The 7 Best Pairs of Noise-Cancelling Earbuds to Buy Right Now
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Because of size and power constraints, active noise cancellation has traditionally been available on over and on-ear headphones — but the good news for you is that this key feature is now widely available on most wireless earbuds.
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If you want to tune out the sound of a bus or train on your commute, or enjoy your music while a roommate is playing something through a Bluetooth speaker, active noise cancelling earbuds are the smallest, lightest solution — and though extensive testing, we’ve found our top picks.
In This Article
What Are the Best Noice-Cancelling Earbuds?
How Does Noise-Cancellation Work For Earbuds?
How We Picked the Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds
What Are the Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds?
We’ve rounded up some of the best earbuds with noise-cancellation that you can buy online right now. Here are the ones we like based on level of noise reduction, sound quality and design.
BEST OVERALL: Sony WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds
BEST FOR APPLE USERS: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
BEST FOR WORKOUTS: Bose QuietComfort II
BEST BUDGET: LG Tone Free FN7
BEST DESIGN: 1MORE Aero True Wireless ANC Headphones
BEST FOR CALLS: Belkin Soundform Immerse
BEST SOUND: Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2
1. Sony WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds
Sony’s wireless earbuds are simply some of the best noise-cancelling earbuds we’ve tested. We highly recommend them for frequent travelers who like to wear buds on a flight, as you can easily activate their noise-cancelling feature with just a tap of your finger.
Overall, they make music sound crisp, almost as good as over-ear headphones we’ve tried, which is a big accomplishment for earbuds so small — thanks in part to Sony’s own Integrated Processor V1 tech.
They’re also sweat-proof, and we’ve loved wearing them during workouts because of it. They rarely slip and the larger design makes it easy to tap them to control our music when we’re on our route.
They provide about eight noise-cancelling hours of music on a charge. We love that you can also wirelessly charge them when they’re in the case, which can hold up to 16 hours of juice on its own. You can even communicate with Amazon’s Alexa while they’re in your ears. So far since their release, Sony is in a league of their own, and we have yet to find other earbuds that can surround you in complete silence like the WF-1000XM4s can.
Sony WF-1000XM4 Earbuds
2. AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Apple’s AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) are among the most popular active noise-cancelling earbuds thanks to a mix of audio quality, upgraded ANC performance, and battery life.
The totally wireless earbuds support Bluetooth 5.0, and get about six hours of playtime per charge, and that’s with noise-cancellation on. You can get up to 30 hours of music playback between the initial charge and a fully charged case. I’ve used the AirPods Pro as my active noise-cancelling earbuds for several months, and they’ve performed really well.
The active noise cancellation (with a custom H2 chip that doubled the level of noise reduction from the first generation AirPods Pros) is good enough to block out all of the sound on a New York City subway commute when my music is at a reasonable volume. With music off, the earbuds’ ANC greatly reduces the sound of people speaking around me. Similarly, I’ve found Apple’s battery claims to be accurate; I’ve never had the AirPods Pro run out of power suddenly or unexpectedly.
I’ve tried a lot of earbuds, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how good the AirPods Pro sound. The balance of bass, midrange, and treble is very good. I’ve never noticed any unwanted distortion or other audio glitches while listening, either.
AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
3. Bose QuietComfort II
With a name like QuietComfort, you can expect next-level noise-cancelling earbuds from Bose. That’s still the case with the next iteration of Bose’s excellent wireless buds. In our tests over several months of wear, the QuietComfort IIs deliver booming sound in a small, comfortable design that’s fit for workouts and daily listening alike.
Thanks to several mics and the earbuds’ comfortable silicone ear tips, you won’t have any issues ignoring outside sounds when you’re streaming music or movies. You can customize their noise-cancellation with Bose’s app, and everything from intimate acoustic guitar to action movie blasts sound crisp and balanced.
Like the Sony buds, these are also suited for workouts and are rated IPX4, easily holding up even if they accidentally get wet. We also like how comfortable they are to wear for hours, whether we’re working out or listening to music at home. They also come with three ear tips and bands to help you find the right fit for your ears. The earbuds can last up to six hours per charge, or a total of 24 hours using their charging case.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
4. LG Tone Free FN7
There are a ton of noise-cancelling earbuds on the market, but LG’s Tone Free Wireless Earbuds break the mold thanks to the company’s focus on technology and fit.
The LG TONE Free FN7 works to neutralize outside noise by using up to three microphones in each earbud to monitor — and muffle — external sound waves that could interfere with your music. The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology effectively blocks out background noise and ambient sound, but it’s the earbuds’ unique shape that adds an additional layer of noise-blocking.
