2026 is well underway, and we are already seeing movement in our guide to the best noise-cancelling earbuds you can buy, with new entries from Apple and Sony this month.
Historically, active noise-cancelling (ANC) was only found on over-ear headphones, but you can see why the tech has come to earbuds too. People want the smaller form factor, but they still want to be able to cut out external noise.
If noise-cancelling isn’t high on your wish-list, head over to our best wireless earbuds buying guide for a range of alternative options.
2nd March 2026: We have added the AirPods Pro 3 as the best noise-cancelling earbuds for Apple users, and added the Sony WF-1000X6 as the best for audiophiles. The Technics EAH-AZ100 have been moved to the 'also consider' section. We’ve tested the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, but they don’t make our list.
I have been testing audio products for What Hi-Fi? for nearly two decades. Over the last few years, the noise-cancelling earbuds category has exploded and I have reviewed some great (and some not-so-great) pairs including multiple generations from some of the biggest brands in the business, such as Apple, Bose, JBL and Sony. I've heard all the pairs on this list and can vouch for the quality and value of every single one, so you can buy with confidence.
The best noise-cancelling earbuds overall
Bose is still the king of ANC. The American firm invented the tech for use by pilots before bringing it to consumer headphones. Both its over-ears and in-ear models have consistently been rated as among the best noise-cancelling headphones around. And the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are its best noise-cancelling earbuds yet.
Bose focused on improving two key areas: sound quality and noise cancellation. And it's succeeded on both counts.
The ANC is now smoother at negating sudden spikes of noise, like car horns beeping or sirens. But they're still very adept at muffling general background sound like chatter or the rumble of a plane engine (the tech's origins coming into play here).
In fact, for some people, it might be too much. If complete and utter silence sounds a bit foreboding, you might be happier with a slightly lesser, more natural effect from a competitor model like the Sony WF-1000XM6. But if you want to be cut off from the outside world entirely, these earbuds are certainly up to the task.
"Noises across the sonic spectrum, be they clacking keyboards, chattering colleagues or cars beeping their horns on the street, simply dissolve into near-insignificance, with harsher and more intrusive sounds shut out even more effectively than before," we wrote in our review.
The improvement in sound quality is another success. The 2nd Gen keep the same driver as their predecessors, but Bose has managed to squeeze a bit of extra performance out of it. Its fine-tuning has resulted in a better bass response and smoother high end.
Notes have more texture, and we noticed improvements in crispness and richness, lending the sound more authority.
Wireless charging is now standard, whereas the original QC Ultra Earbuds required an accessory to enable cable-free juicing up. Not only was this less convenient, it added an extra cost.
It's a shame Bose didn't extend the battery life, as six-hour runtime from the earbuds lags a little behind some rivals from Sony and Technics.
Again, comfort levels are up there with the best earbuds around. That's largely thanks to the stability bands, which keep them securely in place. And the touch controls are once again a joy to use.
Bose's Immersive Audio spatial feature remains a little underwhelming, but it really depends on the individual track you're listening to. But for the best noise cancellation in a pair of earbuds, there really is none better.
Read the full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review
Bose has always delivered excellent active noise cancelling in its wireless earbuds and the Ultra are no exception. Not only is the ANC on point, but I'm also a big fan of the comfort levels offered by their silicone tips and also the flexibility that comes with the Bose Music control app. You can alter the level of noise cancelling and save several presets which you can switch between should you want to vary the amount of noise let through.
Best budget noise-cancelling earbuds
The WF-C700N won multiple What Hi-Fi? Awards in their time, and now the follow-up WF-C710N have notched up one of their own. Sony has created another compelling pair of noise-cancelling earbuds.
The ANC benefits from Dual Noise Sensor filters, which makes them a cut above their predecessors in terms of world silencing. As we wrote in our review: "You can hear the earbuds increase the intensity of the ANC and extract an extra layer or two of noise, especially in the lower mid and bass frequencies."
True, they're not as adept as pricier pairs like the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024), especially for cancelling the upper echelons of the frequency range. But given their much cheaper price, the C710N perform fantastically.
They're a real step up on their Award-winning predecessors, which is a real plaudit.
They once again offer a wind noise reduction structure around the mic and Precise Voice Pickup Technology, both of which make calls clearer.
Sonically, they're another improvement. "There’s a weight, solidity and fullness in the bass which makes the WF-C700N sound lightweight and a little top-heavy," we wrote in our review. "The new model fleshes things out better."
