The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones
Shaking off the world and sinking into a new album can feel like a train ride through the countryside … unless you're sharing that seat with two young toddlers. Or your neighbor's dog is constantly barking. Come to think of it, there are a lot of sounds that can ruin a good song in the work-from-home era. That's why we have headphones that isolate and actively cancel out noise. Below are the best noise-canceling cans and buds you can buy, handpicked and tested by the Gear team here at WIRED.
Not seeing something you like? Be sure to check out our other guides, like the Best Wirefree Earbuds, Best Workout Earbuds, and Best Wireless Headphones.
Updated September 2021: We added the Samsung Galaxy Buds2.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you'd like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED
- Photograph: Apple
The Absolute Best
Apple AirPods MaxIf you use an iPhone and you are willing to pay $550, Apple's noise-canceling over-ears (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are the best choice. They are probably the best wireless headphones you'll have ever heard, but astonishing fidelity isn't the only reason to buy Cupertino's flagship headphones. Excellent pairing and connection with Apple devices, Bose-beating noise reduction, and some of the finest build quality you'll find this side of $1,000 make these a great pair for most people.
The only thing not to like about the AirPods Max? The included soft case, which does very little to protect the headphones when they're not on your head.
- Photograph: Sony
A Close Second
Sony WH-1000XM4Sony's WH-1000X lineup has produced some of the best noise-canceling headphones for several years in a row, and the recently released WH-1000XM4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is no exception. The new model retains the sleek, businesslike looks and 30-hour battery life of previous versions, but this time you get better noise cancellation and audio upscaling, both of which contribute to a cleaner overall sound signature. The high-quality microphones don't make you sound like you're underwater in Zoom meetings, which is an essential upgrade in the post-Covid world.
- Photograph: Bose
Best for the Office
Bose Noise Canceling 700The ever popular Bose QC35 II (8/10 WIRED Recommends) remains a fantastic noise-canceling option, but Bose’s newest flagship headphones, the Noise Canceling 700, take our top spot for business users. They have excellent noise reduction that quiets clacky keyboards or chatty roommates better than ever, plus slightly better sound quality and battery life than the QC35 II.
But the real reason to buy the 700s is for call quality. They use advanced signal processing and four microphones to limit the sound of the world around you on phone calls. The person you're calling will think you’re in a library even when you’re in a rowdy living room.
- Photograph: Sony Electronics
Quietest Buds
Sony WF-1000XM4Sony's WF-1000XM4 have the best noise reduction we've heard from a pair of earbuds. The company's excellent digital signal processing pairs with form-fitting foam ear tips to block out most sounds. From rumbling HVAC to loud coworkers, the WF-1000XM4 perform extremely well, and they offer the same super-customizable sound we love from Sony's over-ear flagship headphones. These are a bit too large for smaller ears—senior associate editor Adrienne So found them too snug, preferring the fit of the AirPods Pro—but the extra size is rewarded with industry-leading eight-hour battery life.
- Photograph: Samsung
Best Sounding Earbuds
Samsung Galaxy Buds ProWhen it comes to pairing speed and noise reduction, Samsung's flagship earbuds (9/10, WIRED Recommends) easily give the AirPods Pro a run for their money. But they outright crush Apple's earpieces in sound quality. The Buds Pro have a dual-driver system inside each bud that provides cleaner, deeper bass and clearer highs. If you want to silence the outside world while also enjoying the best possible sound, these are the buds for you. And don't worry, a Samsung phone is not required.
- Photograph: Apple
Best for iOS
Apple AirPods ProI hate the middling sound and uncomfortable fit of the original AirPods, but Apple's AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are wildly different. They feature comfy ear tips that improve the fit and therefore improve the sound. They have a better overall design and some of the best noise canceling you'll find in a pair of earbuds. It's absolutely worth the extra hundred bucks you'll spend over the standard non-Pro model.
WIRED reviewers Adrienne So and Jess Grey swear by these. They're best used with an iPhone or another Apple device, but they'll work with Android phones too (albeit with fewer available features).
- Photograph: Samsung
Best for Android
Samsung Galaxy Buds2Samsung's latest Galaxy Buds (9/10, WIRED Recommends) feature wireless charging, the same two-driver array as the Buds Plus, and decent noise-canceling, all for the same price as a standard pair of AirPods. They pair like a standard Bluetooth accessory for iOS, but if you want the full functionality out of your Buds2, you'll want to use them with Android, where a fully featured app lets you do everything from adjust EQ to turn the outer touch controls on and off. They're also some of the lightest and easiest-fitting buds we've found, which makes them a good option for those of us with smaller ears.
- Photograph: Bowers & Wilkins
Cleanest Lines
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Carbon EditionFor a small premium over Sony's models, the PX7 Carbon (8/10, WIRED Recommends) bring a bit more musical clarity and style. They've got similarly great noise reduction and lightweight head feel, but the PX7 are just a touch more upscale, which makes them a good option for those who like great performance but don't mind spending a bit more to stand out from the crowd.
- Photograph: Jabra
Most Rugged
Jabra Elite 85HI’m not easy on headphones! I break headbands, snag cables, erode ear pads, and wear headsets out in the Oregonian rain while walking my dog. That’s why I like the Jabra Elite 85H. They have a water-resistant coating, replaceable ear pads ($20), and a robust, understated design that holds up to abuse.
Their active noise-canceling abilities aren't the absolute best, but you’ll notice that only in the loudest environments. And with 36 hours of battery life with ANC turned on, you rarely have to charge them.
- Photograph: Jabra
Best for Workouts
Jabra Elite 85tI've been taking my pair of Jabra Elite 85ts (9/10, WIRED Recommends) out with me on cold runs all winter, and they have never let me down. The engineers behind these super-comfy buds laser-scanned thousands of ears in the design phase, helping them create a pair that virtually disappears in your ears.
I also like that they don't have touch controls, with Jabra opting for push-buttons that are easier to operate with sweat-drenched fingers.
- Photograph: EPOS Audio
Best Value
Sennheiser Adapt 660Want excellent sound, a comfortable fit, and high-quality noise canceling for less than you'd pay for Sony or Bose phones? Check out this collaboration between EPOS and Sennheiser. The Epos/Sennheiser Adapt 660 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) sound fantastic, and they are some of the lightest noise-canceling headphones I've ever worn. They also feature excellent microphones for great silence on calls and Zooms. I highly recommend value shoppers check them out—they're easily some of the highest-performing wireless cans you'll find for the money.
- Photograph: Amazon
Best Cheap Buds
Amazon Echo Buds (2021)The second generation of Amazon's Echo Buds (8/10, WIRED Recommends) doesn't provide quite the same silence as the best from Sony, Apple, and Bose, but they're also nearly half the price. Amazon's Alexa voice assistant is built into the buds, which allows you to set timers and check the weather without looking at your phone. In fact, you don't ever really need to hit the touch controls if you don't want to—just ask. They sport either a wired or wireless charging case (the wireless one is worth the $20 upcharge, in my opinion), and you'll get an AirPods Pro-beating five hours per charge. They sound pretty good too, with a relatively flat profile, pretty wide soundstage, and a good fit thanks to comfy silicone tips.
.jpg)
Extra savings up to $15 with TurboTax discount
H&R Block Sale: Up to 33% off all tax preparation software
Exclusive 50% off 1 year - Rosetta Stone promo code
Top Dyson promo code: Extra $30 off Supersonic hair dryers
GoPro Featured Deal: $210 off the HERO10 Black + Accessories Bundle
Samsung promo code - Up to 40% off sitewide