The Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds for 2025

Noise-canceling earbuds are a boon for long commutes or overnight flights, allowing you to focus on the audio and ignore the drone of airplane engines or the rumble of trains. They’re comfortable to wear, and the touch controls execute intended commands without a hitch.

They also have a solid companion app with ANC settings, EQ and firmware updates.

Noise Cancellation Earbuds

ANC eliminates distracting noises such as the hum of your commute and the droning of your office to give you an immersive music experience. It works by detecting ambient sounds using built-in microphones and creating a counter-sound wave to cancel them out, so you can focus on your audio content.

Some earbuds that offer ANC also have a sound quality that is on par with high-end headphones, letting you listen to your favourite songs or entertainment soundtracks in stunning clarity. In addition to a rich sound profile, some of the best ANC buds also have features such as spatial audio, which creates a more realistic listening environment.

The best ANC earbuds can block out bass-range sounds, like plane engine rumbles or a humming computer fan, as well as mid to high-pitched noises, such as background chit chat and a whispering voice. However, enabling ANC can consume more battery power than other types of headphones, so you’ll need to be mindful of this when travelling.

Noise Reduction

The Pixel Buds Pro are one of the most well-rounded pairs of earbuds you can buy. They’re a step down from the Apple AirPods Pro 2 Truly Wireless, but they still offer impressive noise isolation capabilities that can easily cut out sounds like rumbles from aircraft engines and chatty coworkers. They have a long battery life that will last you more than seven hours with ANC turned on and come with a case that can store two extra charges.

They also use feedback ANC to digitally correct the noise cancelling properties as you wear them. However, this approach may not be as accurate as the mic placement we’ve seen in premium headphones like the Bose QuietComfort 45 or Sony WH-1000XM5. It also doesn’t account for how much high-frequency sound might leak through a loose fit, which can affect what you hear.

Active noise cancellation debuted in over-ear and on-ear headphones, but it’s become possible to achieve this feature in smaller and more portable true wireless earbuds too. These buds utilize microphones and speakers to reduce ambient noise using a live, inverse signal generated by a noise-canceling circuit.

Audio Quality

The best noise-canceling earbuds offer excellent sound quality. This means that you’ll be able to enjoy the full sonic spectrum of your music and podcasts. The earbuds also provide good passive isolation thanks to a snug fit and strong seal. The sound produced is rich and full of detail, with a balanced bass response.

If you’re shopping for a pair of noise-canceling earbuds, you should expect to pay more than a regular pair. This is because ANC requires more technology to operate. Earbuds with ANC can cost up to $400, but there are some options available for a lower price.

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 buds are an excellent choice for anyone who wants to experience a premium audio performance at a budget-friendly price point. They don’t have the best ANC of our top picks, but they’re comfortable and deliver gratifying immersion with clear and balanced sounds that boast an emphasized low end. They also feature aptX for audio transmission, multi-device pairing and support for hi-fi streaming over Bluetooth with the optional DAC.

Comfort

ANC can be a game-changer when it comes to enhancing the comfort capabilities of headphones. By processing external noise to produce anti-noise waves, ANC can help you block out distracting ambient sounds and fully immerse yourself in your audio.

These earbuds have a sleek, comfortable fit that is suitable for long listening sessions. They deliver a gratifying sound quality and are compatible with a wide range of devices. They also have a number of interesting features, including adaptive noise canceling, a voice assistant, and support for the high-quality audio codec LDAC.

These earbuds have a premium look and feel that makes them worthy of their price tag. They feature a comfortable, secure fit and excellent ANC that easily tackles low-pitch noise, from rumbly bus engines to chatty coworkers. They also offer a wide range of useful features, including multi-device pairing, LDAC audio streaming, and a built-in microphone.

Battery Life

Noise cancelling headphones require a lot of power, and it’s important to consider battery life when shopping for earbuds. You want a pair that can last through your daily commute and business flights without running out of juice.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless are our top pick for ANC and have the longest battery life of any earbuds we’ve tested. They can reduce ambient noise for more than seven hours continuously with ANC on, and their case holds up to three extra charges for quick top-ups. They also feature Be Aware Audio, a setting that lets you hear your surroundings when it’s safe to do so.

The Beats Fit Pro are a solid choice for ANC earbuds if you don’t want to spend the money on AirPods Pro 2. Their ANC easily cuts down on sounds like rumbly plane engines and chatty coworkers, and they have a comfortable and secure fit. They’re compatible with Apple products and offer Siri functionality, Spatial Audio, and the H2 codec for high-quality listening. The Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 are another good option for ANC earbuds. They have a comfortable fit and offer a warm default sound profile that’s customizable through their app’s graphic EQ and presets. They’re lightweight, comfortable to wear, and last for up to 10 hours with ANC on.