I believe it was Yoda who said, "Two ears only you have. Use them wisely, you must." The little guy was obviously talking about headphones: You want to make a wise choice about what to wear up there. The best headphones not only sound amazing, but also reduce outside noise, fit comfortably and last a long time on a charge.
I'm especially partial to those that come with actual printed instructions and simple, intuitive companion apps — because we're not all Jedi masters when it comes to Bluetooth, equalizers and the vagaries of ANC (active noise cancelling)
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Speaking of which, I'm here to spotlight the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy. Drawing on years of consumer-tech expertise and a few gazillion hours testing these things, I've rounded up some of the top-rated products: budget picks, audiophile-approved and so on.
In this story
In other words: Help you, I can.
(I can also help you choose the best open-ear headphones and the best noise-cancelling wireless earbuds , if those are more your speed.)
The best noise-cancelling headphones of 2026
Rick Broida/Yahoo News
Driver size:40mm | Spatial Audio:Yes | Foldable:No | Controls:Buttons/switch | Colors:Black, White | Connectivity:Bluetooth 5.4, wired | Weight:11 ounces | Carrying case:Zippered clamshell | Max battery life:30 hours
Hot take: The Sonos Ace is a better ANC headphone than either the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Sony WH-1000XM6. For starters, it's the cheapest of the three, having dropped to $399 from its $449 launch price and frequently selling for $349 or even less. (It hit $299 during Black Friday and the holidays.)
It's also far better at spatial audio than the XM6 and generally easier to use than the QC Ultra. (An actual printed quick-start guide, imagine that.)
Of course, sound quality and ANC effectiveness are the true barometers, right? To my ears, the Sonos Ace offers the best sound, full stop. There's a richness, fullness and warmth to music that I absolutely love. Yes, the Bose and Sony headphones come very close, but if you want to hear every detail, every nuance, of your favorite playlists, this is my top pick.
As for ANC, I found it on par with the other top performers, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Sony WH-1000XM5 (and XM6, incidentally). The Ace also crushes spatial audio, with flawless head-tracking that creates an amazing sense of "there-ness."
It's hard to make headphones stand out, but I like the matte finish and overall look of the Ace. The earcups' hinges are hidden inside the earcups themselves, meaning those with long hair are less likely to get tangled in them. I did find the overall fit a little snug, however: After about 30 minutes, my ears wanted some air. (For the record, this is true with nearly all over-the-ear headphones — for me, at least.)
Instead of touch controls, Sonos opted for physical ones: The right earcup is home to a noise-control toggle button (press to switch between ANC and transparency modes) and the "Content Key," a small slide-switch used to raise and lower volume. It's also a button: press once to play/pause, twice to skip to the next track and three times for the previous track. I like the Content Key overall; it's a little more intuitive than Apple's digital crown.
I do wish Sonos had labeled the controls, though. And it would be nice to have a voice prompt to indicate which noise mode is selected, instead of the largely indistinguishable tones that play when you toggle them.
The Sonos app is fairly easy to use overall, with nearly all headphone status info and settings listed on a single page. And if you happen to own a Sonos soundbar, there's a nifty perk available: Audio Swap, which switches TV audio from soundbar to headphones with the press of a button. This not only allows you to listen in private, but also delivers a much more pronounced spatial-audio effect than you get from the soundbar alone.
If your budget won't accommodate the Sonos Aces, I suspect you'd be just as happy with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Sony XM5 (though the latter is far more limited when it comes to spatial audio). But I'm calling it: These are currently my favorite wireless headphones.
- Useful printed quick-start guide
- Cleverly designed volume/play-control switch
- Immaculate sound quality and spatial audio
- Works with Sonos soundbars to provide private listening and spatial audio
- USB-C-to-stereo cord included for wired listening
- Unlabeled physical controls
- Some might find it a little tight for comfort
- Can be difficult to determine which noise mode is selected
Other noise-cancelling headphones we recommend
Rick Broida/Yahoo News
Driver size:40mm | Spatial Audio:No | Foldable:Yes | Controls:Buttons | Colors:Jet Black, Latte Cream, Sky Blue | Connectivity:Bluetooth 5.3, wired | Weight:9 ounces | Carrying case:Drawstring | Max battery life:55 hours
If you're wondering whether $100 headphones can possibly rival ones costing three or four times as much, get ready for a surprise: It can. Soundcore's Space One offers sweet sound and robust ANC. On those merits alone, I'd have no qualms about recommending it. But to quote the old commercial: Wait, there's more.
Soundcore supplies a detailed quick-start guide that covers basic setup and operation. It's a little "busy" because it crams multiple languages into each panel, but it's still far more complete than the print instructions included with most headphones. Similarly, the Soundcore companion app is a model of simplicity: Everything is clearly labeled and logically organized.
