANC for the price
- Optional bass-boost really brings the thump
- Bluetooth 6.0 and LDAC
- Superb battery life
- No ear-detection
- Super-tiny print in quick-start guide
Ear detection:Yes | Spatial audio:No | Multipoint connectivity:Yes | Case charging:USB-C, wireless | Max battery life:11 hours on a charge | Water resistance:IPX5 | Ear tips included:5 sizes
EarFun may not be a household name, but the company has cranked out a lot of rock-solid earbuds over the years — most of them notable for delivering real value.
The Air Pro 4 represents the company's best effort to date, combining first-rate audio with a laundry list of great features, all for less than $100.
It's a no-brainer addition to this list and a particularly good option for Android users. All that's missing is spatial audio, a feature that has yet to make its way into any EarFun earbuds. That would make this a home-run product. As of now, it's a stand-up triple.
Read my full EarFun Air Pro 4 review to learn more. And take note that while the newer Air Pro 4+ is now available , it brings only minor improvements to the table but costs nearly double.
- Good printed setup and operation instructions
- Rich, balanced sound, amazing at this price
- Above-average noise cancelling
- Superb battery life
- Supports two different lossless audio codecs (but only for Android)
- Supports both USB-C and wireless case charging
- No spatial audio
- Games and videos require use of special audio mode
- Touch controls a bit slow to respond
- Questionable long-term reliability
Ear detection:Yes | Spatial audio:Yes | Multipoint connectivity:Yes | Case charging:USB-C or wireless | Max battery life:8 hours on a charge | Water resistance:IP57 | Ear tips included:5 sizes
If you're an iPhone user, there's simply no better option than Apple's latest AirPods Pro. Although they incorporate only minor improvements over the massively popular 2nd-generation model, they were superb to begin with. (Android users, heads up: You can use these with your phone, albeit in a pretty feature-reduced way. I recommend choosing any of the other products on our list.)
What you get here is even better ANC, a bump in battery life, snugger-fitting ear tips and even a heart-rate sensor. I can't say any of these changes merit upgrading from AirPods Pro 2, but as with a lot of Apple updates, they're nice to have.
Just take note that while some users have reported that the slightly larger "bulbs" do indeed make the earbuds fit more securely, others find them less comfortable. I'm in the latter camp, but not to the point that I'm looking elsewhere for earwear.
To learn more, read our full AirPods Pro 3 review .
- Great sound, spatial audio and noise-cancelling
- Redesigned to fit more snugly in more ears
- Improved battery life
- Built-in heart rate sensor
- IP57-rated against dust and water
- Priced below Bose and Sony
- No equalizer
- A bit less comfortable to wear all day than AirPods Pro 2
- Charge-status LED still unhelpful
- Live Translation is limited and inconsistent
Ear detection:Yes | Spatial audio:Limited | Multipoint connectivity:Yes | Case charging:USB-C and wireless | Max battery life:12 hours on a charge | Water resistance:IPX4 | Ear tips included:4 sizes
If you like to listen all day — and I mean all day — Sony's got your earbuds. The XM5s can last up to eight hours on a charge, and that's with ANC turned on. Turn it off and you can expect up to 12 hours. No other earbuds in this roundup even come close.
This isn't a one-trick pony. These are premium in-ear speakers, and it shows in the beautifully broad and balanced soundstage, the crackerjack ANC and the AirPods Pro-level voice call quality. I also like Sony's speak-to-chat feature, which automatically pauses playback and enables transparency mode whenever you start talking.
Unfortunately, if you want spatial audio, you'll have to subscribe to one of a handful of obscure services supported here; the XM5s don't work with the likes of Apple Music, Spotify or Netflix. And, of course, premium earbuds mean premium pricing.
Read my Sony WF-1000XM5 review to learn more — and keep in mind that the newer WF-1000XM6 is expected to launch very soon.
- Compact earbuds and charging case
- Wonderful sound
- Very good noise-cancelling
- Exceptional battery life
- Great for voice calls
- Pricey
- Perplexing companion app
- Spatial audio works only with select apps
- Touch controls can't be modified
Ear detection:Yes | Spatial audio:Yes | Multipoint connectivity:Yes | Case charging:USB-C or wireless | Max battery life:4 hours on a charge | Water resistance:IP54 | Ear tips included:N/A
You got me, Apple. I didn't think you could engineer hard-plastic earbuds that I'd like as much as the AirPods Pro, but the AirPods 4 with ANC kick butt (and ear). Finally, rock-solid noise-cancelling without the need to wedge silicone tips deep inside my ear canals.
You also get most of the other features found in the AirPods Pro, including spatial audio, wireless case charging, full support for Find My and great call quality. Missing, alas, are the Pro's revolutionary hearing-aid capabilities, but if you're not at the point where you need them, there's everything else to like here.
Read my full Apple AirPods 4 review to learn more.
- Most of the same features as AirPods Pro 2
- Charging case and earbuds each support Apple Find My
- ANC works surprisingly well, except against wind
- Good overall sound quality
- Great for phone calls
- Nifty head-gesture features
- Below-average battery life
- No volume controls on stems
- Unhelpful status LED on case
- AirPods Pro have better overall sound, ANC
- No physical pairing button
- Priced about the same as on-sale AirPods Pro 2
- No hearing-aid or hearing-protection features
Factors to consider when choosing noise-cancelling earbuds
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ANC:Active noise-cancelling is the technology that helps reduce outside sound. Many modern earbuds pair that with noise-isolating silicone earbuds so you can listen in peace. Some now employ "adaptive" ANC as well, meaning the strength and/or frequencies of the noise-cancelling will automatically adjust based on your environment (indoors, outdoors, etc.).