LG’s engineers created a spiral ear gel design that fits more securely inside the ear canals for a tighter seal. What that means: the tip of the buds work in tandem with ANC technology to minimize any outside noise from coming in (the ear tips are adjustable so you can find a secure “hold” that’s most comfortable for your ears).
Spec-wise, the TONE Free FN7s deliver HiFi sound thanks to Meridian Audio, with enhanced bass and a premium equalizer. Battery life is decent, at 21 hours, though a quick five-minute charge gets you up to one hour of listening time.
LG has worked hard to add voice features to its line of earbuds too, and the FN7s are compatible with Google Assistant and Siri, so you can adjust settings, change songs and more using just your voice. Overall, the LG TONE Free FN7 are the first pair of budget-friendly active noise cancelling earbuds with no major downsides.
LG Tone Free FN7
5. 1MORE Aero True Wireless ANC Headphones
1MORE’s Aero True Wireless Earbuds are the best-designed noise-cancelling buds this year, thanks to an incredibly immersive sound-dampening experience that’s more powerful and noticeable than anything else we’ve tested.
The company says it’s thanks to their proprietary “QuietMax” technology, which delivers up to 42dB of noise-canceling depth at a wider frequency range of 40Hz-4000Hz. In layman’s terms: the earbuds can block out a wider spectrum of ambient noise, from the roar of an airplane engine to minute chatter and nature sounds.
The ANC means you’re better immersed in your music too, and 1MORE doesn’t skimp on audio technology, with real-time Spatial Audio combined with head-tracking technology to create a surround sound-style experience.
For a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds that truly delivers, add 1MORE to your cart.
1MORE Aero True Wireless ANC Headphones
6. Belkin Soundform Immerse
Belkin’s Soundform earbuds deliver active noise-cancelling to rival that of over-the-ear headphones, especially when it comes to phone and video calling. They effectively block out sound using six microphones (three per earbud) that pick up external noise and ensure clarity on calls and quiet immersion no matter your surroundings.
The Soundform earbuds also feature IPX5 water resistance (for sweaty runs or rain) and a clever design that won’t fall out of your ear (but I’ve mostly used these in an office setting). Inside, 12mm dynamic drivers and 24-bit audio technology help generate exceptional audio quality for such a small pair of buds, even when my video calling quality gets glitchy.
Add 36 hours of battery life (eight in the earbuds and 24 in the charging case), and you’ve got some of the most capable noise-cancelling earbuds on the market.
Belkin Soundform Immerse
7. Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2s are the first pair of noise-cancelling earbuds we feel comfortable recommending to audiophiles.
The Pi7 S2s were designed by the same engineers who developed Bowers & Wilkins 800-series loudspeakers, and their expertise shows — the Pi7 S2s are pure ear candy. We were able to hear our music in stunning clarity with their hi-res 24-bit connection, and they offer an incredibly wide soundstage. We’d expect this level of performance from over-ear headphones, but the Pi7 S2s have re-calibrated our expectations for earbuds. If you love music, but don’t like the bulky feeling of full-sized headphones, this is a great compromise.
Bowers & Wilkins outfitted the Pi7s with six microphones, which do a great job cancelling noise. We were able to walk around outside without cranking the volume up to full blast. The earbuds will adjust their level of noise cancellation based on your environment, so you don’t have to manage settings on your own.
The only weak spot is battery life, where the Pi7 S2s can get four to five hours, or up to 24 hours thanks to their battery case. However, we like that you can also rest the case on a wireless charging pad to fill it up.
If you want a no-compromise pair of noise-cancelling earbuds, Bowers & Wilkins’ Pi7 S2s deliver.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2
How Does Noise-Cancellation Work For Earbuds?
When we talk about over-ear headphones, noise-cancellation comes from microphones used to filter out unwanted sound from the outside world before it hits your ears.
Earbuds also offer passive noise cancellation by creating an airtight seal around the inside of your ear. Taken together, the passive and active noise cancellation features of Bluetooth earbuds stack up well against over-ear, noise-cancelling headphones.
How We Picked the Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds
There are many factors to think about when choosing the best noise-cancelling earbuds for you; below are the most important ones, which we considered while we were researching this list.
Bluetooth: All of the active noise cancellation earbuds we’re recommending support at least Bluetooth 5.0, one of the latest versions of the wireless standard that’s a lot more power-efficient.