They dig up an immense amount of detail given their price, with a tight, punchy bass that's never short of punch and always remains balanced. Voices retain their natural warmth, while notes come with lots of texture. And as we often find with Sony earbuds, they have a fine sense of musicality.
They are available in a natty new Transparent Blue finish, which helps them stand out from the sea of lookalike arbuds on the market. Touch controls now come as standard, and the battery life has doubled to 30 hours, including the carry case (you get the same 8.5 hours from the buds as with the C700N).
All of these improvements, and they keep the same launch price as the C700N. If you're on a budget, these are the best noise-cancelling earbuds bar none.
Read the full Sony WF-C710N review
Best noise-cancelling earbuds for audiophiles
Overtaking the Technics EAH-AZ100 as the best noise-cancelling earbuds for audiophiles, the Sony WF-1000XM6 deliver across the board.
They push the Bose close when it comes to ANC and, more importantly, also sound a cut above. They boast superior bass performance and also have the edge with dynamics and resolution.
As we said in our Sony WF-1000XM6 review: “Everything that you expect to be present in a pair of flagship wireless earbuds is there: a fantastic sense of timing, an expressive midrange, weighty yet well-defined bass and crisp, nicely controlled highs. The Sonys cover all the bases and then some.”
Sony’s third-gen QN3e processor is the brains behind the noise-cancelling operation, and we think it results in Sony's best ANC yet. We are really impressed with how natural it feels and how it subdues noise across a wide range of frequencies.
Bose still has a very slight edge, but as we said in our review, "the gap between Sony and Bose is now as small as it’s ever been".
You also get an impressive range of customisation options, including a ten-band graphic equaliser, features which include Multipoint Bluetooth and Dolby Atmos support and a solid eight-hour battery life
The Sonys are also top performers when it comes to making and taking phone calls –voices come through loud and clear thanks to a mix of AI beamforming and bone conduction sensors. The wind noise reduction design helps keep things under control.
The only minor negative is that it can take a little while to get the perfect fit from the supplied eartips – they give great isolation when the seal is right, but it can be a little inconsistent.
Read the full Sony WF-1000XM6 review
Best noise-cancelling earbuds for battery life
If you suffer from battery life anxiety, the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 are here to save you. With ANC turned on they’ll last a whopping ten hours, (which goes up to 16 if you switch ANC off). Add the charging case into the equation and the total battery life is 33 hours with ANC on and 52 hours without. At this level, there aren't many rivals that come close, even in this list.
But these noise-cancelling earbuds aren't all about battery life. For a start, we found them lightweight and comfortable to wear, which was aided by the fact you get five pairs of tips in the box to help with fit and seal. The M100 are also IPX4-rated which means they're sweat-resistant and good to go when it comes to exercise.
Touch controls on the side of each bud handle a wide range of controls, and it's the usual combination of single and double taps plus long presses to get the buds to do your bidding.
Cambridge has also given its earbuds an element of future-proofing via Bluetooth 5.3 support and the inclusion of LE Audio, aptX Lossless, Auracast and the LC3 codec, for when they become available further down the line.
Noise cancelling is very good for the money and almost up to the standard of the Apple AirPods Pro 2. You can take your pick from High, Medium and Low options depending on how much outside noise you want to be audible. Their Transparency mode could be clearer, though, and it should be easier to hear announcements over your music.
Sonically, the Melomania M100 deliver a clean, spacious and inviting sound which isn't fatiguing over time. Bass is shapely, substantial and well-defined, while highs are crisp and nicely controlled and lack any harshness that you might get from lesser models.
They aren't quite as dynamically strong as other five-star pairs at the money, though. This means they have to work a bit harder to maintain your interest. but we still think they're a smart pair of earbuds well worth considering at this price.
Read the full Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 review
Best noise-cancelling earbuds for Apple users
The AirPods Pro 3 are more evolution than revolution, but the small improvements across the board, including ANC, all add up – we do not doubt that these are the best noise-cancelling AirPods you can buy in 2026.
During testing, we found the latest AirPods Pro extract more mids and lows out of our surroundings than the previous model. Environmental noises are nicely damped down, and chatter is subdued, so it doesn't cut through as much as it can on lesser pairs of earbuds.
The ANC isn't quite as intense as that which you get from the Bose at the top of this pile, but it's very satisfying nonetheless, aided by a comfortable, lightweight design and new eartips that come in five different sizes and do a great job of isolating you from the outside world.