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Battery life:There's the battery life of the earbuds themselves and the battery life of the charging case. The former can vary dramatically depending on volume level, ANC usage, spatial audio usage and so on. The "max battery life" referred to above reflects the company's estimate, and it's based on ANC and other potentially battery-draining features being off. Thus, earbuds with a max battery life of, say, six hours might last only four hours with ANC on.
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Companion app:In the old days, you would pair your earbuds with your phone, and that was the end of it. Today, you'll often find companion apps that let you check battery life, install firmware updates, tweak touch-control settings, add equalizer effects and more. It's not a crucial thing to have, but it's useful.
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Ear detection:At some point, you'll need to pop out an earbud so you can hear what someone is saying or have a quick chat. If it has ear detection, your music, video or whatever will automatically pause then resume when you put the 'bud back in. It's not essential, but it's a feature I really love.
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Multipoint connectivity:This increasingly common feature lets you pair your earbuds with more than one device and easily switch between them. This is great if you typically connect to your phone but also want to use, say, your laptop for work meetings or the like.
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Spatial audio:This nifty feature tracks head movements to create a sort of focal point for your listening experience. For example, if you're watching a movie on your phone and you turn your head, the sound will shift, so that it seems as if it's still coming from the screen. It's tricky to explain but really cool to use.
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Water resistance:Good earbuds should be able to survive the sweat that pours off you at the gym, to say nothing of getting knocked into a puddle. Thankfully, all the products here have an IPX rating of 4 or better, which means they can withstand exactly those kinds of watery encounters. And at higher numbers (6 and 7), even a full-on dunk in the pool or bathtub won't fry them.
How we tested noise-cancelling earbuds
This may surprise you, but I tested these earbuds by listening to ... lots of music, duh. I also watched some videos, played some podcasts and so on. Audio quality is a primary focus, but it's also quite subjective; what sounds good to me may sound like AM radio to you. I suspect most wireless earbud shoppers prize comfort, ease of use and noise-cancelling as much as audio fidelity. Consequently, much of my attention went to those areas as well.
As for battery life, we elected not to conduct real-world tests, and here's why: There are too many variables. Earbud runtime is affected by volume, ANC, spatial audio and other factors, all of which are likely to be different from one listening session to the next. We relied on manufacturers' battery-life estimates for both the earbuds themselves and the charging cases. Anecdotally speaking, these tend to be pretty accurate, but remember what I said: many variables.
Noise-cancelling earbuds FAQs
How do noise-cancelling earbuds work?
There's some pretty cool science behind it. Basically, microphones capture the sound around you, then an onboard processor generates an "inverse" sound and feeds that to your ears. Those audio waves nullify each other, resulting in reduced (i.e. "cancelled") sound.
Do noise-cancelling earbuds protect hearing?
In a way. Loud noise can damage your hearing, and ANC can reduce that noise. But the bigger benefit is that it allows you to listen to music and other audio without having to crank the volume just to hear it over, say, the roar of an airplane engine. Thus, I consider it a kind of "indirect" hearing protection.
Are earbuds or headphones better for noise cancelling?
Headphones have larger audio drivers and employ padded cups that cover your entire ear, which means that, theoretically, they can produce a stronger ANC effect. Earbuds (known in some quarters as true wireless earbuds) are smaller and more portable, and those that have silicone ear tips provide an in-ear seal — "passive" noise-cancelling — in addition to technology-powered ANC. In an anecdotal test between AirPods Pro earbuds and AirPods Max headphones, I found that the former did better against a lawn mower that was interrupting my workday.
Do noise-cancelling earbuds work without music?
They do! Outside sound (or ambient noise) is what drives ANC, so if you want to rest or work in silence without listening to music, you can. Of course, music offers another "layer" of outside-noise reduction, so if you want to maximize the effect, queue up your preferred playlist.
What do IP ratings mean?
"Ingress protection" indicates the level of protection against foreign objects like dust and water. The first number after "IP" relates to solids; the second, the liquids. Thus, earbuds with an IP54 rating have level 5 protection against solids and level 4 against liquids. If you see an "IPX5" rating, that means the earbuds aren't rated (or weren't tested) for dirt, dust and such, only for water.
What's the difference between active and passive noise cancellation?
Think of holding your hands over your ears; that's passive noise cancellation. It's just a barrier, same as the silicone ear tips used by most earbuds. Those tips create a seal inside your ears to help reduce outside sounds. Active noise cancellation uses technology — microphones, microprocessors, etc. — to actively block sound.
How effective are noise-cancelling earbuds for blocking out background noise?
Surprisingly effective! Though part of it depends on the noise in question. Get on an airplane and you'll be amazed at how well the earbuds reduce the roar of the jet engines. But try to combat the sounds of a baby crying or dog barking and you won't get quite the same results. That's because ANC works better against lower-frequency noise: engines, traffic, the hum of a fan.
How do I make sure to get a comfortable fit?
That's a great question, because not all ears are created equal. While it may feel a little weird at first to insert those silicone ear tips, making sure they're deep enough for a secure fit, it's necessary to create the noise-isolating seal that works in concert with ANC. Of course, they need to be comfortable as well, which is why most earbuds come with at least three ear-tip sizes, if not four or five, You may need to experiment to find the ones that provide you with both a secure fit and a comfortable fit.
Update, Jan. 22, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability. The Apple AirPods Pro 3 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd-gen replaced their previous-generation counterparts. The latter is our new number-one pick for best noise-cancelling earbuds.
Check out Yahoo's latest advice on audio equipment, based on hands-on testing.
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