Battery Life: Active noise cancellation is an energy hungry feature, but our recommendations last at least four hours per charge, and can be recharged using an included battery case.
Style: Earbuds come in a few different styles, but the ones in this guide are totally wireless (no cable at all).
1. Apple AirPods Pro
Apple's AirPods Pro are among the most popular active noise-cancelling earbuds thanks to a mix of audio quality, ANC performance, and battery life.
The totally wireless earbuds support Bluetooth 5.0, and get about 4.5 hours of playtime per charge. You can recharge the AirPods Pro by returning them to their charging case. You can get up to 24 hours of music playback between the initial charge and a fully charged case. I've used the AirPods Pro as my active noise-cancelling earbuds for several months, and they've performed really well.
The active noise cancellation is good enough to block out all of the sound on a New York City subway commute when my music is at a reasonable volume. With music off, the earbuds' ANC greatly reduces the sound of people speaking around me. Similarly, I've found Apple's battery claims to be accurate; I've never had the AirPods Pro run out of power suddenly or unexpectedly.
I've tried a lot of earbuds, but I've been pleasantly surprised at how good the AirPods Pro sound. The balance of bass, midrange, and treble is very good. I've never noticed any unwanted distortion or other audio glitches while listening.
Apple AirPods Pro
2. Edifier TWS NB2
Edifier's TWS NB2s are the first pair of budget-friendly active noise cancelling earbuds with no major downsides.
The $75 earbuds (Amazon is offering a $10 coupon right now, bringing them down to $65) offer a whopping seven hours of music playback per charge with active noise cancellation turned on. That figure jumps to around nine hours when noise cancelling is turned off. In our testing, the earbuds live up to this lofty battery claim.
The NB2s sound pretty good overall, with solid bass performance and treble that never gets overpowering. There's a little less clarity when compared to audiophile earbuds, but nothing comes close in this price range.
Edifier made sure the TWS NB2 had all the latest smart features, like a touch-sensitive surface on each bud, which lets you play and pause your music with just a tap. The earbuds can also detect when you take them out of your ears, and will momentarily pause your music. These little touches add up.
Taken as a whole, Edifier's TWS NB2s are a great-sounding, long-lasting pair of active noise cancelling headphones.
Edifier TWS NB2
3. JBL Live Free 2
JBL's newest earbuds feature some of the best adaptive noise-cancellation we've ever tried. I could barely hear the conversations happening around me at the office, and even NYC's loud traffic noises were practically muted.
JBL's Live Free 2s offer about 35 hours of playback time — although this will vary depending on if you're using Ambient Aware or ANC settings. Download the JBL Headphones app to easily customize your noise-cancellation settings or the amount of Ambient Aware you need. You'll even be able to customize EQ settings on the app to your liking as well as do a fit test to make sure you're wearing the right ear tips.
That said, the sound out of the box itself is pretty good. The bass was just heavy enough, and the mids and highs shone through equally well. We highly recommend these earbuds if you prefer bass-heavy sound though, as you can easily adjust settings in the JBL app to achieve that booming club-like bass.
These noise-canceling earbuds also have IPX5 water resistance. This means they can handle the occasional splash during your daily run. There is voice assistant compatibility too, with both Alexa and Google, allowing you to control your music hands-free.
If bass-heavy sound and a secure fit matter to you, you can't do much better than the JBL Live Free 2.
Note: if you prefer a stem design with longer battery life, choose the JBL Live Pro 2 for the same price.
JBL Live Free 2
4. Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Bowers & Wilkins PI7s are the first pair of noise-cancelling earbuds we feel comfortable recommending to audiophiles.
The company doesn't give battery life estimations, but in our experience, the PI7s can last several days thanks to their battery case. We generally plugged the case once or twice a week. You can also rest the case on a wireless charging pad to fill it up.
The PI7s were designed by the same engineers who developed Bowers & Wilkins 800-series loudspeakers, and their expertise shows. The PI7s are pure ear candy. We were able to hear our music in stunning clarity. We'd expect this level of performance from over-ear headphones, but the PI7s have re-calibrated our expectations for earbuds. If you love music, but don't like the bulky feeling of full-sized headphones, this is a great compromise.
Bowers & Wilkins outfitted the PI7s with six microphones, which do a great job cancelling noise. We were able to walk around outside without cranking the volume up to full blast. The earbuds will adjust their level of noise cancellation based on your environment, so you don't have to manage settings on your own.
If you want a no-compromise pair of noise-cancelling earbuds, Bowers & Wilkins' PI7s deliver.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7
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