Space Ones look stylish and feature comfortable padding throughout, though the build feels just a touch plasticky overall. The volume and play/pause buttons on the right earcup are a good size and well-placed, but good luck remembering which of the two left-earcup buttons is for power and which is for toggling ANC modes. (At least you get a vocal notification of which mode is active, which is preferable to the indecipherable tones produced by some other headphones.)
These 'phones can play for a whopping 55 hours on a charge, or 40 if you use ANC. Just five minutes of USB-C quick-charging nets you up to four additional hours. (That's for wireless play, by the way; Soundcore also supplies a stereo cord for wired listening, which requires no battery at all.) Apple's $549 AirPods Max need to recharge after just 20 hours.
Space Ones also support LDAC, a lossless, high-resolution audio codec that promises even better sound from sources that support it. (That generally means Android phones; iPhones don't do LDAC.) Is this a big deal for most listeners? No. Is it notable considering that some headphones costing significantly more don't support it? I'd say yes.
One of my favorite features is Easy Chat: Cup your hand over the left earcup and the headphones quickly switch into transparency mode so you can converse more comfortably. Soundcore also borrowed from Sony by including a speak-to-chat option (which at press time was in beta): No cupping needed, just start talking and transparency mode kicks in. Although it works as advertised, I don't love it because sometimes I sing or talk to myself and don't want the music cutting out every time. That said, the option is there for those who want it.
Also there: preprogrammed and custom equalizer modes, plus Soundcore's HearID hearing test that will create a customized equalizer profile. It's a fun little test to take, though I can't say I noticed a huge difference between the before and after. Your mileage may vary depending on your age and hearing.
I'm no audiophile; I just like listening to music and going about my business. Space Ones don't match the depth and richness offered by higher-end headphones like the Sonos Aces, but they sound perfectly good to my ears. And noise-cancelling exceeded my expectations given the price point (though this is one area where the app is a little confusing).
Bottom line: If you want comfy, capable headphones for below $100, look no further.
- Priced well below many competitors
- Very good sound and noise-cancelling
- Supports high-resolution LDAC codec
- One-touch transparency mode
- Above-average battery life
- Excellent companion app
- Useful printed instruction guide
- Slightly cheap feel
- Drawstring carrying case
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Driver size:35mm | Spatial Audio:Yes | Foldable:Yes | Controls:Buttons, touch strip | Colors:Black, White, Desert Gold, Driftwood Sand, Midnight Violet | Connectivity:Bluetooth 5.4, wired | Weight:9.2 ounces | Carrying case:Zippered clamshell | Max battery life:45 hours
Bose had already crafted a winner in its first-generation QuietComfort Ultra headphones, so it's not too surprising the 2nd-gen model brings only incremental improvements. Audiophiles will appreciate newly added support for lossless audio over USB-C. And everyone will enjoy the substantial increase in battery life (though at only 30 hours with ANC, it's still fairly average).
Most of the important stuff remains the same — and that's a good thing. This is the headphone that's best at noise-cancelling, period, and the sound quality and spatial audio rival that of the similarly excellent Sonos Ace. So why isn't this our top pick overall? It's close, but a few issues get in the way.
First is price: a $20 price increase puts them at $449, out of reach for many buyers. Second is usability: Bose still doesn't supply printed instructions, though the app does include helpful tutorials and feature explanations. Where I really struggle is with the controls: the power button has a Bluetooth symbol beside it, which is confusing, and you adjust volume by sliding your finger along a skinny touch-sensitive strip embedded on the back of the right earcup. It's a pain to locate by touch and not always responsive when you do.
Meanwhile, the Bose app still creates some confusion when it comes to modes and settings. Nothing insurmountable, just more complex than it needs to be.
Still, if blocking the outside world is your top priority, these are the headphones to get.
- Rich, detailed sound and wonderful spatial audio
- Still the ANC champ
- Useful in-app tutorials and feature explanations
- Compact folding design and carrying case
- Lay-flat standby mode
- Even more expensive than previous model
- Awkward volume control
- Battery life improved but still just average
- No printed instructions
- Confusing audio modes
- Not rated against sweat or water
Rick Broida/Yahoo News
Driver size:30mm | Spatial Audio:No | Foldable:No | Controls:Touch | Colors:Black, Midnight Blue, Silver | Connectivity:Bluetooth 5.2, wired | Weight:8.8 ounces | Carrying case:Zippered clamshell | Max battery life:30 hours
What makes this — or any other — headphone especially good for Android users? In a word: LDAC (or "El-dack"). This high-resolution Bluetooth audio-compression technology (translation: better sound) is available on Android phones but not iPhones. Thus, you want headphones that support it as well.
The Sony XM5 fits the bill, while also offering premium fidelity, robust noise-cancelling and other amenities. And although it was recently succeeded by the XM6, the latter offers only small improvements ( see my Sony WH-1000XM6 review ) and comes at a higher price: $449, versus $400 for the XM5 (which is routinely discounted to $329).