You control the earbuds through the stems, which is as intuitive as ever and codec support stretches to SBC and AAC.
Battery life is eight hours from a single charge, which is better than Bose – the overall battery life with the case has dropped from 30 hours on the Pro 2 to 24 hours on the Pro 3, which is a little disappointing.
If you’re already an Apple user and want the best noise-cancelling earbuds made by the brand, you really can't look past the AirPods Pro 3. They're attractively priced and perform better across the board than their predecessors, which were on this list for quite some time.
The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, are an okay option if you don't want a proper in-ear design, but the noise cancelling (and sound quality) just aren't as good.
Read our full Apple AirPods Pro 3 review
Out of all of Muse's tracks, Madness might seem like a strange, slightly minimalist choice given the other stadium-rocking anthems in the band's back catalogue. But this tune can be especially taxing for earbuds if they struggle to provide clarity and separation.The track also demands a lot in terms of bass control and extension. The Pi8 do a great job of peeling back the layers and textures in each pulsing bass note and hitting the dynamic spot during the song's dramatic climax. View the album on Amazon.
Also consider
Looking for an alternative to the best noise-cancelling earbuds we've tested? Only the very top products in this category make it onto the list above. However, some five-star and four-star earbuds come extremely close but just miss out and we have listed these below.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024): If you want a chunk of what the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) offer but in a more affordable package, then consider Bose's chunky entry-level ANC earbuds. These buds deliver better battery life (8hrs vs 6hrs), and although the noise cancelling and sound quality on offer aren't quite as good as their more expensive siblings, you can't argue with their performance for the money.
Technics EAH-AZ100: The Sony XM6 might have bumped the Technics out of the top spot, but there's still plenty to like here, including good ANC, and an extremely balanced and likeable sound. There are plenty of features on tap, too, including three-way Multipoint Bluetooth and an impressive ten-hour battery life.
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation: Apple has a ready-made alternative to the AirPods Pro 2 in the shape of the AirPods 4. They are an open earbud design and a good alternative to traditional models that burrow into your ears. Sound quality is clean, detailed and powerful and the noise-cancelling works surprisingly well too.
JBL Live Pro 2 TWS: They might have been bumped out of our main list by the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 and their monster battery life, but these affordable JBL buds are still no slouches. And their eight and a half hours per charge should be enough for most people. They're also solid all-round performers and promote a lively, entertaining sound.
Noise-cancelling earbuds coming soon
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5
We've seen some green shoots from Huawei's wireless earbuds in recent months and we're hoping its new flagship noise-cancelling earbuds can take things one step further. They're claiming ANC performance a whopping 220 per cent better than their predecessors.
Huawei has overhauled its flagship wireless earbuds' acoustics in the pursuit of improved sound
How to choose the best noise-cancelling earbuds for you
Obviously, the quality of noise-cancelling is key when it comes to choosing the right pair of ANC earbuds. Thankfully, you can be confident that we've tested the noise cancelling in all of the pairs on our list and that the five-star models do the best job cutting out noise. Yes, there can even be differences between the noise-cancelling of five-star products, but they are usually very subtle.
Active noise cancelling puts extra demands on battery life, so you'll want to make sure the buds you want will have enough juice for your travels. Charging cases can help here so you just need to think about how, where and when the wireless noise-cancelling earbuds are going to be used. All can be charged via USB while some pairs offer wireless charging too.
As is the case with any pair of wireless earbuds, fit and comfort are vital. We can give you our experience of testing a pair, but it's no substitute for trying them out for yourself. Try the different sizes of silicone tips and maybe even combinations of different sizes to find the best fit for you. If you can't hear any bass, chances are you don't have a good enough seal.
You'll find that noise-cancelling earbuds tend to cost a bit more than the best wireless earbuds without the feature, so you'll have to budget accordingly. The good news is we've tested some exceptionally talented and affordable options which you'll find in this list and thanks to the way the market works, even previously pricey pairs have now been discounted so there are bargains out there.
Our list of the best noise-cancelling earbuds spans a range of prices, so there's sure to be a pair here that's right for you and your budget.
How we test noise-cancelling earbuds
We treat noise-cancelling earbuds just as we would normal wireless earbuds with fit, comfort, ease of use, battery life and call quality all taken into account. Sound quality is high on our list, but for this category of earbuds, we also need to judge just how effective they are at cutting out external noise.
Testing ANC earbuds requires using them in many different environments to see how the buds handle certain frequencies.