(While you're at it, the older WH-1000XM4 — which also supports LDAC — is still available, still excellent and sometimes available for as low as $228 .)
Novices, take note: These aren't the best in terms of usability. Sony supplies no useful setup or operating instructions (except online), and the companion app is confusing in numerous areas. (Read the aforementioned XM6 review for some examples.)
What's more, if you're a fan of spatial audio, you'll find it here only in a very limited capacity: It's available with just a smattering of lesser-known music apps. Apple, Bose, Sonos and others are vastly superior in this area.
Still, if you're seeking premium sound without a sky-high price tag, I'm standing by my XM5 recommendation. (But once the XM6 starts seeing discounts, that's likely to change.)
- Eco-friendly packaging
- Premium sound
- Versatile noise-cancelling automatically adapts to your environment
- Lots of useful tools in Sony's companion app
- High-resolution LDAC codec for Android users
- Expensive (but often discounted)
- Non-folding design
- Spatial audio available only with a select few apps
- App can be confusing in places
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Driver size:40mm | Spatial Audio:Yes | Foldable:No | Controls:Analog | Colors:Green, Pink, Silver, Space Gray, Sky Blue | Connectivity:Bluetooth | Weight:14 ounces | Carrying case:Sort of | Max battery life:20 hours
If you're an iPhone owner, you've no doubt eyeballed the Apple AirPods Max, which is basically the headphone version of the excellent AirPods Pro earbuds. But it's considerably more expensive ($549, though often discounted), and in fact is one of the most expensive headphones on the market, period. Worth it?
In some respects, yes. These are among the most comfortable headphones I've worn, and the magnetic earcups are a breeze to replace. The sound is lush and inviting, with utterly mesmerizing spatial audio (which I love for a theater-like movie viewing experience). Apple's ANC and transparency modes are solid, if not revolutionary, and it's a breeze to switch the 'phones between various Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, MacBook, etc.).
Speaking of other devices, if you own an Apple Watch, you'll likely appreciate the presence of a similar "digital crown" here; it's used to control volume and playback, answer calls and so on. Just take note that there's a lot to remember, especially with regard to how many times to press the crown or how long to press it.
That's one of several usability issues that cropped up in my testing; I also struggled with the hard-to-read "L" and "R" markings inside the earcups, the charging-status LED that doesn't stay lit during charging and the utterly ridiculous carrying case (which you must use if you want to preserve the battery between sessions).
Two other important notes: These are often on sale for as low as $400 , so definitely don't pay the full $549 Apple Store price for them. And given the design is almost five years old — the 2024 update did little more than add USB-C charging and wired lossless audio support — I wouldn't be surprised if we see an AirPods Pro Max 2 in 2026.
Still, if you love Apple gear and don't mind paying a hefty premium for it, I suspect you'll love the AirPods Maxes. Everyone else: You can do better.
- Solid build quality
- Very comfortable earcups that are easy to replace
- Easy to pair with Apple devices and automatically switches between them
- Superb spatial audio
- Very expensive (even when discounted)
- Confusing setup instructions
- Poorly designed charging LED
- Still uses Lightning connector instead of USB-C
- Below-average battery life
- Digital crown is great for controlling volume but bad for everything else
- No headphone jack for wired listening
- 'Smart' case is anything but
Other headphones we've tested
Baseus Bowie 30 Max : Baseus makes some great budget earbuds, but this budget headphone is a misfire. While the specs are impressive — ANC, LDAC, spatial audio with head-tracking — the sound quality just isn't there. Everything I listened to sounded sterile, if not outright harsh. That probably explains why the Bowie 30 Max started out selling for $100 but now hovers around $40. Sometimes you get what you pay for; I'd skip this one.
Sony WH-CH720N : Want the noise-cancelling acumen of Sony's XM5 headphones without the sky-high price? You can have it: Sony's WH-CH720N offers the same core tech for a very reasonable price. So what exactly do you sacrifice by choosing the cheaper product? Not that much. Read my complete Sony WH-CH720N review to learn more!
Sennheiser Momentum 4 : A solid headphone with exceptional battery life (up to 60 hours), the Momentum 4 is an all-around good choice. I liked the smooth, full-bodied sound quality, though ANC was only so-so and it lacks the spatial-audio capabilities offered by others in this price range. Plus, the touch controls are a little overwrought (there's a lot to remember, including a pinch gesture).
How we test headphones
Audio is a highly subjective thing; the best sound to one set of ears might sound less so to another. For example, if you're not a fan of heavy bass, you might dislike 'phones designed to boost that thump. And if you're older, maybe you care more about dialogue enhancement (for movies, podcasts and such) than anything else.
Ultimately, sound is in the eye of the beholder — or, more accurately, the ear of the belistener. (It's not a word, but it should be.) I tested these headphones in exactly the ways you'd expect — and a few you might not.
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Usability:Did they come with good instructions to help you get set up? Was the companion app useful and easy to understand? I think usability is very important in consumer electronics — and often overlooked.
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Sound quality:From there, the typical array of listening tests: a wide variety of music, videos, podcasts and more. Was the audio balanced? Did music sound bright and detailed? Could I fine-tune things to my liking by way of an equalizer? There's also the source to consider: If you use a music streaming service like Apple Music or Spotify, data compression can result in a slight loss of fidelity. Will the average listener care about that, or even notice it? Probably not, but it's still a piece of the puzzle.
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ANC:As for noise-canceling, I positioned myself in various noisy environments (coffee shop, busy street corner, beside a large fan) and activated ANC to see how much reduction I could detect. This is a bit challenging to quantify — was it an 80% reduction? 50%? — but ultimately the goal is to listen to audio comfortably, without having to crank the volume to overcome outside noise.
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Fit:Not every headphone sits comfortably atop every head. A tight headband or mushy earpads can make for an uncomfortable experience. Of course, what's comfortable for me might be less so for you. Whenever possible, try a pair at a store or borrow a friend's.
All this is to say that different people have different ears, heads, needs and preferences. Budgets too. Therefore, my picks for this roundup are based on a combination of personal experience, product reputation, professional reviews, specs, user ratings and, finally, price tag. You won't find only high-end, super-expensive headphones here, nor will you find cheap off-brand junk. Every product I've selected deserves its "best" designation for one reason or another.
FAQs
What is active noise cancelling (ANC)?
The hot headphone feature of the 21st century is active noise cancelling, otherwise known as ANC. Flip a switch (or press a button) and the earpieces magically reduce a certain range of ambient noise. Jet engines, for example, or backyard lawnmowers. Coffee shops and other noisy environments. The result is that you're able to fly, work or exercise in relative peace.
Some headphones perform this trick better than others, but the good news is it's now a staple feature: Even the most affordable ones have it. Take note, however, that activating ANC will cost you a bit of battery life and possibly some audio fidelity as well. But it's optional, so you can always turn it off if it's not necessary or if you decide you don't like it.
What's the difference between 'noise canceling' and 'noise cancelling'?
An extra letter "L," that's it. They're exactly the same technology, but for whatever reason, both spellings are used. (Go home, English language, you're drunk.) You may also encounter "noise reducing" and "noise reduction," just to further confuse things.
What is driver size and why does it matter?
In simple terms, "driver" is just audio-speak for "speaker." And bigger is always better, right? Yes, but ... there's a bit more to it than that. As with actual speakers, there's more to audio quality than just size. The materials used, the electronics behind those materials, the overall fit of the headphones, etc. Don't let driver size alone determine which headphones you buy.
Do you need special headphones for watching TV?
In most cases, no! Many modern TVs and streaming devices (Roku, Fire TV, etc.) support Bluetooth, meaning you could pair any of these headphones for private listening. The only potential issue is audio that's slightly out of sync with video, which can happen with older TVs/streamers. And if you have gear that doesn't support Bluetooth, you might need to invest in something like the Sennheiser RS 175 wireless headphone system for TVs , which relies on RF (radio frequency) technology for wireless listening.
How do noise-cancelling headphones work?
This will sound strange, but these headsets fight noise with ... noise. External microphones listen to the ambient sounds, then reproduce those frequencies in your ears, effectively cancelling them out. Talk about sufficiently advanced technology that's indistinguishable from magic! (Paging sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke.)
Do noise-cancelling headphones protect hearing?
After a fashion. By reducing background noise, ANC headphones save you from having to crank the volume just so you can hear your music — and that itself is a form of hearing protection. There's a related benefit as well: If you're on a long flight or stuck in a noisy terminal, ANC helps to drown out engine and crowd noise, the better to keep your stress level low.
Are noise-cancelling headphones safe?
There are no known safety hazards to using noise-cancelling headphones. The only risk, as with any headphones, is playing music too loudly and damaging your hearing.
Best noise-cancelling headphones specs comparison chart
| Sonos Ace |
40mm |
Yes |
No |
Bluetooth 5.4, wired |
30 hours |
| Soundcore Space One |
40mm |
No |
Yes |
Bluetooth 5.3, wired |
55 hours |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen |
35mm |
Yes |
Yes |
Bluetooth 5.3, wired |
30 hours |
| 30mm |
Limited |
No |
Bluetooth 5.2, wired |
30 hours |
|
| 40mm |
Yes |
No |
Bluetooth 5.0, wired |
20 hours |
Update, Jan. 15, 2026: We checked all product prices and availability. Our number-one pick for best noise cancelling headphones remains unchanged.