We'll use our office, the city streets and public transport to get a feel for just how effective the noise-cancelling is. We'll also compare them to one or two of our favourite pairs at the money to see how they stand up to the competition in terms of ANC and sound quality.
Many noise-cancelling earbuds come with a control app that allows you to tweak their performance and their controls, so we'll see how it impacts the user experience too.
The team agrees upon all our review verdicts rather than an individual reviewer to eliminate any personal preference and ensure we're being as thorough as possible.
F.A.Q
When can you find the best noise-cancelling earbuds deals?
As is the case with the best wireless earbuds deals, the lowest prices on noise-cancelling buds seem to land around the big sales events such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Amazon Prime Day. Obviously, price drops can and do happen throughout the course of the year, but the lowest-ever prices do to tend to hit during these events.
Which are better, noise-cancelling earbuds or headphones?
I've tested many great pairs of noise-cancelling earbuds that do a brilliant job of blocking out external rumbles. However, in my experience, the best noise-cancelling headphones will outperform similarly-priced earbuds.
The size and design of normal headphones allow for more powerful ANC tech to be used, including more mics to "listen" to the noise around you. As a result, the ANC effect can be more pronounced with a greater range of frequencies cancelled out. However, I tend to reach for a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds mainly because they're more portable, although I need to be sure I have a proper seal, otherwise, the ANC won't be effective.
Is it worth getting noise-cancelling earbuds?
If you don't want to wear traditional over-ear noise-cancelling headphones, then earbuds are an option. They won't cancel out as much noise as traditional over-ears but they are arguably more portable and discreet, which makes them easier to carry around. I tend to use earbuds when I'm out and about for this very reason, and the very best models do a great job of isolating you from outside interference.
Which earbuds cancel the most noise?
In my opinion, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) cancel the most noise out of all the models we've tested, with the Sony WF-1000XM6 running them a close second. I found the Bose great at blocking out a range of low-frequency rumbles and softening the effects of intrusive higher frequencies, too. They also offer excellent flexibility, so you can customise the ANC to a greater level than some of their rivals.
Can you still hear with noise-cancelling earbuds?
It depends on the volume you are listening at. If you have noise cancelling turned on and are listening at high volumes, you will struggle to hear outside noise, such as announcements at a train station and even sirens.
However, the vast majority of noise-cancelling earbuds also offer a transparency mode which allows varying levels of outside noise into your ears so you can hear what's happening around you. Different earbuds also offer varying levels of ANC customisation, so you can dial down the intensity depending on where they are used.
Recent updates
- 6th November 2025: We swapped in the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) for the 1st Gen model following our review. We also replaced the Sony WF-C700N with the newer C710N, which we've labelled 'best budget'. We also replaced the B&W Pi8 with the Technics EAH-AZ100 due to their superior ANC. Finally, we added the rumoured Sony WF-1000XM6 and new AirPods Pro 3 to the 'coming soon' section. Phew.
- 6th February 2025: We have reviewed and rated the Technics EAH-AZ100 at five stars. They don't make the main list but we have added them to the 'also consider' section as a great alternative to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
- 28th November 2024: Checked availability and pricing of all the pairs in this list. We have added the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) to the 'also consider' section We have also reviewed the JBL Tour Pro 3 and Sony LinkBuds Fit, both of which received four stars during testing but haven't made our list.
- 20th September 2024: Checked availability and pricing. We’ve tested the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 and added them as ‘best for audiophiles’, replacing the Sony WF-1000XM5 which we have moved to the ‘also consider’ section. We’ve also included mention of the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, Apple AirPods 4 and JBL Pro Tour 3 and removed the QuietComfort Earbuds II as an also consider option, as these now appear to be end-of-life.
- 24th July 2024: We haven't tested any new models since our last update, but Samsung has announced two new models; the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds Pro 3. We have a review sample of the latter, so keep your eyes peeled for our in-depth review.
- 24th June 2024: We've tested two new models since our last update, the Google Pixel Buds Pro and the Sennheiser Momentum Sport, both of which we rate at three stars and will not be being added to our list.
- 13th May 2024: Replaced JBL Live Pro 2 TWS with Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 as 'best battery life'
- 24th April 2024: added mention of recent EarFun Air 2 review and Google Pixel Buds A-Series
- 11th March 2024: added F.A.Q section, also considers, top tip, photo galleries
- 5th January 2024: updated how to choose and how we test sections
- 4th October 2023: added Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, removed Bose QuietComfort II Earbuds
Today's best noise-cancelling earbuds deals
